After a week, I think I have adapted to second shift. When I wake up early, I go for a two mile walk around the pleasant streets here. Walkers and the security guards posted outside the ritzy houses are saying hello. I've been accepted into the walkers' club I guess. The tractor that was in one intersection has now been replaced with pipes that are being installed.
I have my first shower of the day after walking and then head down for breakfast. Each morning, it is pretty much the same. The round rice cakes, a polenta that is always slightly different and the three sauces. Then the kitchen staff come out to confirm that I want the scrambled eggs (2) and the dosa (1). The dosa is like a super thin crepe. I sip on filtered coffee and watermelon juice, if they have put it out.
Then I do my Greek language study, journal and read the local paper. If you feel like Americans have the market on crazy--never fear! Yesterday I read about a married woman with two children who went to Pakistan to marry her online boyfriend. Her husband and father were let go from their jobs and now she has returned in disgrace. No one will acknowledge her.
Today, I read how in one state there is a shortage of educated men for the women to marry. The wealthier families, instead of doling out a big dowry, have opted to kidnap educated grooms from less powerful families and force them to marry the daughters. It works sometimes because the groom's family is not wealthy or powerful enough to fight back.
After catching up on the news, I go back to my room to check in what work messages came in overnight. I catch up on what I can and prep for my evening meetings. Then I have a nap before I get dressed for work and head i to the Paperflite office for the strong internet.
My calls start around 8 pm and got until midnight or 1 am and then I take the car service home. There is a lot less traffic then!
These chalk designs are called rongola and the woman of the house traditionally draws those every morning, Akshaya said she is not good at them and I suspect I would not be either. I also got a photo of the three dogs infront of the temple. It plays a recording in the morning, but they have to be turned off at certain time of the day. This morning, a man was cleaning out the flowers from inside. I will need to inquire more how that process work.
Today Akshaya and I are going to meet for a coffee at one of her favorite cafes and then I hope maybe we can do some shopping. I spent the morning after my routine, packing my suitcases in prep for my early morning flight to Kerala where I will stay in multiple places until Monday December 11.
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