The first thing I noticed was the organization. It actually annoyed me. There was empty space and it seemed odd and a bit wasteful. As I stood in lines I kept anticipating people to move in and fill in the gaps. They never did and I felt like we would never get anywhere like this.
Where I live there are about 18.4 million people…that’s about 24,000 people/sq mile. They know how to make the most of space.
The next thing that got me was the silence. It was soooo quiet it felt eerie….like in the movies when something bad is about to happen….that kind of feeling. I guess that doesn’t come just from being overseas. I grew up in a 3 bedroom house with one bathroom along with 7 other people on a regular basis. Sometimes that grew to 8, 10 or 14 on the holidays. Currently I’m staying in the house I grew up in and there have been as little as 5 people staying there to 10 people. Silence, space and privacy aren’t something I’m use to. Being in India takes me back to how I grew up as a kid. My college years (even in the dorm) and the years following were rare years of having my own room, my own bathroom, and sometimes my own apartment. I never had to share the bathroom with more than 4 people. In India I have a balance because my public life is crowded but I have my own place all to myself.
It has been the strangest thing to be able to brush my teeth in the tap water and drink it. It made me feel giddy at first but now it seems kind of gross.
The beds and pillows here are so soft. I have been spending extra time enjoying the coziness.
The first day I woke up to an odd sound that I couldn’t place…a lawnmower! I never noticed that they were missing until I heard it again.
Having unlimited access to Dr Pepper and Tex Mex has made it feel like Christmas has come early. I’m enjoying the sacredness of the cow. It is sacred here but just in a different way. The portions are killing me…well, maybe not killing me but definitely increasing my waistline.
Driving! It’s been an awesome experience to be behind the wheel again, especially in a truck. I definitely know I am back in Texas. I’ve had to make some adjustments even though I never drove in India. I’ve been a bit disoriented about which side of the street to drive on sometimes. I probably have seemed a bit rude to others as I have kindly butted my nose into any space I have wanted. Those darn lines…why do we drive between them. I am glad there are more rules here and people follow them but sometimes it does seem a bit excessive. I am thankful for the lack of honking. The lack of honking (noise in general) and people makes it feel like I’m living in a ghost town sometimes.
I walked out in front of a car in the parking lot and held up my hand….a little reminder: cars don’t respond to that here.
The first few times I went out to eat with my family I kept giving my dad my order and expecting him to order for me. He was gracious and kindly reminded me I could order for myself=) In India, usually if a man is present he orders for the entire table.
I tried to go swimming with my nieces and my sisters and couldn’t do it. I felt naked in shorts and a t-shirt. There wasn’t any way I was going to swim in front of men in public in just a swimsuit. I’ve been able to wear shorts in public since that moment but no less and not that often. I feel daring wearing Capri pants.
There are some things I appreciate having more choices…cereal, cheese, meat, food in general. Still too many choices give me anxiety and render me unable to make a decision. Good thing my mom has been great at giving me limited choices and changing them up so I can enjoy things without having to go and face the grocery store. I have to have an idea of what I want to eat before I go somewhere or I stare at the menu forever it seems like. I finally had to make a list of places I want to eat for when people ask me where I would like to go. Most things are overwhelming. My goodness, how many types of shampoo and toothpaste can there be! Don’t get me started about TV stations. I can never figure out what to watch. Good thing the World Cup is going on.
I greeted some Muslim people in their tradition greeting out of habit. The smiles that followed the shock were priceless.
I must say I have been disoriented and can’t tell time since I’ve been here. I never hear the call to prayer or temple bells or the sound of the man who picks up paper or sells fruit and/or veggies. I used to be punctual (actually always early) but now am habitually late or right on time. I keep thinking that life here moves way to fast. People expect to get way too much done in one day than they should. Why are stores open so early? People go to bed so early here. I like the late nights and not so early mornings back in India.
I’m enjoying being back around Hispanic and African-American culture. It makes me very happy. I also can’t get enough Country Music. We certainly do have our own culture here and I miss some of that.
Believe it or not I miss bucket baths and bathrooms that can be totally covered in water. I have burnt my hand with the hot water on multiple occasions. Not use to having an actual cold water-hot water system.
I must say the best part of being back here is the weather. Yes, it has hit 100 F (38 C) and the humidity has made the heat index 105 F (41 C) but it hasn’t hit 116 F (47C)—yet. That’s what August is for. By then I hope to be back to post-monsoon weather. Here I have unlimited A/C. The power hasn’t gone off once. I don’t have to worry about pumping my water or there being a water shortage. WooHoo! I get to leave my A/Ced house and get in my A/Ced car and go into the A/C ed store. It’s going to be rough going back. I must admit that most of the time I’m freezing my butt off here in all this A/C.
What’s coming back to Texas during hurricane season and not having one hit? Thank you Alex for the nice rains from your outer bands which have cooled things off a bit.
It was an unexpected thing to be here but I’m glad I have been. A week after I arrived at my parents’ my grandpa (dada-paternal) died. I hadn’t had a chance to see him. It was a good thing for me to be here. I know my family was glad that I was here as well.
I spent two weeks up in Waco visiting friends. I got to hold my two new twin godsons and hang out with the other three as well. I’ve been spending time with family this week. My little sister just left on her skills cruise. I won’t see her before I leave. That was bittersweet to take her to the Island for her departure.
I’m heading back to Central Texas to meet up with other friends who are visiting from out of state. Then I’m off to Missouri to visit some other friends. By then I hope to have what I need to return to my job.
