Friday, August 13, 2010
Finally, after dodging traffic for “10 minutes” (everything in India is always “10 minutes” away. Sometimes, however, “10 minutes” means 2 hours. Rarely does it actually mean 10 minutes.) we arrived at Uncle and Aunty’s flat. The driving continues to amaze. People turn right into oncoming traffic, drive the opposite way through busy traffic (say everyone is driving north. Suddenly you’ll see some crazy guy driving south right through the middle of it!) They pass on the left, pass on the right, or through the middle of two other vehicles when it seems there wouldn’t be enough room for a bicycle to fit. Oh, and half they time they’re talking on their cell phones or radios (this is illegal, and the cops will bust people for it, but they do it anyway.) As Anni says, traffic laws in India are “just suggestions.”
Uncle and Aunty live in the Velachery (pronounced Vella-cherry) area of Chennai. Chennai is a big city, and is split up into several smaller sections, like the “boroughs” in New York City. Velachery is one of those. Their flat is on the 6th floor of a very nice building. Raja chose and bought this flat for them. In India, it is very important for children to take care of their parents when they are old. Raja and Anni make a lot of effort to make sure their parents are comfortable.
We took the elevator to the 6th floor. When we entered the flat, we all took our shoes off. As in most Asian countries, it is very rude to wear your shoes in the house. Raja doesn’t wear shoes in his apartment in the U.S., either.
Uncle and Aunty greeted the children, Raja, and me. They are delightful people, and very petite. Not just due to age; they are naturally slender and not too tall. Both Raja and Anni are taller than their parents, and Raja is not that much taller than I am. He says he’s 5’8” or 5’9”, but you know that Indians like to exaggerate.
When I arrived, Raja’s mother showed me the family altar and blessed me by putting a dot of powder on my forehead. The powder is turmeric (an orange spice) and vermilion (a red powder) and then a line of white powder above. She then showed me to my room. Hospitality is very important in Indian culture. They treat their guests like royalty. Part of this is the belief that the guest is/could be god in disguise (some Christians hold similar beliefs) and the way you treat your guest should reflect how you would treat god if god were at your table. Therefore guests are served by the hostess, and guests often get the nicest rooms. My room is just lovely. The air conditioning was already on when I arrived, and it was blissfully cool in the room. Aunty sweetly took my hands and greeted me, thanking me for caring for her family. I told her it was my pleasure, and my blessing, to do so.
Anni came in and showed me a ton of clothes she had bought for me. She also bought bindis, bangles, and earrings so that I would have “something to wear” here in Chennai. I tried them all on, but some of them didn’t fit, so she said we would have to go and get them tailored.
Aunty came in to my room again, with something in her hands. She had me stand facing East, and gave me the package: my birthday present. It was the fabric for yet another suit of clothes, and it is soooo beautiful! She also bought me some very beautiful bangles. One with green beads, and one with cultured pearls. I was very touched. The generosity and thoughtfulness of Raja’s family is overwhelming.
As the day wore on, I think my mind started to weaken. I took my daily medication (for malaria and other things) 8 hours early. (I had forgotten I had taken them earlier.) I wasn’t sure what time it was. The tiredness began to hit me. After all, I had been up for two days with only cat naps to tide me over.
We ate a nice supper of tasty food together. Most South Indian dishes are built around rice and vegetables. Southern Indians drink coffee, although they drink tea, too. Coffee is their specialty, though, and Aunty’s coffee is very good.
Like many middle class Indians, Uncle and Aunty have people who come to their house to help them cook and clean. It’s very common. In the U.S. only more affluent people have domestic help, so it’s a little strange to experience, but one also has to realize that, with all of the people struggling to make ends meet in this part of the world, hiring on someone to help with the housework gives someone a much needed job. Also, it’s nice to know that Uncle and Aunty have someone to take on some of the burden of keeping house, and to be there if they need help.
Everyone was very sleepy, but I tried to keep myself awake. I spent a lot of time working on this blog. I e-mailed my mom, and blogged some more. In the evening, Uncle came to me and gave me some guide books and brochures to look at so that I might choose some things to do and see while in Chennai and Bangalore. He told me that he doesn’t often talk to people because he is very hard of hearing. Still, he was very sweet, talking to me. He told me that he had read my blog, and suggested that by the end of my trip, I might have enough material to publish a book on my experiences. Maybe I will, at the rate I’m writing, but who knows.
After our conversation, I was very tired and my computer’s battery was running low, so I went into my room, put on my brand new Indian sleeping clothes, and crawled into bed. It took me only a few minutes until I was fast asleep.
Sleep tight, and be good.
Finally, after dodging traffic for “10 minutes” (everything in India is always “10 minutes” away. Sometimes, however, “10 minutes” means 2 hours. Rarely does it actually mean 10 minutes.) we arrived at Uncle and Aunty’s flat. The driving continues to amaze. People turn right into oncoming traffic, drive the opposite way through busy traffic (say everyone is driving north. Suddenly you’ll see some crazy guy driving south right through the middle of it!) They pass on the left, pass on the right, or through the middle of two other vehicles when it seems there wouldn’t be enough room for a bicycle to fit. Oh, and half they time they’re talking on their cell phones or radios (this is illegal, and the cops will bust people for it, but they do it anyway.) As Anni says, traffic laws in India are “just suggestions.”
Uncle and Aunty live in the Velachery (pronounced Vella-cherry) area of Chennai. Chennai is a big city, and is split up into several smaller sections, like the “boroughs” in New York City. Velachery is one of those. Their flat is on the 6th floor of a very nice building. Raja chose and bought this flat for them. In India, it is very important for children to take care of their parents when they are old. Raja and Anni make a lot of effort to make sure their parents are comfortable.
We took the elevator to the 6th floor. When we entered the flat, we all took our shoes off. As in most Asian countries, it is very rude to wear your shoes in the house. Raja doesn’t wear shoes in his apartment in the U.S., either.
Uncle and Aunty greeted the children, Raja, and me. They are delightful people, and very petite. Not just due to age; they are naturally slender and not too tall. Both Raja and Anni are taller than their parents, and Raja is not that much taller than I am. He says he’s 5’8” or 5’9”, but you know that Indians like to exaggerate.
When I arrived, Raja’s mother showed me the family altar and blessed me by putting a dot of powder on my forehead. The powder is turmeric (an orange spice) and vermilion (a red powder) and then a line of white powder above. She then showed me to my room. Hospitality is very important in Indian culture. They treat their guests like royalty. Part of this is the belief that the guest is/could be god in disguise (some Christians hold similar beliefs) and the way you treat your guest should reflect how you would treat god if god were at your table. Therefore guests are served by the hostess, and guests often get the nicest rooms. My room is just lovely. The air conditioning was already on when I arrived, and it was blissfully cool in the room. Aunty sweetly took my hands and greeted me, thanking me for caring for her family. I told her it was my pleasure, and my blessing, to do so.
Anni came in and showed me a ton of clothes she had bought for me. She also bought bindis, bangles, and earrings so that I would have “something to wear” here in Chennai. I tried them all on, but some of them didn’t fit, so she said we would have to go and get them tailored.
Aunty came in to my room again, with something in her hands. She had me stand facing East, and gave me the package: my birthday present. It was the fabric for yet another suit of clothes, and it is soooo beautiful! She also bought me some very beautiful bangles. One with green beads, and one with cultured pearls. I was very touched. The generosity and thoughtfulness of Raja’s family is overwhelming.
As the day wore on, I think my mind started to weaken. I took my daily medication (for malaria and other things) 8 hours early. (I had forgotten I had taken them earlier.) I wasn’t sure what time it was. The tiredness began to hit me. After all, I had been up for two days with only cat naps to tide me over.
We ate a nice supper of tasty food together. Most South Indian dishes are built around rice and vegetables. Southern Indians drink coffee, although they drink tea, too. Coffee is their specialty, though, and Aunty’s coffee is very good.
Like many middle class Indians, Uncle and Aunty have people who come to their house to help them cook and clean. It’s very common. In the U.S. only more affluent people have domestic help, so it’s a little strange to experience, but one also has to realize that, with all of the people struggling to make ends meet in this part of the world, hiring on someone to help with the housework gives someone a much needed job. Also, it’s nice to know that Uncle and Aunty have someone to take on some of the burden of keeping house, and to be there if they need help.
Everyone was very sleepy, but I tried to keep myself awake. I spent a lot of time working on this blog. I e-mailed my mom, and blogged some more. In the evening, Uncle came to me and gave me some guide books and brochures to look at so that I might choose some things to do and see while in Chennai and Bangalore. He told me that he doesn’t often talk to people because he is very hard of hearing. Still, he was very sweet, talking to me. He told me that he had read my blog, and suggested that by the end of my trip, I might have enough material to publish a book on my experiences. Maybe I will, at the rate I’m writing, but who knows.
After our conversation, I was very tired and my computer’s battery was running low, so I went into my room, put on my brand new Indian sleeping clothes, and crawled into bed. It took me only a few minutes until I was fast asleep.
Sleep tight, and be good.
I have tears in my eyes (again).
ReplyDeleteYou certainly have been blessed.
I am grateful (but that is not the right word, since i feel so much more), i love his family for embracing you as they have.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete"He says he’s 5’8” or 5’9”, but you know that Indians like to exaggerate."
ReplyDeleteThis made me giggle. Loudly. :-P
A guest is a treasure. Raja's parents are, indeed, blessed to have you there (and to love and care for their son and grandsons). For once, you're receiving in equal measure to what you've always given.
Oh, sweetie, I got teary-eyed reading this post at the wonderful welcome you received from Raja's family. I'm so happy for you!
ReplyDelete