Living in India, it's as easy as...

ABC... (almost)

A is for Accommodation – our quest goes on. Or should I say our Mission Impossible. Finding a flat in Delhi should definitely become a task on The Apprentice. We are now in Week 3 and have seen around 30+ places. The VSO mantra of flexibility and adaptability has been chanted repeatedly. We’ve been as flexible as the Chinese Olympic gymnastic squad, yet still the property gods deny us permanent accommodation. There is a slim to anorexic chance we may sign a lease tomorrow – based on previous experiences I’m not optimistic. On the positive side we have now moved to Temporary Accommodation #2 – and it’s a definite upgrade. The luxury of double beds, clean sheets and a TV is keeping our Positivity Rainbow shining!

B is for Brokers – to become a property broker in India you don’t need a qualification. You mainly need a mobile phone, motorbike/tinted windows on your car, hair gel and selection of faux diamond earrings. In desperation, we have been pimping our need for a flat across town. I have so many broker numbers in my phone that I could set up a broker’s union. The pinnacle of our search arrived earlier in the week when we turned up to view a property to be greeted by 4 guys on motorbikes. Word was out that 2 blondies were on the look out and in turn, we were the hot property.

By Day 2 they had upgraded to a Black Toyota Corolla with tinted windows, to drive us around in. By the end of the day we had been invited to a wedding, nightclubbing and our marriage status had been dully assessed. By Day 3 we thought they were dodgy so we went out with another broker. We avoided the Wide Boys for most of the day (pretty hard when you are the only white girls in the village...) then our luck was out and a Broker Face Off ensued. We both turned up at the same property, at the same time. Hiding behind the tinted windows of Broker #2 car, they approached us and we had to get out to advise them our relationship was over. All was resolved amicably between the brokers, I think the Wide Boys were more distressed there would be no opportunity for joining us in the Jacuzzi they had promised to find us in our dream property...!

C is for Cheese – one of the highlights of this week has been dairy based. Don’t get me wrong I love the curry. I will happily eat it every day but at times you just want a taste of home; red wine, decent chocolate and cheese. So there was great excitement between the volunteers when we heard one of the VSO staff’s partner was flying over from London with a suitcase of cheese. Just in time for a Christmas party on Saturday night. I cannot describe the atmosphere at the party. Eye contact and conversation was limited until the full spread was laid out. Buffet etiquette went out the window, we attacked the cheese like a wild pack of hyenas on heat. It was so good.

Highlights: Eating at least one ice cream based dish a day to keep our spirits up during house hunting (bring on the heat so I can justify eating two I say), being able to say in Hindi ‘chai without sugar’ to avoid my teeth rotting by January, Christmas Day menu planning (there’s rumours of buying a BBQ goat if we can’t get turkey – there goes the vegetarian vow...) finding a bottle of gin for only 100 rupees that doesn’t make you go blind (we’ve only had one bottle, not sure the effect of a few yet...)