Seeing as it is excessively hot here, I propose the following reasons as to why heat is actually a good thing...
5. Your laundry dries remarkably fast.
4. You don't have to wait for the water heater to warm up because you just want to stand under a stream of cold water. Unfortunately, since the water sits in hot pipes all day long, it is often quite warm.
3. If you're into bikram yoga or pilates ("hot" yoga/pilates), you don't need to go to a special studio to get a work out. Just turn the fans off, pop in the DVD, and voila... instant sweat. On second thought, you could probably just practice "bikram" by itself; just sitting still in our living room can cause your body to produce massive amounts of perspiration.
2. (from my ingenious roommate) The chocolate chips in your baked goods always stay gooey because it's 5,000 degrees outside. Everything tastes like it just came out of the oven.
AND... the number one reason why we should embrace the heat...
1. Monday suddenly becomes EXTREMELY appealing. After a weekend spent in a virtual sauna, you cannot wait to return to your cool (chilly, even), air-conditioned office. I literally pop out of bed on Mondays and think "YES!" We dread Fridays, however, as the end of the week signals 48+ hours of perspiration and minimal A/C. I really do enjoy my job as it is, but with the added bonus of air conditioning, work just became my new favorite hobby.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Top 5 Phrases In India
5. Which country, madam?: I get this one a lot. Not "where are you from?" but "which country, madam?" "Which country what?" is what I want to say sometimes. Which country am I from? Which country am I currently in? Which country do I wish were in (see answer to Question 1)? Which country has the oldest flag (it's Denmark, FYI)? I'm tempted to ask the inquirer "which country do you think I'm from?" but then figure it's not worth it. I respond with a quick "United States" and if they ask "which state, madam?", I give them "South Carolina... it's near Florida... don't worry about it."
4. Tika chay/acha (spelling is approximate): no explanation necessary. [head nod]
3. You will take this/you will like this, madam: People here seem pretty sure about what I will and will not like. If I go to a restaurant with a sandwich counter, there really is no need to even look at the options. The young man behind the counter will invariably tell me which one I will like the best (which is the one I will also "take"). It's good to know people are in tune with my likes and dislikes.
2. Are we serious?: One of my personal favorites, this one comes straight from my roommate. In situations of ridiculousness (which crop up daily), her response is often "are we serious?" Example: two very large men are nestled in the back of an autorickshaw. The two of us walk up to the driver, see that there is no room for one in the back, and start to walk away. The driver grabs us and points for one of us to sit in the front with him and for the other to sit in the back. My roommate, as she glances incredulously towards the backseat, "are we serious?"
AND... the number one phrase...
1. Why not?!: Ahh, "why not." This has quickly become the best catch-all phrase a girl could ask for. Ask me anything and I will satisfy your inquiry with a hearty "why not?" The best part comes when you stop and think about exactly "why not." Example: I need to put my glass in the sink, but someone else is washing their vegetables and there isn't room to squeeze past.
Me: Sneha, can I put my glass in the sink really quickly?
Sneha: Why not?
"Well," I think, "I guess there really isn't a reason why you shouldn't move. Why not, indeed."
Gotta love it.
4. Tika chay/acha (spelling is approximate): no explanation necessary. [head nod]
3. You will take this/you will like this, madam: People here seem pretty sure about what I will and will not like. If I go to a restaurant with a sandwich counter, there really is no need to even look at the options. The young man behind the counter will invariably tell me which one I will like the best (which is the one I will also "take"). It's good to know people are in tune with my likes and dislikes.
2. Are we serious?: One of my personal favorites, this one comes straight from my roommate. In situations of ridiculousness (which crop up daily), her response is often "are we serious?" Example: two very large men are nestled in the back of an autorickshaw. The two of us walk up to the driver, see that there is no room for one in the back, and start to walk away. The driver grabs us and points for one of us to sit in the front with him and for the other to sit in the back. My roommate, as she glances incredulously towards the backseat, "are we serious?"
AND... the number one phrase...
1. Why not?!: Ahh, "why not." This has quickly become the best catch-all phrase a girl could ask for. Ask me anything and I will satisfy your inquiry with a hearty "why not?" The best part comes when you stop and think about exactly "why not." Example: I need to put my glass in the sink, but someone else is washing their vegetables and there isn't room to squeeze past.
Me: Sneha, can I put my glass in the sink really quickly?
Sneha: Why not?
"Well," I think, "I guess there really isn't a reason why you shouldn't move. Why not, indeed."
Gotta love it.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
holi moley.
Yesterday, West Bengal celebrated Holi. There are various legends behind this holiday and both Muslims and Hindus engage in the festivities. This "Festival of Colors" signals the coming of spring and is basically a good excuse for everyone (including adults) to get messy. Several of my friends and I had the opportunity to "play Holi" with a huge group of locals. It was
, by far, the most fun I've had in a long time!
, by far, the most fun I've had in a long time!"Playing Holi" involves the throwing, smearing, rubbing, etc. of colored powder. There is also the possibility of adding lots of water to the powder and throwing buckets of colored water on people... awesome. Virtually no one is safe: kids use water gun-esque toys to squirt cars and motorcycles as they pass and people throw dyed water or powder from their rooftops unsuspecting pedestrians. It was an absolute blast.
jai ho!
Going to the movies is always a “different” experience outside of the U.S.: in France they sell sugar-popcorn and have ice cream vending machines in the back hallways; in Slovenia, you are strictly assigned seats, etc. India, however, plays in a whole new ballpark, so to speak. To date, I have seen three films here: Slumdog Millionaire, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and Pink Panther 2.
The concessions stands crack me up. Not only do you have three different types of popcorn to choose from, you also have veg samosas and scooped ice cream. But the best is the hot corn. Not popcorn—hot corn. Just near the popcorn stand is a booth where an eager Indian man will shave the kernels off of a hot, buttery ear of corn, put them into a Dixie cup, and hand you a small wooden spoon for your tasting pleasure. I have not yet had the pleasure to experience this delicious treat, but I hear it’s wonderful.
For Slumdog Millionaire, we accidentally bought “gold tickets,” which put us in the very elite Gold Seating. We waited in a special lobby before being led to the cinema. The cinema had about 40 leather recliners, with a pillow and a blanket settled on the seat of each one. After we had nestled ourselves in the plush chairs and fully “reclined” ourselves, the movie began. I had seen Slumdog in Atlanta, but seeing it in India was pretty powerful. Granted, the volume was so loud that I lost most of my hearing, but at least I can say I watched saw it in India (and have 10% of my hearing to account for it).
We had “regular” tickets for the second and third movies I saw here. The stadium seating is quite similar to that found in the U.S., but don’t get too comfortable as the lights dim. You’ll be expected to pop right back up for the singing of the Indian national anthem. This rousing rendition of "Jana Gana Mana" includes various Indians, young and old, singing the anthem. The words scroll across the bottom for the foreigners. But they're in Sanksrit, so...
The best part: you get a good hour or so to catch your breath from all this activity before the ten minute intermission begins.
The concessions stands crack me up. Not only do you have three different types of popcorn to choose from, you also have veg samosas and scooped ice cream. But the best is the hot corn. Not popcorn—hot corn. Just near the popcorn stand is a booth where an eager Indian man will shave the kernels off of a hot, buttery ear of corn, put them into a Dixie cup, and hand you a small wooden spoon for your tasting pleasure. I have not yet had the pleasure to experience this delicious treat, but I hear it’s wonderful.
For Slumdog Millionaire, we accidentally bought “gold tickets,” which put us in the very elite Gold Seating. We waited in a special lobby before being led to the cinema. The cinema had about 40 leather recliners, with a pillow and a blanket settled on the seat of each one. After we had nestled ourselves in the plush chairs and fully “reclined” ourselves, the movie began. I had seen Slumdog in Atlanta, but seeing it in India was pretty powerful. Granted, the volume was so loud that I lost most of my hearing, but at least I can say I watched saw it in India (and have 10% of my hearing to account for it).
We had “regular” tickets for the second and third movies I saw here. The stadium seating is quite similar to that found in the U.S., but don’t get too comfortable as the lights dim. You’ll be expected to pop right back up for the singing of the Indian national anthem. This rousing rendition of "Jana Gana Mana" includes various Indians, young and old, singing the anthem. The words scroll across the bottom for the foreigners. But they're in Sanksrit, so...
The best part: you get a good hour or so to catch your breath from all this activity before the ten minute intermission begins.
Monday, February 2, 2009
holy cow (literally).
Dear friends and family,
Nomoshkar from South Asia! I write to you on this Sunday night after a great weekend of exploring the city with friends, attending a new church, and resting up for the week ahead. I thought the two-week mark might be a good time to share with you a little bit about what I have been up to and how the adjustment period has been going since I arrived. And yes, I realize this is super long… please feel free to just check out the pictures.
I spent my first week acclimating to the “hullabaloo” of Kolkata: learning about my new position, meeting the staff, finding my way to the office and around the city, and trying to adjust my sleep schedule. I absolutely adore my roommate, Emily. She arrived in early October and also works in the administrative department.
Emily grew up in Vermont and majored in literature—very useful for crossword puzzles—and we have a similar sense of humor. I don’t think I could have asked for a better friend to help show me the ropes. She is also highly skilled in mosquito-killing, which comes in quite handy. We have been having wonderful conversations about anything and everything—Indian cultural oddities, life back in the States, work, boys, family, and more.
A typical day consists of breakfast (cereal, fruit, or toast) and getting ready for work. I typically wear scrubs for pants and a kurta (or tunic, for all intensive purposes) to the office. I wander out of Neelachal, my co-op at about 8:15, (carefully) cross the road, and flag down an autorickshaw (or simply “auto”). Now, I will try to keep this section condensed, but as I find autos and the “auto cultural” quite fascinating, it ma
y be hard. Feel free to skip ahead if you aren’t interested in public transportation systems. Autos are small, three-wheeled vehicles that have engines similar to that of a 4-wheeler (if I had to take a guess). They generally have tarps as covers and can fit three people on the back bench and two, sometimes three, people in the front. I have, however, seen as many as eight people in an auto. In all other parts of South Asia, autos are virtually mini cabs. Here, however, they run similar to a bus system, with one group running from point A to point B, another group running from point B to point C, etc. You can get on and off the auto at any point and thus far, I have found myself riding with several interesting characters. I think I almost gave one elderly man a heart attack when he climbed inside and found himself seated next to a white girl. Anyway, each morning I take one auto to one major dropoff point and then flag down another to get close to the office. A quick walk (instructions include “take a right at the coconut man”) brings me to the office and my day begins. The entire trip takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
We work until six and then Emily and I either do a little grocery shopping or head home. So far, dinner has been very low maintenance: omelets, PB&J sandwiches, stir-fry vegetables, etc. Emily did manage to make a frittata in the toaster oven, which I found extremely impressive. Because people tend to “raise their eyebrows” at women who come home late at night (particularly by themselves), our nocturnal activities are somewhat limited. We have gone over to other expats’ flats several times for dinners and movie nights, but the majority of the nights I’ve been here have been spent cooking, talking, watching “The Office,” reading, knitting, and doing crossword puzzles… thrilling! It actually works out quite well, however, because I have found myself to be rather exhausted at the end of the day. Experiencing sensory overload for the majority of the day can begin to wear you out. The two weekends I have spent here have been used for exploring the city, resting, going to church, and running errands.
I haven’t found myself missing any “things” from the United States, but rather people… all of you guys! Although it can b
e frustrating to not be able to pick up the phone and call someone whenever I want, the 10.5 hour difference hasn’t really been all that bad. Our apartment complex is very quiet and is a wonderful place to “escape” from the noise that seems almost constantly “on.” Another great think about this city is the sense of security… I have yet to feel like I am in danger. Of course, much of this could be attributed to the fact that I am taller than the entire population of this country and strike fear and awe into the hearts of potentially dodgy characters. It has taken some time to adjust to the amount of staring that goes on; when you combine 1) a six-foot tall woman, 2) who is white, 3) not in the tourist part of town, 4) and by herself, the general reaction is curiosity.
Today marks the end of the holiday Sarswati Puja, which celebrates the Hindu goddess of knowledge. Although it has been relatively quiet this weekend, the neighbors and people in the surrounding area are certainly celebrating tonight: singers and chanters, armed with drums, have taken to the pathways around our complex. More endearingly, a young gecko has taken up residence in the cracks of our
sliding door and makes the most charming little squeaks you’ll ever hear. Combine those noises with the “Audubon Birds of North America” wall clock that chimes on the hour in assorted bird calls, and you have an idea of my current “soundtrack.” That’s about it for now… more to come soon. And I promise to keep the next update much shorter!
Nomoshkar from South Asia! I write to you on this Sunday night after a great weekend of exploring the city with friends, attending a new church, and resting up for the week ahead. I thought the two-week mark might be a good time to share with you a little bit about what I have been up to and how the adjustment period has been going since I arrived. And yes, I realize this is super long… please feel free to just check out the pictures.
I spent my first week acclimating to the “hullabaloo” of Kolkata: learning about my new position, meeting the staff, finding my way to the office and around the city, and trying to adjust my sleep schedule. I absolutely adore my roommate, Emily. She arrived in early October and also works in the administrative department.
Emily grew up in Vermont and majored in literature—very useful for crossword puzzles—and we have a similar sense of humor. I don’t think I could have asked for a better friend to help show me the ropes. She is also highly skilled in mosquito-killing, which comes in quite handy. We have been having wonderful conversations about anything and everything—Indian cultural oddities, life back in the States, work, boys, family, and more.A typical day consists of breakfast (cereal, fruit, or toast) and getting ready for work. I typically wear scrubs for pants and a kurta (or tunic, for all intensive purposes) to the office. I wander out of Neelachal, my co-op at about 8:15, (carefully) cross the road, and flag down an autorickshaw (or simply “auto”). Now, I will try to keep this section condensed, but as I find autos and the “auto cultural” quite fascinating, it ma
y be hard. Feel free to skip ahead if you aren’t interested in public transportation systems. Autos are small, three-wheeled vehicles that have engines similar to that of a 4-wheeler (if I had to take a guess). They generally have tarps as covers and can fit three people on the back bench and two, sometimes three, people in the front. I have, however, seen as many as eight people in an auto. In all other parts of South Asia, autos are virtually mini cabs. Here, however, they run similar to a bus system, with one group running from point A to point B, another group running from point B to point C, etc. You can get on and off the auto at any point and thus far, I have found myself riding with several interesting characters. I think I almost gave one elderly man a heart attack when he climbed inside and found himself seated next to a white girl. Anyway, each morning I take one auto to one major dropoff point and then flag down another to get close to the office. A quick walk (instructions include “take a right at the coconut man”) brings me to the office and my day begins. The entire trip takes about 15 to 20 minutes.We work until six and then Emily and I either do a little grocery shopping or head home. So far, dinner has been very low maintenance: omelets, PB&J sandwiches, stir-fry vegetables, etc. Emily did manage to make a frittata in the toaster oven, which I found extremely impressive. Because people tend to “raise their eyebrows” at women who come home late at night (particularly by themselves), our nocturnal activities are somewhat limited. We have gone over to other expats’ flats several times for dinners and movie nights, but the majority of the nights I’ve been here have been spent cooking, talking, watching “The Office,” reading, knitting, and doing crossword puzzles… thrilling! It actually works out quite well, however, because I have found myself to be rather exhausted at the end of the day. Experiencing sensory overload for the majority of the day can begin to wear you out. The two weekends I have spent here have been used for exploring the city, resting, going to church, and running errands.
I haven’t found myself missing any “things” from the United States, but rather people… all of you guys! Although it can b
e frustrating to not be able to pick up the phone and call someone whenever I want, the 10.5 hour difference hasn’t really been all that bad. Our apartment complex is very quiet and is a wonderful place to “escape” from the noise that seems almost constantly “on.” Another great think about this city is the sense of security… I have yet to feel like I am in danger. Of course, much of this could be attributed to the fact that I am taller than the entire population of this country and strike fear and awe into the hearts of potentially dodgy characters. It has taken some time to adjust to the amount of staring that goes on; when you combine 1) a six-foot tall woman, 2) who is white, 3) not in the tourist part of town, 4) and by herself, the general reaction is curiosity.Today marks the end of the holiday Sarswati Puja, which celebrates the Hindu goddess of knowledge. Although it has been relatively quiet this weekend, the neighbors and people in the surrounding area are certainly celebrating tonight: singers and chanters, armed with drums, have taken to the pathways around our complex. More endearingly, a young gecko has taken up residence in the cracks of our
sliding door and makes the most charming little squeaks you’ll ever hear. Combine those noises with the “Audubon Birds of North America” wall clock that chimes on the hour in assorted bird calls, and you have an idea of my current “soundtrack.” That’s about it for now… more to come soon. And I promise to keep the next update much shorter!
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