1. Kisa Patel.
Thanks, Kisa. This blog entry is for you :)
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Things I would have been grossed out by/ashamed of/felt guilty about 8 months ago but now I just find amusing...
5. Realizing the best way to flirt is to serve Indian sweets and the perfect cup of chai. Yes, I actually forced Sanju to let me take the tray to the visiting guest so we could chat...and hey, I scored a date driving around in an AC car drinking diet coke...When in India...
4. Eating so much that I made myself sick. Sooo much fried, greasy, non-veg, dairy food for two straight days when visiting the Bhatias in Ranchi that I gained at least 3 kgs. Literally. Mind you, my relatives there own 2 hotels, 2 restaurants (one being a kathi kebab restaurant), 4 sweet shops and a sweet factory. A SWEET FACTORY! How could I resist?!?
3. Paying a bribe to cut in line at the Taj Mahal. There, I said it. It was $4 and if we didn't pay, Jaime and Megan might have missed the TAJ. Imagine that. And also the line was really long.
2. Witnessing voter fraud in the Indian General Elections in Ranchi. Neelum voted under the name "Nirmal," my paternal grandmother's younger sister, who passed away last year. I felt bad until I heard that one of my 2nd cousins voted 27 times...It was definitely a learning experience and I feel like it should fall under the realm of "research." The voting machine was apparently super easy to use, a long rectangular shaped box with 10 or choices each listing the name of the party (in Hindi) and a symbol to represent it...I can't believe we don't have this kind thing back home.
1. Witnessing the sacrificing of a goat during a prayer ceremony. Taking pictures, realizing what I just saw, shutting down mentally for 10 minutes without saying a word to anyone... And, then eating the goat for lunch. (Oh, and then apparently I was standing so close trying to get a good photograph that there were three drops of goat blood on my pant leg). Also, many of the men present received blessings on their forehead with goat blood. Um, wtf?
4. Eating so much that I made myself sick. Sooo much fried, greasy, non-veg, dairy food for two straight days when visiting the Bhatias in Ranchi that I gained at least 3 kgs. Literally. Mind you, my relatives there own 2 hotels, 2 restaurants (one being a kathi kebab restaurant), 4 sweet shops and a sweet factory. A SWEET FACTORY! How could I resist?!?
3. Paying a bribe to cut in line at the Taj Mahal. There, I said it. It was $4 and if we didn't pay, Jaime and Megan might have missed the TAJ. Imagine that. And also the line was really long.
2. Witnessing voter fraud in the Indian General Elections in Ranchi. Neelum voted under the name "Nirmal," my paternal grandmother's younger sister, who passed away last year. I felt bad until I heard that one of my 2nd cousins voted 27 times...It was definitely a learning experience and I feel like it should fall under the realm of "research." The voting machine was apparently super easy to use, a long rectangular shaped box with 10 or choices each listing the name of the party (in Hindi) and a symbol to represent it...I can't believe we don't have this kind thing back home.
1. Witnessing the sacrificing of a goat during a prayer ceremony. Taking pictures, realizing what I just saw, shutting down mentally for 10 minutes without saying a word to anyone... And, then eating the goat for lunch. (Oh, and then apparently I was standing so close trying to get a good photograph that there were three drops of goat blood on my pant leg). Also, many of the men present received blessings on their forehead with goat blood. Um, wtf?
Most dangerous spring break trip...
Bihar and Jharkund '09.
Did someone say Naxalites? Aside from the 4 "incidents" that took place on my trip affecting either me or people I know (including but not limited to a train kidnapping, a train set on fire and an attack on the morning of my departure causing overturned trucks to block the highway road), the Maoist terrorists were unable to stop me from thoroughly enjoying my week long trip, albeit to two of the poorest states in India.
Hightlights included: a Bihari wedding that lasted all night long, a short stay in a village sans electricity and running water (thanks for nothing Gov't of Bihar) and meeting 20+ Bhatias who are part of my extended family and own half of Ranchi...
Did someone say Naxalites? Aside from the 4 "incidents" that took place on my trip affecting either me or people I know (including but not limited to a train kidnapping, a train set on fire and an attack on the morning of my departure causing overturned trucks to block the highway road), the Maoist terrorists were unable to stop me from thoroughly enjoying my week long trip, albeit to two of the poorest states in India.
Hightlights included: a Bihari wedding that lasted all night long, a short stay in a village sans electricity and running water (thanks for nothing Gov't of Bihar) and meeting 20+ Bhatias who are part of my extended family and own half of Ranchi...
Monday, April 13, 2009
Very, very bad omens.
3. Snake in the house.
Snake is in Animesh's room. Panic! Mentor's driver runs outside to ask the neighbor's driver to come over. Together the two drivers use broom to try and get rid of snake. Neighbor's driver injures snake and successfully gets it out of the house. You cannot leave a snake half alive because it will come back and haunt you and your family. Must cremate snake. Very bad omen that snake was in house. Mentor's driver must leave to go home and take a bath and cleanse himself post cremation. Mentor and her family will break coconut to bless the house and give offering to all those present. God, please bless this house.
2. Born in the time of Mool.
Attending meetings with my mentor in Durg and have 30 minutes before we can meet with Accountant. Decide it's best time to visit a futurist to find out my destiny. Sit cross-legged in his "office" which consists of a room full of Hindu prayer materials and a computer connected to broadband with a printer. Have my horoscope printed out for me after explaining how to find "America" (aka U.S.A.) in the drop down menu. Excitement! Will marry a man from the corporate sector in America (all of a sudden Priest is America expert). Oh no, there's more. Lots of head shaking by Priest. Told I was born in the time of "Mool." Very bad. Must have 2000 Rs. peace ceremony asap to rid all evil omens and restore peace. Mentor says she will pay for ceremony from another Priest who charges a lower rate. Then she asks, "Were your parents in a crisis when they had you?"
1. All I want for Diwali is a baby boy.
Search for days for a good press-wala (a person to iron my clothes). After driving 3 km from house and asking dozens of street vendors, finally find a nice husband and wife duo. Husband asks me what I do in Bhilai. I tell them I work for an NGO. Wife freaks out. Quickly motions for me to go to the back of the shop and asks "You work for an NGO, right. Can you bring me a baby? About this big (she gestures with her hand for a baby about 2 years old) and must be a boy. Don't tell anyone! No one can know, otherwise it will be a bad omen and my husband will become upset. Go!"
(Note: I have since then checked in with Mama Bhatia regarding the peace ceremony in #2. Apparently, Mama Bhatia does not believe in futurists or horoscopes. She only believes in palmists. My bad. Also, because I was a C-Section baby and my time of birth was pre-planned by Toledo Hospital and the appointment secretary on duty, we have decided that the point is null and void. I will spend that 2000 Rs. on diet coke and muesli. period.)
Snake is in Animesh's room. Panic! Mentor's driver runs outside to ask the neighbor's driver to come over. Together the two drivers use broom to try and get rid of snake. Neighbor's driver injures snake and successfully gets it out of the house. You cannot leave a snake half alive because it will come back and haunt you and your family. Must cremate snake. Very bad omen that snake was in house. Mentor's driver must leave to go home and take a bath and cleanse himself post cremation. Mentor and her family will break coconut to bless the house and give offering to all those present. God, please bless this house.
2. Born in the time of Mool.
Attending meetings with my mentor in Durg and have 30 minutes before we can meet with Accountant. Decide it's best time to visit a futurist to find out my destiny. Sit cross-legged in his "office" which consists of a room full of Hindu prayer materials and a computer connected to broadband with a printer. Have my horoscope printed out for me after explaining how to find "America" (aka U.S.A.) in the drop down menu. Excitement! Will marry a man from the corporate sector in America (all of a sudden Priest is America expert). Oh no, there's more. Lots of head shaking by Priest. Told I was born in the time of "Mool." Very bad. Must have 2000 Rs. peace ceremony asap to rid all evil omens and restore peace. Mentor says she will pay for ceremony from another Priest who charges a lower rate. Then she asks, "Were your parents in a crisis when they had you?"
1. All I want for Diwali is a baby boy.
Search for days for a good press-wala (a person to iron my clothes). After driving 3 km from house and asking dozens of street vendors, finally find a nice husband and wife duo. Husband asks me what I do in Bhilai. I tell them I work for an NGO. Wife freaks out. Quickly motions for me to go to the back of the shop and asks "You work for an NGO, right. Can you bring me a baby? About this big (she gestures with her hand for a baby about 2 years old) and must be a boy. Don't tell anyone! No one can know, otherwise it will be a bad omen and my husband will become upset. Go!"
(Note: I have since then checked in with Mama Bhatia regarding the peace ceremony in #2. Apparently, Mama Bhatia does not believe in futurists or horoscopes. She only believes in palmists. My bad. Also, because I was a C-Section baby and my time of birth was pre-planned by Toledo Hospital and the appointment secretary on duty, we have decided that the point is null and void. I will spend that 2000 Rs. on diet coke and muesli. period.)
Friday, April 10, 2009
Most edible home-cooked meals...
3. Egg curry (which I'm technically not allowed to make in my house because it falls under the category of "non-veg"), roti (9-sided vs. circular), salad (washed with filtered water) and green beans with potatoes (my 2nd favorite Indian veggie).
2. Gobi Paranthas (aka stuffed califlower roti aka my favorite indian food hands down aka the reason why as a Punjabi I have a "Punjabi booty") with homemade yogurt (yes, I make this on my own!)
Note: the paranthas aren't quite up to par because, well, let's face it, my cooking is lame and the other chef is from Orissa...
1. So... after buying all the masalas, and Sanju giving me flour and rice and everything else I need to make any Indian dish and after #3 and #2 and after trying a few times and making food that I wasn't 100% confident about...I decided to go with something I knew how to do...
a western breakfast...yogurt, fresh fruit, tea, toast (jam and pb), muesli, milk and boiled eggs...mmmmm!
I think I was just really hungry...
2. Gobi Paranthas (aka stuffed califlower roti aka my favorite indian food hands down aka the reason why as a Punjabi I have a "Punjabi booty") with homemade yogurt (yes, I make this on my own!)
Note: the paranthas aren't quite up to par because, well, let's face it, my cooking is lame and the other chef is from Orissa...
1. So... after buying all the masalas, and Sanju giving me flour and rice and everything else I need to make any Indian dish and after #3 and #2 and after trying a few times and making food that I wasn't 100% confident about...I decided to go with something I knew how to do...
a western breakfast...yogurt, fresh fruit, tea, toast (jam and pb), muesli, milk and boiled eggs...mmmmm!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Most memorable/forgettable 15+ hour train rides...
3. Durg to Nagpur
So, in typical Pooja fashion, I waited too long to book my train ticket to Udaipur for Holi. I ended up having to ride in the the "General" compartment for 5 hours from Durg to Nagpur before I could switch to sleeper class (which is another story itself)...the term "general" just doesn't do it justice...how about "Compartment for people who don't mind having 7 people squished on the seat next to them, 2 men sleeping under their seat, 4 pairs of feet dangling above their head and a man sleeping in the luggage rack as samosa, cold drink and ice cream vendors squeeze through the crowd yelling and bargaining while it takes them 12 minutes to make their way 10 feet fire hazard." After this enlightening experience, I transferred to Sleeper class (which I also had never taken before). Aside from having to fight 5 adults and 3 children for the seat I paid for and being woken up at 5 am to a huge group singing bhajans (Indian hymns) and clapping their hands loudly and as if it was 10 am...it wasn't half as bad as "General" class...
2. Jaiselmer to Delhi
After a wonderful impromptu camel trek in the Rajasthani desert, I realized I had no way back home to Bhilai unless I took a 19 hour train to Delhi and then a flight to Raipur. About three hours before we were to reach Delhi, I jumped down from the top bunk of 3 AC and stole an empty bed near a window...while listening to my ipod, I dozed off...and when I woke up, I noticed my iPod had been stolen as I was listening to it. Um, scary. After telling the TT (guy in charge of train), he then proceeded to yell at me for being upset..."You are an educated and intelligent young woman...why are you crying?" To which I replied, "because I know how expensive that iPod was..." Little did I know that this incident was the first of many disasters post camel trekking...(see blog post about "Things I miss about America" and of course my infamous run-in with AIF staff at mcdonalds...)
1. Durg to Ahmedabad
There I was, on my way to Ahmedabad for my site visit, minding my own business, when a couple next to me decided to prompt conversation, first by offering me food, which I obviously did not deny and then immediately asking me, "Where's your susural?" which translates to "Where do your in-laws live?" Ummm yeah.
...too bad more of my train rides aren't like the movie "Jab We Met"...
(Note: this movie will come up again in a future blog entry titled "best.bollywood.movie.ever")
So, in typical Pooja fashion, I waited too long to book my train ticket to Udaipur for Holi. I ended up having to ride in the the "General" compartment for 5 hours from Durg to Nagpur before I could switch to sleeper class (which is another story itself)...the term "general" just doesn't do it justice...how about "Compartment for people who don't mind having 7 people squished on the seat next to them, 2 men sleeping under their seat, 4 pairs of feet dangling above their head and a man sleeping in the luggage rack as samosa, cold drink and ice cream vendors squeeze through the crowd yelling and bargaining while it takes them 12 minutes to make their way 10 feet fire hazard." After this enlightening experience, I transferred to Sleeper class (which I also had never taken before). Aside from having to fight 5 adults and 3 children for the seat I paid for and being woken up at 5 am to a huge group singing bhajans (Indian hymns) and clapping their hands loudly and as if it was 10 am...it wasn't half as bad as "General" class...
2. Jaiselmer to Delhi
After a wonderful impromptu camel trek in the Rajasthani desert, I realized I had no way back home to Bhilai unless I took a 19 hour train to Delhi and then a flight to Raipur. About three hours before we were to reach Delhi, I jumped down from the top bunk of 3 AC and stole an empty bed near a window...while listening to my ipod, I dozed off...and when I woke up, I noticed my iPod had been stolen as I was listening to it. Um, scary. After telling the TT (guy in charge of train), he then proceeded to yell at me for being upset..."You are an educated and intelligent young woman...why are you crying?" To which I replied, "because I know how expensive that iPod was..." Little did I know that this incident was the first of many disasters post camel trekking...(see blog post about "Things I miss about America" and of course my infamous run-in with AIF staff at mcdonalds...)
1. Durg to Ahmedabad
There I was, on my way to Ahmedabad for my site visit, minding my own business, when a couple next to me decided to prompt conversation, first by offering me food, which I obviously did not deny and then immediately asking me, "Where's your susural?" which translates to "Where do your in-laws live?" Ummm yeah.
...too bad more of my train rides aren't like the movie "Jab We Met"...
(Note: this movie will come up again in a future blog entry titled "best.bollywood.movie.ever")
Sunday, April 5, 2009
worst.deal.ever.
24 cans of diet coke + 1 jar of crunchy peanut butter (not even Jiffy) + 1 box of Museli + a 100 packet box of Splenda...
Total Price = 1830 Rs.
Um, yes, that's $36.60 aka thirty-six dollars and sixty cents aka W.T.F.
This has to be at least 3x the price of the States...anyone?!?
Total Price = 1830 Rs.
Um, yes, that's $36.60 aka thirty-six dollars and sixty cents aka W.T.F.
This has to be at least 3x the price of the States...anyone?!?
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Most awkward questions Animesh asked me while creating his Orkut profile sitting at his dining room table with his mom, Sanju...
5. "How do I make my profile H-O-T?" (Yes, he spelled it out...)
4. "In response to 'what will you find in my bedroom?' Can I write, 'me lying on my bed?'"
3. "How can I chat?" To which I replied, "you have no friends to chat with." To which he replied, "you know what I mean. I want to meet GIRLS!"
2. "What's does 'turn-on' mean? 'Turn off?'"
1. "What's my perfect date?" ...silence... "I don't know Animesh, maybe dinner and a Bollywood movie?" ...more silence... "No, what should I write to communicate S-E-X?"
...maybe installing broadband internet at my mentor's house was a bad idea...
Joke is on me...April Fool's Day, eh?...the day when the outside world came inside...and things were never ever quite the same in Bhilai...
4. "In response to 'what will you find in my bedroom?' Can I write, 'me lying on my bed?'"
3. "How can I chat?" To which I replied, "you have no friends to chat with." To which he replied, "you know what I mean. I want to meet GIRLS!"
2. "What's does 'turn-on' mean? 'Turn off?'"
1. "What's my perfect date?" ...silence... "I don't know Animesh, maybe dinner and a Bollywood movie?" ...more silence... "No, what should I write to communicate S-E-X?"
...maybe installing broadband internet at my mentor's house was a bad idea...
Joke is on me...April Fool's Day, eh?...the day when the outside world came inside...and things were never ever quite the same in Bhilai...
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