Sector B-142
Yes, Sector B-142! This is where I live – sounds like an
institutionalised unit – Right! Ha-ha, it sounds like one, but it’s not. Imagine:
if it was an institutionalised unit. There will be loud speakers everywhere
reminding people constantly if they have violated the Institutions’ protocol:- - Please return to your Sector immediately,
- unauthorised access at Sector A-131,
- Welcome Sector B-142 – please state your intentions in Sector B-124,
- Visiting time is over – please return to your Sector Immediately!
Haha, it is nothing like this, imagine if it was,
gosh!
Ironman 3
My Indian friends told be that Ironman translated in Hindi means "a person who irons" lol
10 Things we can learn
from India
1.
Innovation
– it is true like they say “necessity is
the mother of all invention”
2.
Recycle
– making use of stuff until you can’t use it anymore
3.
Cash
on Delivery – Pay on delivery, online goods or vegetables
4.
Bargain
– Some sale price are negotiable, so bargain
5.
Traffic
mutual understanding – everyone has right of way (see video below) lol
6.
Education
– is everything, it determines your life so study hard
7.
Celebration
– Whether religious or personal – more the better
8.
Honour
– one needs to bring honour to the family
9.
Barber
Shop – that’s where you get all the community news
10. Income – time is money [the early
bird catches the worm]
Traffic in Lucknow: All traffic facing each other and soon everyone
just fork in and through and the congestion is gone
10 things that will
help a foreigner
1.
Direction:
Ask at least 10 people for direction, not just one, and stick with the majority
2.
Money:
Always have 10 rupee notes, people don’t have change for large sum
3.
Smartphones:
This can be your best friend [Google map - Direction and location]
4.
Shopping:
look around before purchasing
5.
Pretend:
you know everything, otherwise you are nailed
6.
Language:
Make an effort to learn the language
7.
Culture:
Will help you blend in
8.
Holding
Hands: Guys don’t be shy when local man hold your hands, this means U are in
the fold
9.
Ear Plugs: Save your ear drums from tooting
horns
10. Tax – Always ask whether purchase price
is inclusive or exclusive of tax before buyng
It is getting hotter day by day. Highest temperature recorded
last month [April] was 45 degrees. During night the temperature falls down to average
35 degrees. A drop in 10 degrees Celsius doesn’t help anyone. It doesn’t help
me either. I have an average of 5 showers a day. I purchased a second hand Air
Conditioning system which I usually use at night but because it can be very
expensive to run 24 hours and it is noisy which prevents me from sleeping, I
use if for 2-3 hours a night before I fall asleep. Summer for 3 months and then rainy season, I can’t
wait for winter.
Dog resting in a puddle of water to cool down
10 Cultural Traits I
have learned so far
1)
Family is
paramount, including very fringe cousins.
2)
Bad manner to
wear shoes indoors
3)
Indian food is
eaten with the hands. If you are not comfortable, ask for a spoon and
fork.
4)
It is fashionable
to be at least 30 minutes late for a party
5)
Women always wear
the pants and long top with the scarf
6)
Men wear western
clothes out but at home put on loose pants and long top.
7)
A bachelor’s
degree is 3 years after high school and masters 2 years after that. At Grade 10
they take a nationwide test that determines what their future schooling choices
will be. At that time they chose a career.
8)
Parents all hope
their children will be more educated and do better than they have financially.
9) Habits Indians prefer not to switch off their cell phones during
meetings.
10) Indians rarely turn off their cell phones when engaged in another
conversation.
Three weeks ago, I had immersed craving for Lamb Roast. I had
enough of vegetables. I am not against vegetable but it was one of those days I
didn’t want to look at those mean vegetables. I have vegetables for lunch and
dinner. I know vegetables are your best friend, but I had enough of it.
However, I had to overcome my appetite and face my discouragement and move
forward. You will hardly find Lamb meat here. You can find mutton but mutton is
goat meat, not lamb.
Some of my friends I met at a local Church
Friends
I have made few friends. They are great and through their
friendship, I am able to understand the culture and the worldview of the local
people. Every day I learn something new.
I am trying to understand all the do’s and don’ts of the culture. On the
deeper level, we must ask ourselves, what these tell us about their worldview.
I believe everyone who visit another culture need to understand the worldview
of the culture he or she is living with.
Questions I have been asking, what do we value? What does
this culture values most? I often think about my own culture. What are the most
important values in my culture and the host culture? I don’t want to be treated
differently or as a foreigner. I want to understand what the people and going
through and what do they value. I don’t what to be offense to the people, but
remove offense and share life together. So these friends are helping me a lot.
I want to make many good friends and understanding he culture is as important
as learning the language to communicate with them.
I am keeping well. Drinking lots of water, well I have to because it is really hot. Veggies is my good friend right now. No matter what I won't let go of Veggies :( . I will post some picture later on. I find it vey hot to go outside now. I only o if I have to.
I trust all is well you all and you all are looking after yourself. I miss our time together. It is very difficult to start a new life in a new place but I have received encouraging support and friendship that sustains me to the next level. Language study is full swing. I found a helper who is a guy so he teaches and coaches me.
I will log off here but send me an email if you want to know more about my lifestyle and challengers.
In His Pursuit
Ravi
