I took an Auto [three wheeler taxi]
the other day. Suddenly, a car appeared from nowhere and brushed the side of
the Auto and the Auto rickshaw titled on his side like 40 degrees for about 5
seconds before it bounced back on its wheel. I was sitting beside the driver,
and there was other passenger sitting at the back. The car driver soon realised
and pulled his vehicle away. He didn’t even stop to see if there were any
injuries or causality. The funny thing was, his vehicle had more damages than
the Auto rickshaw. You can see all the green stretch marks along the side of his
car. Perhaps he had insurance or was afraid of the people might beat him
up. That is what happens usually when
people are involved in a road accident. The person who speaks loudest appears
right to those gathered at an accident, so it becomes a screaming dialogue. Sometimes
the public will beat the person who is at fault. I have seen this with my own
eyes. Perhaps for this reason, the car driver drove off. What frightened me was
the lady behind me, she screamed so loudly. She must be an incarnation of a
trumpet! I haven’t heard anything like it. I can still hear her voice ringing
in my ears.
Driving is a challenge in India. My
Brazilian friend who lives near Delhi took some driving lessons. Her instructor
always reminded her to toot her horn always. Whether you are turning, left,
right or straight through, tooting horn is compulsory. So basically she had to
learn when to toot the horn. Tooting the horn reminds and alerts other
pedestrians and drivers of your presence. There are hazards everywhere:
vehicles on your left, vehicles of your right, vehicles behind and front,
vehicles on wrong lanes, and it is not just the vehicles, but animal, bicycles,
rickshaws dogs, trolleys and carts. If I ever buy a car, I will install an
automated tooting device that will go off every 10 seconds.
Gym Time
I joined a gym. It is now time to get
rid of those accumulated stored fat in my body. To lose one Kg of body fat, I
need to burn 8000 calories, which means 1200 calories per day. However, I have
just started and doing 400 calories a day. It is very hard to lose those
calories, but so easy to take it in. It is so funny at the gym. The guys are
always checking themselves out like every 20 seconds - they pose in front of
the mirror constantly. After every single rep they will pose in front of the
mirror. It is so hilarious! However, the women - they avoid looking at
themselves. The guys want to get big while the women want to get thin. I think
this is the norm everywhere unless you are born in Samoa, lol to my Samoan
Friends. The temperature has fallen by 5 degrees now, but it is still hot but
ideal for gym time.
Monsoon
Monsoon is over! This was my first
monsoon in India. Monsoon is
traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding
changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in
atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric
heating of land and sea. Usually, the term monsoon is used to refer to the
rainy phase of a seasonally-changing pattern, although technically there is
also a dry phase. Well this is the definition I copied from Wikipedia. However,
I thought Monsoon season there will be lots, lots and lots of rain. To my surprise
it wasn’t like that. I have experienced more rain in Fiji Islands than in
Lucknow. I know in Dehradun the monsoon rain caused a lot of damage and loss of
life. However, in Lucknow it wasn’t like that. The good thing about the rain is
this, it cleanses the land. Winter will be here soon. I heard that it really
gets cold in winter, however, I love cold season.
10. Indian
Proverbs
1.
“If you
live in the river you should make friends with the crocodile”
2.
“Life is
a bridge. Cross over it, but build no house on it”
3.
“No one
was ever lost on a straight road”
4. “A fool who
knows he is a fool has a little intelligence, but a fool that thinks he is
intelligent is really a fool”
5. “Even an
elephant can slip”
6. “If you have planted a tree you must water it too”
7. “Dig your
well before you're thirsty”
8. “Can the
monkey know the taste of ginger?”
9. “Giving
advice to a stupid man is like giving salt to a squirrel”
10. “A house
without a child is like a tomb”
Indian Life:
· You put your clothes in suitcases instead of wardrobes.
· You have a 'Singer Brother' sewing machine at home.
· Your mother has a minor disagreement with her (or your dad's) sister and
doesn't talk to her for ten years.
· You call an older person you've never met before "uncle".
· You hide everything from your parents.
· Your mother does everything for you if you are male.
· You do all the housework and cooking if you are female.
· Everyone is a family friend.
· You went to a university as far away from home as possible.
·
You still came back home to
live with your parents after you had finished.
·
Your best friend got married at
the age of 16.
·
You eat onions with everything.
·
You use chilli sauce instead of
tomato ketchup.
·
You say you hate Indian
films(/songs) but secretly watch(/hear) them with your parents.
·
You teach Westerners swearwords
in your language.
·
You always say "open the
light" instead of "turn the light on".
·
You secure your baggage with a
rope.
·
You're walking out of customs
with your trolley at the airport and you see all twenty-five members of your
family who have come to pick you up.
·
You get very upset when
airlines refuse to accept your luggage which is just 80 lbs. overweight.
·
You go back to your parents'
country and people treat you like a member of...the royal family.
·
You ask your dad a simple
question and he tells you story of how he had to walk miles barefoot just to
get to school.
Language
My language is
improving. I can converse with people on daily basis. I have to sit for two
exams to test my language level. I like to do these exams this year. It is so
much easier to live in India when you know the spoken language. It also makes
it easier to understand and learn the culture and connect with the community.
Health
My health is fine. There is a high
rise in dengue fever in Lucknow and Delhi. I don’t know about other states, but
few people have died. I am doing well … eat healthy and take every precaution
about health and safety.
With these words I sign off, saying
thank you for reading my blog. Do email me when you are free. I love to hear
from you all. God Bless you.
