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rhyllToday i saw a building that said 'tracts and books society', and said that it would not admit members born before 1912. I do not really understand. Maybe something important happened in India in 1912? Probably, but i do not know what.
Yesterday was mostly uneventful. I explored the MG road area, and then went back to my hotel room and basically sat around for a few hours until i could go to sleep. I think there is a good chance i will have no exciting stories to tell you guys, which you may be grateful for as it is mostly because i am being exceeding cautious. Today i saw a building labelled "Toilet and Bath Complex", which seemed to have extensive and interesting gardens, and i didn't even investigate. And i am being very careful about not being out after dark.
So far, it is paying off. Nothing too scary has happened, i am not sick, and the only thing that i've had stolen is the laundry pegs and washing powder that were in my laundry bag.
So far, the worst problem is loneliness, i think. It's a little hard to distinguish it from my general anxiety about a whole new place, but since i'm feeling a lot less nervous about india now i think it is one of the main problems.
So i am making sure i do some exercise in my room in the mornings and evenings, to keep those happy-endorphins up, and i am starting to talk to people a little. This morning I went and had breakfast at a little place down the road from me. I've been eating at street stalls and restaurants the whole time i've been here, but this time the people seemed a bit friendlier to i talked to them a bit and practiced some hindi. I can now order 'wurra' (?), which seems to be the main breakfast food around...little deep-fried doughnutty things that come with sambal and chutney, and ask for water and chai. My phrase book got passed around about 12 people, who all seemed to find it fairly interesting. I also got questioned about where I came from, and whether I knew any Hindi, and what I did for New Year's. And then they started asking me if I was single, at which point I got to whip out my photo of my fiance, which also got passed around everyone there. All in all, not too scary a situation, although happily i was already about to leave when one of the guys decided to start telling me that i'm beautiful.
On that note: i was walking down the street in the MG road area today when i noticed that a sleazy-looking-guy was keeping step with me:
SLG: Do you want to be in an ad shoot?
Me: No. (walking away)
SLG: Where are you going? Will you join me?
Me: I'm just looking around. No. (trying to put a car between us.)
SLG: Are you a tourist?
Me: Yes.
SLG: Are you here independently? Do you want me to drive you around to see the sights?
Me: No, I'm fine.
SLG: If you are free you like to have sex sometimes, yes?
Me: NO! I'M MARRIED! GO AWAY!
It was not actually all that scary - we were in a very crowded area and he wasn't touching me, and left as soon as i yelled at him - but it was quite odd. really, does anyone ever say yes to that sort of thing?
Other things i did today:
* Went to the British library, and read about social movements,
* Ate lunch (onion dosa, yum)
* Walked around a heap.
Yesterday the most fun thing was getting to travel home in a decorated autorickshaw (many are, disappointingly, not decorated at all) with music blaring from its speakers. From now one i want to try and find autorickshaws that have speakers in them.
Ok, i should get off and do a bit more emailing to try and get hold of someone who can actually help my research.
Also: motherdear, can you please update the gregs and kyle, and send them my love?
Thank you all for your comments on my last post. I feel very loved and cared for. I hope you are all enjoying the new year so far!
Also, could the following people please email me their postal addressed:
*Internet Friends (you know who you are!)
*Russ
*waves*
Yesterday was mostly uneventful. I explored the MG road area, and then went back to my hotel room and basically sat around for a few hours until i could go to sleep. I think there is a good chance i will have no exciting stories to tell you guys, which you may be grateful for as it is mostly because i am being exceeding cautious. Today i saw a building labelled "Toilet and Bath Complex", which seemed to have extensive and interesting gardens, and i didn't even investigate. And i am being very careful about not being out after dark.
So far, it is paying off. Nothing too scary has happened, i am not sick, and the only thing that i've had stolen is the laundry pegs and washing powder that were in my laundry bag.
So far, the worst problem is loneliness, i think. It's a little hard to distinguish it from my general anxiety about a whole new place, but since i'm feeling a lot less nervous about india now i think it is one of the main problems.
So i am making sure i do some exercise in my room in the mornings and evenings, to keep those happy-endorphins up, and i am starting to talk to people a little. This morning I went and had breakfast at a little place down the road from me. I've been eating at street stalls and restaurants the whole time i've been here, but this time the people seemed a bit friendlier to i talked to them a bit and practiced some hindi. I can now order 'wurra' (?), which seems to be the main breakfast food around...little deep-fried doughnutty things that come with sambal and chutney, and ask for water and chai. My phrase book got passed around about 12 people, who all seemed to find it fairly interesting. I also got questioned about where I came from, and whether I knew any Hindi, and what I did for New Year's. And then they started asking me if I was single, at which point I got to whip out my photo of my fiance, which also got passed around everyone there. All in all, not too scary a situation, although happily i was already about to leave when one of the guys decided to start telling me that i'm beautiful.
On that note: i was walking down the street in the MG road area today when i noticed that a sleazy-looking-guy was keeping step with me:
SLG: Do you want to be in an ad shoot?
Me: No. (walking away)
SLG: Where are you going? Will you join me?
Me: I'm just looking around. No. (trying to put a car between us.)
SLG: Are you a tourist?
Me: Yes.
SLG: Are you here independently? Do you want me to drive you around to see the sights?
Me: No, I'm fine.
SLG: If you are free you like to have sex sometimes, yes?
Me: NO! I'M MARRIED! GO AWAY!
It was not actually all that scary - we were in a very crowded area and he wasn't touching me, and left as soon as i yelled at him - but it was quite odd. really, does anyone ever say yes to that sort of thing?
Other things i did today:
* Went to the British library, and read about social movements,
* Ate lunch (onion dosa, yum)
* Walked around a heap.
Yesterday the most fun thing was getting to travel home in a decorated autorickshaw (many are, disappointingly, not decorated at all) with music blaring from its speakers. From now one i want to try and find autorickshaws that have speakers in them.
Ok, i should get off and do a bit more emailing to try and get hold of someone who can actually help my research.
Also: motherdear, can you please update the gregs and kyle, and send them my love?
Thank you all for your comments on my last post. I feel very loved and cared for. I hope you are all enjoying the new year so far!
Also, could the following people please email me their postal addressed:
*Internet Friends (you know who you are!)
*Russ
*waves*
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no subject
on 2006-01-03 11:28 am (UTC)good food is a hepful in maintaining sanity...
no subject
on 2006-01-04 03:36 am (UTC)I think maybe if I can't get a job as an academic I will build my own decorated autorickshaw and start a business.
no subject
on 2006-01-04 10:24 am (UTC)1912
on 2006-01-06 12:50 pm (UTC)The no admittance thingie is some kind of joke.
no subject
on 2006-01-13 08:10 am (UTC)no subject
on 2006-01-14 09:30 am (UTC)(I think as long as I don't join the mumbai mafia I should be fine, yes?)