Jan 2006

hello all, I am again back in India, staying with my friend Simones family in a city called Ambarnath, north of Mumbai. Again, I repeat: never fly Air India! Our flight was delayed and late by 2 hours! It is like someone bottled Mumbai and put its chaos in the plane! Even though I kind of knew what to expect I'm still experienceing some culture shock. I mean, if you think you feel pasty white living in Minnesota in the winter, gosh you'll really feel your whiteness here because of all the stares you get and locals pointing saying "faringa!" or "ameriiican!". But I am slowly adjusting. I havent dont much of anything since I got back 2 days ago, just eating and trying to sleep. Simones sister, Sharron, brother-in-law, Illia and their 2 little boys, Rickma and Noah were all here from Belgium for the past month and the left yesterday, so most of the day was spent getting them packed and seeing them off. Those kids are pretty remarkable, they speak fluent Flemmish and in the time they were here in India they picked up a ton of English and Hindi. I am still struggling to learn a few basic words in Hindi! I guess that shows how adaptable and amazing the human mind can be, it just gets more rigid as we grow older and we have to work harder to learn and be open minded. Bombay area is much dirtier than when I was here almost 5 years back. It is more congested too. They have a power shortage so they shut off the power for 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening everyday throughout the entire Bombay area. It is very inconvienient and the dont expect to have the problem fixed even by 2010! Which is ridiculous since there would be money for power if it was allocated differently. I have had a chance to read the newspaper quite a bit lately, both here and in Dubai (which is something that I dont normally do) and man, there is a lot to learn. I guess I should have been trying harder all along to be a bit more informed about things going on outside of the US. It seems that people outside the US in general are much more knowledgeable and concerned about international affairs. They are informed about us and the rest of the world but in the US we tend to only look inward. Anyway back to a lighter topic. I am planning a short trip to Goa in India. This is to be my first solo destination. (Dont worry too much mom - it is a very touristy area, with many wersterners there and it is tourist centered.) I believe it used to be a French port city so it's culture is supposedly quite different from the rest of India. It should be interesting. It is kind of different staying with Simones family. Simone is a bit more introverted than me, kind of requiring a lot of her own time and space. Which is ok, but it makes for more alone time for me (and I'm a bit more social) Luckily her brothers are still here and I can hang out with them. I think it is kind of funny because it seems that wherever I go I end up being in the midst of a bunch of guys (like growing up with all my boy cousins, at my job where I was the only female working there for quite a while) and now here. They have been teasing me like I am part of the family since I arrived so that is a touch of home. Little by little I am adjusting. It is wierd not to be around my family and friends - when you are away you kind of realize how nice it would be to see a familiar face or hear a familiar voice if only for a second when everything else around you is unfamiliar. Oh yeah! Another cultural thing - the baths and toilets. You would think that with the other things that are becoming modern the toilet system would also change..but no. There is hardly a bathroom with TP anywhere to be found, even in peoples houses. I guess they prefer the drip dry method (they do rinse with water though) Most paces also use squat toilets too (a hole with a spot for your feet at either side. And if you are a guy, it seems no one has any qualms with you just whipping it out and pissing wherever you please. Hand soap. Also, something of a foriegn concept here. Nobody has it is their houses. Also, the water is only on for a few hours in the morning, so you take your bucket back then, and fill a bunch of buckets for use the rest of the day. Bucket back works like this: bathrooms are tile floors with drains, you have a large bucket filled with water and a small scooping bucket for dipping in the large bucket and then pouring the water over yourself. This was the same as last time I was here so it didnt seem as wierd to me. Driving: opposite side of the road (sometimes) and drivers seat is at the opposte side. The driving here is absolutely crazy. There is no such thing as a lane and here might equals right. Larger vehicles just plow through smaller ones weave in and out like mad. Seat belts? What are those? Turn signal what? Yield to pedestrian? Crazy. Warren, Simones younger brother, tried convincing me to drive home from the airport last night! Ha! Luckily it was a manual which I dont know how to drive so I got out of that one! Ok, I suppose this has gotten quite long enough so I guess I should get out of here for now. Not that I really have anything to do today:P
Oh well, take care and peace out all

OH! In addition to my last entry about Dubai:
The only thing that I found not so modern in Dubai was Carrefours. It was like Walmart all cracked out and organized or should I saw as non organized as a Pennys! Oh my gosh, there were a million people in there any time of day, we are talking shoulder to shoulder. Any why? I dont know, the stuff they sell is certainly nothing worth the crowd and is lower quality that Pamida! Wow, ok dude, I'm really done for now!

Wouldnt ya' know it, the prime minister/leader of Dubai had to go and die the very day the festival was to start! UAE is a kingdom so since this guy was royalty the country is in mourning for the next 40 days and the festival is postponed for 10 days. Oh well, probably for the best, then I didnt spend too much money. That and I have to carry anything I buy, with me for the next...however many months. I am just now adapting to the culture here (and I leave today!) I had never before been in a society where Muslim culture was so influential and prevalent. I thought I was open minded, but it really took me back seeing every other person in the traditional dress. But I'm ok now. This city wreaks of money. The buildings, the malls, the parks, and everything are exquisite. Even though the shopping festival was canceled (even the fireworks which were planned to be the highest ever in the world!) the malls remained open to take advantage of all the tourists that were already here. We spend the 4th shopping most of the day. I wasnt really into it, the prices were just as high as in the US and I dont have extra money to be spending anyway. So I didnt really have much fun doing that. But the malls really are amazing. They are huge and beautiful. Yesterday we went to an area called Jumeira beach on the Arabian sea. Oh my goodness that was beautiful. I of course spent most of my time picking up sea shells (If you know me, you know that I can spend hours picking up rocks/shells along the water...pretty much anywhere!) It is considered their winter here so Simones family advised against wearing shorts to the beach (swimming was out of the question!). But when we got there, I being a Minnesotan, found it wonderfully warm and would have loved to have jumped in even fully clothed! Instead I opted to roll up my pants and splash around on the edge. We also went shopping...again. I never thought I could get so sick of shopping! We also ate a lot of "shormas" (sp?) while here. They are the local specialty. They remind me of a California burrito! It is like a pita bread torn open with roasted chicken (with lots of adabain spices), french fries, mayo, veggies, garlic, etc all rolled up inside. They are really good. Simones family has been very nice and hospitable (even though her little brother drove me a little nuts!) Ok, well my time at the "Lemon cyber cafe" is almost up. Next time I write I should be back in India Take care all

Hi all Last night Simone and I went on an "Arabian Nights" tour thing. They picked us up in a jeep and drove us way out into the desert then went off the road and into the sand. The driver, this really tall handsome Arab guy, drove like a mad man. It was really fun, but I seriously thought I'd puke (and for those of you who know me, I hardly ever get that sick!) We went sliding and skidding all over the sand dunes in the desert at sunset. It was really beautiful out there with the light reflecting off the sand it almost looked fake. Then we were driven back onto the main road for a while, then back through the desert sand to the "camp" where we were treated to a camel ride, henna treatment, an Arabian buffet, belly dancing performance, and dressing up in the habyiah (full Muslim dress). We were also offered to smoke the "hubbly bubbly"...yeah thats pot...I didnt know that until I saw the huge hookas there! I passed on that one. It was very touristy there but we had fun. Today the shopping festival starts so hopefully we'll see what thats all about! TTFN

If you missed that last reference it's from Garfield...but anyway, really I went to Abu Dhabi yesterday. Simone and I took the bus there from Dubai. It was very interesting. There is a ladies only section in the front of the buses so even tough the buses were crowded we got to sit together. Most other people travelling were business men. Most of the people out walking around are men. Its a very different culture. Especially in Abu Dhabi is is mostly only men that are out in public. Anyway, we had a good time in Abu Dhabi (we went there and back in the same day). It was a two hour bus ride. The weather was really nice and the sky was clear. The sea was beautiful too - it looked tropical almost it was so bright blue. We went to the Marina Mall there. It was really modern - we ate lunch from Starbucks, Burger King and Sabarro. The only real difference was that when they said spicy chicken sandwich they meant it. We went walking on the marina after shopping for a while. It was great. Hopefully I'll figure out how to down load some pictures soon.
I am getting a bit homesick. Mostly its just wierd not to have a job and not to have an answer to the question "What do you do?" I dont do anything. I am just here, or there or wherever. A leech of the world. It is hard to be constantly openminded. Usually when I'm in my own setting it is easier to be open minded because I only have to be challenged every once in a while, but in surroundings and cultures that are constantly changing it is more challenging to me. Looking at the next new food I have to eat is exciting some of the time, but then something familiar sounds so much more comforting. (As I type I am eating a Twix bar, the first chocolate I've had in dayyyyys! It is oh so good Ok, that's all for now. Love you and miss you guys