Dealing with change

As we cross the 2 month mark since our move to Calgary, I thought I’d take stock of what has changed. In a nutshell it’s almost everything – naturally with such moves comes big changes. Apart from stating the obvious – change in routine, new friends, new colleagues (for Sharan), new city, here are my top 3 changes and top 3 new things we have started after our move (no order of preference in either category)

Changes:

• Making use of free time:
  We finally have time over weekends and some weekdays to do things. It may be small things like watching TV (yes we never watched TV in India – except when there was a tournament we follow, or bring home a DVD) or writing regular blog posts. We have also managed to walk regularly, and go on hikes over weekends, something we always wanted to do but never found time out of our errands, chores, visits, hosting, etc. Since it’s a new place, we also have time to explore the place
• Cooking:
  Since our cook did most of the cooking, cooking was limited to weekends when we didn’t go to folks’ house and had parties (and we weren’t ordering out). Even then, the cook was around to help with the preparation (cutting vegetables, grating coconut, making batter, etc) and more importantly cleaning after cooking. We are enjoying (re)learning cooking. Sharan tries a new recipe almost every weekend. I’ve been sticking to basics of Konkani and Kota Brahmin food though. We need our regular dose of regular south Indian food – sambars, rasams, dals. But that’s fine as it simple but yet scrumptious. Sharan has also been able to pack lunch which is great.
• Enjoying bland food:
  It’s true. We’ve conquered this competence (yes it is one). We’ve eaten out once a week on an average and seem to enjoy the food here. The only difference being it is bland - but flavorful, mind you. Even while cooking I have reduced green chilies (8 to 2). I also cooked with just half a chili when Sharan’s colleagues came over for dinner and the food tasted quite right. Golly! I’ve changed

New habits/ conduct

• Black coffee:
  I’ve always wanted to be able to drink any kind of coffee/tea but in vain. Nothing compared to the good old south Indian filter coffee. Initially I could have only coffee with jaggery – not even sugar coffee. Slowly I got accustomed to coffee with sugar. But that stuck on. I actually carried a filter and coffee powder from home during my UK stint a few years ago. I slowly learnt to enjoy a Cappuccino (came closest to strong milk coffee) or an occasional latte thanks to the numerous visits to coffee day, java city or barista cafes while dating Sharan.
  
  Tea was worse – I never could stand its taste. I used to have the milky tea made at someone’s house but it was more out of politeness. I used to just gulp it down and get over with it. Soon after marriage, realized Sharan and his family were obsessed with drinking tea. I had to and learnt to make tea – with lots of water and wee bit of milk. It actually tasted fine. So I got over this hurdle. I love tea now.
  
  So, the only “type” left to love was black - I’ve passed over this after coming here. It all started with our initial days here in Calgary. Since the kitchen wasn’t set up, we used to visit a diner nearby for breakfast (called Nellie’s). Just got hooked on to their black coffee – it’s brilliant. So now I not only can have but also thoroughly enjoy my black coffee (no milk, no sugar) in the morning or anytime.
• Dealing with cold/snow:
  As they say – it’s all in the mind. Honestly. I’ve been mulling over this ever since our Calgary move got finalized. Sharan said I had to deal with it – one way or another. I couldn’t reject the cold. I would be miserable and would hate the move. The whole point of learning to live in a new place would get lost. I keep telling myself that
  a) its not really that cold
  b) winter will be far worse
  I’ve managed quite decently so far. Ask Sharan. Yes I’ve felt cold no doubt. But I have just stopped making a big deal of it. Just layer myself and get on with it. Dealing with extreme dryness is another matter. Gosh – with the amount of static generated, we may have alternate means of electricity around here.
• NFL/CFL:
  We have started following NFL for 2 reasons:
  a) It’ll give us something speak about with people here.
  b) Its really interesting. Like football (or should I now start saying soccer)
  Come on Calgary Stampeders!
• Sharan’s new look:
  Those who know Sharan, know that he had a ‘virgin mush’. I always wanted to see how he looked without one and obviously I never got the privilege. In some arbit moment he had agreed to shave off his mush if we moved abroad, so that way he’d have lesser people to deal with. Haah! How could I forget such things? I promptly reminded him once we moved, and so he very sweetly obliged.
  
  Which “version” of him do I like? I must admit the resemblance to Siddhu (his brother) is more than ever now. I refused to go near Sharan initially J But frankly mush was never a/the factor for me so it was just a matter of getting used to his new look. But folks and friends have been giving feedback. His new look seems to be more popular.
  
  I know I mentioned at the beginning of this post that there will be a top 3, but can’t help having a 4 top 3s in this case.

So we have another 10 months to go. Should see what else we’ll do - Cross country skiing? Rodeo? Or fast food junkies!