1. Don’t hesitate when crossing the street.
Crossing the street in India is at your own risk. There are no traffic laws and not a single person will slow down no mater who you are. I have found that when in India you have to say a prayer and like Peter stepping out of the boat you have to step off the sidewalk (if there is one) fix your eyes only on your destination and walk trusting that the Indian cars, tuck tucks, busses, goats, and buffalos will swerve around you….Sounds insane, I know! But that is actually how it works here! You are in way more danger of getting hit if you hesitate for ten a second. No fear people! No time for fear when crossing the street in India!
2.Never eat with your left hand
Utensils have no place in India. The only rule you must follow when eating in India is ONLY eat with your right hand. If you do that, you’re golden. If you don’t, your hand will be slapped, scolded in a language you don’t understand and you will be required to wash you hand with water in front of everyone. Also, you will be heavily watched for the night. One of my lefty team mates made this mistake and it made for the funniest dinner entertainment so far. As funny as it is, remember the rule, never use your left hand….Ever!
3. Never trust a fart
Yeah people, I said it. When in India you can never trust a fart. While here, your body will be exposed to the hottest spices on earth! Part of our ministry includes eating dinner in a different home every night. Some meals the cook will take pity on you but when you get the real deal it will be leaving you screaming, “Sweet baby Jesus, thats hot!” That leads me to rule number 4.
4. Curd is your best friend
Curd is literally your best friend in India. Curd is the only thing that will give you a shot at finishing that spicer than the devil could handle himself meal you will no doubt be served. Curd basically looks like sour cream you can put on your food to help extinguish a little bit of the fire you’re trying to get in your belly. I think it is a yogurt made from buffalo milk…I’m not sure. I’ve learned to not ask questions about food and eat with a happy heart, especially if the food item will help save me from heart burn later on.
5. Never underestimate the power of a bucket shower
In America, the idea of taking a shower with a bucket of cold mirky well water sounds like another level of roughing it. But when in India, bucket showers are heavenly. The heat is a great factor in this but also we have had such great opportunities to get dirty here such as when our team got to over see a well being drilled in a small village. The drill kicked up so much white rock dust in our hair and bodies we looked like we had aged 40 years in one day. As dirty as we were we got to witness a miracle when a well hit water in a very dry area. The well was drilled in faith by a local pastor and former World Racer. Located in the Pastors yard, it will provide a whole area with water while bringing them right by a church and a home filled with the Gospel! How beautiful is that? Needless to say, bucket showers were in high demand when we got back to our host’s house!
6. Littering is always permissible (india is a free country)
When in India, trash is no big deal. You can throw it out the window, over your fence, or anywhere you feel like it. In fact you are expected to! It felt like a cardinal sin the first time I littered, but as our interpreter said while laughing at us timid Americans, India is a free country!
7. Always carry Toilet Paper
Squatty potty aren’t that bad. You learn to use them pretty easily and turns out they are actually better for your health! However, India doesn’t believe in toilet paper.. India squatties include a bucket of water to “flush” and a bucket to “rinse”. India custom is to use their left hand to rise off after using the bathroom. Thats why rule number 2 is strongly enforced. Because of this, always come prepared with toilet paper or baby wipes. Where you dispose of that TP or baby wipe is at your own discretion. Remember, India is a free country….
8. One selfie means 17….atleast
We have found that being white equals being a celebrity in the villages. If you are as white as me, be prepared to be stared at often as well. India is a place where one can be living in a hut in the middle of nowhere, yet have cell phone service at all times! Verizon needs to take notes, it’s amazing! When walking anywhere be prepared to be asked for “selfie, selfie!” and know that one selfie actually means 17. Most people will ask but sometimes you meet a pushy man on the train who will throw his phone in your face without asking, so be prepared to duck. It is frustrating sometimes, I don’t enjoy the fact that my face is trending on social media in India. Yet when you get asked 20 times in a row, when babies get shoved in your arms to document they met an American, as easy as it would be to get frustrated, remember to pray. In India, most people don’t smile in pictures because it highlights the contrast of their teeth and skin. In the store the skin care marketed is skin lightening creams. Just like we as Americans often buy tanning creams, many in India are stuck in a lie of not loving who God created them to be. So smile in one or two pictures and remember to love people well.
