Some terms to give you a fun insight into Indian culture
Chai – chai is a blend of tea, milk, and spices. It is the morning drink instead of coffee. If you get this from a vendor, they serve it in ketchup sized cups
Terrace – a flat open space on top of the house used to sit, play, hang laundry to dry (aka rooftop)
Meals – Carbs, Carbs, and more Carbs (example: bread, rice, and potatoes or bread, chipatti, and pancakes)
Napkin – what you steal from breakfast because you don’t know what kind of toilet situations you’ll be in later in the day
Street Dog – Not a hot dog, but actual stray dogs that live on the street. Also known as alarm clocks that wake you up with barking and fighting at 5am.
(Disclaimer: This is Morphin, the neighbor’s dog, who I loved petting)
Holy Cow – You thought this was a phrase, but cows are really considered gods here. They randomly roam the streets and neighborhoods while no one seems to pay any attention. (I always wonder how they get found by their owners at the end of the day)
Head Bobble – moving the top of your head and chin in opposite directions. This is a very noncommittal response which can be taken as an “okay” or “sure”.
Street Lights – very rarely seen even in the large city of Bangalore. However, when you do see them they take 100 seconds to change (literally). During this time it is completely acceptable to turn your vehicle off.
Auto – small, three-wheeled taxi of sorts that has open sides. We usually fit 4 people in one
Driving Lanes – they look very similar to what is seen in the States. In reality, a driving lane is wherever you can fit your vehicle on the road even if you are borrowing part of the lane going the opposite direction
Serving – Something you can never outdo an Indian in. If you aren’t watching, you will turn around and they will have your laundry washed, the dishes clean, and a meal prepared.
A big shout out to our hosts and the kids we were with this month. We had a great time and we love them so much!
