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Published: January 12th 2006
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The Forum in Bangalore
Bangalore is a very developed city, the technology capital of India. The Forum mall in Bangalore is as nice as Scottsdale Fashion Square, except the fashions are much more exotic and interesting! Hello everyone!
I'm writing to you from a modern mall that looks like it is straight out of America. I'm sitting in an ultra-modern internet cafe with instantaneous internet access...yay! We just ate at McDonald's...McChicken sandwhich, fries and a diet soda. That's pretty funny since I never eat that stuff at home, but it was good for a change...gives the stomach and intestines a break for a change. Oh, of course Mickey D's doesn't serve hamburgers here...can't eat the sacred cows, but there are lots of chicken options and everything else is the same...inlcuding Ronald McDonald. American capitalism at its finest! We're having Meditterean (sp?) food tonight...yum.
We're in Banglore today and tomorrow. This is the technology capital of India and looks nothing like the rest of India that I've seen. So far, I've seen big buildings for Oracle, Motorola, Siemens, etc. The mall is a mix of American brands and restaurants, right along with Indian...pretty fun really. We're staying in a three bedroom condo in a huge complex...with a pool, work-out room, playground, etc. It looks like it is right out of America, except for the typical fleet of servants and helpers. There is an over-abundance of workers here,
Ronald in India
Our good friends Shankar ("trouble") and Muthuvelu ("the Don") with Ronald McDonald in McDonalds in Bangalore. so three people are often doing the work of one. I can't wait for a good workout! I miss it terribly.
What else should I tell you today? I don't have enough time to tell you everything that I would like to...so I often have trouble choosing. I'll tell you about my family in Hosur, since you only heard about the Col. They were really wonderful. Their daughter (6th grader) and I really enjoyed eachother...I did her make-up and she and her Mom dressed me up for our presentation. They caked on the traditional Indian make-up and jewelry...I felt like an Indian princess and the Indian women told me I looked like a Punjabi dancer...can't wait to share the photos with you. (Not sure if the Punjabi comment is a compliment since we're in Southern India and I tend to be attracted to Northen Indian clothing...much more vibrant colors and styles than in the South. I'm having a blast wearing such fun and exotic clothing and such tho!)
Back to my host family. The father is a cancer surgeon and the mother is an OB-GYN doctor. They both work a ton of hours. They also have a love marriage...I seem to be staying with folks in the 10% of Indians who are not in arranged marriages. Interestingly, she converted from Hinduism to Christianity to marry him. They are Syrian Orthodox Christians, which from what I could tell, is similar to the Greek Orthodox church, which is Nick's family religion...not that I'm an expert, but they sound similar to me! 😉 The family is quite western...surround sound in their living room, their daughter's room (which I stayed in) is pink with Barbie stuff, including a Barbie shower curtain. They have an Irish Setter and a home design imported from England. I'll show you some beautiful photos.
Of course, in the midst of all the modern Western stuff that I'm describing, there are still horrible roads, shacks and poverty on the streets...I haven't seen a cow roaming the streets of Banglore yet tho! Oh, but I have seen my first Indian women roaming the streets in Western clothing (slacks, blouse, heels and such). I guess the women here dress modern, work long hours, drink alcohol, etc. Quite scandalous! It is cute that I'm walking around in Indian wear and they're wearing our clothes. Our clothes are so boring compared to theirs...I can't imagine why they would choose them, but I suppose our stuff is as exotic to them!
I'm here at such an evolution time in India...amazing development and modernization...while many are fighting for the past and traditions, the country is developing in huge ways. There is so much wealth and entrepreneuiralism (no spell check!) here...very impressive...and in the midst of it all the stuff of the Third World.
I'll leave you with one last thing...the men here are so affectionate with each other. While you won't see Indian men and women holding hands, kissing or being affectionate in any way in public, the men hug and hold hands (I'm not kidding). It was strange at first, but I've really grown to enjoy it. The men here have lifelong deep friendships like American women tend to have...sharing intimate things, laughing and joking with eachother in uninhibited ways. Those kind of friendships seem to be fewer and a bit unusual for men in the states. Mike and Ryan were a little thrown at first, but they are even getting used to it...it is very cute to watch.
That's all for now...I'm off to our next destination. We're headed back to Salem for the Pongal festival after our day here tomorrow. I can't wait cuz the festival is two days of celebrations for the sun god (for the harvest) and I understand it is quite wonderful. Can't wait to experience it and describe it to you!
Oh, remind me to tell you the custom of walking a cow through your new home to bless it. If it poops and pees in your home it is a wonderful blessing! I think that is a tradition I'm happy to leave in India!
Love to you all!
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Noel
non-member comment
Cow Ritual
I laughed out loud at your thoughts!