Moving across the world, and other adventures

Oh BOY. What a two months it has been. Early in November, we packed up, drove to the airport just when a toddler should have been settling in for the night, and flew for the next 24 hours from India to the US. I felt my hair should have been turning white through the flight, the stress was that intense. Flights that start at midnight should be banned on the basis of undue cruelty to parents.

Then we got to the US, and we were in transit at my brother's place (where most of my baby's toys and stuff were packed up and she was in completely unfamiliar territory) for a WHOLE month. Not a good idea, this. She was cranky and screen-addicted for nearly all of that time. Things were only mildly redeemed by the presence a a wonderful park close to home.

Meanwhile, I flew around the country, interviewed, got a job offer, negotiated and accepted it, and have JUST (as of like 2 weeks) moved to the east coast. Finally, we could unpack stuff and set up a kid's home for her. Her books reappeared, with her toys..so many balls! The effects were miraculous...a much happier child emerged, and the demands for screentime have gone down dramatically,

Overall, I am having such adventures. Moving back to the country after being out for 3 years creates all sorts of hiccups you just did not see coming. Driving after nearly 5 years has been interesting too. Buying a home's worth of stuff...yikes.

 I have been discovering all sorts of money saving strategies,for example, rebates for shopping! All sorts exist, apparently. This is one that I got on, that I was clueless about 3 months ago: Ebates: this one gets you cashback for diapers, retail shopping (GAP, Uniqlo, Bed Bath & Beyond, Guess, Sleepy's, Gymboree, you name it, it is probably in there), and this does really help a bit especially during holiday season. Now, if I am not making cash back off my credit card PLUS anywhere between 2-10% off online purchases, I consider that horrendous. What a strange wonderful world we live in! Btw, I am doing this sales plug because I totally make referral bucks off this, but this IS legit. About a 100$ back for holiday shopping is helpful balm indeed, when you open that credit card statement.

But anyway, coming back to tales of my life: I start work in a few days. Gauri starts her uber expensive daycare. I truly become a single parent in about a month (my dad is still here, and my mom just left): My family helped settle me in, and what was herculean otherwise just got transformed into mildly stressful and busy because of the group effort. Anybody who has a family like mine is lucky indeed.

But...greetings from the other side of the world! We made it!