I wrote this out, old-school style in a notebook--imagine!
Today I've realized I'm at the halfway point. I've been in Mysore for 6 weeks. I don't feel like shopping or seeing the sights. I'm not so afraid of the water. All I want to do today is sit (actually lie) on the floor and watch movies. (It is so funny that all the movies at the local video store are bootleg copies).
Yesterday, Rachel and I were walking down the street when we met up with a friend. We said "hi" and he introduced us to the women he was with. They were wearing walking shoes and fast-dry shorts. They had money belts and backpacks and water bottles and cameras. Their clothes were clean-looking and it was clear that they had just arrived, and so we followed standard protocol:
What is your name?
Where are you from?
Are you practicing at the Shala?
(At this point the conversation can go in one of two directions. 1. They are practicing at the shala and so you ask them at what time do they practice and when they are leaving. 2. If they aren't, you ask them where they are or if they are. If they aren't, you might tell them a site to see. If they are, you ask them with who and joke about the fact that you aren't judging them but why aren't they at the shala?)
After exchanging courtesies, Rachel and I continued on our way. Two steps later, she burst into a fit of laughter (Rachel tends to do this). "What's so funny?" I ask. She explained that we are going to have to work on our social skills before we go back to the states because we acted so "Indian" with those women. So that actually, the exchange went more like this:
Your good name, madam?
Your country?
You are practice at the Shala? No? Better no. You go out. Eat lots of food. See the temples...
All the while, imagine me doing the upturned hand finger point, the hand-to-mouth food gesture, and of course, the head wobble.
Six weeks is enough time to realize that you don't smell anything any more and that you're not bothered by wet bathroom floors, wet toilet seats. You are less skeptical about restaurant food. And finally, you are not at all surprised to find yourself using a squat toilet with a bucket and water.
6 weeks here and 6 weeks to come is enough time to find yourself in the middle of a homeless puppy conundrum. Mysore is full of puppies You can't adopt them, because you're leaving, but you want to help.
The girl who recommended my apartment took a puppy form a rickshaw driver who had rescued it from being hit by a car. She said she had to, but I'm not sure what this guy was doing to be so bad that she felt she had to take a puppy under her care even though she was leaving in a couple of weeks. She was hoping she would find someone to adopt it. Everyone wants to say yes, of course, but they also know that they don't want to be the one to put the poor thing back onto the street from which it came.
And so, somehow, Rachel ends up with a puppy in her arms, and the hot potato is passed over to the boy's house. There will be a mass exodus of students in the next month...
Anyone want a puppy?
Today I've realized I'm at the halfway point. I've been in Mysore for 6 weeks. I don't feel like shopping or seeing the sights. I'm not so afraid of the water. All I want to do today is sit (actually lie) on the floor and watch movies. (It is so funny that all the movies at the local video store are bootleg copies).
Yesterday, Rachel and I were walking down the street when we met up with a friend. We said "hi" and he introduced us to the women he was with. They were wearing walking shoes and fast-dry shorts. They had money belts and backpacks and water bottles and cameras. Their clothes were clean-looking and it was clear that they had just arrived, and so we followed standard protocol:
What is your name?
Where are you from?
Are you practicing at the Shala?
(At this point the conversation can go in one of two directions. 1. They are practicing at the shala and so you ask them at what time do they practice and when they are leaving. 2. If they aren't, you ask them where they are or if they are. If they aren't, you might tell them a site to see. If they are, you ask them with who and joke about the fact that you aren't judging them but why aren't they at the shala?)
After exchanging courtesies, Rachel and I continued on our way. Two steps later, she burst into a fit of laughter (Rachel tends to do this). "What's so funny?" I ask. She explained that we are going to have to work on our social skills before we go back to the states because we acted so "Indian" with those women. So that actually, the exchange went more like this:
Your good name, madam?
Your country?
You are practice at the Shala? No? Better no. You go out. Eat lots of food. See the temples...
All the while, imagine me doing the upturned hand finger point, the hand-to-mouth food gesture, and of course, the head wobble.
Six weeks is enough time to realize that you don't smell anything any more and that you're not bothered by wet bathroom floors, wet toilet seats. You are less skeptical about restaurant food. And finally, you are not at all surprised to find yourself using a squat toilet with a bucket and water.
6 weeks here and 6 weeks to come is enough time to find yourself in the middle of a homeless puppy conundrum. Mysore is full of puppies You can't adopt them, because you're leaving, but you want to help.
The girl who recommended my apartment took a puppy form a rickshaw driver who had rescued it from being hit by a car. She said she had to, but I'm not sure what this guy was doing to be so bad that she felt she had to take a puppy under her care even though she was leaving in a couple of weeks. She was hoping she would find someone to adopt it. Everyone wants to say yes, of course, but they also know that they don't want to be the one to put the poor thing back onto the street from which it came.
And so, somehow, Rachel ends up with a puppy in her arms, and the hot potato is passed over to the boy's house. There will be a mass exodus of students in the next month...
Anyone want a puppy?
Yes, I want a puppy!!!
ReplyDeletereally?
ReplyDeleteyes i want a puppy if it is less than 1 month so that the puppy can adjust as my family member without facing any problem waise puppies always look good
ReplyDelete