Ever have a time in your life where so much is happening, it seems almost unreal? As I wrote my immigration form a few hours ago to re-enter India from Singapore, I declared my travels in the last 6 days – Singapore obviously, but also India for a day, before that the UK and Canada.
And why so much travel? The real reason combines the personal and the professional.
On the personal front…
Lots of different things however the real big news is… drum roll here… my partner and I finally took the plunge to sign a piece of paper in Winnipeg with a wee wedding at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. We knew from the moment we met over five years ago that we wanted to spend our lives together, however took our time to get to this stage of bringing our respective families together in celebration.
It still feels strange when folks teasingly call me “Mrs Smith” – a last name I am not adopting but respect completely. I apparently even accidentally hung up on a consulting associate who merrily greeted me that way! (in fairness, the call didn’t connect properly)
Within a week of being wedded in Winnipeg, I was on more planes and found myself in Singapore for some work related meetings. Which is only the tip of the iceberg so to speak as on the professional front as much has happened over the last few months:
- I was delighted to be back in Jakarta working on a project from September 2016 to December then back briefly in March and April 2017. Naturally this meant a few stops in Singapore in my crisscrossing back and forth between India and Indonesia…
- January and May were pre-occupied with India projects that enabled trips to Kolkata and Kochi – it had been years since I was in Kerela so that was a particular treat!
- February brought me to Delhi to co-facilitate a remarkable conference
- More is unfolding in the technology space with the India company association… plus some new developments brewing that seem particularly exciting!
Beyond the personal and professional, everyday life in India inspired a few amused cribs about:
- Ready or not, July 1st introduces India’s Goods & Services Tax with some absurd moments and migration migraines from Service Tax to GST
- After a couple of years of effort, I finally successfully withdrew my last Indian Provident Fund. If ever anyone has tried to do this – foreigner or Indian – you will understand this is NOT necessarily a simple process!
- After even more effort, a weird system error was finally corrected so that the Indian government was finally convinced I actually had paid my taxes in 2009. Really… honestly… I did… it only took 8 years for them to admit it!!
- We also learned to survive the aftermath of November 2016’s demonetization in which cash was temporarily dethroned
So from newly wedded bliss, professional developments, to the everyday follies in India, life continues to be an amazing adventure!
There you have… a bit of insight into what’s really going on…
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Everyday Asia 
And… Miss Zoe?!? Has she no news? 😉
Congrats!!!!
I’m moving countries today… consider it my feeble effort in keeping up with you!
She does actually! Has a male companion – Quantum – who is with us for a couple of weeks. An absolute sweetheart cat… they have shifted past “Who are you??” to wary to tolerance to now playful cohabitation in just a couple of days. 🙂
Quantum? Coz he does the hugest leaps??
Straight into your heart!! He’s a big fellow, former tough Mumbai street cat who was rescued in quite rough shape, given a stable loving home and now is such a gentle soul you can’t help but adore him to bits.
And all the best with your move!!!
Wow Carissa, my head is spinning! But most importantly – congratulations on your marriage! May the two of you have (continue) a wonderful life together.
Alison
Thank you!!! It’s been a great ride so far and looking forward to seeing where life takes us. 🙂
Congratulations
Thanks!
Congratulations!! And you’ve been definitely busy these past months!
Haha! Yup! With much mischief and merriment thrown in for good measure. 🙂
Congratulations!! So much excitement personally and professionally. All the best to you, Carissa!
Thank you!!! It’s been a busy few months but worth every bit of effort. Am now looking forward to a bit of downtime back home in Mumba. 🙂
Congratulations you both! You certainly had a lot of things going on in the past months
Yup… but sounds like its the same for you too!!!
Oh indeed but somehow it did not feel that “hard” somehow
Congratulations Carissa! May you two have even memorable years ahead!
Many many thanks!!! 🙂
Nice post
Congratulations for the wedding
Thanks!!
Congratulations on finally taking the plunge! All best wishes to you both 🙂
Many thanks!!