India, not yet ironic

From a very interesting article my dear husband sent me entitled "Why You Should Care about Cricket" (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=110329/Cricket)

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India today seems a lot like America in the mid-50s.

This is largely a pre-ironic society. Yes, there is a rich history of satire, and modern exceptions -- the '50s also produced Jack Kerouac -- but the earnestness with which people love Sachin is reflected in many aspects of the culture. There's no place, yet, for an Indian "Daily Show." Elephants aren't for statues representing a bygone era, like the blue mustang outside Denver's airport. They are for the slow lane.
Movies are expected to end a certain way. Heroes in those movies are expected to behave a certain way. In his definitive book on Mumbai, "Maximum City," author Suketu Mehta describes an Indian audience's reaction when the hero of a film turned out to be a terrorist. They ransacked the theater. It does not seem strange to an Indian filmgoer that the songs in the movies have nothing to do with the plot.

Mehta writes:
"The suspension of disbelief in India is prompt and generous, beginning before the audience enters the theater itself. Disbelief is easy to suspend in a land where belief is so rampant and vigorous. And not just in India; audiences in the Middle East, Russia and Central Asia are also pre-cynical. They still believe in motherhood, patriotism, and true love; Hollywood and the West have moved on."

Trees go wild

One of the many things that astounds and confounds me about India: after 4 to 5 months without a single drop of rain, the trees burst into bloom! Many lose all their leaves and wear flowers only. It’s really an amazing sight, especially in the full heat of summer where temps are mid-90s and there is no water.

Tennis.... in India

A few months after Sarah was born, I resolved to get out of the house and back on the tennis court once a week.  It was quite an experience picking up my racquet after not playing regularly for 15 years.  

Here’s how you know you’re taking tennis lessons in INDIA:

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• You pay $12 for an hour of private lessons and your instructor’s name is Vimal.

• He answers his cell phone multiple times in the course of your hour lesson.

• There are a few landscaping workers who hide between the palm trees and the tennis court to shirk their duties and/or watch you return to your former tennis glory.

• The feedback you get after each shot is, “More fronter, madam”, “No hitting up, madam”, “Closing, madam”, “No squeezing, madam”, “Not hitting very good today, madam.”  He is also sure to notify me every time a ball doesn’t make it over the net. “No.”

• The tennis balls are occasionally covered with soot because the court is built on top of the generator for the whole housing community.

• You get distracted by flocks of butterflies hovering around the court drawn to the beautiful flowers. 
• Every single person who walks by stares.  (“Look at the tall white lady trying to play tennis!”) The lesson is watched by every driver (car, autorickshaw, motorcycle) parked nearby.

The eyes have it

After months of squinting and trouble reading, I finally went to get an eye exam.  It takes several hours, thus it was hard to find time and transportation, but I did it.  It was a little disconcerting being ushered from station to station where I was examined (no hand washing happened :(  ),no forewarning about what would happen at each station (like “here comes a puff of air into your eye!”), listening to nurses and assistants chat in various other languages…  always interesting when you hear “madam” sprinkled in, hard not to project or wonder what’s being said.  I was given old school metal frames and different lenses were dropped in at various intervals.  The prescription I walked away with was quite different from my previous one, but glasses seem to be ok.

 Have to admit, however, I never summoned the nerve to see the dentist here.  I did give birth in India, but just couldn’t manage the thought of dental care.  Oh well, hope no damage was done in the 18 months since our last visit in MN! 

Rug shopping success

These photos don't do them justice but we have finally purchased some rugs. How can you not when you're in INDIA?

Another last supper

On Sunday we had a special dinner with everyone who has helped us in our home (and on the road) and their families. It was a very nice evening. I served their various favorites: chips & salsa!, mutton biriyani, coconut beef curry (guess who's not Hindu), tomato rasam (soup), basmati rice, parathas (flat bread), pasta ali oli. Another lovely time with people who are dear to us. These special gatherings are helping our hearts as we prepare to end this chapter of life and reenter a very different life back home. One of the hardest parts about leaving is knowing that we very well may never see many of our friends here again.

The Last Supper

A lovely evening with friends from India, the US, England, Wales, France and Sweden. Fabulous Indian food!