tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84597895397612679332024-02-22T05:03:38.071+05:30Gora Desi in DelhiFollow Scott's Adventures in India. An American Expatriate, I've been Delhi based since June 2008.shelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.comBlogger239125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459789539761267933.post-37697744739063624912010-09-03T19:30:00.002+05:302010-09-03T19:32:20.743+05:30Funny Indian CommercialI had to awake from my posting slumber to bring you this great commercial. It really made me laugh. You have to love the agency for putting this one together.shelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.com60tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459789539761267933.post-73436823998204533242010-05-02T18:21:00.002+05:302010-05-02T18:29:01.358+05:30Being a Gora Desi in EuropeWell Folks, it has been quiet on here for a while. My apologies. The Gora Desi moved in January. I am not living and working in France.Sally & I moved here over the Christmas Break, as Sally started her MBA at Insead. I don't want anyone to think I've forgotten about India - don't worry I haven't. As luck would have it, our apartment here in Fontainebleau was left stocked with Desi Pure Ghee,shelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459789539761267933.post-72752505077214231212009-10-08T22:02:00.003+05:302009-10-08T22:06:46.051+05:30More JugaadI found this Bicycle cum Moped cum Flat Bed truck in DLF corporate park today.shelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459789539761267933.post-25746775025951670502009-09-22T15:56:00.002+05:302009-09-22T16:00:48.459+05:30Sarah Palin Selling Contact Lenses look at the top left corner.shelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459789539761267933.post-41063591751056354742009-09-15T19:56:00.008+05:302009-09-15T20:31:09.187+05:30#6 Labor Arbitrage???Everyday I drive past hundreds of businesses taking advantage of the Global Labor Arbitrage situation here in Delhi. Businesses across Delhi NCR (National Capital Region) thrive on the cost savings they can offer their customers (or their corporate offices) by employing high skilled workers at a dramatic cost savings.This is a hot topic in America, one that is debated constantly in the press. Is shelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459789539761267933.post-80522018648576743652009-09-14T10:34:00.002+05:302009-09-14T11:00:25.972+05:30#5 - Trust Your StaffTrust is an interesting thing to have learned while in Delhi. As I've alluded to before, living in Delhi can afford you some luxuries. For instance, a driver, a maid, home pick-up and delivery of your ironing (press wala). But with each of these people we employ, there is an element of trust. This morning we learned that we can't trust one of our employees.Last night, Sally and I stayed in and shelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459789539761267933.post-89815836758643104442009-08-26T19:53:00.001+05:302009-08-26T21:31:35.950+05:30Merry Christmas IndiaI spotted this little fellow on the way to the office last week... In August.shelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459789539761267933.post-49175862690152712842009-08-26T09:20:00.013+05:302009-08-28T15:25:59.085+05:30#4 The Meaning of JugaadYou only need to exit a plane at Indira Gandhi International Airport to begin noticing the ingenius solutions Dilli-walas have come up with to solve problems such as leaky faucets or broken down vehicles.These ingenius solutions are referred to as "Jugaad" by most Dilli-wallas. It sometimes feels as if these 'duct tape' solutions keep this country moving forward. Here are a few funny & shelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459789539761267933.post-36463054551291486402009-08-25T17:59:00.003+05:302009-08-26T10:36:08.137+05:30#3 - The Importance Of Giving BackWOW - it has been a long time since I got on my soapbox and let my readers into my life here in Delhi. It has been a busy couple of months since my visit to the US. It has been both good and bad.If I'm being entirely honest, it has been a rough couple of months. There is an old story that is often shared regarding the frog in a pot of boiling water. The story says that a frog who enters the pot shelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459789539761267933.post-29759613732096227762009-06-26T04:55:00.002+05:302009-06-26T04:56:31.484+05:30Unplugged.St. Patricks Day, originally uploaded by shelmes.I've been unplugged for two weeks now. I leave for Delhi again on Saturday - but until then, you can find me on the streets of Chicago.Don't worry - I have 28 more posts to go on my first year in India. But for now, soak up the view in my hometown.shelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459789539761267933.post-44126851243744266302009-06-05T16:56:00.004+05:302009-06-05T17:27:03.425+05:30#2 - Sometimes, Smaller is Better.The first thing you notice when you go to a fruit & veg market in Delhi, is how small all the fruit and veg look. Bell Peppers are barely the size of a women's fist, onions are half the size of US, and tomatoes come in one variety (mostly).Frankly, I was a bit disappointed on my first shopping experience. None of the veg looked particularly tasty. Frankly - it looked a lot like the leftovers shelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459789539761267933.post-73228069240329787832009-06-04T12:25:00.010+05:302009-06-04T14:39:04.482+05:30#1 - The Value of a DollarAs most of you know, I'm an American. To be more specific, I'm a 29 year old male, raised in an upper middle class suburb, who traded in his 19th floor condo in Chicago's River North neighborhood to move to India about a year ago.Full Disclosure: I moved as an expat with my company & have been sheltered even here. I'm not living the Peace Corps lifestyle or anything.The town I grew up in shelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459789539761267933.post-74969511561436085622009-06-04T12:20:00.005+05:302009-06-04T13:41:32.054+05:3030 Things: Observations on 1 Year in DelhiToday is my 1 year anniversary of living in India. I want to take a few moments and reflect on the year, piece together my thoughts on living here as a quiet observer of Delhi lifestyle. I can't promise this will be the most profound list of things I've learned about myself, India, or life - but it is sure to make you smile.So, with that, June 4, 2009 - my 366th day in India. Time to start shelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459789539761267933.post-44879006846082653292009-05-14T11:44:00.004+05:302009-05-14T11:59:50.057+05:30De-Worming...Someone commented on my prior post regarding the Pig Po, which made me realize I hadn't shared another disturbing, but mostly funny story about India.Some time back, Sally developed a terrible rash on her hand. The rash started innocently enough, a few bumps between her fingers, but soon spread across her palm. Before long, her entire hand felt like a basketball & was bright red. Needless to shelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459789539761267933.post-6903897343242677552009-05-12T23:45:00.006+05:302009-05-13T00:37:19.618+05:30Beef in DelhiOk, so I hate to admit this, but for the last 2 weeks I have been eating an unidentified meat. The label lists it as Ground Lm Tender Lion (yes, lion - not loin). However, when cooked it tastes, looks and smells exactly like beef.I am not an idiot, I do realize how stupid I sound saying I've been eating an unidentifiable meat. And that just sums up living in India as an expat. What you thought shelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459789539761267933.post-85935145615624765562009-05-06T23:45:00.012+05:302009-05-07T10:51:29.108+05:30It's Electric!I am sorry for the deluge of photos today, I finally had a chance to gothrough my phone & pick out a few of the winners. This is another of myfavorites.At the end of our block is an ICICI bank atm. I happened to notice the other day that there was a large poster behind the ATM with instructions on how to treat an Electric Shock.After reading the poster, I began to wonder. Have people who've shelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459789539761267933.post-43735683118939607162009-05-06T18:35:00.002+05:302009-05-06T18:40:35.470+05:30When clean just won't do...shelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459789539761267933.post-16247320812552156032009-05-06T18:23:00.002+05:302009-05-06T18:26:44.042+05:30What Not To Do:If you encounter an office fire, I highly recommend you not follow the directions posted in DLF Corporate Park (pay attention to the third item):shelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459789539761267933.post-81874586291773506332009-05-06T16:20:00.004+05:302009-05-06T18:34:38.026+05:30Best Car Ever!shelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459789539761267933.post-3277043702227788862009-05-05T11:09:00.011+05:302009-05-05T12:01:00.304+05:30Amigo Was Robbed!I struggle to understand how Times of India can release a book of restaurant reviews & seriously label TGI Fridays as the best Tex-Mex restaurant in Delhi. Did the reviewer get a personal check from TGIF for this honor? Amigo GKII, you were robbed. Editors Note to Amigo: Don't get too excited, I'm not saying you cook mexican food like Rick Bayless, but you certainly perform better than anyoneshelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459789539761267933.post-24304355229644197902009-05-04T13:25:00.003+05:302009-05-06T23:52:24.266+05:30I now know why Indians are better at math than AmericansOk, no shocker here. Generally speaking, Indians test better than Americans in Math.In America, we are told it is because of the rote math lessons that the educational system favors here in India. This sounds convincing enough, and manages to make the American Education system sound progressive. Rote methods are inferior, we are told. So, if India favors rote methods - and America favors highly shelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459789539761267933.post-46495313610876054762009-05-03T18:42:00.003+05:302009-05-03T18:56:02.811+05:30United Customer Care Gets It Wrong. No one is surprised.From time to time I deviate from the general theme of the blog to vent. This is one of those times. It seems that every chance I have to interact with a US Airline leaves me with a headache & an hour of time wasted on the phone.Today, Sally and I went to book tickets from Chicago to Savannah in June. We are spending two weeks stateside to visit the family, and decided that it was more fun to shelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459789539761267933.post-83064957160322034142009-05-01T08:14:00.005+05:302009-05-01T08:43:24.695+05:30Back From The DeadWell, I've fallen off the map for a while, sorry about that. It has been extremely busy for me for the last 2-3 months. But thankfully, I've been compiling blog post ideas and am ready to hit the ground running. So, stay tuned over the next few weeks & I'll try to keep my end of the bargin up!More Yuni-Net Ridiculousness:I've previously mentioned Yuni-Net, a yahoo group of expats & shelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459789539761267933.post-26031333142209865732009-04-13T18:10:00.002+05:302009-04-13T18:14:25.373+05:30Lie Flat Seats In A Car?Yep, sure enough - Mahindra Xylo features lie-flat comfort! Their advertisement campaign also features a television commercial showing the tray table for in-car dining. While I admit to wishing I had a lie-flat seat during the morning rush on NH-8, the positioning on this car seems all over the place. On the one hand, it is a luxury car with all the comforts a busy executive could need. However, shelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459789539761267933.post-71892012338131831982009-04-04T11:33:00.002+05:302009-04-04T11:37:48.887+05:30Only in DelhiImagine my surprise to find this man running through Chanakyapuri recently. I made my driver come back around so I could capture video of him. Only after turning to Youtube.com did I realize he was already famous.shelmeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09916208413503713696noreply@blogger.com2