Where are my people? Pune?

MaggieMae · Mar 19th, 2009, 00:52

I'm an American living with my family in India for a year. We've been in the country since October - spent roughly 4 months in Varanasi and now we're in Pune. My husband is doing research for a PhD in Buddhist History so we're moving around in order for him to study with various teachers.

Varanasi was insane and wonderful - I got over the culture shock fairly well and met some wonderful friends, both expats and locals. So sad to leave.

And now Pune - life is MUCH easier here, on a practical level, but I'm so lonely. I know there have got to be tons of expat families in the city, but for the life of me, I can't find them!

We're living in Erandawane, near Law College and Bahndarkahr Rds. My husband is doing research at Bahndarkar Institute so he really doesn't have colleagues to introduce us to. Neighbors are all lovely people, but busy or else non-English speakers. (My Hindi is pathetic and my Mararti is worse!)

Our kids (10 and 4) have joined 'coaching' at Tilak Tank and Baraht Guides/Scouts in Sadashiv Peth so they're making friends there and with kids in the neighborhood.

Just feels like I'm the only gauri for miles around, and the women I do meet don't seem too keen on making friends. I try, but after exchanging pleasantries, conversation fizzles.

Anyone out there in Pune? Anybody have ideas for places to go/things to do so that I could actually make a friend or two? Or better yet, anyone up for a park day with kids?

Hoping to hear from you all!
-Maggie

delhiwala · Mar 19th, 2009, 01:20

Have you tried Osho's commune in Koregaon ?

MaggieMae · Mar 19th, 2009, 01:32

umm, no. Osho is not really my thing at all. Any place that bans children is not the sort of place I'm going to try to hang out.

I had my fill of freaked out Westerners in Varanasi, and would like to avoid the seekers/backpackers/druggies from here on out, if at all possible.

(Please don't read that wrong - not trying to imply that all of the above are one in the same... just that, well, if you've been in India for any length of time you know the "type", don't you?)

I'm hoping to meet other moms, other families...

patilsushant001 · Mar 19th, 2009, 01:43

I work in Kalyaninagar.. I have a feeling that some families do stay in this area. Many times I happen to sight them with children. Not sure if they are tourists or staying for longer period

new_traveller · Mar 19th, 2009, 16:14

hey, welcome to pune. And I am smiling when you say life is MUCH easier here.
You probably need to take a drive on the law college road between 7-8 pm :-)

I dont have a suggestion on what you could actually do to make friends? it would all depend on you likings and areas of interest which you might have to share with someone to make him a friend. A lot of people would be busy during weekedays and I am sure you get time with your husband on the weekends so no point trying to find a weekend friend :-)
Try joining some morning/evening walk groups in a nearby area. e.g KNP - Kamala Nehru Park. there are a lot of groups who take walks together and have monthly get-togethers apart from the walktime. Maybe meet someone who can play badminton or table tennis in noons.
I really am clueless what your tastes or likings are.

poppetty · Jun 9th, 2009, 23:34

hello maggie..
we just recently moved back from the us of a. am interested in meeting expats, too bad the conversation has fizzled out.. would also be interested in picking your husbands brain about buddhism.. if you are still looking to make friends.. i wonder how we could connect..

rebeccanoecker · Jul 18th, 2009, 23:16

Hi Maggie et al,

I'm a young professional who just moved to Pune with my husband - and, although we don't have children, I'd definitely be interested in meeting new people just to hang out, see a movie, check out museums, and do other generally family-friendly activities.

Let me know if you're still looking for friendship - or if anyone else is!

Yours,
Rebecca

poppetty · Jul 29th, 2009, 18:34

hello rebecca
welcome to pune! hope you are settling in.. movies, museums all sound great! am looking make my own set of girlfriends, not just the people i meet through my husband (not a whole lot!), so we should try to meet up! i think though to send a personal message you need to post atleast 10 times..
thanks

rebeccanoecker · Jul 29th, 2009, 22:40

Hi Poppetty,

Great to hear from you - let's definitely plan to meet up. I'd very much like some girlfriends - you know, someone to see the movies with that my husband wouldn't be caught dead in.

Maybe coffee some evening? Should we just send eight more postings and then contact each other directly?

Looking forward to meeting you!

Yours,
Rebecca

poppetty · Jul 30th, 2009, 16:45

Hey Rebecca,
Coffee would be fine.. Man!I totally hear you.. I am a sucker for soppy love stories but cant seem to convince him to join me, not especially after I put him through movies like "The Devil wears prada" a while back. I can personal message you. You will need to post about 10 messages and then we could connect via pm's.
Thanks!

rebeccanoecker · Aug 2nd, 2009, 09:32

Sounds good. Alternately, my e-mail address is just my username @ gmail.com so if you want to send me an e-mail, that might speed things up.

Talk to you soon!

Yours,
Rebecca

Mar 19th, 2009, 00:52	#1
MaggieMae Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pune Posts: 13	Where are my people? Pune? I'm an American living with my family in India for a year. We've been in the country since October - spent roughly 4 months in Varanasi and now we're in Pune. My husband is doing research for a PhD in Buddhist History so we're moving around in order for him to study with various teachers. Varanasi was insane and wonderful - I got over the culture shock fairly well and met some wonderful friends, both expats and locals. So sad to leave. And now Pune - life is MUCH easier here, on a practical level, but I'm so lonely. I know there have got to be tons of expat families in the city, but for the life of me, I can't find them! We're living in Erandawane, near Law College and Bahndarkahr Rds. My husband is doing research at Bahndarkar Institute so he really doesn't have colleagues to introduce us to. Neighbors are all lovely people, but busy or else non-English speakers. (My Hindi is pathetic and my Mararti is worse!) Our kids (10 and 4) have joined 'coaching' at Tilak Tank and Baraht Guides/Scouts in Sadashiv Peth so they're making friends there and with kids in the neighborhood. Just feels like I'm the only gauri for miles around, and the women I do meet don't seem too keen on making friends. I try, but after exchanging pleasantries, conversation fizzles. Anyone out there in Pune? Anybody have ideas for places to go/things to do so that I could actually make a friend or two? Or better yet, anyone up for a park day with kids? Hoping to hear from you all! -Maggie

Mar 19th, 2009, 01:20	#2
delhiwala IM what IM Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Indeyah ! Posts: 4,813	Have you tried Osho's commune in Koregaon ? __________________ Travel only with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone. - The Dhammapada

Jun 9th, 2009, 23:34	#6
poppetty Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: pune, maharashtra, india Posts: 27	hope you're hanging in there.. hello maggie.. we just recently moved back from the us of a. am interested in meeting expats, too bad the conversation has fizzled out.. would also be interested in picking your husbands brain about buddhism.. if you are still looking to make friends.. i wonder how we could connect..

Jul 18th, 2009, 23:16	#7
rebeccanoecker Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 3	would love to hang out! Hi Maggie et al, I'm a young professional who just moved to Pune with my husband - and, although we don't have children, I'd definitely be interested in meeting new people just to hang out, see a movie, check out museums, and do other generally family-friendly activities. Let me know if you're still looking for friendship - or if anyone else is! Yours, Rebecca

Jul 29th, 2009, 22:40	#9
rebeccanoecker Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 3	Friends Hi Poppetty, Great to hear from you - let's definitely plan to meet up. I'd very much like some girlfriends - you know, someone to see the movies with that my husband wouldn't be caught dead in. Maybe coffee some evening? Should we just send eight more postings and then contact each other directly? Looking forward to meeting you! Yours, Rebecca

Mar 19th, 2009, 01:32	#3
MaggieMae Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pune Posts: 13	umm, no. Osho is not really my thing at all. Any place that bans children is not the sort of place I'm going to try to hang out. I had my fill of freaked out Westerners in Varanasi, and would like to avoid the seekers/backpackers/druggies from here on out, if at all possible. (Please don't read that wrong - not trying to imply that all of the above are one in the same... just that, well, if you've been in India for any length of time you know the "type", don't you?) I'm hoping to meet other moms, other families...

Mar 19th, 2009, 01:43	#4
patilsushant001 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Pune Posts: 218	I work in Kalyaninagar.. I have a feeling that some families do stay in this area. Many times I happen to sight them with children. Not sure if they are tourists or staying for longer period

Mar 19th, 2009, 16:14	#5
new_traveller Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: western india Posts: 132	hey, welcome to pune. And I am smiling when you say life is MUCH easier here. You probably need to take a drive on the law college road between 7-8 pm :-) I dont have a suggestion on what you could actually do to make friends? it would all depend on you likings and areas of interest which you might have to share with someone to make him a friend. A lot of people would be busy during weekedays and I am sure you get time with your husband on the weekends so no point trying to find a weekend friend :-) Try joining some morning/evening walk groups in a nearby area. e.g KNP - Kamala Nehru Park. there are a lot of groups who take walks together and have monthly get-togethers apart from the walktime. Maybe meet someone who can play badminton or table tennis in noons. I really am clueless what your tastes or likings are.

Jul 29th, 2009, 18:34	#8
poppetty Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: pune, maharashtra, india Posts: 27	hello rebecca welcome to pune! hope you are settling in.. movies, museums all sound great! am looking make my own set of girlfriends, not just the people i meet through my husband (not a whole lot!), so we should try to meet up! i think though to send a personal message you need to post atleast 10 times.. thanks

Jul 30th, 2009, 16:45	#10
poppetty Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: pune, maharashtra, india Posts: 27	friends Hey Rebecca, Coffee would be fine.. Man!I totally hear you.. I am a sucker for soppy love stories but cant seem to convince him to join me, not especially after I put him through movies like "The Devil wears prada" a while back. I can personal message you. You will need to post about 10 messages and then we could connect via pm's. Thanks!

Aug 2nd, 2009, 09:32	#11
rebeccanoecker Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Pune Posts: 3	Sounds good. Alternately, my e-mail address is just my username @ gmail.com so if you want to send me an e-mail, that might speed things up. Talk to you soon! Yours, Rebecca

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