Month 4 of my World Race was spent in Southern India. After one short – or what often seemed as long – month, here is a short list of things I’ve learned, noticed, or found in some strange way entertaining! Enjoy 🙂
1. Be prepared to not only get stares, but large gatherings around you – especially in villages or small towns where they very rarely, if at all, see Westerners. That can be at church, in the car, at the store, even in your own room.
2. Pray you have a good translator, but if you don’t learn to laugh a lot – because so much will be lost in translation it’s either get frustrated or laugh! An example from my team’s time here was when our sqaud leader, Dan, was here he asked if they could take him to the village to get batteries. We all piled in the Auto (Tuk Tuk) and they brought us to the bakery.. uh.. yeah! (Don’t worry.. we all bought cookies so it wasn’t a wasted trip)
3. Scratch the sweet, slow songs about Jesus! If they can’t clap to it, they aint havin’ it!! Be prepared to have your music accompanied by LOUD banging on the piano.
4. DO NOT USE YOUR LEFT HAND! This is a big no no! It is their culture to use their left hand to wipe themselves after using the bathroom. If you don’t have toilet paper with you be prepared to travel to the “big city” to get some, because it is NOT sold at the local corner store.
5. Wear flip flops! It is custom to take off your shoes before entering church or anyone’s home, and it is a pain in the butt to untie, unstrap, or unbuckle every time you go out – especially if you’re doing street evangelism and going house to house.
6. Don’t smile at the young men. Apparently smiling at the opposite sex is their way of flirting, and heaven forbid you get their hearts “fluttering” and leave them heart broken.
7. Learn to love (or choke down) rice, because it will be served for breakfast, lunch, AND dinner! My recommendation would be not to clear your plate because you WILL get more.. but then again even if you don’t clear your plate you will probably still get more rice! So smile and fill up.. and bring stretchy clothes!
8. If you are in any gathering of Christians be ready to pray for everyone and their mother, cousin, and neighbor! I’ve learned the art of short but sweet prayers – otherwise you’ll be there all day/night.
9. Hot, high pressure showers.. NOT!!! Nice cold bucket showers in a hot stuffy “bathroom”. For those short five minutes you will have both goosebumps and sweat at the same time!
10. THE MOST AMAZING CHAI YOU HAVE EVER DRANK! I’m not even a tea or coffee person back home, but you can’t pass on the chai here! Homemade, full of flavor and amazing spices! Savor every sip 🙂
11. Be prepared to be served by some of the most loving, devoted, and generous people you’ve ever met. They will do and say anything to please you, and truly find great joy out of serving you and making you happy! The love they have for the Lord is amazing, and so inspiring! They are the perfect example of what it means to serve as Jesus did!
Love to everyone back home!
XoXoX -Bri
