Likes, Loves, and Differences. America & India

So I’ve been back in the (my) Country for a little bit now. It doesn’t take long to notice all the differences. They might be little differences, but suddenly I’m noticing the changes. When I went to India, everything was so different (yet so similar too!) that I didn’t really recognize WHY it was different… just that it was. So in no particular order, here is a list of differences that I’ve noticed.

1. When I used the restroom after I landed in Chicago I *audibly* sighed when I realized that I had to use the gross Toilet Paper instead of the super clean Water Sprayer I had fallen for.
2. Grass! – After spending nearly a year in a Concrete Jungle… all this grass is crazy! Sure if you go to more rural areas there are forests and grass fields. Those feel like ‘Country’ areas, so it’s not as strange and forests are just forests. What I’m talking about is the grass between buildings. The Front Lawns...  the Boulevards that are just strips of grass! Who mows that? Wait, there’s enough grass that I have to worry about that again.
3. Oh No! Will my Hay Fever allergy come back? (Never technically left…)
4. I have complained entirely too much about the power going out during a Storm. Really? It’s just a storm, it’s not like it’s going to be out today for 2 hours to conserve it.
5. You thought no power sucked? Pfft. Try having a limited supply of water today.
6. Americans would just flock to the store if there was a water conservation day to buy out ALL the water. If the water needed to be boiled, they’d still just buy out Walmart.  Weirdoes. You don’t even DRINK water. (Midwest peoples, Arizonians excluded.)
7. Holy Crap! I’m back to a better humidity. Easiest test? Drying off after a shower and I’m actually DRY! No waiting for the rest of it to evaporate. I really didn’t notice this one until I took a shower back home.
8. My parent’s shower has more water pressure than even my Brother’s. And he has a ton of floors above him creating a strong pressure. (Think Gravity.)
9. Wait, what is that out there? Wait… Radio Towers? Um... no, those should be BUILDINGS on the horizon, not empty space and a bunch of flashing radio towers.
10. I MISS STREETFOOD. YOU SUCK IN THIS ASPECT AMERICA! GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY AND GIVE ME STREET FOOD!
11. No really, I really miss Street Food. Fellow Americans, I’m not talking about some guy selling cotton candy or hotdogs on the sidewalk. That’s not special.
12. India has officially ruined my care for candy in America. After Indian Sweets, what else is there?
13. Here’s an obvious one: Whoa! I know what people are saying!... I can eavesdrop!! :P
14. What is wrong with you America?  You call old people old for eating at 4pm? Look at you, eating at 5pm. What is this!? You’re just a “hip” old person, you’re still eating FIVE HOURS TOO EARLY!!
15. That said, I now eat four meals a Day. Breakfast, Lunch, Early Dinner, Second Dinner. (or at least a snack)
16. High Fructose Corn Syrup is WAY sweeter than ACTUAL Sugar. Americans are used to it by now, but honestly… sugar tastes WAY better. What’s more? It’s actually healthier for you too. Yeah! HEALTHY sugar. I’m going to miss a 20oz bottle of Mountain Dew for 60 cents, made with REAL Sugar!
17. Speaking of Sugar. Sugarcane Juice? Released directly from the cane? Wow! Seriously! Yummy!
18. I’m ruined for life on Seafood. I might need to move somewhere coastal.
    --- I didn’t really like Shrimp before India, now I’m in love.
19. I’ve eaten more parts of a Goat than I care to admit. And yes all of it was Delicious.
20. I love Steak.
21. There is no substitute for Bacon from a Pig. Turkey Bacon is Facon Bacon!
22. I have an entirely new definition on what constitutes Rush Hour Traffic.
23. The streets really ARE empty. And I don’t mean of cars (though often that too), why don’t people walk?
24. No matter how loud a close an interstate is, it will never replace the sound of dozens of cars beeping constantly.
25. Sandals! Where have you been all my life?
26. Suddenly I find myself no longer cold blooded. It’s not comfortable to be below 71F (22C).
27. It’s going to take work to find foods that call themselves spicy to not be Big Fat Liars.
28. Oh hey! I’ve travelled around and seen a new world. I suddenly have new conversations with people (that have done the same) that I’ve known for years.  
29. A common thing I say now is, “Well in India…” I’m not gloating, I’ve just gained perspective.
30. Houses in America are HUGE! Whoa! That HG TV house hunters show will probably be hilarious to me now.
31. While Americans bitch and complain about security stations, checkpoints, and getting scanned… I’m just tapping my foot and wanting to say, “Whatever, you can wand me a lot faster. Come’on, this is easy stuff.”
32. I don’t know how I ever survived this long without Authentic Indian Food. Though I still don’t like Buttermilk.
33. Woodpeckers sound awesome in India.
34. Fresh Coconuts...
35. ALPHONSO MANGOES!
36. Americans really don’t know how to drive. There are very few rules to follow when driving in India… and yet I haven’t witnessed a single accident on the road. Forget motorcyclists being safe, Americans have problems with their big cars. What the hell America?
37. Remember Frogger? That’s how I’d cross the streets as a Pedestrian. Holy crap it is FUN! I was known to stick my hand out and tell a BUS to wait ‘cause I was’a’walkin!... I really hope I don’t get a Jay Walking ticket now that I’m back.
38. I think I should mention Street Food again. You’re missing out, America!
39. 90F may be hot, but add in 85-90% Humidity and you’ve got a whole new ballgame. Before you step in Americans! Remember, after that storm passes the humidity drops. It’s that humid in India WITHOUT a single drop of water falling. Always.
40. 40C is hot. 35C is only hot for Chumps.
41. Medicine is entirely TOO Expensive in America! I realized quickly that I only ignore the doctor because it’s expensive. In India... they’re there for your health, not your wallet. Ask me about CT Scans sometime. (For prices, dummy. It’s just a really good example.)
42. Doctors in America: “We’ll make those symptoms go away so you’ll feel better!”
43. Doctors in India: “When we’re done, you won’t have this problem anymore.”
44. Know how in America everyone thinks they’re a Doctor? They think they know what medicine they should be on? The doctor tells you everything that’s happening? In India they tell you what you’re going to take and have done. No Extra information. Why? THEY’RE THE DOCTOR. They know better than you… that’s why YOU… WENT TO THEM. It’s better to trust your doctor and get healthy, than to feel you know better. PS – The Dr will care more to heal if you if you don’t act like your google search is more qualified than his Medical and/or Ph Degree.
45. I appreciate coins that are all DIFFERENT sizes.
46. Ceiling fans in america are dumb. Remove the lights and use steel, not wood. You'll feel the difference in two seconds.
47. After a childhood dream of wanting to be TALL… Well, Achieved Earned! “Visit India” Haha.
48. Know what was really smart? Putting a 2 minute countdown telling you when your commercials were going to end.
49. Also really smart? Showing the TIMER of how long the light will be red. I miss that a lot.
50. Sometimes I wonder if I’m more Indian than I’m American.

That’s all for now.  I’m sure as I talk with people more will come to mind.

Limerick

Lim er ick
Lim-er-ik
Noun
1.
Make Five Sentences, Use More Than A Word.
Lines One, Two, & Five Rhyme, Or So I Have Heard.
Line Three Rhymes With Line Four.
Line Four Shows There Is One More.
'Though This Example Is Good, It Is Still... Quite Absurd.

/Bows

Maharashtra. Parts of it.

Pune

     I didn't do much more than travel through it, so I don’t have much to say. What I can say is that traffic in Mumbai has nothing on Pune at seven in the evening (aka Rush Hour). Unlike other big cities of Western India, this city is spread out which makes travel by walking out of the equation. Also unlike the other cities, a TON of people own vehicles for reasons that should now be obvious. So travelling to Pune without a car isn't as much fun as it means the Rickshaws know you’re from out of town, add in that an American is present (me!) & it’s suddenly hard to bargain for a decent fare. Pune reminds me a lot of Fort Wayne…… minus the road signs, stop signs, and traffic lights…

This is the only picture I grabbed of Pune. I just found a government approved abortion clinic to be neat.

Mumbai

     I went by bus and will likely do so again. Trains are great, but when you don’t know how to read the language nor recognize your stops by looking outside… travelling in the gents compartment, packed to the gills, isn't the smartest choice out there. I’m more likely to miss my stop by either not recognizing it, or simply by not getting to the door two stops early to make it OUT of the train. I rode on the subway of Chicago, and while it can be nuts getting on and off, the trains of India are of another difficulty altogether. For instance when getting on a train (or state bus to get around town), it isn't so much about you stepping on as it is that you’re in front of someone else who is getting on and you just sorta get pushed on by being in his way. (It’s) Minimal effort so long as you’re in a good position. Oh and if you've got big feet like me (10.5 might not be anything special in America, but it’s a bit larger than the average here), then good luck finding space for your feet. I almost think not tripping over people once I got ON the train was harder than actually getting in it.

Mumbai train station entrance. This is but one of the many old structures still standing in Mumbai.

     On the ride there in the bus, I noticed that the highways are pretty much the same level of insanity. Seriously, Americans can’t drive. I think I could handle it here except for two things. One, I’m used to automatic cars and everyone drives stick here. Two, I think I might be a little TOO aggressive… only the Americans reading this (that have been to India) can fully grasp the term, because normal driving here in India is chaotic, but organized, so being a little aggressive is just that. But to Americans, the “norm” is already an aggressive form, so when I say I’d get too aggressive… It’s what you call Lunatics in the States. Oh three things actually. You drive on the other side of the road here, and I think I would completely mess up on a round-a-bout. There are a lot of them and they’re clockwise, pretty positive they’re counter-clockwise in America. Either that or I’m just a really really bad round-a-bout driver. They’re my weakness, I can admit to that. :P  When I got between Thane and Mumbai, I saw grass! Green Grass! Stuff was Green! No really, it was amazing. There are trees in Thane and there are Trees in Mumbai, grass… not so much. To see a field of grass took me by surprise as big city-scapes are pretty much concrete, everywhere. I’m sure this sounds funny to everyone though, seeing how it’s very grassy and green once you’re out of a city, and there’s a lot of India (for the most part) concrete-free.

Taj Hotel, the original in all it’s glory.

     Mumbai was pretty cool. In its history, it was a British outpost/city. There are a lot of structures from that time period that are still standing today. Not only are they still here and still being used, but the city goes to great length to carefully shave off the very outermost layer so as to make the buildings look like they were just built even though they were actually built one to two hundred years ago! It is a lot busier than Thane, but in my opinion it’s harder to notice as the roads are a lot bigger and wider, allowing people to use more space.  One thing I did recognize fairly quickly was that in Mumbai… I’m not the only white guy. Lots of white people, even some are Americans. I didn't feel like I stood out quite as much as I do elsewhere. I saw what I was told was the tourist area, museums and such. Neat place. You could go inside and see art on display (though what I saw that day wasn't really art, and one lady retouched all of her photos digitally and turned them into shit, some were amazing if they would have been left the hell alone), then step outside and peddling artists were selling their works on the street. It was fun to walk past all the varied art forms. Also, I drank Sugar Cane juice. That’s pretty damn tasty. I was told that the stand I got it from was the best stand in Mumbai, and quite possibly of India. When the owner heard that he was delighted and showed us a newspaper from America talking about how great his juice was! Having had his and others? I agree. He also put more work in, his sugar cane juicer looks like a mulcher, compared to everyone else’s where you can see the gears visibly. It makes a difference in quality. Either way… new flavor and it was really good.

Konkan. (Rural.)

Blue. Brown. Green. Red. Random Cows.

     In a word? Beautiful. Blue in the Sky, Brown in the Wood, Green in the Leaves & various Plant-life, & Red in the Iron-Enriched Soil. Plus Black/Brown/White when a cow passes by, heh. Because this is far from a city, nor is one, the night sky is impressive. With no lights surrounding you, you’ll find stars in the sky that you have NEVER seen before. Sadly for you, dear reader, my camera on my phone wasn't capable of capturing this. If you want to have an understanding of what I mean, I have a solution for you. Go to a planetarium and see their version of the night sky. Then think to yourself, “Wow, I wish I could see it like this for real.” Bamf! There I am. That’s what I saw. I saw the night sky as intended by nature. It was magnificent.

     All of the plants are different. In a car or bus, it looks like a pretty forest or nice countryside. On foot? I’m able to take in what I see & hear. It gets obvious quick that I haven’t seen these trees before. One in particular is very interesting. It has no leaves, none! Instead, flowers bud and grow plentiful on its branches. I’m told they can be harvested to make dyes. The other cool part is how hard the tree must be to climb. ALL of the bark (trunk, branches, twigs) are covered with spikes and they’re tight enough that it leaves no room to grab anything without attacking your hands. I saw coconut trees, LOTS of coconut trees. Each tree grows a large bushel of fruit every three months. No wonder people cultivate them… people love coconuts, the trees provide a lot of fruit year round, and every part of the tree is useful so that nothing goes to waste. Also, I recognized pineapples once I got past the pink color of it.

Spiny, prickly, tree of beautiful flowers.

     Trees are tall so I have trouble seeing the birds. For a few days I kept hearing what sounded like an electronic beep every second… high up. I couldn't figure it out. Once power went out (which by the way it does from time to time) and the beeping continued, I suddenly realized it wasn't electronic. What was it? A Woodpecker! How Bizarre! Not only is the repetition vastly different, but the sound is unlike anything I could have ever guessed. It sounded so familiar and yet, I had never heard it before. Oh, and apparently there’s a bird that chirps at night that I got told was actually a Lizard!

Pineapple. In all it’s Golden Yellow glory… wait. Pink. I meant Pink. Yes really.

     For ‘countryside’, this place feels populated. I’m at a village, sure, but it still feels as busy as a small city. There is a lack of cars (No pun intended. Ha. Ha. Ha. Indian Joke. Someone will probably hit me for that.) so that means people (like most places here) walk everywhere. Though a return to Thane and yes, this area is empty! Out here, hotels don’t exist. I stayed with a gracious & nice family. Through them I continued to have new, incredibly delicious food.

     Man, I seriously love Indian food….

-- GakFace

     Oh yeah. There was a spider that stayed in my suite. Turns out he was a huntsman spider, so he eats all the bugs that would REALLY freak me out while I slept. Thing is, he’s still creepy and can scurry along the wall that really is more of a sprint. But I just thought I’d let you all see what I had to do so I could try to identify him safely far away from him… which meant getting him a red carpet photo. Up close and personal. Well.. up close anyway, I didn't want things to get personal.

Spiders creep me out. This one was the size of my hand. I was okay until he moved…

India. This might be long.

A New Life

     So I started a new part of my life. I quit my job on the 27th of December. That alone is pretty significant. Everyone started there thinking to themselves, "I'll be out of there within 2 years" and yet somehow we all end up there *just* long enough to get raises that makes other jobs pay 'less'.  Then soon we find ourselves there far longer than intended. (ya know, if they treat you better and promote you by merit instead of sucking up, people might care to stay)  I ended up with a little over five years. Sometimes you get a job where you hate to leave. I had one go bankrupt. It was a shame, I loved that job. Then sometimes you get one where you are given the ability to leave. Exhilarating. My last few days at work were great because I knew I was nearly done with that chapter of my life.

     Of course, in order to end one chapter of your life and to start fresh with a new one... that means there is a lot more going on that simply ending a job.  I was busy packing. I was busy sorting. I was busy moving a lot of things around. And I'll admit, I was spending a fair bit of time hiding away in video games.  You see, my new chapter involves going to India. I had to sort what was to go with me and what was to stay. I had to pack up all of my belongings and send them into storage. And afterwards is the ever so fun moving.  I was worried that my move was going be a real pain, but somehow things worked out wonderfully. Six people came to help move. With everything boxed up and ready to be hauled off, it went like a breeze... and it was an amazingly warm day. I'm not sure anyone in the midwest can remember that it was 50+ degrees Fahrenheit midday on January first in Southern Illinois! Tending to everything I needed to get out of town, and then out of country went pretty well in the end. It was stressful to think of and prepare for, but it all went smoothly.

     I made my way back to Northern Indiana to visit family. It was a great week for rest.  Right after we got in that whole polar vortex happened. It was freezing cold with a massive blizzard. First I got snowed in with a Snow Emergency, then when that lifted, my car froze. While the week was relaxing, I had to scramble to get things done before I left.  And sadly I couldn't meet with everyone I wanted due to time constraints. Ah well, whenever I get back, right?

Traveling

     I made a lot of Firsts. First time in India. First Time out of the Country.... First time on an Airplane! I had a lot of fun getting anxious over nothing. Xray your stuff, xray yourself, sit in a chair for a few hours waiting for your plane to board. That was hardly anything. I found out (Happily) that I'm not afraid of airplanes. It was very weird leaving the ground, but I was fine. Yay! 'Cause a ten hour flight would suck if I were to freak out! O'Hare was pretty easy, I entered near where I needed to be. Istanbul (Not Constantinople) was a different matter. Everyone. Everywhere. But everything went well enough, got on the plane and made my way here.

     Oh and I would like to note. Having a MASSIVE list of TV Shows and Movies to watch for long international flights is only awesome when it actually WORKS. Second flight of about 5 hours? Yeah it worked, it was cool. First flight of 10 hours? NO. Just No. Everything was randomly something else, and usually without sound. Even the music was jumbled. If I wanted to listen/watch it... it didn't exist. If it did, I either had no idea what it was and/or there was no sound. Talk about being bored of your skull. In retrospect it's okay, I eventually got so bored I fell asleep. I'm sure that helped with the jet-lag.

India

     India is pretty cool. For some reason I had this ignorant view that anything not USA or Canada wasn't as modern. (Maybe Europe was in there as well.) It's dumb and I'm not proud of having it... and I think a lot of Americans that haven't traveled abroad might have a similar notion. In any case, India is right along with everybody else. It's just busier. A Lot Busier. Everywhere I have lived thus far feels like a ghost town in comparison to Thane. Tomorrow I'm going to Mumbai which will be magnified. People are always going somewhere. Walking, Driving, Riding... Unless you're from/in a big city.. (ie chicago) then you're in what I now consider a ghost town.  It's really easy to get lost out here because everything is everywhere. Residential, shops, offices... all together, everywhere. It's completely different than anything in America where you leave your house and travel to your shopping areas, to your entertainment spots, and work in a building near a bunch of others doing business in ways nothing like your own office. Separation this is not.

     Driving is awesome. I don't know if I'll be able because the style of driving that is expected here, triggers my aggressive style back home. Also they drive on the left here, so I'm bound to go the wrong way on a run-a-bout. It doesn't scare me though, it's actually really fun to watch and ride in. There are spots that are gridlock, but most of the time it's everyone... just going. Swerve around others, never stay in your lane, and force your way across traffic. Your horn is your most important piece in your car. Without it, passing would be impossible, as would telling people to get out of your way. As I was told after I got in, "Everyone has their right of way, but *I* have Right Of Way." It perfectly describes Organized Chaos. It looks like a mess, but unlike America, I still haven't seen a car/motorcycle accident... and the way Americans drive? I should have seen a dozen by now, easily. Not to mention as a pedestrian, you have to make your way even if it means telling the oncoming car to WAIT by shoving your hand out. It's a trip and a half, but I love it. It's kinda fun. But then again, I'm crazy. I'm the guy that got nicknamed "Frogger" once before. If you've played the game, you can probably guess how I got that nickname.

     America is also very very clean. It's not that India is necessarily dirty, it's just not overly sanitized.  My stomach is going through a roller coaster with everything I eat. Though in my stomach's defense, I've eaten a fair bit of street food. Everyone seems impressed, so I guess I'm doing pretty well.  I had been trying to eat with my hands back in America and it was too much a hassle. I was having issues with it... but then I get to India? Instantly no trouble. I have no idea how nor why, but it works so I fit in at the dinner table and anywhere I go. (Aside from being a tall white guy that makes me stand out everywhere.) And.. somehow through all of this, all of my anxiety has gone away. I'd try to figure out why, but honestly... I'm a better person without it, so I'll just let it be a mystery so that it can stay this way.

     I'll try to write a little bit, more often.  This is a bigger post and it doesn't get as detailed when I have to think back about things I've done. I'm having a good time though. I hope I'm internalizing Marathi and Hindi so that some time down the road it starts making a little bit of sense. Life will be even more interesting when I have an inkling what people are talking about.

That's all for now!

.... One Last Thing. My sister told me that Mosquitoes LOVE my family's blood. Let me tell you! India has CERTAINLY not proven her wrong. Yowch!