Saturday, May 23, 2009

Day 10, Saturday, May 23, 2009

Hard to believe it's Memorial Day weekend back there. Safely enjoy.

Things you might not know:
It's never good to stand under a coconut tree in the wind. It probably isn't real good to stand under a coconut tree anytime give the rate at which they have been falling around here.
There are many different kinds of millipeeds (sp). There is one here that is red on top and there is a break line for the different segments so it looks like a train. That's what they call it. It's about 3-5 inches long. Just like ours, it curls up in a ball when disturbed.
The millipeed (that looks so funny. I guess I have never had occsion to spell millipeed before.) I saw this morning was black and about six inches long. I could see it's little legs moving in tandem just like the multi-oared rowing boats.
Monsoons are not like hurricanes or typhoons. They are lots of rain and some wind--but not generally dangerous unless you live in low-lying areas. Colonel Babu said that we are at a high enough altitude that it won't be a problem The forecast has been for one to come in the next couple of days so if there is no contact from us for a while, that is why.
There is no recession here. When 90% of the people of India have no refrigerator, it is hard to have a recession.
BTW David said there is some way to actually spoke to Raechel via gmail.


Last night we went to one of the technician's houses with Colonel Babu and Dr. Baji. In India, if you go to someone's home (unannounced), they are supposed to invite you in. If they consider themselves of an equal or higher socioeconomic level, they offer you something to eat and possibly drink. Gita's house has stone floors (as opposed to dirt floors as some have), stone stove where they use kindling to cook, front and back opening for a door (front doors are always supposed to be open anyway, a louvered window in the kitchen which looks out on the cow's bed (Cows used to live inside with the people here.), and two bedrooms. I am sure that it is less than 300 squre feet. This houses grandma; son, wife, and 3 daughters--youngest looked about 4; Gita and sometimes her husband. We didn't see a bathroom. The bed we saw was up off the floor--most people in India sleep on the floor on a mat.) The most striking thing was that they had a television. Every house I've seen has some electricity even if it's only 1 lightbulb. Reception on the TV was louzy, but, still, it's a TV. Most women wear gold jewelry--at least a necklace. Many of the children as well. The cow was hanging out in the yard. There was also a dog. I think many people use dogs as burglar alarms. Colonel Babu said the crime rate is very low or nonexistent here. After all, we are out in a jungle away from the cities even though there are tons of people around.
I saw this morning this noise I thought was chopping wood is actually the women washing clothing. They have reeds? tied together and beat the particular article of clothing on a stone. The sun does a marvelous job of getting your whites white. I've been turning my coloreds inside out in case their isn't a shaded spot available to hang them. Only the hot pink capris have lightened in color a bit. The rest have been fine.
Some of those humongous houses I told you about yesterday are owned by expatriots living elsewhere like the US. They live very frugally in the States so they can build a mansion here to impress the neighbors. Their original plan is to retire here. However, the kids are born in the States and don't want to come back here much less live here. They have gotten used to the soft life and have no intention of returning here other than for a visit. The parents may or may not eventually return here. Anyway, they pour all their money into houses and possessions here. We went to see one of these after seeing Gita's place. The livingroom furniture is western as are the beds. Mixer, water purifier, large screen TVs, etc. A much larger kitchen than mine. There was an open stairwell upstairs to four bedrooms. The bathrooms were huge and well-equipped by our standards. I have no idea how much square footage there was. There was also a car in the carport dripping oil. There is a caretaker who let us in.

Also learned that by law there is no longer a caste system. If a person refers to another person by their caste affiliation, supposedly they spend the rest of their life in jail. Don't know how often this occurs, but it seems like a real deterrent to me. Hypothetically, there is no caste system, but in reality something like that is very hard to change and will take years and years. What used to be called the 'untouchables' can have a job in the government, but Gita apparently tried it and wasn't at all comfortable with it because of the discrimination (subtle though it might have been (or overt)) made her uncomfortable. So she came back here to work.

We had our pictures taken yesterday because the only foreigners most of the people here ever see are those who come to Ayurveda Hospital. We are something of a novelty. Even the middle-aged men have started smiling and speaking to me! Guess they've decided I'm harmless.

Until tomorrow. Take care and be kind to others.

Love,
Mom/Peggy/Granny