Friends and Family - Kolkata

Like I said in the previous post, the families here are so generous. We have been treated to huge meals and delightful company.

Below are some photos of the people who have been kind to us.

With the Sircars

Chillin' with the Maliks

Thampu with her sister

Abhrajeet, Arny and cousin Chao

Transitions

*posted by Kayd

I thought I would be more in-tune to the Indian way of life after being with Abhrajeet for seven years and spending much of my days at his house where his grandparents also live and carry out a certain Indian lifestyle, but no one could have told me exactly what I would be experiencing.

Here, family is a big deal. It’s a big deal in America too, but in India people would give up their entire life to support their family. Most of the servants (I really dislike that word so from now on I’ll call them helpers), most of the helpers live in rural India and take a train into the city to work.  The Roy family hires a driver named Mahadev that has been with the family for many years. The driver lives about 2 hours away by car but doesn’t go home so he can be on call whenever someone has to go somewhere. He lives with the other drivers in a complex and only sees his family 2 weeks out of the year. To me this is astonishing and shows so much devotion. My heart breaks a little too – but it is the Indian way of life.  

The Roy family also has two female helpers, Pratima and Neelima, that take care of all the cooking, cleaning, wash and every other task you can think of. They have been with the family for 10 and I’ve been told that many other families are very jealous of the relationship between the helpers and the Roy family. I try to do as many tasks as I can without having to bother them or to ask someone to translate for me but I am scolded each time I am caught busing my own dishes or picking up after myself. I understand it is their job and it’s the Indian system but after working in the restaurant business for many years and with my own upbringing it’s hard for me not to tidy up my mess.  But everyone here has helpers. Everyone here has a specialty they are trained in – whether that be a driver, mechanic, plumber … each person knows how to do one task and they devote the rest of their life to it.

Families also don’t split up and move away after a marriage. You can find 25+ people living in the same house – most of the time the brothers live together and the wives leave their family to live with their husband’s family. People were astonished that Abhrajeet and I were getting our own place 25 minutes away from our parents (which in America is still very close!) It’s kind of like how the Ablans live so close to us – but I could never imagine us all living together (no offense Ann, Gary, Ryan & Alex). It’s great that we all grew up together, can see each other whenever we want, can cut across the lawn to borrow some brown sugar…but it’s also nice to have our own space.

Our coming to India is a huge celebration and each family goes all out when it comes to food preparation. Each thing is delicious – obviously some more than others – and I can’t believe I’m actually eating so much Indian food.  However when you have a huge Indian feast for Breakfast, followed by an even bigger Indian feast for Lunch and then a Ginormous Indian feast for Dinner your digestive system never gets a break and you are ALWAYS full. It’s been quite ridiculous. Even Abhrajeet (who can eat boatloads more than I can) finds himself completely full halfway through his plate.  I’ve been here 4 days and have had 10 HUGE meals – Thankfully one family made me some lasagna! (oh boy 4 days in and I’m already craving Italian food). 

But food isn’t the only thing that people are treating us to. Everyone wants to show us the city they are from. We are traveling all around India and each family we are staying with has a huge agenda they want to treat us to. The generosity is outstanding. 

Taken from the 8th floor. (Man I love my new lens)

Fish Market

*posted by Kayd
It was our first day out of the flat and into real world India. We took the car to Kalighat, which is a holy Hindu site, and then walked to the fish market. There was so much to see at the market – freshly caught fish, many still flopping about, shrimp, huge river prawns, fresh fruit and vegetables and Lay’s potatoes chips. We were all surprised it didn’t smell like a fish market. Everything was too fresh!  We bought some fish from this man who was very excited about getting his photo taken and told us we would have to come back and give a copy to him.

Kurthas

Abhrajeet and Arny in their Pajamas (the white pants) and their Kurthas (the long shirt)

*posted by Kayd

We stick out like sore thumbs, or like the giant elephant in the room. I thought I had packed some Indian-looking things but my clothes only draw more attention to the white American girl with light hair. Abhrajeet and Arny are also much taller and more buff than your above average Indian and with their closely shaven heads and tie-die t-shirts (…arny) they don’t do much better than me with fitting in. Thankfully Kakima took us to get some Indian clothes.

I got a sari, and to be truthful, it’s pretty hot. The sari is at least 6 yards of fabric all wrapped around your body. The way most people dress here is with pants and a shirt – many long sleeves. None of us really understand how this is suppose to be cooler in the sun but we’re dealing with Thousands of years of experience so we’re not going to argue.

The Patriarch

To be considered truly an elder
A man must practice truthfulness,
Righteousness, harmlessness,
Restraint, and self-control,
Be free of stain and rich in wisdom.

-The Dhammapada

Hello India

*posted by Kayd

It took us 25 hours to fly from Minneapolis to Kolkata only it seemed much longer than that because we saw the sun set, then rise, then set again. Here are a few things we learned:

• Airport food really does suck, especially when it will be your last American meal for a month.
• When traveling with people who need a wheelchair make sure (double & triple sure) that the airline knows you need to board early. (Stupid Frankfurt airport)
• I used to love airports but now loathe them. There is no longer anything exciting to look forward to after you’ve seen the “dark-side” of the airport.
• If Bengali people are being rude to you it is okay (and acceptable) to be rude back. These were wise words from Kakima, sadly it was about 10 hours too late on the advice when we needed it. So much for killing them with kindness.
• International Flights rock! (or at least they are a lot better than what I was expecting) We flew with Luftanza and both Abhrajeet and Arny agreed it was the nicest plane they have ever been on while traveling.
• German security check point people have no patience when a motion sensor door is involved. (really! How are you supposed to move towards them while crossing in front of the motion door without setting off the motion sensor?)

We did not get out of the airport in Kolkata until nearly 2:30 in the morning, 1 ½ hours after we landed. Abhrajeet’s bag did not show up in Kolkata – we are crossing our fingers the airport calls saying they found it. After we arrived at the house in Kolkata, where Abhrajeet and Arny’s aunt – or Pishimoni – lives we ate dinner around 4am then went to bed.

Kolkata is 10.5 hours ahead of Minnesota and although I convinced myself that I could beat jet lag she failed miserably. We all slept until 1 pm, took a few naps through out the day and 3 days later are still on a different sleep schedule.

The family flat is wonderful and there is so much marble everywhere! There are two bedrooms, two bathrooms (with flushing toilets just in case you were wondering) a kitchen, a dining area, a balcony and many areas to sit and rest under the fans in the Summer heat. Everyone said we would ‘die from the heat!’ but so far it hasn’t been bad at all. The rain keeps most of the heat away. *MARY – it feels cooler than it did at the cabin when Amy and Brian came to visit us on the 4th and there was absolutely no wind reaching our deck. We are also staying in a guest flat which has more bedrooms on the 8^th story of the same building.

The view from the roof is incredible. You can see for miles and we’re surprised that many of the trees are eight or nine stories high.

We're heading to India

Can you believe our trip to India has finally arrived?
Abhrajeet, Arny and I will try our very hardest to update this blog as often as we can with stories and lots of photos.


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There's no place like Up North

The last two weekends were spent at the cabin up by Ely. Although it's a long drive (about 4.5 hours including stops for bathroom breaks, snacks and gas) it's completely worth getting out of the city and enjoying the fresh air and surrounding woods.  My parents have been doing some home improvements over the past three years including turning the garage until a bedroom that sleeps 5 with room to spare, remodeling the kitchen and lots of painting and carpet squares. Hopefully Abhrajeet and I have their determination and enough DIY motivation to fix up our new house.

Abhrajeet and I received matching life jackets as a graduation gift from my parents knowing they would be used all summer. I found a new hobby at the cabin this summer.. Kayaking (it's oh so fun!) It's much faster than the canoe and it feels like your skimming on the water. One of my post-graduation goals was to canoe at sunset with the loons which was competed!

 

 

Abhrajeet's a big fan of fishing (although he hasn't caught anything for the past 2 years). I'm more of a fan of eating twizzlers and casting my fishing pole.

The daisies remind me of my grandma's house. I've never noticed so many of them until this year. Since it was an early spring, the lupins in our yard bloomed a few weeks ago so there wasn't a massive field of them for the 4th.

It's just perfect up there. It's nice not to have access to internet and to 'accidentally forget' the phone charger.

Sadly it's back to reality. We can't wait to go back up in the fall

Catch up - India, House, Garden...

We've been slacking on this blog - but for good reason. So many things are happening this summer it's hard to find time to just relax. Many of you already know Abhrajeet and I are going to be traveling around India for a month starting at the end of July. We will be arriving in Kolkata and traveling to Puri, New Deli, Mathura, Agra, Ahmadabad, Vadodara and Mumbai to name a few cities. Our travels will take us to some of the most important and oldest cities in the world.  We will be traveling and staying with Abhrajeet's family and family friends through out our entire trip. I tried to get a good base tan this past weekend at the cabin but we all know I will burn with my Minnesota skin. I'm looking forward to meeting more of Abhrajeet's family and finally being able to put a face to a name. Of course I will have my camera out the entire time to capture everything I can. Be sure to check back often for updates. If anyone has traveled to India recently let me know - I have plenty of questions.

Other news:

We have a house! Our karma couldn't be better. It's a little cottage style home, built in the 1920s in Minneapolis. It is absolutely perfect - I can't wait to begin decorating. It's close enough to the U of M for Abhrajeet's grad school and will be close enough to many graphic design firms. I could probably bike to work! We start moving in a few days after we come back from India. If you're in the area and are good/decent with a paint brush let us know. We would love the company.

Abhrajeet and I usually try to start a garden every summer but this summer it has really taken off. We have sun flowers, radish, bok choy, asparagus, tomatoes and some herbs. The photo was from the beginning of summer after we started the plants in pots. We dug out this entire section (man I wish I had a before photo) and added a barrier. You should see the plants now! I just hope everything is done right before we leave or when we come back. Much more gardening in our future.

Everything will be Okay

Before leaving for college four years ago Abhrajeet wrote in my yearbook "Everything will be Okay"

Those are the words I've lived by no matter what situation I've come across.

Now we're both back in Minnesota, planning our month long trip to India, can't wait to move into our new house and are spending time gardening and designing. Life couldn't be better. Everything turned out more than okay.

Grad School Celebration

Did we forget to mention that Abhrajeet got into the University of Minnesota's Biomedical Engineering Grad Program? Pretty exciting right?

Abhrajeet came home this weekend thanks to the grad program to get a tour. He was introduced to professors, other grad students and the labs he could be working in.  You should hear about all the exciting stuff happening at the U!  After a busy day touring we obviously hit up Tiger Sushi on Lyndale for happy hour.

I couldn't be happier with the way life seems to be going for us right now.
As a little congratulatory gift I designed cigar labels as a present.

May 18th, 2010 is the day that we will both be back in Minnesota for good ... that's only 77 days, but who's counting?

The weather couldn't keep me away...

Last weekend I flew down to Philly to visit Abhrajeet. It was quite an intense 2 1/2 day visit filled with celebrating my birthday, attending date night, seeing two mask and wig shows and being together for valentine's day.  (All of which haven't happened in the three years since we've been at college)

I was the most excited for date night. Each spring Mask and Wig hosts a night where each guy asks someone to accompany them to dinner, the show and to hang out in the clubhouse after. This year was my first date night and it couldn't have been better. - a huge thanks to Lee for scheduling date night around me.

Mask and Wig owns a building they use for spring shows that has a lot of history. It hasn't been used in two years because of repairs, a fire and unreliable contractors. This year, however, everything was complete and ready to be used. The Clubhouse looks fantastic. After members graduate and get into the grad club their character is painted on the wall with a peg to hold their stein. A grad can use their stein when they visit the club house. Once a grad member passes away their mug is chained to the wall. Such neat history and traditions.

As for the show... it was nothing short of amazing.  The guys write the show during summer, the band plays all the music, the crew makes the entire set and the business staff takes care of ... well, business. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS

Shirt

Abhrajeet and I aren't much for holidays but I couldn't resist making him a shirt with Studio Ghibili characters and using my new screen for Valentine's Day.

And to everyone I asked: yes, you can use normal fabric paint on your screen. It applies a bit differently (I spread it with a credit card instead of a squeegee) and make sure you wash the paint out of your screen ASAP!

Can't wait for more nights of wine, ice cream and great shows. 91 more days until we're done!

Valentine Cards

Valentine Day cards being sold for AIGA UW-Stout's Student Group

I'm in Stout's news! Check it out

I could not have been more thrilled when I received the phone call from Jerry, the new communications staff writer at UW-Stout about wanting to write a story about me and my past internship experience with CaringBridge.


The article can be found here, but is also below after the jump

Forever Yung

I am in love with old photos. Mostly because they tell stories of a life somewhat forgotten. On a recent trip to my Grandma Betty's I brought over my computer and scanner and asked for photos of my gram and grandpa. I scanned a ton of photos here are just my favorites. 

These are photos of my grandma at age 22, the same age I am. Pretty neat

 

 

 

[Betty and Lawrence Yung, 1946]

Trip to Pulp

I went down to Pulp Fashion in Stillwater to visit with Jen and Danie a few days ago. It was so good to see them after 8 months. Wow I can't believe it's been that long. With every one's life changes it's like 25 years flew by.

Two summers ago Danie and I helped out the Mara-mi gals finish their January 2009 line and did the mock-up and production work.  We worked on a ton of boxed cards and invitations. One of my favorite projects were these die cut, fold out cards. There was 4 different pattens/artwork from outside artists that we pieced together to create a seamless look.  Let me tell you they were a pain to cut each letter to see how they would look but they turned out wonderful. Jen said they even added some new pattern (the L and R have the polka dots and stripes that were added later).  It was great to see these in the store!

Jen spoils me rotten - she knew that I was in a sake kick and handed me a bottle of Sake2me Asian Pear. Delicious. (and of course Jen would get the pear flavor) she then handed me a bag with some great smelling perfume and these cute little meringue Mushrooms in it.

Can't wait to get together with them again soon!