Many Firsts

It was my first of many things, including every daily meal, and tea time between sixteen (4) and seventeen (5) in the afternoon, chai tea that is. Something resembling Ramon Noodles accompanied by curry was for breakfast, along with chai tea. Lunch around 12:30 was rice and several curries along with buttermilk, one of the first things my taste buds did not completely enjoy, and lemon water. Dinner was again rice and curries. This time, one of the most notable things of the day in my opinion, was eating with my hands. It is not necessary or expected by any means. Yet it is part of the traditional culture – it is a preference. Along with the five other BCA students and the help of two extremely hospitable, friendly, nice Indian girls, we learned the technique of eating rice and watery curry with our right hand (the left is used in the bathroom).

Along with some things that I have expected, there have been many instances I did not expect, like my identifying as Caucasian causing me to be treated like a celebrity here on the Madras Christian College (MCC) campus. We have the only three air-conditioned rooms among two dormitories; our coordinator or warden is getting us a refrigerator, toaster, and oven for the seven of us students to use (They really insist); water is turned off three times per day here, but not in our rooms: we have our own water tank.
While all MCC girl students must follow a curfew of 6:30 pm, we were told that did not apply to us (this is not a unisex campus). As nice as it sounds I am perfectly happy to live like any other Indian citizen (even in 97 degree heat and 100 percent humidity). I do not expect any of this. It just goes to show how hospitable the Indian people are.
For being a campus in a city of nearly ten million people, MCC consists of much forest land. There are so many deer roaming around campus, numerous large bats, birds singing, and trees with dangling branches the size of softball bats. We walked around to the different departments and saw where students like to mingle and talk. We finally were able to see the Social Work Department which is one of the best departments on campus, and also houses the International Social Work Department. Our classes are supposed to start on Monday, yet we will just have to see how well that goes, since we do not even know which classes we can choose from yet. The one thing we were told today by Anu, our supervisor and host at MCC was that if we are going to learn one thing while being in India, it will be to just go with the flow. That is something I think will be good to learn and have in everyday life.

We spent the last couple days shopping which was quite exciting, however pretty exhausting. We went into one big shop with many floors, the first floor = saris; second = salwar kameez, a set of pants and a top, which was what we were searching for. These are typical Indian clothes for women, a bit more casual, maybe than saris. The third and fourth floors were for men. The place was packed because it was a weekend day. It was also the beginning of the month, hence the crazy lines at the atm machines as well, everyone gets their pay check the first of the month. We all bought at least one kameez along with a pair of salwars. They are quite comfortable and breathable in these extreme temperatures.
Our first meal at a restaurant was interesting in itself. The meal was delicious! The meal began with a banana leaf placed in front of everyone. A little water was poured over top to spread around with the right hand. Several servers came by and delivered us a flat bread (not naan), a chipati (sp?), three different curries, an onion kind of salad, a sweet ball made of some sort of nuts, and rice to combat the hotness and to finish the meal. It was delicious, and again was eaten with our hands!
Now we are back home and ready to go to bed. Yet it is hard to just fall asleep or read a book when there is so much to reflect on. I keep thinking about the driving here in India. I cannot tell you how many mopeds take up the streets as vehicles weave in and out of each other. Further, is the number of women riding on the back of a moped, holding onto nothing, riding side-saddle in a sari. I do not know how they can do it, but I think I need to build up a little more courage before I even think about trying that one.
I just love that about India so far: everything that happens here or that I experience is something new, something I have not seen or am use to.