So we were told how wonderful it is in India because everyone speaks English. Well I"m not sure if I just don't understand their version of English or if they just don't understand mine, but I sure know I have tried to converse quite a few times at this point with 'an English speaker' and there has been absolutely no communication or message being transmitted. My point is there are over 40 dialects in this country and I think there are just as many 'versions' of English. Don't get me wrong, some of the people here have fantastic English skills (some even better than Matt's!! - kidding babe) and we have had plenty of great conversations about politics, religion, and of course food. But when you go to a place to eat and ask what ingredients are in the food item you are interested in ordering or you need directions or a bottle of water and the answer sounds something like - 'odfndofnongfsdongob' and then you ask again and they say 'dongownbongboig' and then I ask 'Do you speak English' and they say 'yes' in perfect English and then I ask another question and they say 'afgnbofegnbo', let me tell you I want to just pull my hair out.
Moving on.....
I finally just recovered from what they may call Delhi Belly. Around my 6th day in India I had my first run in with a bug. Not sure what kind, or where it came from, but I do know my body didn't like it and told me the 15 times I had to run to the bath room at least 8 of them to hug the toilet face in the bowl. No need to add any more details except to say as the night wore on I must have rubbed off on Matt because at about 2am I heard him run to the bathroom and begin his own 'hugging session' in the bathroom. Two days later and now we're in Delhi staying at my friend Nitin's house and I feel great and have finally moved back to solid food. Matt is recovering a bit slower and I'm hoping his banana split for dinner tonight will give him the energy he needs for the train ride to Jaipur.
This last week has been an eye opener for both of us. India is all that I have heard it would be and more. The food has so many different flavors and variations and smells. The people are smiling and happy and sad and sweet and scary and fantastic and some not so fantastic. Everyone is curious about us and some even think I"m a celebrity. I"m not kidding I have had about 50 people ask to take their picture with me and another 100 or so just stare and take pictures from afar. I"m not sure if it's because we are foreigners or if it is because we look like someone they know but I have never encountered such curiosity. There are other westerners here but we have not seen many and so we cannot tell if this is normal for all or if this is unique to us. Matt has this little mustache thing going on and someone said he looked like an actor because of his mustache. I have a feeling his ego liked that one so we have the 'stache for at least another week. Anyhow, Nitin and his wife Sofia have been the most amazing hosts in Delhi. They gave us their driver for the day so we toured the city weaving in and out of the rickshaws, the horse drawn carts, the buses, the cyclists, the walkers, the dogs, the beggars, the cars, the motos, and of course the occasional cow and goat. It was great fun visiting the spot of the first Muslim mosque built in India, driving through the hectic and a bit scary streets of Old Delhi and stopping for lunch in the middle of it all, walking through the India Gate's tribute to fallen soldiers, bargaining at Janpath Market for some scarves, and learning the lessons of love and acceptance at the Hindi Akshardham Temple part of the Swaminarayan Group with the most ornate ceilings and pillar carvings. That last stop was like a mini Hindu Disneyland including an It's a Small World-esque boat ride, a mini movie, and a water fountain music and light show. Anyhow... I must go to bed for the early ride to Jaipur and then we're off to Agra. Lots of love as always and we miss you all and love the emails. xoxoxoxo
No comments:
Post a Comment