While I slack on writing blogs, I have tons of blog topics and incomplete blogs which I never get around to finishing/ posting. Here is a smattering of random thoughts on life in Pune:
Eating an ice-cream cone outside is a risky proposition in a city with visible air pollution. Then again, a mango ice-cream on a hot hot day tastes damn good.
I like hammocks and sea-breezes. Potentially more than work.
The forecast today (and everyday) is smoke.
Auto-rickshaws, motorbikes, trains, buses, cars, camels, feet: I love me some transportation in
The day after some coworkers had a dance party-"So, Jamie, you cannot dance?!"
Upon eating a pasta dinner I had cooked-"It's ok, I like bland food."
Watching me eat lunch-"So, Jamie, you are getting fat, you must be liking Pune!"
On a daily basis, I find myself sitting through many small physical discomforts that are generally avoidable in the US: the discomfort of being incredibly hot, the discomfort of sitting on the ground for hours, the discomfort of being squished with 2-3 extra people in most vehicles, the discomfort of sleeping on a thin straw mattress, the discomfort of electricity and water shortages. These fairly minor discomforts remind me that privilege comes in many forms. While not enjoyable, I think it’s a valuable experience to live without some privilege, in solidarity with billions of people around the world who have no choice in the matter.
I'll post more and add to these soon...
About the fat comment, in India being fat is still largely considered a positive thing so that was a compliment. Just as in US, people will sometimes say you look great, you must have lost weight, here people say, you look great, you must have put on some. I still get comments on how I must have not liked US because I am still the same weight.
ReplyDeleteExactly right! In fact the person who made that comment was giving me a compliment and saying that Pune agreed with my. My point was just that different sets of cultural norms can make conversations more challenging.
ReplyDelete