Well, we finally made it Mumbai! After 2 very long plane rides, complete with delays, we arrived Thursday morning at about 12:30. We were greeted by the school's administration team and many support members who swept up our luggage and delivered us to our flats. I was thrilled to learn that we would be living in Kiara Building! Many teachers and their families live in that building, including a family with a boy Tully's age and another one year older. Our flat is nice and big...3 bedroom, 3 bath (actually one of the baths has the washer and dryer in the shower area) with beautiful marble floors! The view from every window is absolutely amazing! Lush greenery out every window! From Tully and Larani's windows, we can watch the little girls walking to school in their uniforms to Petite Girls School.
ASB has been so incredibly supportive with our transitions. They have taken us to dinner every evening, had a driver pick us up and deliver us and provided a very generous settling in allowance that is helping us to get the items we need to set up our new home. They have also arranged a variety of shopping events, from local markets to Phoenix Mills mall.
On Friday, we made our first visit to ASB and had our first New Teacher Orientation Session. After a very inspirational introduction from Superintendent, Craig Johnson, we toured the school, had lunch on an open air patio (there was an amazingly cool breeze blowing to ward off the heat!) and then attended a business fair set up by the school in the multi-purpose hall (MPH). The school had arranged to have the following vendors there to help us settle in and to accomplish important business!
*Bank-we signed up for our checking accounts. Hmmm...how much in Indian Rupees and how much to go to US bank in dollars?
*Loop Mobile-while we can't get a phone until we have registered with FRRO, we did find out that the cost of our plan will just be deducted from our pay. No bill to pay!
*Medical-Dr. Ajit is the school physician and he is in the school on Friday's. We have his personal number and can call at any time. I have an appointment with him on Friday morning to take him my medical record. He is going to provide me with the name of a cardiologist and help me get an appointment made at the Asian Heart Institute.
*Passport Photos-you need multiple copies of your passport photo for official business here in the Maximum City, such as FRRO, shipping, etc. They took our picture and made a bunch of copies, should we go off and forget the ones we had made prior to our arrival. (speaking from experience on this point!)
*House help-the school had binders full of resumes and letters of recommendations for Nannies, Maids, Cooks and Drivers. We have already arranged for house help, but the phone number I had for Monica is not working. I have several people working on getting her correct number. I am SO ready for her to start!
*Reimbursement!-We filled out forms and turned in receipts for expenses incurred over the last few months. The school is reimbursing the following costs: visas, medical (shots/physical), air travel, and costs related to our trip to Memphis and the laptop institute.
*Cash Distribution- WHAT? Yes, cash distribution. We were able to pick up our 2nd envelope of settling in money for the weekend. We plan to use ours for a TV (primarily for movies and Tully's video games...at this point, we are not subscribing to cable) and bedding/household items.
*Weekend Excursions- we were able to sign up for a different dinner option for each weekend night. One of those nights would be dinner at the Superintendent's home. There were also options for shopping. Pali Market, Phoenix Mills Mall and of course, our trip to FRRO!
*Shipping-I met Gulnaz, our representative from IGL, the shipper we selected. What a sweet, lovely lady! She informed us that our shipment was expected to arrive in port on July 31 (that means it should be here! Yay!) and will take 8-10 days to clear customs. Tully is hoping they don't confiscate the 14 Nerf guns he shipped!
*Tablet distribution-Each teacher is provided an amazing laptop that converts to a tablet. Mine is touch screen and I am working hard at getting used to it! They also provided us with a jump drive that provides internet until they can get to our flat to install internet.
From the minute I signed my contract at UNI in February, I had a peace about our decision to come to Mumbai and be a part of the American School of Bombay. Since that time, that decision has been affirmed over and over. I cannot imagine another school anywhere in this big, wide, wonderful world that could possibly be any more supportive than ASB! No doubt- we definitely made the right choice!
ASB has been so incredibly supportive with our transitions. They have taken us to dinner every evening, had a driver pick us up and deliver us and provided a very generous settling in allowance that is helping us to get the items we need to set up our new home. They have also arranged a variety of shopping events, from local markets to Phoenix Mills mall.
On Friday, we made our first visit to ASB and had our first New Teacher Orientation Session. After a very inspirational introduction from Superintendent, Craig Johnson, we toured the school, had lunch on an open air patio (there was an amazingly cool breeze blowing to ward off the heat!) and then attended a business fair set up by the school in the multi-purpose hall (MPH). The school had arranged to have the following vendors there to help us settle in and to accomplish important business!
*Bank-we signed up for our checking accounts. Hmmm...how much in Indian Rupees and how much to go to US bank in dollars?
*Loop Mobile-while we can't get a phone until we have registered with FRRO, we did find out that the cost of our plan will just be deducted from our pay. No bill to pay!
*Medical-Dr. Ajit is the school physician and he is in the school on Friday's. We have his personal number and can call at any time. I have an appointment with him on Friday morning to take him my medical record. He is going to provide me with the name of a cardiologist and help me get an appointment made at the Asian Heart Institute.
*Passport Photos-you need multiple copies of your passport photo for official business here in the Maximum City, such as FRRO, shipping, etc. They took our picture and made a bunch of copies, should we go off and forget the ones we had made prior to our arrival. (speaking from experience on this point!)
*House help-the school had binders full of resumes and letters of recommendations for Nannies, Maids, Cooks and Drivers. We have already arranged for house help, but the phone number I had for Monica is not working. I have several people working on getting her correct number. I am SO ready for her to start!
*Reimbursement!-We filled out forms and turned in receipts for expenses incurred over the last few months. The school is reimbursing the following costs: visas, medical (shots/physical), air travel, and costs related to our trip to Memphis and the laptop institute.
*Cash Distribution- WHAT? Yes, cash distribution. We were able to pick up our 2nd envelope of settling in money for the weekend. We plan to use ours for a TV (primarily for movies and Tully's video games...at this point, we are not subscribing to cable) and bedding/household items.
*Weekend Excursions- we were able to sign up for a different dinner option for each weekend night. One of those nights would be dinner at the Superintendent's home. There were also options for shopping. Pali Market, Phoenix Mills Mall and of course, our trip to FRRO!
*Shipping-I met Gulnaz, our representative from IGL, the shipper we selected. What a sweet, lovely lady! She informed us that our shipment was expected to arrive in port on July 31 (that means it should be here! Yay!) and will take 8-10 days to clear customs. Tully is hoping they don't confiscate the 14 Nerf guns he shipped!
*Tablet distribution-Each teacher is provided an amazing laptop that converts to a tablet. Mine is touch screen and I am working hard at getting used to it! They also provided us with a jump drive that provides internet until they can get to our flat to install internet.
From the minute I signed my contract at UNI in February, I had a peace about our decision to come to Mumbai and be a part of the American School of Bombay. Since that time, that decision has been affirmed over and over. I cannot imagine another school anywhere in this big, wide, wonderful world that could possibly be any more supportive than ASB! No doubt- we definitely made the right choice!
What an adventure. My head would be spinning. Thanks for the update, looking forward to hearing more from India.
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