Trip to St Louis Gateway arch

I was not so much excited to go for this Saint Louis trip, and not even sarvesh was educated well before going for the trip to view Saint Louis Gateway arch, Missouri and Meramec caverns. I definitely don’t have an idea of what we are going to see and I don’t have time to educate Sarvesh on what we are going to see in this trip. He was so eager to know about the place that we planned to go. Previously we have a plan to go for some water theme park, so that sarvesh will enjoy the trip, but for some reasons we dropped the plan and went to St. Louis to see the monument of arch.

First day we went to a grant farm, there we saw some farm animals and we missed elephant shows and parrot shows. Sarvesh enjoyed feeding milk to goats using feeding bottle. When he tries to give the milk for one goat, so many goats grabbed the bottle from him, and then he scared so much and dropped the feeding bottle down. But he enjoyed it. He was so happy, playing, roaming and talking with his friends about the animals. He saw some common animals that he saw when he was in India – cows, goats, buffalo, hen and much more. Before going to the grants farm, we went some of the zoos in Chicago, he saw so many animals but he worried so much that he didn’t even his favorite elephant in the zoos. But this time, he was so happy to see the African elephant in Grant’s Farm, that was so un expected for me. Overall Sarvesh enjoyed watching the animals in the Farm with his friends. Then we planned to go for the Gateway arch in Saint Louis for the rest of the day. 

I am not so much happy that we are going to see a beautiful arch. For me its just a building, whats there in it, not so excited, its just made out of bricks and stones. After we reached there, I’m so surprised, its so tall – 630 feet and 192 m, we all were trying to take photographs along with the kids standing near the arch. But its very difficult to cover the whole arch with the kids in the photo. Anyhow, I managed to take some photos of my son and husband. When we enter into the arch, sarvesh started asking a “n” number of questions, are we going inside the arch, and how we will reach the top of the arch. Even I donno what to answer, now I m so much eager to know how we will reach the top of the arch. When we enter in the arch (below the arch), there was a museum, which has some historic things, and there were some postings of happenings from the year 1820 till 1845. I was so much interested to read, but it will take one day for me to read the whole history. There was a cart, which can be pulled up by humans in the museum. Sarvesh showed so much interest to pull the cart, so the museum person allowed the kids to pull the cart from one place to another inside the museum. Sarvesh and his friends enjoyed pulling the cart and he asked to sign the book. Sarvesh wrote his name in the book.

Then we took the ticket to go to the top of the arch, we took south tram, I have no idea of what a tram  and how we will reach the observation deck of the arch. Before entering into the tram, they provided yellow cards for each of us, in that card, some number was mentioned, for us it s “6”, and I thought it would be like a lift and for each lift we have to wait and go. They played a movie on the gateway arch and EADs bridge which was build on 1867 that connects the St Louis and Illinois. The movie s casted for 15 minutes, it showed some historic happenings why the EADs bridge was built and they experimented the  bridge safety using an elephant, it seems that the elephant cannot step on any unsafe surface. 

Finally they showed why Gateway arch is built, it is the part of Jefferson National expansion memorial of st. Louis. In 1947, there was a national wide competition to design a monument in Saint Louis. It was Eero who won the contest with his gateway arch design, that’s how it started implemented in the year 1963 and completed in 1967. There was some mathematical calculations provided by Eero to prove the design. Sarvesh showed so much interest to see the movie about Gateway arch but I have no hope what he understands from the movie, and he was asking so many questions on arch to his daddy.

Then we went inside the tram which is numbered “6”, it’s a six seated, looks like a box or a lift, we sitted in each seat and enjoyed the travel from bottom to top, Sarvesh watched the steps and shouted, “mummy steps are there, can we go via steps” its very nice to travel in tram. And we reached the observation deck and viewed the city St.Louis , it looks so amazing in the night lights, I enjoyed viewing the river from top and sarvesh was so excited to view the buildings with lightings and he watched some police vehicles with blue and red lightings on the top of it from the observation deck and called us to watch it. It was so amazing for me that how he founded the police car from top. It is 630 feet high and 192 m. while we wait for the tram to get down, I felt some shaking in the arch, and even everyone felted the same, its all because of the air, its shaking and I enjoyed along with Sarvesh. There were some stunt happenings in the arch in 1980s and 1990s. when we get down from the top, I asked Sarvesh how it is, he told me that “we didn’t go to the top of the arch, you just made me fool, we went into some lift, no where I see the gray buidlings, its all black marbles inside.” Arch was gray outside and black inside, I told Sarvesh we went inside the arch , but not even listen to my words. I hope one day when he reads this blog, and he will understand where he went and what he enjoyed, that day is not so long.  In my next blog, I will post some happenings in meremac caverns, that I enjoyed with Sarvesh.

First visit to Niagara Falls

I am so excited to see one of the amazing places of the world with Sarvesh. Before starting to Niagara, I have to learn facts about Niagara to answer my son’s questions. Where we are going and how far it is from, what we are going to see, why it is called Niagara. My son is filled up with lots of questions of new place we are going to visit. We have planned to stay there for 2 days, snacks, water, cool drinks, and everything is packed well in advance. But Sarvesh asked why we are carrying all these, won’t we get these items in Niagara. It’s about 11 hrs. to reach Niagara from Chicago, Sarvesh thought it’s like travelling from Chennai to Coimbatore. Everytime he sleeps in the car while travelling, he asked me that if he can see Niagara after he wake up.

Sarvesh enjoyed the travel; worst part he didn’t like is to sit in the car for a long time. But he likes to talk to his friend – Akshaya for a long time, they both were talking for about one hour continuously, eat snacks for half an hour, and sleep for one hour, and fight for 2 hours. This becomes their routine tasks throughout the travel. I enjoyed watching Sarvesh each and every minute of his actions in the car, because this is the first time for me to travel with him in car for a very long time. We stopped at some service area for dinner and break, whenever we stopped in the service area, he asked “is this is Niagara?”

Sleeping, chatting and playing, we have travelled about 12 hrs and reached a beautiful place near Niagara Falls, a cottage near a lake, a lonely independent cottage near a very wide lake. We hardly seen one or two people in that area, if the kids shouted, it’s echoed with the water sound, such a nice place to stay. Sarvesh enjoyed the new place and climate and played happily with his friends.

We got ready and happy to see the beautiful Niagara Falls, once we reached there; we were allowed to see a short film on Niagara Falls – Niagara Adventure Theater.

Sarvesh was scared while watching the film, because they showed boat falling from Niagara Falls. He asked me what will happen if we fall from Niagara Falls. Hari explained the story of Niagara Falls to him; Sarvesh enjoyed hearing the stories and joys of Niagara Falls. I was so impressed with the Maid story and history of the Niagara Falls. I just try to remember some facts– European, French and then British. Finally 1885, Ontario government establishes Niagara National Park.  

Then, we were about to watch the Niagara Falls from the Observation Tower. Sarvesh was so much excited to view the falls from Observation Deck. He was so surprised to see Canada buildings, and asked me Canada is very near to US, Shall we go once. How can I explain the difficulties to reach Canada?

Then we showed him the rainbow bridge which connects two countries – US and Canada. Even we are so amazed to see the two country flags together in the rainbow bridge.

Then we went in the cruise to see the American Falls and Horseshoe falls. Sarvesh enjoyed the drizzling of the falls while travelling in the cruise. He told me that he felt like roaming in rain, and he was scared so much when the water falls heavily on him. He was so happy and enjoyed each moment during the cruise journey.

Then we went to watch the cave of the mist, there we saw American falls nearby and we enjoyed in the falls, Sarvesh was happy to see the rainbow dwindling in the falls. Rainbow mixed with the falls and it looked so wonderful, we missed to take a picture of that amazing nature dance. i didn’t even imagined that I will go to Niagara falls with my best pal – my son Sarvesh, and so happy to be with him in Niagara

Finally, we spend so much for a helicopter ride, first time helicopter ride for me and sarvesh. Helicopter view of Niagara Falls looks so awesome. 15 minute of flying in helicopter is a wonderful experience for us. Awesome Niagara trip with Sarvesh. 

First swimming class

 We have so confidently joined Sarvesh to swimming class but it’s very difficult to make him to listen to trainer. First day class, but we have to work hard for two days before the class to make him understand how the swimming class and what he should do and what he shouldn't do. “N” number of questions from him and “N” number of doubts from Sarvesh. Anyways we make him understand everything and finally we need to get the swimming suit for him. He was so happy about going to swimming class the next day, but a day before the class, we bought a swimming suit for him, once we got the swimming suit, he told us that he won’t go and if he goes also he will be scared to enter into the water and cry, he thought that the water will be too cold and never able to swim in that cold water.

I thought I am gone because Hari will scold me like anything because as we have paid one month fees in advance. I lost my confidence on sarvesh and I keep on telling him that the water will be warm and if you cry I won’t talk to you. I was telling that your friend Akshaya also coming to swimming class and she won’t cry for anything and she will listen and do whatever the trainer is telling , you also do the same whatever she does. Finally sarvesh told me that he won’t cry and he will listen what the trainer will be saying. With my finger crossed, I was waiting for that minute of first swimming class. I got up so early and class is at 9.15, everything got ready and Sarvesh’s friend Akshaya’s class started and she did a very good job, after seeing his friend, Sarvesh got some confidence and told me that he will never cry and listen to what the trainer will be saying.

That first minute of tension is at my face, Sarvesh entered into the swimming pool, and slowly the trainer asked him to pour water on his head with a cup. He was seeing me and not doing any activity that the trainer is teaching, I keep on telling him, “please Sarvesh do that, good very good, do , come on and you can do it and you will enjoy it” Finally he showed some interest and involved in the class and he never thought of seeing me and not so cautious about the water level. I saw that the trainer is giving Hifi to Sarvesh and saying that he is doing a good job. I was so happy about that and happy to hear from Sarvesh that he is so happy to go to swimming class every day. 

Best appreciation

From my childhood, whatever I do I expect an appreciation, the same expectation continues at this stage also. But at some stages of my life I realize that expectation leads to problems, bigger expectation leads to more problems. So I thought that I shouldn’t expect anything from anyone, so decided to do my best in whatever work I have been given in all aspects. If I cook, I try for different recipes that mix the traditional taste and a different taste.

But as a Mom I started appreciating my son for all activities, whatever he does, my dialogue is always this “Super Sarvesh, kalakura da, fantastic”. This leads to problem for him because he started expecting the same from his dad and also from his friends, but after he realize that he is not getting that appreciation from all, he felt so depressed and sometimes he cries. Is that very difficult to change kids mind to accept the reality?

Slowly I realize my fault and give him a true feedback about his work. And also I expect the same from him. One day, Sarvesh asked me to draw some cartoon characters; I told him that I didn’t draw for so long time and you should not cry if I didn’t draw properly. He said ok and I started drawing Dora and Buji, toy story Jessi, horse, and chota bheem. He started giving feedback for each character I have drawn. He said that Dora picture is ok but not that good as the horse, and he said that horse picture looks really good than all the pictures. I felt like that I got a best appreciation, that I didn’t even got from my parents, teachers, friends and my husband.  After giving feedback he said, all pictures are good, but I asked him “you only said that only horse picture is good”. Then he told “if I say other pictures are not good, you might feel sad, that’s y I said that all pictures are good.

I felt like flying in the air, how sarvesh is thinking at this age. Everything makes me remember my character, even I also do the same, whenever I speak, I’m more cautious about others feeling. But at some point of time, it’s not possible to think about other feelings.

I’m not a best cook but I am trying to become a good cook only by sarvesh’ feedback. One day, i was trying to make a vanilla cake at home, whenever I thought of doing, some thoughts blocked me. What would I do if I didn’t make it properly? What will be the feedback? Will I compel Sarvesh or my husband to eat that, if it is not good? But finally I have decided to do a cake, after I finish it, Sarvesh told me that it looks great and smells good. He has even asked for more and said “it is yummy Mummy, I want more”

I felt like as if I got award from a great man. This is the best appreciation for me forever and I’m trying to get more appreciation from him.

My Best Friend

Sarvesh makes me all time busy. Sometimes I felt like jobless, but he provides me so many jobs – a teacher, a chef, trainer, beautician, judge and so on. Initially one week I didn’t go out because I don’t like this place, only for Sarvesh’s priceless love for his dad, we came to Chicago. Whatever it is, wherever it is, for me heaven is always TamilNadu. I didn’t even imagine that I am going to be here for so long time and I am able to adapt to this new environment.

For any new place, it is very difficult for me and Sarvesh to settle down. But with so many conditions, he made up his mind that he has to be alone for some days. Slowly we started settled down, but its very difficult for him to forget about his grandma and grandpa- whom he used to play all time in Chennai. Because of Sarvesh I got new parents, his grandparents are my neighbor; they always consider Sarvesh as their own grandson. Sarvesh told me some stories about his grandparents. After hearing all the stories only I realized that how badly I missed all those occasions.

We play cricket, blow bubbles, painting colors, reading stories, writing alphabets and numbers, watching some interesting kids’ activities in youtube, watching Tamil movies, cooking some yummy foods, talking to his grandparents and roaming here and there. Finally we got to know some Tamil families in our locality. He got lot of friends to play, but winter season is the only worst part that makes him not comfortable to go out and play.

Some interesting activities make me so happy and felt like sarvesh is my best friend. With the worst climate I was sick for so many days; he helped me for so many small activities. Sarvesh’s  love gives me more strength. Whenever I cough, he asks me to take yellow color syrup and if I say that my stomach pains, he asks me to drink more water, whatever I do, he involves himself into that activity. I felt so happy that he cares me so much more than my dad.  These three months I felt like i have been loved so much by my son, for every sentence, he includes Mummy instead of Daddy. For the past 3 years, I felt so bad that he is not so attached to me and he never allows me to sleep behind him.

He talks and asks me so many questions, One day we both were watching a song (oru ponnu onnu na parathaen) from the film – kushi – he usually watched that song because he likes the toy characters which comes at the end of the song. He asks me who is that lady dancing with Vijay, I told him that is actor Surya’s wife Jothika, so that he won’t ask me next question. Suddenly, he asks me “she should dance with Surya right? Why she is dancing with Vijay”.

We went to Walmart to buy gift for his birthday, we searched some good toy car for him, he also finds some cars, whatever Car toy he took, its more costly, so we told him “Please Sarvesh take some other toy”, It took nearly 45 minutes to search a good toy for him. Then he says “Enna Mummy ethu eduthalum kasu kasu nu solaringae, neengalae edukangae nan eduka maetaen” (Whatever I take, you say its cost more, so better you take some car toy I won’t choose anything).

Daily evening, Sarvesh learns and write spelling for words, but he eagerly wants to know the spelling for Cars, Mcqueen, Mac, Angry birds, Power rangers, Chota Bheem, Batman, Toy Story, ice age and so on. Then only I realize how he is addicted to all the games, so I encouraged him to learn the spelling of the words that he likes most. He never likes to talk in English, if I talk and Hari talks, he says “Please Mummy, you know Tamil and I know Tamil, then Why you are talking in English”, Its very difficult for me to make him understand the importance of communicating in English, so I make him watch more Animation movies, then slowly he is so much interested to learn some basic sentences and ask me meaning for each new word he hears. He watch new movie and at night I ask him the story, he makes me sleep by telling the story. It’s a nice experience watching him narrating the story, but worst part is, he asks me again what he told, that’s very difficult to answer. It makes me remember that how I torture my friends by asking questions on the stories I told them.

For him, learning is a fun activity, he never takes learning as so serious, I watched that how he learns to write small letters, he also confuse his dad and laughs and distracts, he knows to write but he is not interested to do it. His dad asks him to write letter “b” but that ends up drawing an apple, he wrote “b” and “d” at the right side, and thus ends up drawing an apple.

Life with Sarvesh at the early stages makes me feel that my life is made up of Joy and happiness every day. never thought that I will get a best friend like him, and I wish this continues throughout my life. For me it’s very difficult to share his love even to his dad. Sometimes he annoys me more by asking more question and never behaves like a four year old son, so I shouted at him, for some hours, he won’t come to me , but after some time, I will go and ask “Sorry Sarvesh”, he says very cool, “that’s ok Mummy, I won’t cry”. That minute I felt like heaven, how he understands me, he never disturbs me anytime if I seems to be so busy, he asks “Mummy, can you play with me for some time, I feel so bored pleaseeee”  He knows two words to make us cool when he understands that me and Hari is not in a good mood- Sorry and Please. And now understand my biggest strength and my best friend is always my Sarvesh, no one can be so caring like him. 

First Flight Travel

Sarvesh is so excited to see his dad after 2 months. Whenever he saw flight, he asks when we will go in flight. He is so excited to travel in flight. But this time, it becomes too bored for him to travel long for more than 15 hrs. We have started on Dec 8^th early morning 4.45; Sarvesh has slept only for 3 hrs till 12.30, when we started from home, he woke up. He thought that it will take only 6-7 hrs and in the morning he will see his dad. But he lost his patience, waiting in a long queue for Immigration and security check. Wherever we go, he asked me to take him, but I unable to do, so I asked him Walk, initially he told me that he can’t walk but after some time, after seeing me struggling to take him, he said ok and walked. Sometimes I feel so comfortable travelling with Sarvesh; he makes the travel so easy. When we board the flight by 5.00, he was so excited to sit near the window, he opened the window and started seeing outside, and he started asking me so many questions, he saw the wings of the flight, and asked me “Why another flight is coming nearby our flight?”, and then he asked me “why there are so many snows in the sky?”

Then an airhostess came to our place and gave breakfast, sarvesh suddenly shouted like “mummy oru chicken biryani and chicken 65”. I was shocked and told him we won’t get all these here. It took nearly 2 hrs to make him eat breakfast, then he started watching movies, he himself started searching for animation movie, he took ice age 4 and watched for an hour, and then I wanted him to sleep for some time, but he was talking and talking, some of the US passengers spoke to him, he didn’t reply anything and slowly asked me in my ears “why they are looking so white, are they using baby soap or your soap?” I started laughing, thank god, they won’t understand Tamil.

Safely we reached Abu Dhabi at 7.40am, next flight is at 10.30am, so I thought of roaming around the airport, everything for the first time in my life new to me, I enjoyed it, so nice to be at abu dhabi for more than 30 minutes with Sarvesh. Then, realized its time to go for security check, very difficult part again, remove shoes, belts, watch, rings, bangles and take out laptop, again setting it. But sarvesh helped me a lot, if I left anything, he reminds me. He is so friendly, so childish, I enjoyed travelling with him. We were there for another hour, I started my timepass – FB, and gave him coloring books, he colored Dora and her friends.

On the way to our next flight, he asked me , “enna mummy, yeppa daddy pakka mudiyum”, I know the pain he faced for the past two months. He likes his daddy so much than me, morning he asked me whether daddy will come today and night he cries and say “ neenga enna yaemathuringae, yen eppadi pannaringa”. I still remember, when Hari started from india, Sarvesh cried in the airport “daddy nanum vaeran pls daddy” and he never stops crying till we reach home.

   

It was a nice experience for me to travel so long. Sarvesh enjoyed the travel, eating, sleeping, playing games and talking. Its not bored for me to travel with a chatter box Sarvesh. After we reach Chicago, again a long queue for immigration and now Sarvesh lost his temper and started crying, that was the tough time but thank god, an Indian women with a small kid standing before me, ask me to help to fill the I90 form, so he saw the kid and started looking at his activities, she asked to hold the baby bag, so I took it and sarvesh asked whether I can put on his shoulder for some time. Finally, we took all our luggage and searching for his dad. After seeing his dad, sarvesh seems to be so relaxed and happy.