It's the little things you never think about ...

Living here, we've had to change the way we handle our money.  Using a credit card is not only impossible in the markets but usually discouraged unless you're in a really reputable place.  In the 3.5 months we've lived here, we have only used our credit card twice.  We use cash for everything.  It's pretty much what the rest of India is doing as well so we don't feel out of place doing it too.

This brings me to the next point.  One must physically have cash on hand in order to spend it.  For the embassy people, this means using the ONE ATM on the embassy compound to withdraw money.  You can't be too trustworthy of ATMs out in the city due to security, not having cash in them, or scams.

Not having cash in them?  Yeah, turns out that doesn't just effect the ATMs in the city.

Stewart is on a business trip this week.  We were running low on cash so I asked him to withdraw some Rupees from the ATM while he was at softball practice at the embassy on Sunday.  He came home and told me that the ATM was out of cash.  No big deal, we would get cash in the morning before he left.  Just in case, I emptied out my wallet and gave him all the cash I had.

Monday morning - the ATM was still empty.  I felt bad for Stewart and hoped he'd be okay on his trip.  I figured I'd get cash that afternoon.

By Tuesday afternoon, it was still empty.

This creates problems when you owe money for a beef  delivery, have to pay your internet bill, and have to pay another deposit for an extra phone in your house.  "I'm sorry, I don't have any money" doesn't go over too well.

By this afternoon, I was starting to worry about making it any longer without a Rupee in my possession.  FINALLY, someone explained that I could write a check and get it cashed at Bank of America on the embassy compound.  *Previously, we were told you couldn't use BoA if you weren't a member - which takes two ridiculously long application forms, several photo IDs, and police background checks .... obviously we never joined.

I still feel bad for sending Stewart on a weeklong business trip with a total of $40 in Rupees.