Lance and I went to the Zoo today. Here are a few pictures.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
Q and As
Lots of our friends/family reacted strongly when they found out we were moving to India. Here were a few of their reactions, concerns, and questions (minus the names of course).
"So, you are only going because your husband got promoted, right?"
My answer: First off, there is a glaring assumption in this one that means no one would move to India unless it involved work and lots of money. I will say that it helped my husband's career that he got promoted. It meant I didn't have to work while we live in India. But no, I personally wanted to move to India to learn how to need less stuff in my life to make me happy. How to use the resources I have already gained (for example: clothes, food, books) and only purchase items when I need them. I might be channeling Gandhi a little bit there. My husband moved to India to learn about a new and quickly growing population of shoppers and how to fulfill the basic needs of a population in a single retail location...which by its self is quite ambitious and interesting to hear about each day.
"What are YOU going to do ALL DAY?"
My answer: Stare into space. Just kidding. I was asked this question every day for the first month we announced we were leaving the US to move to India. My answer was always the same... to do lots and lots of whatever I want to do. Yoga. Painting. Reading. Cooking. Volunterring. Basically whatever I could have done in the US but my excuses kept getting in my way. I really hope when I return to the US I will keep doing all these great things I have been devoting time to during my days here. Note: It is funny but I had supplies for most of these hobbies already but just hadn't used them until moving here. What do you have in your closet you have been meaning to do or try?
"Aren't you worried you'll get malaria?"
My answer: Dear God...they have malaria here...no one told me about the malaria!!! Just kidding. If you take the anti-malaria pills and stay diligent about killing mosquitos daily you are fine. Kill em when you see em and don't leave doors/windows open at night without screens on them.
"You better enjoy beef now cause you won't have any over there."
My answer: Well I see cows everywhere in India. On the streets, in fields, beside office buildings. Everywhere. Sometimes I run up to them, pour on some A-1 sauce, and just bite 'em on the rump. That fufills my need for beef. :) No? You knew I was kidding on that one. There are lots of American/European restaurants here for a person to enjoy beef or pork on a regular basis.
"Where/How will you buy groceries?"
My answer: Easy, just like you do....at the grocery store. :) Just remember to take along a reusable grocery bag ( I have a HUGE canvas one that I purchased from LL Bean years ago that I used in the US that works like a charm here too. Everything fits in that one big bag!!!) In India if you don't bring a bag you have to pay for a reusable cloth one. I think the US needs to start this practice! Side note: Then the saying would change from "paper or plastic?" to "your bag or...your bag?"
"You had better take lots of food, clothes, and bedding. You can't find those over there."
My answer: Have you been to India! This place has a mall on every street corner.
"How many people will be working for you at your house?"
My answer: One. My husband. Just kidding! (Lance will laugh when he reads that!!!) No, this is a good question. We have a hand full of security guards outside of our house (these are required by my husband's employer). We have one gardener and one pool cleaner (to keep the yard looking good as required by the neighborhood association people). We have two drivers (also required by my husband's employer so we don't kill ourselves while trying to drive here....which I am sad to say would happen if we tried). So the only additional help is the cleaner who helps keep the house in shape from the torrential amount of dust that tries to invade our home daily. The cleaner was my only stated request. :)
"Wow, it sounds like an easy life for you."
My answer: It is easier in many ways AND it is harder than living in the US in other ways. Many challenges were not what I was expecting at all (for an example you can read back to the earlier post about trying to find a plunger or learn how to take a 3 minute shower). I will write a post about the harder differences one of these days.
"What do you think about how you will contribute to the caste system and crippling poverty over there?"
My answer: How you are contributing to it where you live? What are you doing to change things in your home town? It is everywhere in the world. It just manifests in different ways and at different levels. The only thing you can do is try to be a good person no matter where you live (show compassion, pay people what you owe them, help others when you can, educate when someone willingly gives you the opportunity, and volunteer your time/energy).
"So, you are only going because your husband got promoted, right?"
My answer: First off, there is a glaring assumption in this one that means no one would move to India unless it involved work and lots of money. I will say that it helped my husband's career that he got promoted. It meant I didn't have to work while we live in India. But no, I personally wanted to move to India to learn how to need less stuff in my life to make me happy. How to use the resources I have already gained (for example: clothes, food, books) and only purchase items when I need them. I might be channeling Gandhi a little bit there. My husband moved to India to learn about a new and quickly growing population of shoppers and how to fulfill the basic needs of a population in a single retail location...which by its self is quite ambitious and interesting to hear about each day.
"What are YOU going to do ALL DAY?"
My answer: Stare into space. Just kidding. I was asked this question every day for the first month we announced we were leaving the US to move to India. My answer was always the same... to do lots and lots of whatever I want to do. Yoga. Painting. Reading. Cooking. Volunterring. Basically whatever I could have done in the US but my excuses kept getting in my way. I really hope when I return to the US I will keep doing all these great things I have been devoting time to during my days here. Note: It is funny but I had supplies for most of these hobbies already but just hadn't used them until moving here. What do you have in your closet you have been meaning to do or try?
"Aren't you worried you'll get malaria?"
My answer: Dear God...they have malaria here...no one told me about the malaria!!! Just kidding. If you take the anti-malaria pills and stay diligent about killing mosquitos daily you are fine. Kill em when you see em and don't leave doors/windows open at night without screens on them.
"You better enjoy beef now cause you won't have any over there."
My answer: Well I see cows everywhere in India. On the streets, in fields, beside office buildings. Everywhere. Sometimes I run up to them, pour on some A-1 sauce, and just bite 'em on the rump. That fufills my need for beef. :) No? You knew I was kidding on that one. There are lots of American/European restaurants here for a person to enjoy beef or pork on a regular basis.
"Where/How will you buy groceries?"
My answer: Easy, just like you do....at the grocery store. :) Just remember to take along a reusable grocery bag ( I have a HUGE canvas one that I purchased from LL Bean years ago that I used in the US that works like a charm here too. Everything fits in that one big bag!!!) In India if you don't bring a bag you have to pay for a reusable cloth one. I think the US needs to start this practice! Side note: Then the saying would change from "paper or plastic?" to "your bag or...your bag?"
"You had better take lots of food, clothes, and bedding. You can't find those over there."
My answer: Have you been to India! This place has a mall on every street corner.
"How many people will be working for you at your house?"
My answer: One. My husband. Just kidding! (Lance will laugh when he reads that!!!) No, this is a good question. We have a hand full of security guards outside of our house (these are required by my husband's employer). We have one gardener and one pool cleaner (to keep the yard looking good as required by the neighborhood association people). We have two drivers (also required by my husband's employer so we don't kill ourselves while trying to drive here....which I am sad to say would happen if we tried). So the only additional help is the cleaner who helps keep the house in shape from the torrential amount of dust that tries to invade our home daily. The cleaner was my only stated request. :)
"Wow, it sounds like an easy life for you."
My answer: It is easier in many ways AND it is harder than living in the US in other ways. Many challenges were not what I was expecting at all (for an example you can read back to the earlier post about trying to find a plunger or learn how to take a 3 minute shower). I will write a post about the harder differences one of these days.
"What do you think about how you will contribute to the caste system and crippling poverty over there?"
My answer: How you are contributing to it where you live? What are you doing to change things in your home town? It is everywhere in the world. It just manifests in different ways and at different levels. The only thing you can do is try to be a good person no matter where you live (show compassion, pay people what you owe them, help others when you can, educate when someone willingly gives you the opportunity, and volunteer your time/energy).
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Freud on a Street Corner....
All over India the unemployment rate is very high so many folks do what they have to do make a living here. So while driving around Gurgaon yesterday I happened upon a major intersection where many people are working to see their goods (newspapers, flowers, balloons, books) right in the road or on the street corners. I admire their diligence.
While waiting to turn right a gentleman approaches my window. I glance over to see what kinds of things he is selling and there was a huge (and I mean HUGE) copy of the complete works of Sigmund Freud. I start laughing. The book seller and my driver don't understand why I am laughing. I do not purchase the book.
It just struck me as a funny. Sigmund Freud on a street corner in India!
Now my friends back home know that I was a counselor and studied Sigmund Freud in Graduate School while working on my Masters Degree. But I am guessing that the gentleman selling these books 1) didn't know what the book was about; 2) wouldn't appreciate the whole Oedipus Complex (where young male children are secretly in love with their mothers); and 3) doesn't know that it isn't a easy, fun read. You really don't hear anyone here (or in the US for that matter) saying, "Hey, I just need to run to the book store (or street corner) right quick and grab a copy of Sigmund Freud. I heard it was a great read!" Not gonna happen!
Anyways, thought it was funny and wanted to share.
While waiting to turn right a gentleman approaches my window. I glance over to see what kinds of things he is selling and there was a huge (and I mean HUGE) copy of the complete works of Sigmund Freud. I start laughing. The book seller and my driver don't understand why I am laughing. I do not purchase the book.
It just struck me as a funny. Sigmund Freud on a street corner in India!
Now my friends back home know that I was a counselor and studied Sigmund Freud in Graduate School while working on my Masters Degree. But I am guessing that the gentleman selling these books 1) didn't know what the book was about; 2) wouldn't appreciate the whole Oedipus Complex (where young male children are secretly in love with their mothers); and 3) doesn't know that it isn't a easy, fun read. You really don't hear anyone here (or in the US for that matter) saying, "Hey, I just need to run to the book store (or street corner) right quick and grab a copy of Sigmund Freud. I heard it was a great read!" Not gonna happen!
Anyways, thought it was funny and wanted to share.
Friday, February 17, 2012
If You Can't Laugh at Yourself....
Perhaps one of the funniest things that I have ever done I did yesterday. I hope you get a good laugh out of it.
So as you have already read I have a driver, Sushil. But on Thursdays I have a different driver, Sonu, so Suhil can have the day off to spend with family and friends or do whatever. On Wednesday afternoon of this week Suhil tells me, "Mam? We need to get the car serviced soon."
I say sure and explain that Lance would tell him when we can do this based on his schedule. I then ask him, "Do we get a loaner car while the car is being serviced so I am not stuck at home all day without transportation?"
Sushil reponds, "Yes, mam. The boss' office will supply one." (Boss means Lance by the way.)
That night I inform Lance that we need to get the car serviced in the next few days. He agrees to ask about it in the morning and set it up.
On Thursday morning my driver, Sonu, and my normal car, a Toyota, show up at 8 am. I go out around 9 am to tell my driver I won't need him today. I know that all the drivers enjoy hanging out at the office waiting for the other expats to finish work and that the drivers are all good friends who like to share gossip. So I send Sonu back to the office to hang out with them. He leaves.
Around 6:00 pm that night I get an email from Lance saying Sonu is waiting to pick me up outside the house so we can head out to dinner at our favorite Indian restaurant, "The Corriander Leaf." I am thrilled and responded back with, "That is a great idea. See you in about 20 minutes at your office."
So I get ready and head outside. Now, I immediately notice that there is a different car parked directly in front of my house this time. It is a lovely, maroon colored Honda with beautiful leather interior. It looks like Sonu in the driver side seat and my security gaurd is sitting in the front passenger seat. So I think to myself, 'Oh, Lance must have had the car serviced today and this is the loaner car. That's pretty nice for a loaner car.' I head on over to get in.
(Sigh) Do you see where this is going?
My guard gets out of the front seat just as I hop into the back. The gentleman in the front seat turns around and IT ISN'T SONU. My smile fades and I state, "Oh God!" We look at each other for a moment.
Just then my security guard opens the door and says "Mam, this is the neighbor's car." He is trying not to laugh at me. I see a smile hiding behind his hand. The driver just looks confused. I am too.
I get out quickly and mumble "Sorry. I was confused." I repeat this several times. I feel like an idiot. Really!!! I stand there mumbling and apologizing.
Then my neighbor comes outside! I think, 'Oh great, this just keeps getting better and better!' We haven't officially met yet so this is not a GREAT first impression. I appologize to her and claim it has been one of those days and with the cars and drivers changing I just assumed it was my loaner car. Now mind you there are not many expats in my neighborhood so I am sure they all thought that crazy American doesn't even know which car is her's. Which in retrospect I really didn't. I go inside glad it is dark out so no one can see my bright red face.
My driver Sonu shows up about 2 minutes later and from the front window of my house I can see my guard telling him the story. I walk out and try to smile at all of them. I get in the car with a sheepish look on my face...like a child who was caught trying to steal an extra cookie or something. Sonu smiles from the corner of his mouth and says, "Hello Mam."
On the way to the office I say nothing. I am too embarassed and he knows why. About half way there, in true Indian style, he starts making small talk...most unlike him to chat away while driving...and I realize he is trying to get my mind off of my mistake. I know this trick and appreciate his effort greatly.
Later that night at dinner I tell Lance my embarrasing story. He laughs hysterically out loud. Everyone in the restaraunt turns to stare and he says loudly, "You have to share that on your blog. It is too funny." He then tells me he would have made the same mistake and not to worry about it.
So if you can't laugh at yourself....then please don't move to a foreign country where you don't speak the language. Otherwise it will be very bumpy ride indeed and I am not talking about the roads. :)
So as you have already read I have a driver, Sushil. But on Thursdays I have a different driver, Sonu, so Suhil can have the day off to spend with family and friends or do whatever. On Wednesday afternoon of this week Suhil tells me, "Mam? We need to get the car serviced soon."
I say sure and explain that Lance would tell him when we can do this based on his schedule. I then ask him, "Do we get a loaner car while the car is being serviced so I am not stuck at home all day without transportation?"
Sushil reponds, "Yes, mam. The boss' office will supply one." (Boss means Lance by the way.)
That night I inform Lance that we need to get the car serviced in the next few days. He agrees to ask about it in the morning and set it up.
On Thursday morning my driver, Sonu, and my normal car, a Toyota, show up at 8 am. I go out around 9 am to tell my driver I won't need him today. I know that all the drivers enjoy hanging out at the office waiting for the other expats to finish work and that the drivers are all good friends who like to share gossip. So I send Sonu back to the office to hang out with them. He leaves.
Around 6:00 pm that night I get an email from Lance saying Sonu is waiting to pick me up outside the house so we can head out to dinner at our favorite Indian restaurant, "The Corriander Leaf." I am thrilled and responded back with, "That is a great idea. See you in about 20 minutes at your office."
So I get ready and head outside. Now, I immediately notice that there is a different car parked directly in front of my house this time. It is a lovely, maroon colored Honda with beautiful leather interior. It looks like Sonu in the driver side seat and my security gaurd is sitting in the front passenger seat. So I think to myself, 'Oh, Lance must have had the car serviced today and this is the loaner car. That's pretty nice for a loaner car.' I head on over to get in.
(Sigh) Do you see where this is going?
My guard gets out of the front seat just as I hop into the back. The gentleman in the front seat turns around and IT ISN'T SONU. My smile fades and I state, "Oh God!" We look at each other for a moment.
Just then my security guard opens the door and says "Mam, this is the neighbor's car." He is trying not to laugh at me. I see a smile hiding behind his hand. The driver just looks confused. I am too.
I get out quickly and mumble "Sorry. I was confused." I repeat this several times. I feel like an idiot. Really!!! I stand there mumbling and apologizing.
Then my neighbor comes outside! I think, 'Oh great, this just keeps getting better and better!' We haven't officially met yet so this is not a GREAT first impression. I appologize to her and claim it has been one of those days and with the cars and drivers changing I just assumed it was my loaner car. Now mind you there are not many expats in my neighborhood so I am sure they all thought that crazy American doesn't even know which car is her's. Which in retrospect I really didn't. I go inside glad it is dark out so no one can see my bright red face.
My driver Sonu shows up about 2 minutes later and from the front window of my house I can see my guard telling him the story. I walk out and try to smile at all of them. I get in the car with a sheepish look on my face...like a child who was caught trying to steal an extra cookie or something. Sonu smiles from the corner of his mouth and says, "Hello Mam."
On the way to the office I say nothing. I am too embarassed and he knows why. About half way there, in true Indian style, he starts making small talk...most unlike him to chat away while driving...and I realize he is trying to get my mind off of my mistake. I know this trick and appreciate his effort greatly.
Later that night at dinner I tell Lance my embarrasing story. He laughs hysterically out loud. Everyone in the restaraunt turns to stare and he says loudly, "You have to share that on your blog. It is too funny." He then tells me he would have made the same mistake and not to worry about it.
So if you can't laugh at yourself....then please don't move to a foreign country where you don't speak the language. Otherwise it will be very bumpy ride indeed and I am not talking about the roads. :)
Thursday, February 16, 2012
An Angry Yogi
I don't know if many of my friends know this but I am a yogi. An avid fan of the yoga. So every day at around 11:30 am here in India I do my yoga practice for about an hour. Some days more than an hour. Some days less. Afterwards I feel lighter, stronger, and much more relaxed. For those fellow practicers of this exercise you understand this feeling.
So let me explain how yoga helped me yesterday. First off, I was frustrated!
The gentleman who cleans my house for me every day informs me that starting next month his new rate will be $20 US dollars more. I was shocked. There was no negotiation. No request for a raise. I was dumbfounded and extremely upset. He just states it as a fact. Thoughts fill my brain about how he shows up late almost every day (last week in fact he was an hour late and Saturday he didn't show up at all). I think about firing him on the spot but all in all he does pretty good work. So I politely smile and say that my husband and I will have to discuss that and get back with him.
He leaves promptly at 11:00 am like normal. By 11:30 I am on my yoga mat ready to focus on "living and breathing in the moment." BUT I CAN'T. I AM PISSED. You see in the US we don't demand a raise we ask for it. Maybe it is because I spent so many years in Human Resources but this is really struck a nerve with me so I get up from my mat and call Lance at work. While pacing back and forth I explain the problem and he says, "Let me ask a few folks around here how the house cleaner raise thing works." You see in India everyone has a house cleaner. Many house cleaners actually live with the family for whom they clean. Others come for 8 hours a day and leave at the end of their shift. I have only requested that my help come for 2 hours a day in the morning. Not a bad gig...right. Less work than most for the same amount of money. I tell Lance, "We have already been overpaying him for the 2 hours of work he does for us every day." We hang up.
So I go back to my mat. I am still mad.
I try to relax. Stretch my body into Downard Facing Dog. Then I realize this isn't working. I need to do some flows. So I contort my body into a full 15 minutes of Sun Salutations. That isn't working either. Why am I letting this get to me so much!
So, I stop the yoga for the day disappointed in myself for not accomplishing my goal while living in India of doing a full yoga practice each day. Now my anger at my house cleaner has passed on to anger at myself. I reach for my trusted friend...."Meditations from the Mat." This is a fantastic book about practicing yoga and generally being a better person. And wouldn't you know the lesson for the day is titled "The prize is in the process." I read the rest of the lesson and understand that I need to return to my mat to work through the process of being upset.
So I meditate in a cross legged position. I think about my house cleaner. I send him good will and happy thoughts. I focus on thoughts like "He is a good person. He has a family to support. Every problem has a solution. " I leave my mat after 20 minutes feeling much better and smiling.
Lance comes home that evening at 6:30 like normal and wouldn't you know it...the problem has been solved. One of the local people who works with Lance (and speaks Hindi) called our house cleaner and explained that it is normal for the house keeper to ask for a raise after 9 months to a year of work not after 3 months of service and that the home owner would decide if the raise was warranted. The cleaner said he understood. And Lance confirmed with him. Problem solved. The next day my house cleaner was 15 minutes early and had a smile on his face. We had reached an agreement to wait on the raise.
"He is a good person. He has a family to support. Every problem has a solution."
Send good thoughts to the person who is making you angry today!
It just might help (in more ways than one.)
So let me explain how yoga helped me yesterday. First off, I was frustrated!
The gentleman who cleans my house for me every day informs me that starting next month his new rate will be $20 US dollars more. I was shocked. There was no negotiation. No request for a raise. I was dumbfounded and extremely upset. He just states it as a fact. Thoughts fill my brain about how he shows up late almost every day (last week in fact he was an hour late and Saturday he didn't show up at all). I think about firing him on the spot but all in all he does pretty good work. So I politely smile and say that my husband and I will have to discuss that and get back with him.
He leaves promptly at 11:00 am like normal. By 11:30 I am on my yoga mat ready to focus on "living and breathing in the moment." BUT I CAN'T. I AM PISSED. You see in the US we don't demand a raise we ask for it. Maybe it is because I spent so many years in Human Resources but this is really struck a nerve with me so I get up from my mat and call Lance at work. While pacing back and forth I explain the problem and he says, "Let me ask a few folks around here how the house cleaner raise thing works." You see in India everyone has a house cleaner. Many house cleaners actually live with the family for whom they clean. Others come for 8 hours a day and leave at the end of their shift. I have only requested that my help come for 2 hours a day in the morning. Not a bad gig...right. Less work than most for the same amount of money. I tell Lance, "We have already been overpaying him for the 2 hours of work he does for us every day." We hang up.
So I go back to my mat. I am still mad.
I try to relax. Stretch my body into Downard Facing Dog. Then I realize this isn't working. I need to do some flows. So I contort my body into a full 15 minutes of Sun Salutations. That isn't working either. Why am I letting this get to me so much!
So, I stop the yoga for the day disappointed in myself for not accomplishing my goal while living in India of doing a full yoga practice each day. Now my anger at my house cleaner has passed on to anger at myself. I reach for my trusted friend...."Meditations from the Mat." This is a fantastic book about practicing yoga and generally being a better person. And wouldn't you know the lesson for the day is titled "The prize is in the process." I read the rest of the lesson and understand that I need to return to my mat to work through the process of being upset.
So I meditate in a cross legged position. I think about my house cleaner. I send him good will and happy thoughts. I focus on thoughts like "He is a good person. He has a family to support. Every problem has a solution. " I leave my mat after 20 minutes feeling much better and smiling.
Lance comes home that evening at 6:30 like normal and wouldn't you know it...the problem has been solved. One of the local people who works with Lance (and speaks Hindi) called our house cleaner and explained that it is normal for the house keeper to ask for a raise after 9 months to a year of work not after 3 months of service and that the home owner would decide if the raise was warranted. The cleaner said he understood. And Lance confirmed with him. Problem solved. The next day my house cleaner was 15 minutes early and had a smile on his face. We had reached an agreement to wait on the raise.
"He is a good person. He has a family to support. Every problem has a solution."
Send good thoughts to the person who is making you angry today!
It just might help (in more ways than one.)
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Hanuman
I met Hanuman the other day.
That is suppose to be funny by the way since he is a Hindu god of monkeys.
Appartently he has been hiding in plain site for some time without my noticing.
I was riding along in my car this week on an extremely bumpy road heading to a local market to buy groceries. I was bouncing along minding my own business while taking in the sites around me including the people, cars, rickshaws, bicycles, elephants, cows, sheep, goats, pigs, dogs, trash, smells....etc when there he was...right in front me for weeks. Hanging from the rear view mirror in fact. I look at Hanuman, who I did not know at the time, and he is smiling in his mischievous way holding onto 2 strange looking items (one sort of roundish shape on a stick and the other item triangular). He is faded from the sun but happy none the less. I think to myself, 'Should I know who this strange monkey man is that gets to hang about doing nothing all day in my car.' I decide to ask Sushil who is my extremly skilled and talented driver (I will save the driving stories for another post as it boggles the mind how one drives in a town of 27 million people).
So I ask, "Who is that?"
Sushil responds, "Who mam?"
I respond while pointing, "That little monkey man hanging from my mirror."
Sushil smiles ear to ear. I realize that smile is the same smile exactly as the one plastered on the monkey man's face. My mouth gaps open. The similarity is striking. Sushil says "Hanuman."
I keep looking at him. "And that is?"
Sushil, who is still smiling at me simply states "The monkey god, mam."
So I respond "Ah" in a very direct way implying that I know him well. In reality I don't understand at all. For the rest of the drive I find my eyes wondering over to the monkey god. Who is he? What does he do hanging there all day? Why is he smiling like that?
That night I go home and look up "Hindu Monkey God" on the internet and there he is...Hanuman. He is usually represented with two items in his hands. One is a mountain (the triangle shape noted earlier) and the other is a club. These two items represent his many battles and triumphs over evil. He teaches Hindus about the unlimited power that lies unused within each person. In fact on Tuesdays, and in some places in India on Saturdays too, many people fast in honour of Hanuman and give him special offerings. I am impressed with his strength, apparent happy attitude, and diligent following of Hindus. I state aloud "Well you go little monkey man!"
So Hanuman will stay hanging from my rear view mirror. For I am not a Hindu, but in this traffic one is glad to have the champion of "GOOD" hanging about smiling at the other drivers rushing past you.
That is suppose to be funny by the way since he is a Hindu god of monkeys.
Appartently he has been hiding in plain site for some time without my noticing.
I was riding along in my car this week on an extremely bumpy road heading to a local market to buy groceries. I was bouncing along minding my own business while taking in the sites around me including the people, cars, rickshaws, bicycles, elephants, cows, sheep, goats, pigs, dogs, trash, smells....etc when there he was...right in front me for weeks. Hanging from the rear view mirror in fact. I look at Hanuman, who I did not know at the time, and he is smiling in his mischievous way holding onto 2 strange looking items (one sort of roundish shape on a stick and the other item triangular). He is faded from the sun but happy none the less. I think to myself, 'Should I know who this strange monkey man is that gets to hang about doing nothing all day in my car.' I decide to ask Sushil who is my extremly skilled and talented driver (I will save the driving stories for another post as it boggles the mind how one drives in a town of 27 million people).
So I ask, "Who is that?"
Sushil responds, "Who mam?"
I respond while pointing, "That little monkey man hanging from my mirror."
Sushil smiles ear to ear. I realize that smile is the same smile exactly as the one plastered on the monkey man's face. My mouth gaps open. The similarity is striking. Sushil says "Hanuman."
I keep looking at him. "And that is?"
Sushil, who is still smiling at me simply states "The monkey god, mam."
So I respond "Ah" in a very direct way implying that I know him well. In reality I don't understand at all. For the rest of the drive I find my eyes wondering over to the monkey god. Who is he? What does he do hanging there all day? Why is he smiling like that?
That night I go home and look up "Hindu Monkey God" on the internet and there he is...Hanuman. He is usually represented with two items in his hands. One is a mountain (the triangle shape noted earlier) and the other is a club. These two items represent his many battles and triumphs over evil. He teaches Hindus about the unlimited power that lies unused within each person. In fact on Tuesdays, and in some places in India on Saturdays too, many people fast in honour of Hanuman and give him special offerings. I am impressed with his strength, apparent happy attitude, and diligent following of Hindus. I state aloud "Well you go little monkey man!"
So Hanuman will stay hanging from my rear view mirror. For I am not a Hindu, but in this traffic one is glad to have the champion of "GOOD" hanging about smiling at the other drivers rushing past you.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Hunger
Today I saw a 5 year old begging for a banana on the street corner. Begging desperately!
If you have food today please enjoy it and stop wasting it. Find a way to use that scrap of dried out bread or eat that apple before it goes bad. Eat what you have instead of accumulating more than you need.
Hunger is more real when you are staring it in the face every day.
Nothing witty from me today folks!
If you have food today please enjoy it and stop wasting it. Find a way to use that scrap of dried out bread or eat that apple before it goes bad. Eat what you have instead of accumulating more than you need.
Hunger is more real when you are staring it in the face every day.
Nothing witty from me today folks!
Monday, February 6, 2012
A Hole in the Floor
Over the weekend Lance and I headed into New Delhi to check out some more of the sites. Our Saturday consisted of spending several hours wondering around the National Museum. This building houses one of India's largest collections of artifacts from all over the country. I found it interesting, as I was wondering about looking at pottery that was made 2,000 years before Christ was born, that in all the other museums I have be in around the world you never see artifacts from this particular country yet its history is so very ancient. Sure you see artifacts from the Mayans and Aztecs in the Americas, Natives in the US, Egyptians and of course the Chinese but never anything from India. It occurs to me that this country (fairly new at standing on its own two feet with indepenence occurring in 1947) has either lost many of its antiquities to other countries (England, China, France, Spain, etc) or just chooses to protect them by keeping them in country. Either way the collection at the National Museum is impressive and I wish they would choose to share some of these amazing items with the world as I am certain it would boost tourism here with its intriguing array of paintings, pottery, and statues.
I am in awe at the art. But as usual something FUNNY always has to happen to me in India.
On my way out of the building I decide to use the ladies washroom (don't call it a bathroom or no one will know what you are talking about in India as you don't really use this room to bath). Anyways, I head into the "washroom" and there is an attendant there who shows me to a stall. I thank her for her direction before turning into my designated stall....and there it is folks....my first experience with what I like to call "a hole in the floor."
For those of you who have never traveled much, most of the world does not use a porcelain toilet complete with toilet paper and a comfy seat for resting one's backside. They use a simple porcelain (sometimes metal or earthen) hole in the floor for you to....well you know....use the toilet. A "hole in the floor" friends! Now, I do realize that my ancestors (by the way who were wild Scots and Irish folk), and yours for that matter, used holes in the ground to take a needed break for many centuries but I am still appalled. It's 2012 people! Maybe it just because I am a spoiled American and I know it. (Sigh, I'll return to my story.)
So the hole looks at me. I look at the hole. I sigh and say a silent pray "Dear God, please don't let me spray on myself!" I enter the room and proceed with business. Upon completion I look for the toilet paper. I gasp. No paper! NO PAPER! I am desperate and make a small squeaking sound similar to a distressed mouse. The attendant hears and gently suggests in broken English...."paper mam?" I say "YES" much louder than I had intended and a small hand comes under the door holding my wonderful modern body cleansing parchment. I thank her and complete my transaction. The paper goes down. All is well.
As I am leaving the restroom Lance makes a face at me. I have been married long enough to this man to know what that means. It is code for "Was it gross? You were in there a long time." I nod once and use one simple statemtent to sum it up. "A hole in the floor." He grimaces. We do not mention it again.
I am in awe at the art. But as usual something FUNNY always has to happen to me in India.
On my way out of the building I decide to use the ladies washroom (don't call it a bathroom or no one will know what you are talking about in India as you don't really use this room to bath). Anyways, I head into the "washroom" and there is an attendant there who shows me to a stall. I thank her for her direction before turning into my designated stall....and there it is folks....my first experience with what I like to call "a hole in the floor."
For those of you who have never traveled much, most of the world does not use a porcelain toilet complete with toilet paper and a comfy seat for resting one's backside. They use a simple porcelain (sometimes metal or earthen) hole in the floor for you to....well you know....use the toilet. A "hole in the floor" friends! Now, I do realize that my ancestors (by the way who were wild Scots and Irish folk), and yours for that matter, used holes in the ground to take a needed break for many centuries but I am still appalled. It's 2012 people! Maybe it just because I am a spoiled American and I know it. (Sigh, I'll return to my story.)
So the hole looks at me. I look at the hole. I sigh and say a silent pray "Dear God, please don't let me spray on myself!" I enter the room and proceed with business. Upon completion I look for the toilet paper. I gasp. No paper! NO PAPER! I am desperate and make a small squeaking sound similar to a distressed mouse. The attendant hears and gently suggests in broken English...."paper mam?" I say "YES" much louder than I had intended and a small hand comes under the door holding my wonderful modern body cleansing parchment. I thank her and complete my transaction. The paper goes down. All is well.
As I am leaving the restroom Lance makes a face at me. I have been married long enough to this man to know what that means. It is code for "Was it gross? You were in there a long time." I nod once and use one simple statemtent to sum it up. "A hole in the floor." He grimaces. We do not mention it again.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Best Birthday Present: Meat
My birthday was February 1st.
Lance asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I said, "Well if we were in the US I would say jewelry but since we are in India I am gonna say...MEAT. You know like lamb, beef, anything but more chicken." He just laughed.
Two days later on my birthday I got a lovely new green amethyst ring from my loving husband. So sweet! I thought the gifts were over but that night after work Lance tells me he has another gift for me...dinner. So we head to "Wildfire." We walk in the door to the restaurant and my face lights up. Tears begin to fall from my eyes. In front of me are open wood burning grills where lovely skewers of delicious meats are slowly rotating. My mouth waters. My stomach growls. I smell beef. Lots and lots of beef. I hug my husband and thank him over and over again. Who knew I would be more excited about beef than a new ring. He'll know better next year and just feed me!
The waiter comes over and I order the biggest order of meat on the menu. It included 5 skewers of lamb, salmon, chicken, prawns, and BEEF. There are sauces for each kind of meat and a salad bar with breads. Lance orders the same. We proceed to spend the next 3 hours eating the fantastic meal and downing a bottle of wine together. It was delicious.
I started feeling a slow beef high begining to hit my brain (could have been the overindulgence in the wine but I'm gonna say it was the medium-well cooked cow!). My legs are mushy. My heart is light. I am laughing like a silly girl. Then Lance gets the bill....turns out in India a good meal will cost you a fortune just like in the US. He wouldn't tell me how much but he did say that it was over 10,000 rupees. Ouch!
Overall it was the perfect birthday.
Thank you honey! I won't forget it when your birthday comes around.
Wildfire night #2 here we come!
Lance asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I said, "Well if we were in the US I would say jewelry but since we are in India I am gonna say...MEAT. You know like lamb, beef, anything but more chicken." He just laughed.
Two days later on my birthday I got a lovely new green amethyst ring from my loving husband. So sweet! I thought the gifts were over but that night after work Lance tells me he has another gift for me...dinner. So we head to "Wildfire." We walk in the door to the restaurant and my face lights up. Tears begin to fall from my eyes. In front of me are open wood burning grills where lovely skewers of delicious meats are slowly rotating. My mouth waters. My stomach growls. I smell beef. Lots and lots of beef. I hug my husband and thank him over and over again. Who knew I would be more excited about beef than a new ring. He'll know better next year and just feed me!
The waiter comes over and I order the biggest order of meat on the menu. It included 5 skewers of lamb, salmon, chicken, prawns, and BEEF. There are sauces for each kind of meat and a salad bar with breads. Lance orders the same. We proceed to spend the next 3 hours eating the fantastic meal and downing a bottle of wine together. It was delicious.
I started feeling a slow beef high begining to hit my brain (could have been the overindulgence in the wine but I'm gonna say it was the medium-well cooked cow!). My legs are mushy. My heart is light. I am laughing like a silly girl. Then Lance gets the bill....turns out in India a good meal will cost you a fortune just like in the US. He wouldn't tell me how much but he did say that it was over 10,000 rupees. Ouch!
Overall it was the perfect birthday.
Thank you honey! I won't forget it when your birthday comes around.
Wildfire night #2 here we come!
Lance, Lance, and the Indian Dance
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