Daily life in India is well…. Interesting.
Before going to India I was told that the whole country smelled. Well, this is only partly true. Yes, sometimes when you are walking you will get a whiff of sewage that is in the street or the lovely aroma of burning trash, but it quickly fades as you move past it.
The mosquitoes here are monstrous. We’re talking Jumanji size. We have become pretty good at what we call Miyagi-ing mosquitoes that buzz past us. It has become a game to see if we can snatch them with one hand.
Cows and stray dogs freely wander the streets. Without fail we get stuck behind a cow at least once a day, who has decided to stop in the middle of the road and block traffic.
Which speaking of traffic, it is insane. At the beginning of the month, I had white knuckles whenever we drove. Now, almost getting sideswiped by a concrete truck is just your average Tuesday. And when we walk? Sidewalks aren’t really a thing. We walk on the side of the road, where only inches away rickshaws and cars zoom past us.
Stopping for chai tea is a daily ritual for Indians. You go to your local corner store and have chai and a chai biscuit. It is always the highlight of my day.
Asking for directions is always a hassle. They usually will give landmarks, which is not helpful to someone who is not from the area. Our host told us how to get to the internet cafe by saying, “Turn left at the Banyan tree.” That is literally the instruction we were given.
The people here are incredibly hospitable. Whenever you visit someone, they insist on giving you snacks or soda. Even if they don’t have any or you say no. They will run down to the store, buy something and then serve you. There is no denying them.
Finally, we always have to have our ankles and our shoulders covered. Those are considered the sexy parts of the body. We are usually donning our kurtas (tunics) that hide our figure. While Indian women wear saris that show their bellies.
Overall, India has been a great place to live. And just as I feel like I have adjusted to life here, it is time to leave and learn how to live in a new country and culture.
