Happy Diwali!
Today is the main day for a major Hindu holiday, so there have been fireworks going off since about 4 am this morning. When I say going off I mean that people have been setting off major fireworks in our apartment courtyard, as well as all over the city, all day yesterday and today. These things are shaking the building and core of my being. The kids are having a great time watching the fireworks. The views from our apartment are really beautiful, and I will take some pictures tonight with the fireworks and try to post them tomorrow.
Well, I posted yesterday some random stories, and I think today I will post some little things that are different. This whole experience has made me want to get involved with refugees and/or international students some day. It is really funny the things you just don't know when you move to a foreign country.
So here is a list of things that I have noticed so far:
1. There is a huge variety of rice that I didn't even know existed
2. Same for grains
3. Don't ask for Brown Sugar. Apparently here that is the word for heroin.
4. My American accent makes it difficult for many people to understand me
5. Apartments don't come with appliances. (Fridge, washer/dryer, stove, etc.)
6. Indian's don't use ovens-they don't even have them
7. I can put out a bag with a little coupon in it on my door at night and someone will come and deliver fresh milk to me in the morning. (Nice!)
8.You must boil the milk before you drink it (I still can't figure out if you actually have to or everyone just does it)
9. No one here understands why you would want to drink cold milk
10. Everyone takes off their shoes before entering a house
11. People here are happy to give you directions or items that you are looking for, even if they have no idea what you are saying.
12. Tomato sauce=tomato puree
13. American food is really expensive (and subject to a 14% luxury tax)
14. Babies are universal magnets
15. I love reading the newspaper here
16. I hope my kids learn to dance like on Indian TV
17. Corny is "brilliant" here
18.There are switches for all the outlets so you can turn them off when not in use. So efficient! (If your kids stop flipping them when you don't need them)
19. Toast works for all meals
Have a great day! More adventures to come...
Today is the main day for a major Hindu holiday, so there have been fireworks going off since about 4 am this morning. When I say going off I mean that people have been setting off major fireworks in our apartment courtyard, as well as all over the city, all day yesterday and today. These things are shaking the building and core of my being. The kids are having a great time watching the fireworks. The views from our apartment are really beautiful, and I will take some pictures tonight with the fireworks and try to post them tomorrow.
Well, I posted yesterday some random stories, and I think today I will post some little things that are different. This whole experience has made me want to get involved with refugees and/or international students some day. It is really funny the things you just don't know when you move to a foreign country.
So here is a list of things that I have noticed so far:
1. There is a huge variety of rice that I didn't even know existed
2. Same for grains
3. Don't ask for Brown Sugar. Apparently here that is the word for heroin.
4. My American accent makes it difficult for many people to understand me
5. Apartments don't come with appliances. (Fridge, washer/dryer, stove, etc.)
6. Indian's don't use ovens-they don't even have them
7. I can put out a bag with a little coupon in it on my door at night and someone will come and deliver fresh milk to me in the morning. (Nice!)
8.You must boil the milk before you drink it (I still can't figure out if you actually have to or everyone just does it)
9. No one here understands why you would want to drink cold milk
10. Everyone takes off their shoes before entering a house
11. People here are happy to give you directions or items that you are looking for, even if they have no idea what you are saying.
12. Tomato sauce=tomato puree
13. American food is really expensive (and subject to a 14% luxury tax)
14. Babies are universal magnets
15. I love reading the newspaper here
16. I hope my kids learn to dance like on Indian TV
17. Corny is "brilliant" here
18.There are switches for all the outlets so you can turn them off when not in use. So efficient! (If your kids stop flipping them when you don't need them)
19. Toast works for all meals
Have a great day! More adventures to come...
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ReplyDeleteMissy!!! O.K...the weird question marks above were me (Amy...aka..your technological illiterate friend!) I tried to post other ways...and this is the way I found that it works! :) Hopefully a little bit of normalcy might bring a smile to your face!!
ReplyDeleteJust want to say...your blog is brilliant..thank you for sharing your adventures with everyone and being so open!! It is so nice to "hear" your voice through your writing...I can't imagine the adventures your family is having on a minute to minute basis!! Love, love, love you lots!!! Talk to you soon!! The Bates Family!
I honestly don't know if this will work in India or not, but when I was in China for a summer, we would go to the "hole in the wall" restaurants and via my drawings and broken Mandarin I would say I really want to learn how to cook the dish that I ate because it was amazing. SO, they would invite me into the kitchen and usually a little old lady would show me how to cook the meal. That is how I learned how to cook what we call potstickers. Maybe it could work??
ReplyDeleteHahaha! It's good that you're writing these things down now, Missy, because in a few months they'll be so normal you won't notice them. I write postcards to my parents and I don't have anything interesting to say, because I've forgotten how weird it is to eat fish for breakfast, or to roll up my bed mat every morning, or to stand up and bow to all the kids before I begin teaching. Keep the stories coming!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, is your technologically-unsavvy friend "The Bates Family" the same Bates family with 3 kids whom I used to babysit for in AZ before they moved to another state oh-so-long ago? If so, I'd love to reconnect. Can you help?
Jenny
AMAZING idea Andi! I am totally going to try it. I had a cook come by today and in broken english tell me that she has an obligation with a family until the 31st, but she can come after that. The first few weeks I am going to stand over her shoulder and watch and learn. I LOVE the food here, but I have NO idea what I am doing :)
ReplyDeleteJenny, this is a different Bates family. :) I am not sure which one you are talking about, I will try to rack my brain to see if I can remember and see if I still have a contact. Also, it's funny the things I forgot to mention because they are already "normal" (washing my clothes, then unplugging the washing machine to plug in the dryer, beds that are really boards, not being able to turn on the water and brush your teeth. And so much more!
Amy, love, love, love you too! Today Ben made it so anyone could post a comment on my blog, and I am so glad he did!
We are loving your blog, Missy! I'm so excited to read about all of the adventures your family is going to have. :)
ReplyDelete-The Beckas
I just wanted to comment that I think Melissa is brilliant, and really attractive.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh Misst, you have me laughing and in tears at the same time! I guess we never realize how different things are in other countries. Hot milk??
ReplyDeleteAhhhhhhhhhh!!! Without an oven and brown sugar and cold milk, how do you enjoy chocolate chip cookies there????? AHHHHH!!! I would have to move back!!!!
ReplyDelete