Although I have observed more than 5 things since being in India these five observations are the top of my list.
1.) People in India constantly stare.
Upon landing in Udaipur and taking my first stroll around the town I was greeted by the local men, women, and children with intense stares. My initial thought was there was something on my face, hair, or teeth. Frantically I begin to ask the others around me did I have anything wrong with me? I was good. As we continue to walk as a large group of foreigners my next thought is: we're a large group of foreigners of course we're going to get stared at! However that theory was proven wrong as I have walked home and to work alone plenty of times and still receive the same stares. Sometimes I stare back, or make a face yet that does not work. I've learned to not pay attention and eventually they will get used to me. Talking to other interns they experience the same thing. My conclusion is that in India it is not considered rude to stare at someone for long periods of time. As an African-American woman its rare to see someone who looks like myself so I welcome the stares as interest in my appearance and presence(sidenote I have not seen one other African or African American person other than my reflection).
This adorable child was staring at me for at least 10mins I think she wanted me to take her photo!
2.) You have not truly seen India unless you've been on the back of a Motorcycle
I have taken an Auto Rickshaw, Bus, Boat, and Private Car. Yet nothing compares to seeing India from the back of the motorcycle. The hot Indian Sun shining down, the wind in your face, the smell of samosas being cooked street side. With the city constantly moving being on the back of the motorcycle places you right in the middle of it all! Motorcycles are the main source of transportation for most people in Udaipur I have literally seen families of 5 on one motorcycle (I will try to capture a photo). Driving a motorcycle allows you to go places a car, auto, or bus can't take you. Although I don't ride the motorcycle frequently I will say you haven't truly seen India until you have rode on the back of one!
Three People rode on this motorcycle (I was one of them)!
On the back of my host brothers bike :-)
3.) Even if you're full there is always room for one more roti
There
are many different variations of flat breads found in many cultures across the
globe, from Indian subcontinent to the Americas. The traditional flat bread
originating from the Indian subcontinent is commonly known as roti; pronounced
"rho tee". It is normally eaten with cooked vegetables or curries. It
is made most often from wheat flour, cooked on a flat iron griddle called a
tawa. It is similar to the tortilla in appearance. Like breads around the
world, roti is a staple accompaniment to other foods, and may be spread with
ghee (clarified butter). For lunch and dinner my host mother prepares Chapatti
(very similar to roti) to accompany my vegetable or daal. Daal comes from the
Sanskrit word to split. Indians use the word daal to refer to dozens of varieties
of dried split peas, beans, lentils and other pulses (meaning the dried seed of
legumes such as lentils, beans and peas). Daal is the name of spicy, aromatic
side dishes made with curry, onions, tomatoes and seasonings which are
generally eaten with rice or bread and a dairy like yogurt to provide non-meat
protein. In any household you visit especially for dinner your plate is often
served with 2 chapatti or roti however more is prepared for second servings. On
average I eat 2-3 chapattis for dinner or lunch. However I have been in
multiple dinner settings where I am absolutely stuffed and I am offered one
more roti after refusing multiple times trying to explain that my stomach is
full. The matron of the home places the roti on my plate as she proceeds to
tell me in Hindi that I’m not full and I can eat more. The rule of thumb is if
it’s on your plate you must eat it therefore I begin to stuff my face with my 4th
chapatti. However my host mother doesn’t force me to eat more than 2 we had a
conversation one day and I told her that “if I eat a lot I will get fat” she
told me “Oh no! We don’t want that” LOL!
I haven't photographed much Indian food because it doesnt look too appeasing in photos but that was last nights dinner: Roti, Daal (in the bowl), Rice, a pepper dish, and lady fingers (okra).
Yes I ate all of it without a utensil and only my right hand!
4.)Cows are my new best friends!
In Hinduism, the cow is revered as the source of food and symbol of life and may never be killed. Hindus do not worship the cow it is more accurate to say the cow is taboo in Hinduism, rather than sacred. Here cows are everywhere! Because the cow is respected as a sacred animal, it's allowed to roam unharmed, and they are pretty used to the traffic and the rhythm of the city. So, you can see them roaming the streets in towns and cities, grazing unmindfully on the roadside grass verges and munching away vegetables thrown out by street sellers. Its also common to save the first roti and feed the cow in front of your house as its considered good luck to have a cow in front of your house. As a foreigner I found it amazing to see hundreds of cows just hanging out amongst the local people. Usually the cows stay to themselves however, last Sunday I was waiting for my ride to come pick me up with a group of interns and a cow just walked up to us and layed its head in my lap!
Cows are so sacred that a car is more likely to hit a person before it hits a cow, and cars will honk repeatedly at a human but will not honk at a cow #fact
5.) My hair is the most interesting thing since the inception of sliced bread!
As an African American woman that attends a school where my race is a minority I have often been plagued with multiple questions about my hair. Although these questions come from a place of sheer interest often times I’m irritated by the absurd questions I receive. At school my patience and tolerance regarding questions about my hair is extremely low. However coming to India I had to quickly find patience in tolerance in regards to my hair. On a daily basis I receive at least 5 questions about my braids and at least 3 attempts of people trying to touch it (Those who know me, know that its in NOT ok to touch my hair AT ALL especially without asking). The top 3 questions I receive are:
- How do you wash it?
- How long did it take?
- How do you do it?
Often times I find myself having to close my eyes take a deep breath and proceed to answer as kindly as possible. My supervisor literally had to make a PSA in the office telling the women not to ask me about my hair! One of my co-workers told me that people have never seen someone with my hairstyle so it’s so foreign to them. The way he explained it allowed me to have more understanding for the questions however it can still be frustrating.
My twisted hair!
I was in the village this week and she told me to come back and braid her hair!
