Diesel shortages in India

Here's a fellow expat's news report about the diesel shortage in India. I believe it was filmed on the road going to our house. We usually see these long lines of buses in the morning waiting for their fuel. I guess fuel headaches are universal at this point! Click on the link below to see the report:

http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2008/08/25/neisloss.india.diesel.cnn?iref=videosearch

Meet Our New Neighbors

Behind our house


By our bedroom window

On other side of house

When we got back in August we realized we had new neighbors on all three sides of us. We were fortunate last year that we were surrounded by empty lots. However, Chennai is experiencing a housing boon and we are right smack in the middle of it. Over here, when a new home is built, a "village" literally moves in. Whole families set up shacks, huts, tents and live there while it's being built. We are now awakened by hammers, generators, smoke and lots of shouting orders pretty early in the morning. I guess growth is a good thing for Chennai but we miss our little bit of peace and quiet (and for those who live in Chennai you know that your home is your sanctuary!) I'll be very surprised if construction is finished before we leave...

School: Year Two

First Day of School
Zach grade 11, Emma grade 7

If we compared last year's first day of school picture(which I cannot locate at this moment!) with the one from this year we'd see that obviously both Zach and Emma seem happier this year. Last year was full of unknowns (people, school, culture, poverty...) This year is full of promise. They have come back to good friends, and the school and culture is no longer alien. As for the poverty (see my post about our new neighbors) that never goes away, we just accept as best we can and pray that there's a better way and thank God for all the bounty we are blessed with!