Following the example of the women riding side saddle on
motorcycles and walking brazenly into traffic to cross the road, I quickly
learned in the first few days in Hyderabad to use my scarf to cover my nose and
mouth to block fumes and dust and odors.
I remember thinking, “When will my scarf stop smelling like home?” (The answer to that question, I found, is
when you enter a temple during a festival for the first time.)
Over the past couple of months, I’ve also adapted other new
habits to adjust to life in India. Some
changes are probably pretty predictable for a person who moves to India, like
taking up yoga and becoming a vegetarian.
Others are less likely, like discovering wheat berry,
watching Arrested Development for the
first time, and learning how to use iTunes (sort of).
A sample of even more adaptations over the past few months:
- I cook dinner on the stove contraption above. (And I thought my kitchen in Decatur was lacking!)
- I use hand sanitizer.
- I don’t check the weather. (I’m not sure why this is. I guess I realize it’s not going to change my behavior – I’ll still walk to work regardless of the sweat or the rain.)
- Water comes from this thing:
- Mom jeans, Indian style.
- I’ve learned to distinguish stomach disruptions from hunger – which sometimes feel awfully similar.
- Remembering, slowly, how to bargain. “70 would make me happy” is an effective bargaining phrase. “You give me this price and I’ll be happy.”
- Becoming ok with arguing with everyone – from the auto driver to the postman to the glaring stares that you meet everyday – to try to get things done.
These are the tangible adaptations that will
make for good stories later in life. (Or
in mere months when I meet up with you for a blessed glass of wine over cheese
and crusty bread..)
Also. This is absolutely the only good thing about not having a fall:
Admit it, you are at least a little jealous of this conference location.
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