R2I - 1 Year later - Part 2

Posted on January 16th, 2008 by Chitra

3 months ago I wrote the part 1 of how things were after a year of R2Iing. And here’s the 2nd part, a “tad” late. :)

  • Politicians: The thing about them, I realise is that they are all the same; culture, nationality, race, nothing seems to matter. Before going off to the US, I used to get bugged about the politicians here, then went there and saw how I wasn’t terribly impressed there either. And back here, the story continues. Hard to get interested in current affairs when you have to be interested in what the politicians do!
  • TV: I do miss the American channels. The good thing is, a lot of the sitcoms and American shows are telecast here on Star World or other Star channels. But, I don’t seem to want to watch them like the way I did there. The thing of the matter is, I don’t want to watch Indian TV too. In the process, I don’t watch any TV at all, which has been the best part!!! :) I am thrilled that the children’s TV shows from the US are available on the Indian TV. When we were returning, I was kind of trying to figure out the shows that were on TV here, ‘coz I was quite keen that the kids get to watch then. I am glad that Dora and Diego shows are here. I kind of feel bad that Barney is not here; that would have been wonderful for my second child. I totally liked Barney for my daughter when we were there. She learnt a ton of things from that show. :) We do get Blues Clues - but only once a week I think, and many from Disney. Most of Nick and some from CeeBeeBees (British). So, overall that is covered well. I just only wish we would got Barney too.
  • The driver, we kind of hit a jackpot because he is so very reliable as a person. But, of course the downside is the hours he keeps, the no.of days he is running off to his native village, his emergencies etc. But, we keep working around all that, because he is wonderful with the kids. And I wouldn’t trade him for anybody else solely based on that one plus. He also doesn’t give us an attitude. I am almost grateful to him for that!!
  • The ‘no sidewalk’ thing that I had spoken about 6 months after returning - While in the US, I enjoyed going for morning walks with a couple of my neighbors. And it was a nice time to be with the girls, enjoy some early morning air, and get some exercise. In the first few months I was here in Bangalore, I didn’t really feel like stepping out for a walk - one for the lack of sidewalk and the other for the lack of company. Hub and I can’t go together because somebody has to stay with the kids. So, I kind of put it off for a while and didn’t gain a thing by doing so. Now, for the last few months, I have started doing it again by myself and very early in the morning. I am anyway a very early riser. I am up, usually, before 5. So, I just wait to see the light of the day. We have a campus nearby where we have lots of nice walking tracks. There are a lot of other morning walkers too. So, I am out around 5.45 or so, when there is hardly any traffic, make it to the campus, and get back even before the kids and hub are up. It is a work around, but I am not complaining about that anymore. Goes to show, that there are ways and means to overcome some of the things. Of course, if I have to step out during other times and with the kids, it is a bit of a scary task. Still.
  • The other very obvious change in the Indian society is how sexually active people seem to be, before marriage and outside of marriage! And I would think more than ever before. Very often I hear about pre-marital, extra-marital, while in school etc. This has been a stark difference to how it was when I was growing up, which is what 15 years ago or so! Even now, it is not that I have numbers or survey results to back what I am saying, but I get to hear so much so often. While I am pretty liberal in my outlook, not typically wanting to have an opinion about what other people are doing; and I am not even talking about the morality issue here. With pre-marital sex, the complications are many if one is not careful. And extra-marital, well nothing has to be said about deteriorating marriages and their impact on society. My interest in the matter is the impact all of this is going to have on how I raise my kids and what I have to do when. Well, I guess we will figure it out when we cross that bridge, huh! This is mostly just an observation.
  • In the end, I am very happy with the R2I choice. It has been good for the kids and the grandparents. I can’t think of any better reason. Well, and the fact that I get so much more time for myself. :)

Your opinions are welcome, as always!

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Filed under: Infrastructure, Sidewalks, 1 year later, sex TV Politicians Driver, Family, Life, R2I, Children, Cars, Bangalore

Do you drive into and out of Bangalore? Please read and please be warned.

Posted on January 8th, 2008 by Chitra

Here’s an email that I got from a friend. Please read and please be aware.

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If you drive outside of Bangalore city, please read on.

I was driving from Belgaum on 31st December. Around 15 kms. away from the city ( Tumkur Road , around 3 pm ), 2 motorcyclists waved at us and pointed at the car’s left tyre. I got out of the car to check; one of the motorcycle persons followed, and showed me blackness around the tyre rim. He said there seems to be something wrong with it, and peeped in, as I was taking a look at the engine.

He told me that car ‘alternator’ seem to have broken, and asked me to start the vehicle. The moment I gave ignition, there was a fire from that part. I got alarmed, and asked for a Maruti service station around. To which he replied, there was none, but that he can help since he was a car mechanic. He asked the other guy to bring that ‘alternator’. Though reluctant at first, I did not say anything to his fiddling with the car, in view of situation. He got that replacement part, started the car, drove us for some distance to show that the replaced part was working. I asked him the charges, and he said ‘Rs. 5000/-’. And I paid up.

He introduced himself as ‘Ashok Patkar’ who worked for a garage - Kailash Motors, 3rd cross, 1st main, Nangmangla. He also gave me his mobile number & address in case of any issues.

I was circumspect throughout the incident, so took my car the next day to an authorised Maruti service station. As it turns out, I was cheated. They told me that blackness on the tyre rim is pretty normal, considering the 500 kms. drive on a single day and at high speed. The fire from the car part is not alarming as well. The part that he replaced costs only about Rs. 780/-, and there was nothing wrong with it in first place. His mobile number is now a ‘does not exist’ number. And I am guessing the given address must not be correct too.

I was also told that these motorcyclists are a known gang of people, and mainly operate on Hosur & Tumkur road. There have been many others who have been duped this way before. I know nothing can bring my money back now, but by spreading the word, I may help others who may need this information to be prepared beforehand. Please spread this information as far as you can.

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We are often driving in and out of Bangalore, and it would help us to be forewarned of such issues. In this case, I am glad it was just the question of money. It wouldn’t have taken much for the 2 people to have been bigger criminals.

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Filed under: Life, Cars, Bangalore

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