Greetings from India!
This is our 11th day in India, but I feel like I’ve been here longer.
By now we know how to get an auto ride almost anywhere we really want to go.
We know key phrases, good places to eat, where the market is and have just gotten a good feel of the city and how to get around.
I feel scandalous if the wind blows my skirt and exposes my ankles.
Modesty here is pretty much the reverse from back home. You can show your mid-drift, but you better keep your shoulders and knees and ankles covered.
I know who I can buy the cheapest coconuts from and how to efficiently cut a mango.
I’ve decided to eat as much fruit here as I can. It’s so cheap and fresh and yummy! A few days ago I bought 3 mangoes, 3 bananas, a coconut and 4 small bananas for 75 Rupees about $1.50 (the exchange rate is about 53 Rupees for 1 USD). It doesn’t get much better than that!
I’ve discovered that I can get my travel mug filled with chai for 25 Rupees – less than 50 cents (even if I did get laughed at)! You see, you buy a tiny little cup like a shot glass size of chai for 5 Rupees.
Me and my friend both came up to the tea stand with mugs and asked them to fill it up. The Indian man filled the little shot glasses and laughed and grinned as he counted and poured and filled our mugs. He got to five, topped off our mugs, and we gladly payed him the 25 Rupees. Us Americans want a little more than a sip of that delicious tea.
I can’t even tell you how much that made my day! It was one of those sweet little gifts from Jesus. I was so happy sipping my steaming mug of chai. 🙂 I still miss my morning coffee and creamer, but this is a close second.
Another thing that’s interesting is the traffic here, and even stranger, how we’re okay with it.
Lights or stop signs are no where to be found. Your auto driver (or tuk-tuk or rickshaw, basically it’s a taxi here) will honk his horn probably about every 5 to 10 seconds or so. Super rude in America, basic rule for driving in India.
Motorcycles, people on bikes, innocent pedestrians, people pulling food carts and vehicles of every kind narrowly escape death seemingly at ever turn. Our guardian angles are working overtime for sure!
At home I would probably freak out if a motorcycle was coming straight towards me and then with about only a second to spare we narrowly dodged each other, but here, it only startles me a little and then only sometimes.
But I don’t feel unsafe. Riding around is actually FUN.
There are several fried chicken places. OFC, NFC and Chillax are just a few (notice the FC). I got a really good chicken burger not sandwich, found out that’s basically chicken salad on grilled bread for 60 Rupees yesterday.
The food is crazy cheep here. You can easily eat street food for a dollar or less per meal.
I’ve tried so many things since being here. They are lots of different kinds of sweets and samosas and puff pastries in the random little bakeries. Food stands and carts alongside the road are filled with variations of fried food, fruit, snacks, ice cream, curries and rice and so many things that I have no idea what they are.
The streets are a fun adventure. We bargain and taste and take pictures and get to interact with the locals.
You can get meals in local restaurants served on banana leaves or get it in a parcel (to go) wrapped up inside the banana leaf and then wrapped again in newspaper.
Caramel The French bakery in Town is one of my favorite places to eat. It has AC, great pizza and baked goods and plays American music. It’s a nice taste of a bit of familiarity and a great place to take a break when you need one.
Hotels are also nice places to eat. Soft noodles and fried rice dishes are super good. I need to branch out and try more curries. I’m just intimidated by all the different sauces!
Every day we walk by a small slum area where people live in tents basically made out of garbage.
The children run to us. We rarely ever walk by that we’re not mobbed by a group of small kids who want to shake our hands, hug us, give us high fives or just yell Hi!.
I know for certain that I never want to be a celebrity. We are definitely in the minority here and being stared at constantly can be challenge. We’re learning how to handle it properly though.
The culture here is pretty much as different from America as you can get. We’re trying to take it all in, learn from it and interact in it properly.
Overall, I’m loving being here. I’m experiencing India in way that I didn’t last time. I’m glad the Lord has brought me back.
A few other random facts:
It’s HOT. If I’m not in my bedroom I can pretty much guarantee you that I’m sweating a lot.
Only about 4% of the population is Christian.
They recommend we drink 5 liters of water a day to stay hydrated.
There are lizards and chameleons and monkeys. Cows are literally everywhere and roam freely.
The Saris and Punjabis that the women wear are as stunning as the women themselves. I’m mesmerized and can’t stop staring.
They are adorned with gold jewelry of all kinds anklets, toe rings earrings, you name it.
Having your nose pierced (cultural norm) on the right side means that you’re married.
I hope this blog has given you a little taste of what it’s like here in India.
Thank you all so much for your love and support and prayers. I couldn’t be here without you! You are all just as much a part of this as I am.
I’ll post more about the ministry in the near future. I just wanted to give you a peak into the culture and how we’re learning to interact with it.
Love y’all!
Jessica
Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ.
Ephesians 1:3
