It would be impossible to describe all the experiences of people, places and food, that are at once exhiIiarating and exhausting, in this place of sensory overload. I miss home and everyone when I think about it, but this is our time to do this and we're getting into the groove of working with each other and respecting strengths and space. I think it is getting easier as I find myself here.
While it would be easy to list the things that one finds odd, uncomfortable, or even shocking, and many people write about these when travelling and living in a new country and culture, for me, part of making the conscious choice to be here, is to 'be' here. This is not to source the known items and comfort zones, but to find how to 'be' in this space. For that reason, and in no particular order, these are some of the things I've found I love about India.
For example, yesterday we walked from our guest house to the bus station and found The Dairy - seriously straight out of the cow. On the way back we ascertained they openat 7am, so this morning after yoga and meditation, while Brian is still asleep, I set of the 500 metres or so to buy curd/dahi/yoghurt ... whatever works. Obvious white woman in western yoga clothes walking down the mall/bazaar at 7.30amamidst businesses opening, childen walking to school, all forms of manual and engine transport, plus a few livestock. At the dairy, which is open (I wasn't banking on it as opening time is generally 10ish), I work out with the shopkeeper that I would like to buy curd. He suggests 'loose' and pulls a brand new and fresh set tray of yoghurt out of the fridge, retrieves the scoop from yesterday's dregs and weighs me 250 g into a plastic bag, ties it with a rubber band - all for 15 Rs. "Shukriya. I'll see you tomorrow."
Things like this happen countless times a day. The vegetable seller in Mandi who sold Brian tomatoes, and then gave him a free cucumber. The auto rickshaw driver in another town who wouldn't take a 10 Rs tip. Our rock star status where a papparazzi of photographers appear around us to be photographed with us. Today at a temple in Dehradun I said to a young teacher supervising a school excursion, "I'm really not that important."
His response, "Every person is important,ma'am."
And I must mention the politeness; not forced or contrived, but simply beautiful manners.
Some things that need no explanation:
Full leg and underarm wax, no appointment necessary, for 250 Rs
Jeera (cumin) with everything
Dosa - GF andDF, enormous, thin crepes made of rice flour and pulses
Dahi as above, low fat, no flavours, colours, preservatives or setting agents, just plain
Toned milk - whole milk with water and skim milk powder added to prevent separating. In effect non homogenised milk and low fat, which takes most of the nasty dairy intolerance issues away.
And some things I like on Brian's behalf:
A No. 2 buzz cut with an awesome head massage for just 50 Rs
Dahl makhani
Engaging with the locals
Meandering and discovering ...
Kayleen Wood
B Bus (Econ), MBA HRM, GCertHigherEd
While it would be easy to list the things that one finds odd, uncomfortable, or even shocking, and many people write about these when travelling and living in a new country and culture, for me, part of making the conscious choice to be here, is to 'be' here. This is not to source the known items and comfort zones, but to find how to 'be' in this space. For that reason, and in no particular order, these are some of the things I've found I love about India.
For example, yesterday we walked from our guest house to the bus station and found The Dairy - seriously straight out of the cow. On the way back we ascertained they openat 7am, so this morning after yoga and meditation, while Brian is still asleep, I set of the 500 metres or so to buy curd/dahi/yoghurt ... whatever works. Obvious white woman in western yoga clothes walking down the mall/bazaar at 7.30amamidst businesses opening, childen walking to school, all forms of manual and engine transport, plus a few livestock. At the dairy, which is open (I wasn't banking on it as opening time is generally 10ish), I work out with the shopkeeper that I would like to buy curd. He suggests 'loose' and pulls a brand new and fresh set tray of yoghurt out of the fridge, retrieves the scoop from yesterday's dregs and weighs me 250 g into a plastic bag, ties it with a rubber band - all for 15 Rs. "Shukriya. I'll see you tomorrow."
Things like this happen countless times a day. The vegetable seller in Mandi who sold Brian tomatoes, and then gave him a free cucumber. The auto rickshaw driver in another town who wouldn't take a 10 Rs tip. Our rock star status where a papparazzi of photographers appear around us to be photographed with us. Today at a temple in Dehradun I said to a young teacher supervising a school excursion, "I'm really not that important."
His response, "Every person is important,ma'am."
And I must mention the politeness; not forced or contrived, but simply beautiful manners.
Some things that need no explanation:
Full leg and underarm wax, no appointment necessary, for 250 Rs
Jeera (cumin) with everything
Dosa - GF andDF, enormous, thin crepes made of rice flour and pulses
Dahi as above, low fat, no flavours, colours, preservatives or setting agents, just plain
Toned milk - whole milk with water and skim milk powder added to prevent separating. In effect non homogenised milk and low fat, which takes most of the nasty dairy intolerance issues away.
And some things I like on Brian's behalf:
A No. 2 buzz cut with an awesome head massage for just 50 Rs
Dahl makhani
Engaging with the locals
Meandering and discovering ...
Kayleen Wood
B Bus (Econ), MBA HRM, GCertHigherEd
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