Six months ago today, we arrived in sunny Bangalore - thirteen thousand miles (or so) away from the eastern shores of the USA.
Between email, Skype and the internet, sometimes it feels like three miles but despite all that, most of the time we still end up feeling very far removed from everything in the U.S. We usually read the Indian papers first and then go online to check out the The New York Times (and I can't help it, I still check the People website for my celebrity news) but even though we can read about the race between Hilary and Barack and the Oscars (which are the only two topics currently getting coverage here), it still feels like we are reading about events happening in Europe or another foreign place. I had heard of No Country for Old Men only because it was out when we were home, but other than that, I barely recognized the names of the movies nominated. The upcoming elections get a fair bit of coverage here and although we read about what's happening online, it still feels very distant. I think maybe because we have to go out and search for the news instead of being bombarded with daily updates on what candidate is saying what. It would be like you reading about truck drivers on strike in India or the controversy surrounding a new airport opening in Bangalore. You know it's happening but it doesn't seem to hold much relevance to your life. Obviously, the next President holds a great deal of relevance to us (and in terms of foreigners, everyone is anxious to see what's going to happen to our economy) but I think we've come to realize that there's not too much we can do. The race is going to be decided for us (like the rest of the world) even with absentee ballots. Like I said, between email, Skype and cheap cell phones, it's been easier to feel connected to friends and family. (And with the blog, you all know what happens almost minute to minute here so that helps to make us feel not quite so far away.)
Not that feeling far away from some of the nonsense is a bad thing. I kind of like the perspective of seeing your country as an outsider. It can make you both critical and defensive at once, like how you feel like you can criticize your family but as soon as someone else does, you can get very defensive and protective. (Not that I would ever criticize my family...) But it's also strange to read articles about India in American newspapers and websites. Not that the information is not accurately reported or holds any biased, it's just that it's written with the sense that it's happening somewhere across the globe. But for us, it's happening here. For example, a while there was this article in the New York Times about the growing trend of twenty something Indian woman, shunning marriage at an early age and instead graduating college and working in the IT industry (or marrying but still focused on their careers). The article was written specifically about Bangalore. Everything the article stated was true but hearing about all of the twenty something women working with George, it was like old news. Just recently, I came across an article about Kerala, the Indian state we visited a few weeks ago. There was a map to explain where it is and it discussed alot of what we saw when we were there. The topics are easily something we could read in The Times of India, it's just that they would be written...differently. It's interesting to see both sides.
We haven't really had much to complain about here on the home front for a while. When we came back from Goa, we turned on a light which caused the entire apartment to lose power. We tried to just flip the switches in the fuse box and I swear we tried every which way, even with the "master" switch but with no luck. After alerting the security guard to our problem, we waited about twenty minutes for someone to come up to take a look. I swear he flipped one switch in the fuse box and we heard the beep of the refrigerator flip on. I haven't tried the drier that sits idle across from the washer in months so its been a while since we've blown a fuse, I guess I just forgot which way the switches go (though I am sure we tried all combinations). He probably left thinking we should apologize for disturbing him with something so easily fixed. Before we left for Goa, George was in the bedroom and I heard a crash. The bar that we hang our clothes on in the closet gave out and collapsed. It never looked all that sturdy. The maid boy came and fixed it and said he tightened the clasps that hold it up but we still have yet to hang everything back up to really test it. But other than that, the maids continue to half-heartedly clean and I find the more I talk to them, the more I confuse them. "We just returned from Goa. It's a lovely place," I shared with the girl-maid on Tuesday. "Oh, Goa, yes Goa. You go?" So far so good. So I say, "No, we went to Goa. Just came back yesterday." I point to the empty sink and the plane ticket stubs. "Oh, yes Goa. Very nice." This morning I got a curious call from Vivian, who uses the same maid, "Do you need the maid today? She thinks you're in Goa." And I really thought we were making progress. Maybe it's my hand gestures. I make these ridiculous hand gestures that I think will help her to understand what I'm saying. To indicate that we went to Goa last weekend I swung my forearm back over my shoulder as I emphasized "last weekend." I guess that is not the universal sign for "last weekend." I also like to play the "speak slower and louder" game as if this will suddenly help the words to make sense. The things she must say about me...
At least I can say I was able to complete a morning run today without any major catastrophes. I was going to say no to my friends, convinced I should become a treadmill only runner in India but they tempted me with a later start time (fifteen minutes). You'd be surprised the difference between starting at 6 and 6:15. We went back to the park and saw a lovely sunrise which helped to light the way.
Author's Note: The idea for today's post came from Sir who would also like to add that we're sad that people haven't come to visit yet. And while we are feeling far removed from things happening in the US it might also have to do with the fact that India doesn't really seem all that foreign anymore. It's amazing how acclimated you can get to a place that seemed so crazy only a few months ago.
(But not to worry mother, we won't be living here forever.)
Between email, Skype and the internet, sometimes it feels like three miles but despite all that, most of the time we still end up feeling very far removed from everything in the U.S. We usually read the Indian papers first and then go online to check out the The New York Times (and I can't help it, I still check the People website for my celebrity news) but even though we can read about the race between Hilary and Barack and the Oscars (which are the only two topics currently getting coverage here), it still feels like we are reading about events happening in Europe or another foreign place. I had heard of No Country for Old Men only because it was out when we were home, but other than that, I barely recognized the names of the movies nominated. The upcoming elections get a fair bit of coverage here and although we read about what's happening online, it still feels very distant. I think maybe because we have to go out and search for the news instead of being bombarded with daily updates on what candidate is saying what. It would be like you reading about truck drivers on strike in India or the controversy surrounding a new airport opening in Bangalore. You know it's happening but it doesn't seem to hold much relevance to your life. Obviously, the next President holds a great deal of relevance to us (and in terms of foreigners, everyone is anxious to see what's going to happen to our economy) but I think we've come to realize that there's not too much we can do. The race is going to be decided for us (like the rest of the world) even with absentee ballots. Like I said, between email, Skype and cheap cell phones, it's been easier to feel connected to friends and family. (And with the blog, you all know what happens almost minute to minute here so that helps to make us feel not quite so far away.)
Not that feeling far away from some of the nonsense is a bad thing. I kind of like the perspective of seeing your country as an outsider. It can make you both critical and defensive at once, like how you feel like you can criticize your family but as soon as someone else does, you can get very defensive and protective. (Not that I would ever criticize my family...) But it's also strange to read articles about India in American newspapers and websites. Not that the information is not accurately reported or holds any biased, it's just that it's written with the sense that it's happening somewhere across the globe. But for us, it's happening here. For example, a while there was this article in the New York Times about the growing trend of twenty something Indian woman, shunning marriage at an early age and instead graduating college and working in the IT industry (or marrying but still focused on their careers). The article was written specifically about Bangalore. Everything the article stated was true but hearing about all of the twenty something women working with George, it was like old news. Just recently, I came across an article about Kerala, the Indian state we visited a few weeks ago. There was a map to explain where it is and it discussed alot of what we saw when we were there. The topics are easily something we could read in The Times of India, it's just that they would be written...differently. It's interesting to see both sides.
We haven't really had much to complain about here on the home front for a while. When we came back from Goa, we turned on a light which caused the entire apartment to lose power. We tried to just flip the switches in the fuse box and I swear we tried every which way, even with the "master" switch but with no luck. After alerting the security guard to our problem, we waited about twenty minutes for someone to come up to take a look. I swear he flipped one switch in the fuse box and we heard the beep of the refrigerator flip on. I haven't tried the drier that sits idle across from the washer in months so its been a while since we've blown a fuse, I guess I just forgot which way the switches go (though I am sure we tried all combinations). He probably left thinking we should apologize for disturbing him with something so easily fixed. Before we left for Goa, George was in the bedroom and I heard a crash. The bar that we hang our clothes on in the closet gave out and collapsed. It never looked all that sturdy. The maid boy came and fixed it and said he tightened the clasps that hold it up but we still have yet to hang everything back up to really test it. But other than that, the maids continue to half-heartedly clean and I find the more I talk to them, the more I confuse them. "We just returned from Goa. It's a lovely place," I shared with the girl-maid on Tuesday. "Oh, Goa, yes Goa. You go?" So far so good. So I say, "No, we went to Goa. Just came back yesterday." I point to the empty sink and the plane ticket stubs. "Oh, yes Goa. Very nice." This morning I got a curious call from Vivian, who uses the same maid, "Do you need the maid today? She thinks you're in Goa." And I really thought we were making progress. Maybe it's my hand gestures. I make these ridiculous hand gestures that I think will help her to understand what I'm saying. To indicate that we went to Goa last weekend I swung my forearm back over my shoulder as I emphasized "last weekend." I guess that is not the universal sign for "last weekend." I also like to play the "speak slower and louder" game as if this will suddenly help the words to make sense. The things she must say about me...
At least I can say I was able to complete a morning run today without any major catastrophes. I was going to say no to my friends, convinced I should become a treadmill only runner in India but they tempted me with a later start time (fifteen minutes). You'd be surprised the difference between starting at 6 and 6:15. We went back to the park and saw a lovely sunrise which helped to light the way.
Author's Note: The idea for today's post came from Sir who would also like to add that we're sad that people haven't come to visit yet. And while we are feeling far removed from things happening in the US it might also have to do with the fact that India doesn't really seem all that foreign anymore. It's amazing how acclimated you can get to a place that seemed so crazy only a few months ago.
(But not to worry mother, we won't be living here forever.)
2 comments:
Maybe you should do some sort of prize to the first traveler to India...like you get a free scooter ride, or three days- two nights at a lovely beach resort, or perhaps a chess set or toy snake.
Maybe then people will flock to India for the dust, bugs, cows and stray dogs and for those really looking for some fun a trip to the local walk in center where they themselves can fill a syringe of their favorite antibiotic and administer it solo.
Can't wait to see who wins the golden ticket.
HAHA:)
Laura
Kathy---
We can't wait to see you----------in the USA!!!
Janet
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