I’ve officially hit my one month mark. So far so good. I had an interesting week with a bunch of randomness. Let me try to make sense of it for you.
Monday I skipped class. I just wasn’t ready to face it again. I watched the Oscars instead and then went to check out a place we call CP. It’s basically this huge roundabout. It has shops in rings going out from it. I haven’t had a chance to check out what’s all there. It was good timing because my roomie could show me how to get to the nearest metro stop and I could get my rechargeable metro card before my mini-trip on Thursday. I was truly impressed. It’s as nice and efficient as any public transportation in Germany.
CP was okay. I didn’t enjoy walking around much. I’m not much of a shopper and I didn’t have anything I was looking for so I lost interest pretty quickly. I also seemed to be getting stared down more intensely and by more people than usual. I slipped into a coffee shop and read a book while my roomie met with a friend.
After her meeting, my roomie took me to the foam shop. I am so thankful for this foam. I was able to sleep through the night and wake up without back pain for the first time since I arrived.
Tuesday I went shopping for our weekly veggies and fruits. I found a café that served pancakes so I could celebrate Fat Tuesday. I studied Hindi and prepared for Ash Wednesday.
Wednesday was a very typical day. I went to class and came home. I studied Hindi, read and watched some mindless TV. I did get to chat with a friend who I haven’t talked to since June. She is among the few of my friends that ended up in KY somehow. They all live very near each other. It definitely makes KY a place I want to visit when I come back to the States.
Thursday was a little adventure for me. I was invited by an associate to have lunch. She lives over an hour away. I took the metro literally from one end to the other (maybe minus 2 stops). It was nice to be in a home and get to know someone new. I left there to go meet my roomie for dinner at a friend’s house.
This was when the drama began. I’ve only been to this friend’s house once in the day time coming from my place. This time I was coming from another part of town in the dark. I had a very stubborn auto driver. When we reached her neighborhood he wasn’t willing to listen to my directions. He wouldn’t go far enough down the street and kept turning around. Then he would stop and ask others on the street for directions. It just got a bit ridiculous. We finally reached the street where the friend lives and I asked the driver to stop. He wouldn’t because the entrance to the street states “no entry.” You can see the house from the entry and I just needed out and I could walk down the street. But he wouldn’t stop and kept driving into other neighborhoods to find a back way into this place. At one point (in a very shady spot) he almost kicked me out but this man convinced him that if he just followed the directions given we would find the house. I finally convinced him to get back on the main road and just drop me off and I walked to the house (which was right across the street).
After a very nice dinner we returned home exhausted. I crashed and forgot to turn my alarm on even though I set it. Luckily I got up in time for class.
My classes today were not good, great, and much improved. It apparently helped to have talked to the assistant director on Wednesday. My conversation partner is a sweet woman and a new teacher. I have great sympathy for new teachers. I lost it and instead of getting mad I cried. People here don’t know what to do with that. I tried to explain my dilemma.
I know I have gaps. A great part of that is missing the first 4 weeks of class (yeah, I figured out it was 4 not 3 weeks). I’m not sure what my gaps are. I know one is I haven’t learned what they call the matra which is like the alphabet song. There are random letters I still have difficulty recognizing and reading. I can split my vocab into three basic categories. Ones that I know/can produce/read, ones that I know/may or may not be able to produce/but can’t read, then the ones that I don’t know at all even if I can read them. I have studied the chapters multiple times. There are things that they have covered that are not in the textbook. Even if I studied the textbook it doesn’t mean that I understand it (even if I think I do). Today was a perfect example. (read further)
At the end of this conversation with my conversation partner asked, “Weren’t you here from the beginning.” Talk about gaps. Her solution was to go back to the first dialogue and read through the chapters. Ugh. Her assignment was for me to teach myself the matra by Monday. I think I’m going to need help with that which isn’t scheduled till Tuesday.
My grammar class was much better. I felt like I got a lot out of it. I recognized one of the things that I thought I understood but have really misunderstood. The concept has really been throwing other things off. I was able to talk to my grammar teacher about it during private tutoring. Tutoring was therefore more effective.
I went and talked to the head director. She understood my circumstance. She was also surprised about the level at which the other students are at but admitted there wasn’t much she could do. They only have one beginner class each semester. She did offer to give some new material to my conversation partner which if she covers will hopefully fill in some gaps. The first thing on the agenda is the matra. It’s really true that everything you need to know you learned in kindergarten=)
I went to my after school café, had lunch, and took a break to read my book. I realized I didn’t put the name of the book on my other post. It’s the City of Djinns. If you want to know about where I live you should check it out. It’s proving to be very insightful and is helping me understand my context within history.
Now I’m watching American Idol which was ruined by facebook posts. I just finished skyping with a very dear friend. I miss her and her family so much. Thank you Sesame Street and nap time for providing down time for a mommy to chat with a friend. Speaking of skype, I have an appointment to talk to my family pretty early in the morning. I should say good night.
27 February 2009
21 February 2009
Miracles Happen
I tried to sleep in this morning but I was up a 4:30am. I ended up falling back to sleep around 6:30ish and getting up at 9am. Not too bad. I got up and got ready for the day. I watched Annie while eating breakfast---that will put a smile on anyone’s face. I have several new places to go to this next week so I spent some time looking at the city map. Still getting my bearings. The map helps me match what I’m seeing to the larger layout of the city. Today was the first time I had the sense that I actually knew where I was. I’ve only been to this market once before. It was a great feeling. Much needed after yesterday.
The biggest surprise was the price I paid to get there. I waved down an auto driver and told him where I wanted to go. Then comes the usual question of ‘how much?’ and the haggling begins. But not today. The driver quoted the standard metered fare to this particular market. I clarified the price three times before I got in. I was so stunned that I almost couldn’t move. I was so happy I could have kissed the man. In my best broken Hindi-English I tried to tell him as I paid the fare that he was the first driver to not cheat me and I was very thankful.
Then I found a wonderful book store (yes, my greatest weakness). I only bought two books. One is a classic here (Tagore’s Gora) and the other is a book my roommate recommended to me. She says that if I’m going to live in this city that I must read this book. She’s right. I read the first two chapters and it made be so excited to be here. It inspires me to go and explore this ancient city and understand her soul. I was so tickled to find the first chapter begins in my neighborhood. It put a smile on my face and made me laugh. I so needed that day.
I also enjoyed a dessert which I don’t do on a regular basis. There aren’t any words to describe this ecstasy. If salvation came in a cake, I think this might be the way. It was this date cake with toffee sauce. It was hot and had a spicy twist to it. Oh, how I love toffee. If I was in the States I would definitely have been moaning aloud. Those who know me and how much I enjoy food have experienced this.
I came home (at a reasonable price), kicked back, and took in the news from three sources (BBC via Internet, local newspaper, CNN Nightly News on the TV). It was intriguing to see the various perspectives and differences in what was (and was not) reported. Now my roomie is home and dinner is almost ready. I think we are going to veg and watch old TV shows.
The biggest surprise was the price I paid to get there. I waved down an auto driver and told him where I wanted to go. Then comes the usual question of ‘how much?’ and the haggling begins. But not today. The driver quoted the standard metered fare to this particular market. I clarified the price three times before I got in. I was so stunned that I almost couldn’t move. I was so happy I could have kissed the man. In my best broken Hindi-English I tried to tell him as I paid the fare that he was the first driver to not cheat me and I was very thankful.
Then I found a wonderful book store (yes, my greatest weakness). I only bought two books. One is a classic here (Tagore’s Gora) and the other is a book my roommate recommended to me. She says that if I’m going to live in this city that I must read this book. She’s right. I read the first two chapters and it made be so excited to be here. It inspires me to go and explore this ancient city and understand her soul. I was so tickled to find the first chapter begins in my neighborhood. It put a smile on my face and made me laugh. I so needed that day.
I also enjoyed a dessert which I don’t do on a regular basis. There aren’t any words to describe this ecstasy. If salvation came in a cake, I think this might be the way. It was this date cake with toffee sauce. It was hot and had a spicy twist to it. Oh, how I love toffee. If I was in the States I would definitely have been moaning aloud. Those who know me and how much I enjoy food have experienced this.
I came home (at a reasonable price), kicked back, and took in the news from three sources (BBC via Internet, local newspaper, CNN Nightly News on the TV). It was intriguing to see the various perspectives and differences in what was (and was not) reported. Now my roomie is home and dinner is almost ready. I think we are going to veg and watch old TV shows.
20 February 2009
Hindi
My teacher wrote a poem and translated for us. I wanted to share it with you.
Hindi, I salute you.
Hindi, I salute you.
I love you so much
That I crossed the seven seas
Whatever the cost
As soon as possible
Become my tongue
Can I get an Amen? There’s something refining about learning a language. You are put through the fire and come out with a second soul. I just keep holding on to that thought.
Many times when we ask questions in class the teacher answers, “We will learn that in lesson x.” It’s so odd being back in a rote memory class style (especially while making the transition from being a teacher to a student).
It’s also been helpful to learn expectations. I have now learned that before we come to class we should have read the next chapter, learned the vocab and grammar, and be prepared to use the grammar and vocab. Yeah, I might as well be teaching myself…oh, wait…I basically am.
Language reveals a lot about a culture. Here are some discoveries about Hindi that are helping me understand the culture.
First, there aren’t any patterns to their numbers. In English we have 1-10 then some odd numbers like 11 & 12 but then start a pattern of ----teen. Then we name the 10s and add to it like twenty, twenty-one and so on. Then we repeat this pattern and put 100 or 1000 or whatever in front of it. Yeah, in Hindi every number is special enough to have its own unique name…no patterns. (Except Ordinals) Now I know why they round and have flat rates. When the number isn’t commonly used they say it in English. I’m sure there’s more to it that I’ll discover later.
A very important discovery was the use of very specific names for family members. There is a specific word for each person in the family. (Who you are and how you relate determines a lot around here) There’s a word for mom and dad. Then there are different names for sister depending on if they are younger or older. Same for brother. Grandmother/Grandfather is different depending on if it’s your mom’s mom/dad or your dad’s mom/dad. Even uncle and aunt. This is mind blowing. There’s a name to call your uncle who is the older brother of your dad. There’s another name to call your uncle who is the younger brother of your dad. They change for your mom’s side of the family. Aunt works the same way. There are at least 4 words for uncle and 4 words for aunt. Let’s not get into in-laws.
My teacher was helping me learn just the words that apply to my family. I was so thankful for having a very simple small family. I laughed (this is for you Ryan) when we started talking about brother-in-law. I said it was my older sister’s husband. She insisted that I added the honor ending “ji” (which I don’t have any problem showing my brother-in-law respect). Then the teacher found out he’s the same age as me and decided I didn’t have to. My brother-in-law has a month on me so I don’t mind (Ryanji).
I’ve found irony in this one word that I can never pronounce correctly. I always blank when I read it as well. The word is teacher. Yes, I can identify or say my own profession.
I did say something in class Wednesday that none of the other students knew. Why wouldn’t I know how to say Mujhe gulab jamun basant hai----I like gulab jamun (it’s a sweet here). I have to remember moments like that when I leave class feeling like a blundering idiot.
Hindi, I salute you.
Hindi, I salute you.
I love you so much
That I crossed the seven seas
Whatever the cost
As soon as possible
Become my tongue
Can I get an Amen? There’s something refining about learning a language. You are put through the fire and come out with a second soul. I just keep holding on to that thought.
Many times when we ask questions in class the teacher answers, “We will learn that in lesson x.” It’s so odd being back in a rote memory class style (especially while making the transition from being a teacher to a student).
It’s also been helpful to learn expectations. I have now learned that before we come to class we should have read the next chapter, learned the vocab and grammar, and be prepared to use the grammar and vocab. Yeah, I might as well be teaching myself…oh, wait…I basically am.
Language reveals a lot about a culture. Here are some discoveries about Hindi that are helping me understand the culture.
First, there aren’t any patterns to their numbers. In English we have 1-10 then some odd numbers like 11 & 12 but then start a pattern of ----teen. Then we name the 10s and add to it like twenty, twenty-one and so on. Then we repeat this pattern and put 100 or 1000 or whatever in front of it. Yeah, in Hindi every number is special enough to have its own unique name…no patterns. (Except Ordinals) Now I know why they round and have flat rates. When the number isn’t commonly used they say it in English. I’m sure there’s more to it that I’ll discover later.
A very important discovery was the use of very specific names for family members. There is a specific word for each person in the family. (Who you are and how you relate determines a lot around here) There’s a word for mom and dad. Then there are different names for sister depending on if they are younger or older. Same for brother. Grandmother/Grandfather is different depending on if it’s your mom’s mom/dad or your dad’s mom/dad. Even uncle and aunt. This is mind blowing. There’s a name to call your uncle who is the older brother of your dad. There’s another name to call your uncle who is the younger brother of your dad. They change for your mom’s side of the family. Aunt works the same way. There are at least 4 words for uncle and 4 words for aunt. Let’s not get into in-laws.
My teacher was helping me learn just the words that apply to my family. I was so thankful for having a very simple small family. I laughed (this is for you Ryan) when we started talking about brother-in-law. I said it was my older sister’s husband. She insisted that I added the honor ending “ji” (which I don’t have any problem showing my brother-in-law respect). Then the teacher found out he’s the same age as me and decided I didn’t have to. My brother-in-law has a month on me so I don’t mind (Ryanji).
I’ve found irony in this one word that I can never pronounce correctly. I always blank when I read it as well. The word is teacher. Yes, I can identify or say my own profession.
I did say something in class Wednesday that none of the other students knew. Why wouldn’t I know how to say Mujhe gulab jamun basant hai----I like gulab jamun (it’s a sweet here). I have to remember moments like that when I leave class feeling like a blundering idiot.
Hiding Under the Covers
It happened. I reached that point where I just had to escape. The only place I found that made the world disappear was under my covers, with the fan on, and my iPod playing in my ears.
I simply had just had it. I know it was brought on by being tired. We had a guest stay with us last night. She snored, tossed and turned, and was up and down all night. Considering her bed was just a yard away from mine---I didn’t sleep. My roommate felt so bad she let me take her treasured thermos full of coffee (she made) to class with me. Today was my long day. I never thought it was going to end. (Note: I also haven't been sleeping well in general b/c my back is acting up...hopefully that will be resolved this weekend when I go buy some foam.)
There is always noise here. The school is no exception (considering it’s located in a YMCA which runs a school for kids). Today was extra loud. First, there was this cat. It kept meowing and meowing and meowing and meowing and you get the point. I just kept thinking, “Please, kill the cat or take it out of the school.”
Then they are remodeling the school. They are literary tearing down cinder block walls with sledge hammers and jack hammers. It’s one thing when it’s three floors below you but today it was next door. I guess I’ll be more thankful when they are done with the new restrooms.
What made me just twitch and completely lose my concentration was what I think was the sweeper lady. Yes, sweeping. She was sweeping outside using a broom made of branches against concrete. The sound is much like fingernails on a chalk board.
To top it all off the smell at the construction site from a few weeks ago that made me vomit…oh yeah, it was starting to seep into our classroom from whatever they were doing from downstairs. It wasn’t as strong as the other place but it definitely was turning my stomach.
You put that on top of the stress and pressure I feel every time I go to class anyway and I was running out the door after my three classes today. What did I do? I went to the local café and finished my flash cards for the first nine chapters of my text book. Yep, that’s right. We are now on chapter 9. My grammar and individual tuition teacher keeps saying I need to catch up, know my vocab, review all the chapters, identify all the grammar I don’t get yet and ask about it when we meet on Fridays. I don't know what he thinks I'm doing, but it's obviously not good enough for him (not enough evidence yet that I've been frying my brain to catch up....it's just nine chapters in six days of class).
Do you know how many words are in 9 chapters? Almost 200 and most of them don’t overlap what I already know…what are the odds? I’m not even going to talk about the amount of grammar we’ve (sorry---they’ve) covered. But actually I found out that the original class was two couples who have studied before or have lived here for 10 years. They actually didn’t cover everything and they’ve had lessons that aren’t even in the book. Then another girl joined about a week late who also shouldn’t be in beginner Hindi. I was comforted when I found out that this other guy in my class came a bit late as well and is struggling too. He is about where I am. The others are so far ahead of us and the teacher has paced the class to their ability. Ugh. Some of them ask their questions in Hindi and I can’t even understand what they're asking. Really, we should not be in the same class. I asked about extra help and none of the teachers have any space in their schedule.
The teacher in me has flipped. THIS IS NOT HOW YOU TEACH SOMEONE TO LEARN ANOTHER LANGUAGE (at least that’s my opinion). My conversation teacher says I’m not speaking enough. (She did say I had good comprehension) I don’t think I’ve listened enough. I started working with my house help. It will be rough at the beginning (she doesn’t speak English) but I think it will be helpful in the long run.
It’s killing me not being able to do well. I’m sure I’m being harder on myself than anyone. I don’t even agree with their expectations but I have this need to perform. If I step back and think about where I truly think I should be then I’m doing ok. I say ok because there are some areas I am really slacking and some I’m doing really well.
The result of all this frustration was me needing to escape. I came home from the café and disappeared for two hours under the covers. It helped so much. I have now emerged and am writing this.
I must say there was irony to the songs that came on my iPod. It started with the soundtrack my friends made for me of my year in Germany. The first song---Somewhere Over the Rainbow. My family and close friends will understand that reference because my backyard is pretty big (right, mom?). What made me ever think this was my dream come true? Then John Lennon’s Imagine came on. I must have been a crack addict in a past life because that’s the only way this song would be comforting. I feel like a disillusioned hippie who went to India to find herself and then after arriving asked herself, “Why in the hell am I here?” I knew this was coming.
There are cycles in culture shock. The first phase is the honeymoon. Everything seems great. You’ve finally made it and it’s what you’ve always wanted. Then reality hits and you hate everything. I think I’m crossing over to that phase. I sort of missed the phase where I love everything here. Maybe I covered that in my first three trips which convinced me to live here. The part of that phase I’m not missing (and wish I was) is dealing with being an American here. That’s just something I won’t blog about. From past experiences I know this will resolve (hopefully sooner than later). I also know that it will probably get worse before it gets better. It’s a repeating cycle until you get resettled and that takes about a year or two. At least they're moments (or days) and not entire months yet=)
I simply had just had it. I know it was brought on by being tired. We had a guest stay with us last night. She snored, tossed and turned, and was up and down all night. Considering her bed was just a yard away from mine---I didn’t sleep. My roommate felt so bad she let me take her treasured thermos full of coffee (she made) to class with me. Today was my long day. I never thought it was going to end. (Note: I also haven't been sleeping well in general b/c my back is acting up...hopefully that will be resolved this weekend when I go buy some foam.)
There is always noise here. The school is no exception (considering it’s located in a YMCA which runs a school for kids). Today was extra loud. First, there was this cat. It kept meowing and meowing and meowing and meowing and you get the point. I just kept thinking, “Please, kill the cat or take it out of the school.”
Then they are remodeling the school. They are literary tearing down cinder block walls with sledge hammers and jack hammers. It’s one thing when it’s three floors below you but today it was next door. I guess I’ll be more thankful when they are done with the new restrooms.
What made me just twitch and completely lose my concentration was what I think was the sweeper lady. Yes, sweeping. She was sweeping outside using a broom made of branches against concrete. The sound is much like fingernails on a chalk board.
To top it all off the smell at the construction site from a few weeks ago that made me vomit…oh yeah, it was starting to seep into our classroom from whatever they were doing from downstairs. It wasn’t as strong as the other place but it definitely was turning my stomach.
You put that on top of the stress and pressure I feel every time I go to class anyway and I was running out the door after my three classes today. What did I do? I went to the local café and finished my flash cards for the first nine chapters of my text book. Yep, that’s right. We are now on chapter 9. My grammar and individual tuition teacher keeps saying I need to catch up, know my vocab, review all the chapters, identify all the grammar I don’t get yet and ask about it when we meet on Fridays. I don't know what he thinks I'm doing, but it's obviously not good enough for him (not enough evidence yet that I've been frying my brain to catch up....it's just nine chapters in six days of class).
Do you know how many words are in 9 chapters? Almost 200 and most of them don’t overlap what I already know…what are the odds? I’m not even going to talk about the amount of grammar we’ve (sorry---they’ve) covered. But actually I found out that the original class was two couples who have studied before or have lived here for 10 years. They actually didn’t cover everything and they’ve had lessons that aren’t even in the book. Then another girl joined about a week late who also shouldn’t be in beginner Hindi. I was comforted when I found out that this other guy in my class came a bit late as well and is struggling too. He is about where I am. The others are so far ahead of us and the teacher has paced the class to their ability. Ugh. Some of them ask their questions in Hindi and I can’t even understand what they're asking. Really, we should not be in the same class. I asked about extra help and none of the teachers have any space in their schedule.
The teacher in me has flipped. THIS IS NOT HOW YOU TEACH SOMEONE TO LEARN ANOTHER LANGUAGE (at least that’s my opinion). My conversation teacher says I’m not speaking enough. (She did say I had good comprehension) I don’t think I’ve listened enough. I started working with my house help. It will be rough at the beginning (she doesn’t speak English) but I think it will be helpful in the long run.
It’s killing me not being able to do well. I’m sure I’m being harder on myself than anyone. I don’t even agree with their expectations but I have this need to perform. If I step back and think about where I truly think I should be then I’m doing ok. I say ok because there are some areas I am really slacking and some I’m doing really well.
The result of all this frustration was me needing to escape. I came home from the café and disappeared for two hours under the covers. It helped so much. I have now emerged and am writing this.
I must say there was irony to the songs that came on my iPod. It started with the soundtrack my friends made for me of my year in Germany. The first song---Somewhere Over the Rainbow. My family and close friends will understand that reference because my backyard is pretty big (right, mom?). What made me ever think this was my dream come true? Then John Lennon’s Imagine came on. I must have been a crack addict in a past life because that’s the only way this song would be comforting. I feel like a disillusioned hippie who went to India to find herself and then after arriving asked herself, “Why in the hell am I here?” I knew this was coming.
There are cycles in culture shock. The first phase is the honeymoon. Everything seems great. You’ve finally made it and it’s what you’ve always wanted. Then reality hits and you hate everything. I think I’m crossing over to that phase. I sort of missed the phase where I love everything here. Maybe I covered that in my first three trips which convinced me to live here. The part of that phase I’m not missing (and wish I was) is dealing with being an American here. That’s just something I won’t blog about. From past experiences I know this will resolve (hopefully sooner than later). I also know that it will probably get worse before it gets better. It’s a repeating cycle until you get resettled and that takes about a year or two. At least they're moments (or days) and not entire months yet=)
17 February 2009
Faces
Something I've noticed in the short time I've been here are faces. There's something about a face. Looking at a face is like reading a story. The lines, the curves, the shadows, the wrinkles, the chubby cheeks, the thinness, the jaw line, the eyes, the lips. It all comes together to show you not only the past, but the present and future.
I'm the type of person who likes to look at people and smile as I pass them. Here it is culturally inappropriate for me to do that with men. So I have to censor who I look at. It's been an interesting challenge. I love the surprise looks I get from women and children when I make eye contact and smile. Some are terrified, others blush, and others pause for a second and smile back.
Another way I have experienced this face phenomenon is through skype. It is wonderful to hear people's voices but there's a dynamic change when you add a face. It means so much to see my nieces and not just hear them. I was able to see a good friend for the first time in about two years and I was overwhelmed to tears. Tonight I got to see my best friends and my godchildren. I could see the excitement on their faces as they talked to me. I was able to make faces at the baby and make him smile. It also helps deal with change. I remember coming back after being gone a year and my dad's hair had greyed and a bald spot had started. I was so shocked. Kids grow and change so fast. With skype I'll be able to see these changes.
I think faces are why we like pictures. I received a pic via email from a friend of a special group of people and for the past week all I've wanted is to see the faces of these people. I've replied to most emails this week with a request of pictures.
I love faces!
I'm the type of person who likes to look at people and smile as I pass them. Here it is culturally inappropriate for me to do that with men. So I have to censor who I look at. It's been an interesting challenge. I love the surprise looks I get from women and children when I make eye contact and smile. Some are terrified, others blush, and others pause for a second and smile back.
Another way I have experienced this face phenomenon is through skype. It is wonderful to hear people's voices but there's a dynamic change when you add a face. It means so much to see my nieces and not just hear them. I was able to see a good friend for the first time in about two years and I was overwhelmed to tears. Tonight I got to see my best friends and my godchildren. I could see the excitement on their faces as they talked to me. I was able to make faces at the baby and make him smile. It also helps deal with change. I remember coming back after being gone a year and my dad's hair had greyed and a bald spot had started. I was so shocked. Kids grow and change so fast. With skype I'll be able to see these changes.
I think faces are why we like pictures. I received a pic via email from a friend of a special group of people and for the past week all I've wanted is to see the faces of these people. I've replied to most emails this week with a request of pictures.
I love faces!
Sounds outside my door...
At any given time there are many sounds outside my door (or window). As I write this I hear the call to prayer along with a wedding band with each member playing their own tune. The veggie man is calling out "subzi" in hopes that you need some last minute veggies for dinner. Then there's the honking of horns. The small "beep, beep" of autos, the loud deafening car horns, and the ringing of the bells from cyclist trying not to get ran over and the rumbling of kamikaze buses mixed with squeals of taxi breaks. I can hear the freeway in the distance and the exhaust pipes releasing the fragrant incense that will make every sunset and sunrise glimmer in a foggy haze. There's the random chorus of dogs barking and children playing. I can ease drop into my neighbors' conversation (as they probably can and do ease drop into my conversations) and whoever is passing through the street behind my house. Then of course there's those random fireworks. There's the occasional ambulance siren. My favorite sounds are in the morning. I can hear birds (which I haven't found any reason yet to not like). It's not like the invasion of the birds where I used to live. Then sometimes I think I hear monkeys. There's the wonderful soundtrack of a Bollywood movie blaring from someone's car. It truly is a symphony to experience.
Addictions, Withdrawals, and Ramblings
This is the time of day when my brain is fried and I become stranger than normal=)
I just posted an Ode to Pepto. I love that tiny pink pill. My tummy is starting to make adjustments and my special friend is helping it transition.
I started forgetting my English. There have been several words yesterday and today that I just couldn't think of. I do know that I can read, write, and say my colors in Hindi. Very important.
I am starting to go through withdrawals...at least that's what I'm blaming my cravings on. I would love a plate of cheese enchiladas or enchiladas verde or empanadas or...you get the idea, rice, beans, chips, queso, how about some creamy j, and a Dr. Pepper. How about some Blue Bell to follow? Yeah, not happening. That's ok. I had a wonderful lunch of maggie noodles (ramen noodles) with left over tomato soup and grated cheese melted on top with toast. It is Tuesday night which means our house help made a real Indian meal. I will honestly enjoy that. Homemade rotis are a good substitute for tortillas. She made one of my favorite subzi (veggies)...okra masala. You can't have a meal without dhal (lentils). We are making some rice as well... not quite what I'd get at a Mexican restaurant but it is rice=)
Good news! I made dinner last night and it was more than edible. I made some broccoli sauteed in butter and fresh garlic, sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts, and I cheated and ordered Afghan chicken from a local place. If you ever come to visit, you have to try this chicken. It's so good!
I woke up this morning and realized that I've been here three weeks. ONLY THREE WEEKS!?! It feels like so much longer. Then I realized that 3 weeks is almost the half-way mark of the usual time I've spent here. Reality: 3 weeks is nothing in relation to how long I will be here. It actually made me feel much more gracious toward myself. I've only been in Hindi class for a week. I'm not sure what I was thinking. I'm doing pretty good for a week of class. I start working with my house help this week. After exams her daughter is going to help me with my reading.
My roommate again reminded me of the need to celebrate the small things and important markers. We calculated the day that would mark the day after the longest time I've ever been here....March 25th....that's 8 weeks and one day. Now I just have to decide what to do.
I just posted an Ode to Pepto. I love that tiny pink pill. My tummy is starting to make adjustments and my special friend is helping it transition.
I started forgetting my English. There have been several words yesterday and today that I just couldn't think of. I do know that I can read, write, and say my colors in Hindi. Very important.
I am starting to go through withdrawals...at least that's what I'm blaming my cravings on. I would love a plate of cheese enchiladas or enchiladas verde or empanadas or...you get the idea, rice, beans, chips, queso, how about some creamy j, and a Dr. Pepper. How about some Blue Bell to follow? Yeah, not happening. That's ok. I had a wonderful lunch of maggie noodles (ramen noodles) with left over tomato soup and grated cheese melted on top with toast. It is Tuesday night which means our house help made a real Indian meal. I will honestly enjoy that. Homemade rotis are a good substitute for tortillas. She made one of my favorite subzi (veggies)...okra masala. You can't have a meal without dhal (lentils). We are making some rice as well... not quite what I'd get at a Mexican restaurant but it is rice=)
Good news! I made dinner last night and it was more than edible. I made some broccoli sauteed in butter and fresh garlic, sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts, and I cheated and ordered Afghan chicken from a local place. If you ever come to visit, you have to try this chicken. It's so good!
I woke up this morning and realized that I've been here three weeks. ONLY THREE WEEKS!?! It feels like so much longer. Then I realized that 3 weeks is almost the half-way mark of the usual time I've spent here. Reality: 3 weeks is nothing in relation to how long I will be here. It actually made me feel much more gracious toward myself. I've only been in Hindi class for a week. I'm not sure what I was thinking. I'm doing pretty good for a week of class. I start working with my house help this week. After exams her daughter is going to help me with my reading.
My roommate again reminded me of the need to celebrate the small things and important markers. We calculated the day that would mark the day after the longest time I've ever been here....March 25th....that's 8 weeks and one day. Now I just have to decide what to do.
Ode to Pepto
My special friend
small and pink
makes my tummy happy
and let's the gas pass
My special friend
small and pink
turns my tongue black
and makes me relax
My special friend
small and pink
you are welcome
at every meal
My special friend
small and pink
I love you!
small and pink
makes my tummy happy
and let's the gas pass
My special friend
small and pink
turns my tongue black
and makes me relax
My special friend
small and pink
you are welcome
at every meal
My special friend
small and pink
I love you!
16 February 2009
Fireworks, weddings, & dogs = no sleep
It's wedding season and we live near a wedding hall. This means wedding bands most nights to all hours of the night. I also saw a horse all decorated with flowers walking down the street. For some reason the past couple of days it also has meant endless fireworks. Fireworks that sound like guns going off randomly throughout the night. Each time they go off the neighborhood dogs decide to go off as well. These past two nights have been the first nights I haven't been able to ignore the "wonderful" noises outside our flat. Just as there isn't any space here; there isn't any quiet.
My brain is mush but I feel inspired (for now)...
Monday mornings are like whiplash. I spent most of Sunday sleeping or reading. My stomach is feeling not so normal. My roommate says it’s just adjusting. That’s a nice way to put it. She also warned me that I would inevitably be getting sick sooner or later. I’m just waiting for my bonding experience with my toilet.
Back to the whiplash. My roommate made me not look at my books this weekend because she said I needed a break. You never really get a break from language learning. I did need a break from the formal book study after the first week of class. I just did some conversation and asked for the Hindi name for tons of things. Being in class this morning gave me whiplash. I think that’s going to be the routine. Mondays I’m going to feel overwhelmed and blindsided but by Friday I will feel more confident and successful.
I went to my café and studied after class and came up with a plan. Of course, my ideal plan that I had made before coming was thrown out the window because of arriving late. As one of my favorite professors likes to say, “You live in plan B while aiming for plan A.” I am trying to make the most of plan B while trying to get as much of plan A in as possible. The revised plan is ambitious. It’s not meant to be done by my next class (Wed). Hopefully, it will compensate for being behind. I feel that it’s just my confidence that is lagging now more than anything else.
The Best Valentine's Day!
Today was wonderful. I woke up early to chat with my family on skype. My oldest niece had a Valentine to show me which she will be sending me. My grandmother and uncle were also there. I got to wish my uncle a Happy Birthday since his birthday is Tuesday.
While I was talking to them a good friend called and I arranged to call her back. After I talked to the entire clan I called my friend. It was good to see a friend. This particular friend I haven’t seen in years. We have managed to stay close over email and phone calls. She is one of those rare gifts in my life. I was thrilled to talk to her. I did miss getting to “meet” her little one. We’re arranging another time so I can meet him.
After that I went back to bed. This past week wiped me out. Language learning is so draining. When I’m in class my entire thoughts shift into German and Spanish. I spoke to my house help in German on Friday. Didn’t do much good. I’m improving a little bit every day.
I woke up about one in the afternoon and got ready for a Valentine’s picnic. My roomie surprised me with a small box of heart shaped cookies with red and pink icing. She spoils me. The picnic was so much fun. It was just a bunch of my roommate’s friends. I got to meet a lot of new people. We played silly games and had tons of junk food and tea. The weather was perfect and the garden was lovely.
Now we are back home and my roommate is cooking dinner. This is always a treat because my meals still lack much to be desired. We’ve had a quiet evening at home.
This has nothing to do with Valentine’s Day but it doesn’t need its own entry. I bought my first piece of furniture. It’s a nice cane bookshelf. It helps give me much needed space in my room. We found it in a market last night. It was a new market for me. I had fun exploring and found an alphabet chart and some children’s readers. Today in another market I found readers with both Hindi and English. So exciting!
11 February 2009
Frustration
I hit my first wall of feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. When I went to bed last night all I could imagine was hiding under the covers and crying for the rest of my life. I really couldn’t bare the thought of getting up and facing the world the next morning, but I did. It wasn’t too bad. It was actually a lot better than yesterday.
You might wonder how this happened. First of all it’s normal. Everyone who moves to another culture has their good and bad days. It wasn’t like anything bad happened. It was just the tension of adjusting to life here.
I get around by auto rickshaw for the most part. The problem is the drivers like to cheat everyone but most of all foreigners. Over time I will know how much it is suppose to cost to get to different places and be able to haggle down the price but I will never be allowed to pay the fair rate. This is a reality that can be frustrating especially when you’re not in the mood to argue and don’t have enough language to haggle.
Getting around and doing anything is exhausting. One must realize that you will never accomplish as much as you did back home in any given day. Things happen at a much slower rate here. The fact that I went to language school, studied at a café, recharged the minutes on my mobile, picked up clothes from the tailor, and went and picked something from the office is a lot to do in one day. It took me about 7 hours to do all these things. I only traveled about 10 minutes from my house.
The other thing that hit me was my loss of immediate contact with friends. I just really want to pick up the phone and talk to some friends. It’s 3:30 in the afternoon here but it’s 3:30 in the morning for my friends. I don’t think they’d appreciate that.
I have another friend whose family is dealing with a health crisis. This friend and I were family to each other when we lived in the States. She is actually only 2 ½ hours different in time but we cannot seem to get a good, reliable, or affordable way to communicate. It kills me not being able to be there for her.
Learning a language has its ups and downs. It’s fun when you are getting it but it’s a headache when you’re not. Whether it’s going well or not it still makes your brain hurt. I’ve been trying to catch up on 3 weeks of language school. My brain is about to pop. Hindi is consuming my life. No matter how much I feel like I’ve accomplished when I venture out and start trying to communicate I realize how little I really know.
I have to keep intentionally reminding myself of the successes I’ve made. I made it to the office without getting lost. I made it back home and gave the driver directions the entire way (I had to convince him I knew the way first). I’m not sure if I should be proud of this but I was able to get the rickshaw driver to take me and refuse the others that were waiting before me (there’s no cue here, it’s who can convince the driver you’re the better deal). I was white and willing to pay more so I won. I guess I used my frustration of being cheated to my advantage. I found the tailor and a place to recharge my phone. I have made some progress in identifying the letters (especially the vowels) and sounding out words. I literally have to name these things to compensate for all the negative that I could focus on. It’s an everyday battle.
You might wonder how this happened. First of all it’s normal. Everyone who moves to another culture has their good and bad days. It wasn’t like anything bad happened. It was just the tension of adjusting to life here.
I get around by auto rickshaw for the most part. The problem is the drivers like to cheat everyone but most of all foreigners. Over time I will know how much it is suppose to cost to get to different places and be able to haggle down the price but I will never be allowed to pay the fair rate. This is a reality that can be frustrating especially when you’re not in the mood to argue and don’t have enough language to haggle.
Getting around and doing anything is exhausting. One must realize that you will never accomplish as much as you did back home in any given day. Things happen at a much slower rate here. The fact that I went to language school, studied at a café, recharged the minutes on my mobile, picked up clothes from the tailor, and went and picked something from the office is a lot to do in one day. It took me about 7 hours to do all these things. I only traveled about 10 minutes from my house.
The other thing that hit me was my loss of immediate contact with friends. I just really want to pick up the phone and talk to some friends. It’s 3:30 in the afternoon here but it’s 3:30 in the morning for my friends. I don’t think they’d appreciate that.
I have another friend whose family is dealing with a health crisis. This friend and I were family to each other when we lived in the States. She is actually only 2 ½ hours different in time but we cannot seem to get a good, reliable, or affordable way to communicate. It kills me not being able to be there for her.
Learning a language has its ups and downs. It’s fun when you are getting it but it’s a headache when you’re not. Whether it’s going well or not it still makes your brain hurt. I’ve been trying to catch up on 3 weeks of language school. My brain is about to pop. Hindi is consuming my life. No matter how much I feel like I’ve accomplished when I venture out and start trying to communicate I realize how little I really know.
I have to keep intentionally reminding myself of the successes I’ve made. I made it to the office without getting lost. I made it back home and gave the driver directions the entire way (I had to convince him I knew the way first). I’m not sure if I should be proud of this but I was able to get the rickshaw driver to take me and refuse the others that were waiting before me (there’s no cue here, it’s who can convince the driver you’re the better deal). I was white and willing to pay more so I won. I guess I used my frustration of being cheated to my advantage. I found the tailor and a place to recharge my phone. I have made some progress in identifying the letters (especially the vowels) and sounding out words. I literally have to name these things to compensate for all the negative that I could focus on. It’s an everyday battle.
Space
I’m not sure I know what this word means. If there is any space the people here know how to fill it. You simply have to walk into any store or market to observe this. Take a look at the neighborhood and the houses and even the slums. Traffic operates the same way. This is why I don’t take the bus (too many people mean I get grabbed too many times). If you ever need help in packing or making the most of any space simply ask a local.
09 February 2009
Beggars
Beggars are a part of everyday life here. There's a struggle to remain compassionate and not let your heart harden while not getting abused. If you give to one beggar then you end up causing a scene and can be mobbed. It can be a bit scary when you're alone. There are also people running scams. You really have to get to know the beggars in your area and discern who to give to and how to give to them. The hardest part is you're dealing with children most of the time.
I had an experience the other day that was different from past beggar encounters. I was with two other expats in an auto rickshaw. Being an expat you become a magnet for beggars because you're rich. We were sitting at the red light and about four young boy touts came to sell us books and other things. One woman tried to sell us incense but quickly left. The boys quickly understood that we were not interested in buying books. They were enjoying the conversation and it wasn't bothering us.
Then this young girl came up signing for food. I said no. Once you've acknowledged a beggar you are in for it. They have great persistence after being acknowledged. The girl began to rub my upper thigh with her left hand (which is considered unclean). This is completely inappropriate even for her culture. I pushed her hand away and said no and go away. That's when she dug her nails into my arm and started pinching me. If I wouldn't have been wearing a long sleeve shirt she would have drawn blood and she definitely left marks. I swatted at her hand and she ran away.
I immediately started rationalizing my right to swat at her hand. It just put me in a conundrum for the rest of the day. Was my response appropriate? I had to let her know that she shouldn't do that.
I'm struggling with how to interact with beggars. They are people and need to be treated with respect. I can't give to everyone. Even to acknowledge them sometimes puts me in danger. I just have to be sensitive to the situation. Be as gentle as a dove and wise as a serpent. What does that look like? I just think the most important thing is my heart. My hope is that living here doesn't harden my heart.
I had an experience the other day that was different from past beggar encounters. I was with two other expats in an auto rickshaw. Being an expat you become a magnet for beggars because you're rich. We were sitting at the red light and about four young boy touts came to sell us books and other things. One woman tried to sell us incense but quickly left. The boys quickly understood that we were not interested in buying books. They were enjoying the conversation and it wasn't bothering us.
Then this young girl came up signing for food. I said no. Once you've acknowledged a beggar you are in for it. They have great persistence after being acknowledged. The girl began to rub my upper thigh with her left hand (which is considered unclean). This is completely inappropriate even for her culture. I pushed her hand away and said no and go away. That's when she dug her nails into my arm and started pinching me. If I wouldn't have been wearing a long sleeve shirt she would have drawn blood and she definitely left marks. I swatted at her hand and she ran away.
I immediately started rationalizing my right to swat at her hand. It just put me in a conundrum for the rest of the day. Was my response appropriate? I had to let her know that she shouldn't do that.
I'm struggling with how to interact with beggars. They are people and need to be treated with respect. I can't give to everyone. Even to acknowledge them sometimes puts me in danger. I just have to be sensitive to the situation. Be as gentle as a dove and wise as a serpent. What does that look like? I just think the most important thing is my heart. My hope is that living here doesn't harden my heart.
Animal Count
I've been keeping track of the different animals I've encountered. I started doing this to entertain a young friend (3 years old) who is enduring 28 days of chemotherapy right now. I thought you might want to hear about theses interesting creatures as well.
Dogs, dogs, and more dogs. They are everywhere. You can't escape them. Because of them I've learned the word "Jao!" It is the command form of the word go. These are street dogs that are not vaccinated. The dogs carry lots of disease. Because of the cultural beliefs they cannot be put down. At most NGOs come and pick up the local dogs and then fix them and vaccinate them and then release them back in the neighborhood. That's the best we can hope for.
There are cats (billies) here also. They love to get into your garbage. You must make sure you have a cat/rat proof lid. Yes, there are wonderful rats running around as well. That's a good reason to keep the cats around.
Bundar! Monkeys are also hanging out in your local neighborhoods as well. I've only spotted them a few times. You must be careful with putting things outside (like your laundry) or the monkeys will take it. Their our local thieves that you must watch out for.
When I went on a trip last week I saw camels walking the streets. Typically you seen them in the bordering state of mine. While I was gone my roommate saw an elephant (hoti) wondering the streets. These are common especially at weddings and can also be rented for birthday parties.
Other than that I have seen much of anything else other than bugs. I hope not to see the local snakes. I stay clear of anyone who looks like a snake charmer and has a basket=) I will keep you posted on any other intersting things I happen to see.
Dogs, dogs, and more dogs. They are everywhere. You can't escape them. Because of them I've learned the word "Jao!" It is the command form of the word go. These are street dogs that are not vaccinated. The dogs carry lots of disease. Because of the cultural beliefs they cannot be put down. At most NGOs come and pick up the local dogs and then fix them and vaccinate them and then release them back in the neighborhood. That's the best we can hope for.
There are cats (billies) here also. They love to get into your garbage. You must make sure you have a cat/rat proof lid. Yes, there are wonderful rats running around as well. That's a good reason to keep the cats around.
Bundar! Monkeys are also hanging out in your local neighborhoods as well. I've only spotted them a few times. You must be careful with putting things outside (like your laundry) or the monkeys will take it. Their our local thieves that you must watch out for.
When I went on a trip last week I saw camels walking the streets. Typically you seen them in the bordering state of mine. While I was gone my roommate saw an elephant (hoti) wondering the streets. These are common especially at weddings and can also be rented for birthday parties.
Other than that I have seen much of anything else other than bugs. I hope not to see the local snakes. I stay clear of anyone who looks like a snake charmer and has a basket=) I will keep you posted on any other intersting things I happen to see.
02 February 2009
For those who know me well...
I have to tell this story for those who know me really well. This will make you laugh. It made me laugh.
My roommate wanted to show me one of her favorite cafes. When we entered the cafe we were overcome by a smell which we thought was from cleaning supplies. It's common to be overwhelmed by smells here but you usually get use to then after time). We went ahead and sat down and ordered. As we sat there the fumes became stronger and we started to feel funny. Then it hit me. . . I was going to throw up. I couldn't figure out where to go so I ran for the door and that's where it happened. Then I continued out the door and threw up on the side walk. Then I noticed I had an audience of business men on the first floor (2nd floor in the US) watching me. Did I mention this cafe was located in a 5 star hotel?!? I don't think I've ever thrown up on marble before.
My roommate took care of the bill (which they didn't make me pay for my meal) and came out. She said that the fumes were actually from the construction site nearby. She had other adverse reactions to the fumes like a strange taste in her mouth, burning eyes, and later it came out her other end.
After this incident she did say that she has never had anyone have so many weird things happen to them especially in their first week. Some of the things that have happened to me have never happened to her in her 9 years here. Yeah, it's always exciting to be me!
The other funny incident that happened today was in the bathroom. You have to understand my history with bathroom follies and how wet bathrooms can be here. The wash machine is in my bathroom. When the wash machine drains it goes out a pipe and onto my bathroom floor and then into a common bathroom drain. They don't always have direct links from devices to the drain (thankfully my sink and toilet do). Another example would be the kitchen sink. Water runs out the drain in the sink onto the floor which has another drain. That's just how it works here. Anyway, the drain in the bathroom is right in front of the toilet. I was trying to go to the bathroom before the wash machine drained...didn't make it. My shoes got wet along with the bottom of my pants. They dried in no time. It was a funny little incident that can only happen here.
My roommate wanted to show me one of her favorite cafes. When we entered the cafe we were overcome by a smell which we thought was from cleaning supplies. It's common to be overwhelmed by smells here but you usually get use to then after time). We went ahead and sat down and ordered. As we sat there the fumes became stronger and we started to feel funny. Then it hit me. . . I was going to throw up. I couldn't figure out where to go so I ran for the door and that's where it happened. Then I continued out the door and threw up on the side walk. Then I noticed I had an audience of business men on the first floor (2nd floor in the US) watching me. Did I mention this cafe was located in a 5 star hotel?!? I don't think I've ever thrown up on marble before.
My roommate took care of the bill (which they didn't make me pay for my meal) and came out. She said that the fumes were actually from the construction site nearby. She had other adverse reactions to the fumes like a strange taste in her mouth, burning eyes, and later it came out her other end.
After this incident she did say that she has never had anyone have so many weird things happen to them especially in their first week. Some of the things that have happened to me have never happened to her in her 9 years here. Yeah, it's always exciting to be me!
The other funny incident that happened today was in the bathroom. You have to understand my history with bathroom follies and how wet bathrooms can be here. The wash machine is in my bathroom. When the wash machine drains it goes out a pipe and onto my bathroom floor and then into a common bathroom drain. They don't always have direct links from devices to the drain (thankfully my sink and toilet do). Another example would be the kitchen sink. Water runs out the drain in the sink onto the floor which has another drain. That's just how it works here. Anyway, the drain in the bathroom is right in front of the toilet. I was trying to go to the bathroom before the wash machine drained...didn't make it. My shoes got wet along with the bottom of my pants. They dried in no time. It was a funny little incident that can only happen here.
Successes
It helps to name the small successes I've had in order to keep perspective. I wanted to share them with you.
I'm actually recognizing some Hindi and able to use context to interpret meaning.
I found my way to and from language school.
Made orders on the phone.
Been shopping for clothes, food, and a mobile.
Had a conversation with the house help. (in broken Hindi/English)
Gave a rickshaw driver directions to my flat.
Not too bad for the first week and being sick.
I'm actually recognizing some Hindi and able to use context to interpret meaning.
I found my way to and from language school.
Made orders on the phone.
Been shopping for clothes, food, and a mobile.
Had a conversation with the house help. (in broken Hindi/English)
Gave a rickshaw driver directions to my flat.
Not too bad for the first week and being sick.
Still Sick and Miserable
I'm still sick and miserable but trying and coping. It just takes so much energy to do things here and I barely have any. I did manage to find my way to and from language school today. I'm venturing out on my own in a bit to meet my roommate at a market so I can buy a spike guard and hair dryer...oh, and lots more tissue!
I was thinking about how some things here I've seen before so I forget to tell you about them. I thought I'd take a second and describe the things you see one the roadway.
There's a variety of animals you can see here. I've seen lots of dogs and some cats. I saw some monkeys yesterday. There's also lots of cows that roam near my neighborhood. Not as exciting are the rats I've see. I saw a dead one yesterday when we were walking with just it's head and tail in place and the body missing off the backbone. I had to wonder how it go that way. It probably was someone/something's dinner (most likely someone's b/c of the way it was so nicely butchered. I haven't seen any camels or elephants yet (or snakes and I don't care to). There are lovely birds that wake me up in the morning.
Vehicles here come in many shapes. The slowest would be cycles (bikes). Cycles can be rickshaws or supply transporters. You would be amazed at the amount of materials (and people) Indians and put on a cycle. I most commonly ride autos (auto rickshaws) which are motorcycles turned into miniature cars. Then you have the common variety of bikes (motorcycles), cars, buses, and trucks. Mix in people walking and beggars on the corners and that's a typical Indian roadway.
I'm trying to take pictures of things like these and pics of my flat and will be posting them in the next few weeks. I'm heading out of town for the rest of the week. I'll have to catch you up later on any new adventures then.
I was thinking about how some things here I've seen before so I forget to tell you about them. I thought I'd take a second and describe the things you see one the roadway.
There's a variety of animals you can see here. I've seen lots of dogs and some cats. I saw some monkeys yesterday. There's also lots of cows that roam near my neighborhood. Not as exciting are the rats I've see. I saw a dead one yesterday when we were walking with just it's head and tail in place and the body missing off the backbone. I had to wonder how it go that way. It probably was someone/something's dinner (most likely someone's b/c of the way it was so nicely butchered. I haven't seen any camels or elephants yet (or snakes and I don't care to). There are lovely birds that wake me up in the morning.
Vehicles here come in many shapes. The slowest would be cycles (bikes). Cycles can be rickshaws or supply transporters. You would be amazed at the amount of materials (and people) Indians and put on a cycle. I most commonly ride autos (auto rickshaws) which are motorcycles turned into miniature cars. Then you have the common variety of bikes (motorcycles), cars, buses, and trucks. Mix in people walking and beggars on the corners and that's a typical Indian roadway.
I'm trying to take pictures of things like these and pics of my flat and will be posting them in the next few weeks. I'm heading out of town for the rest of the week. I'll have to catch you up later on any new adventures then.
Explanations
Mobiles are very similar to cells back home but some functions operate differently. It’s amazing how trained your hand becomes to the functions of the phone you are use to using. The first time my mobile rang I couldn’t figure out how to answer it. Only one button allows you to answer a call. Then I couldn’t figure out how to operate the text messaging. I couldn’t get it off the prediction text. Then I couldn’t figure out where the punctuation or symbols were. I kept confusing the keys for space and capitalization. I guess I have learned that no matter how familiar you are to something it’s always good to read the instructions thoroughly.
About the water. We have to fill our tank usually twice a day. That’s our water supply (if there’s water available). That water is used for flushing toilets, washing clothes, taking showers, washing dishes, and anything else you might use water for except for drinking. In the bathroom there’s a hot water heater that you heat water in before you shower. They call it a geyser and pronounce it geezer=)
Ugh, I hate being sick!
So I had a moment of frustration…ok, it was like a buildup of encounters that left me a bit frazzled.
First, I’ve been sick and in bed yesterday and today (Friday, Jan 30th). My host says it’s normal. I was pretty exhausted and the pollution here can get to you especially if you have any kind of allergies. There’s nothing like blowing out black snot. Most of the past two nights I’ve been hacking up my lungs and other gunk. This was accompanied with a fever and a severe sinus headache. Today after sleeping in till almost noon I was awaken by my mobile ringing. It was my good friend B. After a few sentences the call was dropped which I’m finding to be very common here. I couldn’t reach her after that. I was a bit bummed.
I got up and made myself some of my favorite tea that I brought with me. I snuggled into this nice chair and wrapped this warm blanket around me. I also enjoyed a delicious orange. I had a great afternoon catching up on email and my blog. Then I realize that my legs are itching. Yeah, we are pretty sure that the nice cozy blanket has been infested with some sort of bug(s). I have red itchy whelps all over my legs.
I changed over to the couch which I know is safe. I have to place an order for water and milk. Seems pretty simple unless you’re trying to figure out how mobiles and phone numbers work here. I couldn’t get any of the numbers to work. I finally called someone and they said that sometimes you can’t call landlines from mobiles. I went and used the landline. The items were delivered.
I was ready to crash at this point (it’s about 5pm & the headache is coming back), but instead was sent inspiration to learn Hindi. Not only did the person come to deliver the water and milk, but then some strange man came to the door. After that someone came to deliver my roommate’s train ticket which I wasn’t expecting. I tried to ring her but there wasn’t any answer. I just paid for the ticket and tried to lay back down. Then came the neighbor. All I understood was water and pump. I took a guess that one of the roommates had turned the pump on to fill our tank and it was now overflowing. I went and turned it off. I ended up being right. At this point I had given up on resting and decided to try to order food to be delivered. It was a success. I enjoyed some amazing chicken biryani, garlic nan, and paneer parantha. The first is a chicken and rice dish. The others are types of tortilla like breads (one with garlic, the other filled with cheese).
Then the evening ended well with my roommates coming back and a surprise visitor. We had great conversation over tea and biscuits.
First, I’ve been sick and in bed yesterday and today (Friday, Jan 30th). My host says it’s normal. I was pretty exhausted and the pollution here can get to you especially if you have any kind of allergies. There’s nothing like blowing out black snot. Most of the past two nights I’ve been hacking up my lungs and other gunk. This was accompanied with a fever and a severe sinus headache. Today after sleeping in till almost noon I was awaken by my mobile ringing. It was my good friend B. After a few sentences the call was dropped which I’m finding to be very common here. I couldn’t reach her after that. I was a bit bummed.
I got up and made myself some of my favorite tea that I brought with me. I snuggled into this nice chair and wrapped this warm blanket around me. I also enjoyed a delicious orange. I had a great afternoon catching up on email and my blog. Then I realize that my legs are itching. Yeah, we are pretty sure that the nice cozy blanket has been infested with some sort of bug(s). I have red itchy whelps all over my legs.
I changed over to the couch which I know is safe. I have to place an order for water and milk. Seems pretty simple unless you’re trying to figure out how mobiles and phone numbers work here. I couldn’t get any of the numbers to work. I finally called someone and they said that sometimes you can’t call landlines from mobiles. I went and used the landline. The items were delivered.
I was ready to crash at this point (it’s about 5pm & the headache is coming back), but instead was sent inspiration to learn Hindi. Not only did the person come to deliver the water and milk, but then some strange man came to the door. After that someone came to deliver my roommate’s train ticket which I wasn’t expecting. I tried to ring her but there wasn’t any answer. I just paid for the ticket and tried to lay back down. Then came the neighbor. All I understood was water and pump. I took a guess that one of the roommates had turned the pump on to fill our tank and it was now overflowing. I went and turned it off. I ended up being right. At this point I had given up on resting and decided to try to order food to be delivered. It was a success. I enjoyed some amazing chicken biryani, garlic nan, and paneer parantha. The first is a chicken and rice dish. The others are types of tortilla like breads (one with garlic, the other filled with cheese).
Then the evening ended well with my roommates coming back and a surprise visitor. We had great conversation over tea and biscuits.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)