Good food, pretty saris and wonderful friends. It was a great excuse to have a party - new friends, long time friends and pretty Indian things!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Sari Party 2010
Good food, pretty saris and wonderful friends. It was a great excuse to have a party - new friends, long time friends and pretty Indian things! 
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Continuing the Liaison Here at Home
Liaison: a channel for communication between groups. Culture: the tastes in art and manners that are favored by a social group; all the knowledge and values shared by a society; the attitudes and behavior that are characteristic of a particular social group or organization (selected out of the google search).
It seems to me my calling in life is to be a liaison no matter where life takes me - hence my interest to put my self out there as a "Cultural Liaison" - not that I know everything about all cultures - just that I'm willing to learn!
For example, one place I worked as a IT Liaison. My main job was to train nurses to do their job on client server software instead of a mainframe software. BUT....since the IT group did not want to deal with 30 independent and demanding nurses who knew nothing about computers and software, I not only trained the nurses, but all IT problems funneled through me. If I couldn't help the nurses, then I met with the IT group to get things changed. The two groups spoke a different language and both had established (and different) cultures that needed a liaison to facilitate conversation. I learned a little of each language and appreciated each of their cultures enough to bridge their differences and make progress on the project.
A similar situation evolved in another customer service position, except this liaison position was not only between customers and our IT groups, but also between ethnic groups within our organization. I often went with fellow employees to talk to developers because they couldn't understand their English, encouraging them to 'JUST TRY' . Lunchtimes spent sharing food and personal histories flew by too fast but made going to work worthwhile.
Here's a funny one: several years ago a few friends and I decided to work on a project for the Columbus Asian Festival. It was a display of bridal outfits from all over the Asian world. Also, we did a boat for India - which is quite a scene if you've ever been to the festival. Anyway, I'm the only one of the group still at all involved (not much) but I usually ended up doing some craft representing India (one year it was the Hmong story drawing - not India); I used to do the sari wrapping in the dress up area! So, I mention this because there I am representing the majority ethnic group representing another group's culture - it's a little different, but fun.
Maybe it's just that I grew up in very multi-cultural places and have heard many different languages being spoken; but my family members do not seem to have this talent or desire - they still live among MANY other ethnic groups. But sometimes living among many ethnic groups other than your own, creates discontent for some people, so it also must be that 1) I am curious and love learning about people; and 2) I believe we have more in common than we realize; 3) I love to travel and have new experiences even if it's vicariously through other people's travels and experiences; 4) some religious texts reference seeing God in a stranger; 5) you get the idea......
Working in retail also brought out my liaison skills. When I overheard (usually negative) comments about other ethnic groups shopping at our store, I shared whatever knowledge and awareness with my co-workers (trying not to be a smarty-pants) talking of common traditions, making food, etc. Sometimes, I was asked to speak to customers who were obviously (to me) speaking English but had an accent. I think of that as liaison work as well. In reverse, our dominant culture has some pretty strange beliefs and unspoken rules that I try to explain to my friends who did not grow up in this culture.
One of my favorite liaison activities is speaking to Ms. Bierl's sixth grade classes about my Indian/Hindu life as I experienced it on my trips there. They embrace this knowledge with such excitement and many spoke of wanting to know more, or shared their own experiences of trying the customs of other cultures. They completely get it. We are the same but different and sometimes doing it their way is more fun.
My liaison work to Isle de Reunion has been postponed to next year (hopefully not cancelled) so I'm starting on some new projects here in Worthington, Ohio. My Cultural Liaison work will continue - just not sure what shape it will take. Please post any and all comments about your own "Cultural Liaison" work.
Namaste
It seems to me my calling in life is to be a liaison no matter where life takes me - hence my interest to put my self out there as a "Cultural Liaison" - not that I know everything about all cultures - just that I'm willing to learn!
For example, one place I worked as a IT Liaison. My main job was to train nurses to do their job on client server software instead of a mainframe software. BUT....since the IT group did not want to deal with 30 independent and demanding nurses who knew nothing about computers and software, I not only trained the nurses, but all IT problems funneled through me. If I couldn't help the nurses, then I met with the IT group to get things changed. The two groups spoke a different language and both had established (and different) cultures that needed a liaison to facilitate conversation. I learned a little of each language and appreciated each of their cultures enough to bridge their differences and make progress on the project.
A similar situation evolved in another customer service position, except this liaison position was not only between customers and our IT groups, but also between ethnic groups within our organization. I often went with fellow employees to talk to developers because they couldn't understand their English, encouraging them to 'JUST TRY' . Lunchtimes spent sharing food and personal histories flew by too fast but made going to work worthwhile.
Here's a funny one: several years ago a few friends and I decided to work on a project for the Columbus Asian Festival. It was a display of bridal outfits from all over the Asian world. Also, we did a boat for India - which is quite a scene if you've ever been to the festival. Anyway, I'm the only one of the group still at all involved (not much) but I usually ended up doing some craft representing India (one year it was the Hmong story drawing - not India); I used to do the sari wrapping in the dress up area! So, I mention this because there I am representing the majority ethnic group representing another group's culture - it's a little different, but fun.
Maybe it's just that I grew up in very multi-cultural places and have heard many different languages being spoken; but my family members do not seem to have this talent or desire - they still live among MANY other ethnic groups. But sometimes living among many ethnic groups other than your own, creates discontent for some people, so it also must be that 1) I am curious and love learning about people; and 2) I believe we have more in common than we realize; 3) I love to travel and have new experiences even if it's vicariously through other people's travels and experiences; 4) some religious texts reference seeing God in a stranger; 5) you get the idea......
Working in retail also brought out my liaison skills. When I overheard (usually negative) comments about other ethnic groups shopping at our store, I shared whatever knowledge and awareness with my co-workers (trying not to be a smarty-pants) talking of common traditions, making food, etc. Sometimes, I was asked to speak to customers who were obviously (to me) speaking English but had an accent. I think of that as liaison work as well. In reverse, our dominant culture has some pretty strange beliefs and unspoken rules that I try to explain to my friends who did not grow up in this culture.
One of my favorite liaison activities is speaking to Ms. Bierl's sixth grade classes about my Indian/Hindu life as I experienced it on my trips there. They embrace this knowledge with such excitement and many spoke of wanting to know more, or shared their own experiences of trying the customs of other cultures. They completely get it. We are the same but different and sometimes doing it their way is more fun.
My liaison work to Isle de Reunion has been postponed to next year (hopefully not cancelled) so I'm starting on some new projects here in Worthington, Ohio. My Cultural Liaison work will continue - just not sure what shape it will take. Please post any and all comments about your own "Cultural Liaison" work.
Namaste
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Back in the USS(A)
No pictures, but just letting everyone know that I am safely home. A few days of waking at 4 a.m. and trying to stay awake until 7:30 p.m. are coming to an end and I'm starting to get back into the Columbus world again (OMG I just heard about Google changing its name to Topeka).
My very long flight home was complicated by my dropping my luggage on my big toe and having a time getting around four airports. I had a five hour layover in Paris so I treated myself to a massage and spoke French to all service personnel in the airport. The massage staff were VERY indulgent and we talked for an hour or so. She actually spoke Portugese as well as French, and then we were joined by another client who spoke Portugese (she was from Brazil, travelling from Germany to New York and then back to Brazil. All three of us enjoyed 'girly time' in the spa, in three languages. Willingness to try is all it takes!
Then I ran into a young woman who I first saw in Mumbai and we talked for an hour until HER flight left. She and I de-briefed our India trips finding common situations that ran up against our US experiences and we laughed and laughed and exchanged email addresses. She lives in Chicago and will visit Columbus for a friend's wedding. Such a small world!!
For the first time in all of my travels I purchased gifts at the Duty Free. For some reason in Detroit, coming out of customs into security, the kid told me I couldn't take them through in the sealed plastic, but had to try and pack them into my already overstuffed bags. YIKES, I was already late to be at my gate!! I somehow got it into my bags, anticipating that all of my clothes would soon be soaked in alcohol by the time I got to Columbus. I limped quickly to the boarding gate (I've never been in the Detroit airport) and remembered that I had shared with someone earlier -"Gee, I wonder what it's like to be the last person on the plane". Safely on my last plane of the journey, I was looking forward to seeing my daughter's beautiful face and going to sleep in my own bed. I also can't believe that through all of my side trips to Bordeaux and India - I NEVER ONCE HAD MY LUGGAGE LOST. That is truly amazing. Yeaaah, Air France - way to go!
I miss Kalpana's chai and sweet smiling face every morning - her letting me cook in her kitchen; Girish calling "Dahlia" to tell her he's home and being the best host a person can have. I miss the curious people, the brave ones who speak to me in English or shake my hand; and the neighbors who invited me to snack (and chai sometimes). I miss Vaishalli's exuberant love and Raju's quiet but caring affection (he always brings me safe water) I didn't realize how quiet it is here with Jake and Tuna. Thank God for phones and email.
I have an opportunity to teach English on a French protectorate called "Isle de Reunion" in September. My friend Cassie knows of my love of French and India and thought that this opportunity would be perfect for me (thanks Cassie). The India part is that not only is it closer to India, but there is a large population of Gujrati's on the island. I can learn about French culture, Island culture and India culture; the blended cultures, etc. I should be an anthropologist.
I need to rent out my condo, find a place for Jake (or take him with me) all before September. Please pray for me and my family as we anticipate and plan for this next possible opportunity.
Back laundry, house cleaning, pet walking and French lessons.
Namaste
Carol
My very long flight home was complicated by my dropping my luggage on my big toe and having a time getting around four airports. I had a five hour layover in Paris so I treated myself to a massage and spoke French to all service personnel in the airport. The massage staff were VERY indulgent and we talked for an hour or so. She actually spoke Portugese as well as French, and then we were joined by another client who spoke Portugese (she was from Brazil, travelling from Germany to New York and then back to Brazil. All three of us enjoyed 'girly time' in the spa, in three languages. Willingness to try is all it takes!
Then I ran into a young woman who I first saw in Mumbai and we talked for an hour until HER flight left. She and I de-briefed our India trips finding common situations that ran up against our US experiences and we laughed and laughed and exchanged email addresses. She lives in Chicago and will visit Columbus for a friend's wedding. Such a small world!!
For the first time in all of my travels I purchased gifts at the Duty Free. For some reason in Detroit, coming out of customs into security, the kid told me I couldn't take them through in the sealed plastic, but had to try and pack them into my already overstuffed bags. YIKES, I was already late to be at my gate!! I somehow got it into my bags, anticipating that all of my clothes would soon be soaked in alcohol by the time I got to Columbus. I limped quickly to the boarding gate (I've never been in the Detroit airport) and remembered that I had shared with someone earlier -"Gee, I wonder what it's like to be the last person on the plane". Safely on my last plane of the journey, I was looking forward to seeing my daughter's beautiful face and going to sleep in my own bed. I also can't believe that through all of my side trips to Bordeaux and India - I NEVER ONCE HAD MY LUGGAGE LOST. That is truly amazing. Yeaaah, Air France - way to go!
I miss Kalpana's chai and sweet smiling face every morning - her letting me cook in her kitchen; Girish calling "Dahlia" to tell her he's home and being the best host a person can have. I miss the curious people, the brave ones who speak to me in English or shake my hand; and the neighbors who invited me to snack (and chai sometimes). I miss Vaishalli's exuberant love and Raju's quiet but caring affection (he always brings me safe water) I didn't realize how quiet it is here with Jake and Tuna. Thank God for phones and email.
I have an opportunity to teach English on a French protectorate called "Isle de Reunion" in September. My friend Cassie knows of my love of French and India and thought that this opportunity would be perfect for me (thanks Cassie). The India part is that not only is it closer to India, but there is a large population of Gujrati's on the island. I can learn about French culture, Island culture and India culture; the blended cultures, etc. I should be an anthropologist.
I need to rent out my condo, find a place for Jake (or take him with me) all before September. Please pray for me and my family as we anticipate and plan for this next possible opportunity.
Back laundry, house cleaning, pet walking and French lessons.
Namaste
Carol
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Shopping, Cooking, taking walks
I decided to cook lunch this day - a vegetable dish with cool tongs and heavy pans. I shopped for vegetables with Vaishalli (Radhika's aunt).
Piles of BEAUTIFUL vegetables and fruits. To this beautiful collection of vegetables we also bought pears from Washington State, papaya and Alphonso mangos (the BEST). YUM
Vaishalli, Kalpana and I visited Sula Winery. It's the largest in India and is the forerunner in India's burgeoning (sp?) wine market. My friend Cassie says there's to be a convention in India in the Fall that she will attend. She works for a French Winery in Bordeaux.
This statue is "Mother Earth" - the gentleman who owns this museum is saying thank you to Mother Earth for all of the gems and gifts she gives him (us).Bathing God
These are from last weeks Thursday bathing day, but we are doing this again today because it is Rama AND Sai Baba's (this really big statue)
birthday. Milk baths and new clothes and jewelry will be added today.The copper vessel hanging is what drips the water and milk. These pictures don't show the prayer (puja) part with the candles lit - it's so beautiful with the music playing softly. Very relaxing, meditative.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Hello, my name is Carol and I'm a chai masalaholic
I learned from previous trips that NO ONE makes chai masala like Kalpana. This is the stuff of dreams when I am in the US and anticipating either going to India or Kalpana coming here. Now please, friends who make chai masala for me, I love your tea also, but.....Kalpana's wins hands down. However, being the addict that I am I will not turn down an offer for chai - ever hoping for it to be as good as Kalpana's. On this trip she finally told me why - no water. Pure buffalo milk (lose weight here? HAH) with mint and sometimes masala and ginger. No one wonder I couldn't duplicate it at home.
I knew I was an addict when we were on the train - I became VERY irritated when the chai-wallah would annouce with an unfamiliar cadence: CHAICHAICHAIGARAMCHAI over and over up and down the train aisle. I would eagerly respond CHAI (if you say yes he won't stop - you have to say what they're selling and then they'll stop) and get out my 5 rupee coin only to see him swing out the LIPTON TEA BAG and dispense water with milk into the cup. NO NO NO....(only in my brain) I want the REAL STUFF - where's the REAL STUFF??????
In the first hours of our train ride, sometimes I would get lucky and get the chai masala (brewed tea with milk and spices) and then order 2 or three at a time. There seemed to be no regular schedule that I could count on, and he didn't always say MASALA even when he had it, so I did learn to ONLY respond to the CHAICHAICHAI MASALAGARAMCHAI (listen for the MASALA) and then check for the LIPTON tea bags somewhere on his person so that I wouldn't want to trip him as he went down the aisle with the fake chai.
In New Delhi, Girish would automatically order two or three for me for breakfast (they're small) The waiters began to bring several - with our just saying an abbreviated "chai" for our 5 a.m. departures. If we had the chance - we'd even risk having chai at some dive in a small city (it's boiled) to keep withdrawal at bay. Sometimes it had masala - sometimes it was Lipton......UGH. I began to settle for ANYTHING and would then complain with Kalpana about how bad it was! Did I learn my lesson? Did it keep me from trying anyone else's chai? NO. Such is the addict
My addiction was getting obvious - family, neighbors - everyone seems to have learned that I will do anything for chai - they ask me if I want chai just to see if I'll say CHAI??? YES???? I LOVE CHAI!!!! and then they laugh. They are eager to please the Blonde American Giant Woman and tea is cheap. At the blouse shop - I shocked Kalpana by saying YES to their offer of chai - she had said no - HAH....I am shameless.
Some lovely neighbors invited me to tea - OH HO YES, this is home made tea - it's probably like Kalpana's, huh? She took so long to bring it I had thought we had miscommunicated that I wanted chai. She brought out chevda (you've all seen this snack of flattened rice with dried dal, nuts and spices, right?) grapes, all kinds of nuts; water for everyone - I began to panic - did she forget? did she think I was joking since everyone was teasing me? oh, man - this stuff is spicy and I can't drink the water - should I ask her again for chai? no, that would be rude.
I have only two more days of yummy Kalpana chai. Maybe I should consider a de-tox or weaning process of some kind to avoid mayhem; I'll just have to substitute my VIA coffee I guess (sigh) - it's not the same at all. I've had my two cups of chai (served in real china tea cups and saucers, on a tray) already this morning and I'm counting the hours until tea time - maybe Kalpana will offer some at lunch......so I don't have to wait until 4....or maybe I can talk Vaishalli into stopping for tea when we're out........
Namaste
I knew I was an addict when we were on the train - I became VERY irritated when the chai-wallah would annouce with an unfamiliar cadence: CHAICHAICHAIGARAMCHAI over and over up and down the train aisle. I would eagerly respond CHAI (if you say yes he won't stop - you have to say what they're selling and then they'll stop) and get out my 5 rupee coin only to see him swing out the LIPTON TEA BAG and dispense water with milk into the cup. NO NO NO....(only in my brain) I want the REAL STUFF - where's the REAL STUFF??????
In the first hours of our train ride, sometimes I would get lucky and get the chai masala (brewed tea with milk and spices) and then order 2 or three at a time. There seemed to be no regular schedule that I could count on, and he didn't always say MASALA even when he had it, so I did learn to ONLY respond to the CHAICHAICHAI MASALAGARAMCHAI (listen for the MASALA) and then check for the LIPTON tea bags somewhere on his person so that I wouldn't want to trip him as he went down the aisle with the fake chai.
In New Delhi, Girish would automatically order two or three for me for breakfast (they're small) The waiters began to bring several - with our just saying an abbreviated "chai" for our 5 a.m. departures. If we had the chance - we'd even risk having chai at some dive in a small city (it's boiled) to keep withdrawal at bay. Sometimes it had masala - sometimes it was Lipton......UGH. I began to settle for ANYTHING and would then complain with Kalpana about how bad it was! Did I learn my lesson? Did it keep me from trying anyone else's chai? NO. Such is the addict
My addiction was getting obvious - family, neighbors - everyone seems to have learned that I will do anything for chai - they ask me if I want chai just to see if I'll say CHAI??? YES???? I LOVE CHAI!!!! and then they laugh. They are eager to please the Blonde American Giant Woman and tea is cheap. At the blouse shop - I shocked Kalpana by saying YES to their offer of chai - she had said no - HAH....I am shameless.
Some lovely neighbors invited me to tea - OH HO YES, this is home made tea - it's probably like Kalpana's, huh? She took so long to bring it I had thought we had miscommunicated that I wanted chai. She brought out chevda (you've all seen this snack of flattened rice with dried dal, nuts and spices, right?) grapes, all kinds of nuts; water for everyone - I began to panic - did she forget? did she think I was joking since everyone was teasing me? oh, man - this stuff is spicy and I can't drink the water - should I ask her again for chai? no, that would be rude.
I have only two more days of yummy Kalpana chai. Maybe I should consider a de-tox or weaning process of some kind to avoid mayhem; I'll just have to substitute my VIA coffee I guess (sigh) - it's not the same at all. I've had my two cups of chai (served in real china tea cups and saucers, on a tray) already this morning and I'm counting the hours until tea time - maybe Kalpana will offer some at lunch......so I don't have to wait until 4....or maybe I can talk Vaishalli into stopping for tea when we're out........
Namaste
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Garam Garam Garam (HOT HOT HOT)
Here's a link to the weather report for Nashik. Did I already mention that the summer heat has arrived early all over India?? Yeah, I'm DEFINATELY feeling it; not to mention a mix up with the water and I'm down with a intestinal bacteria again. http://www.mustseeindia.com/Nasik-weather
We have a full schedule of things to do before I leave - so there's no time to be hot! I'm wearing a beautiful sari today (thanks to Kalpana). Here's a funny story.
Two women were talking about one woman's search for her son's marriage match in which she attended a large gathering of eligible young men and women. She was talking in another language of course and she made a motion that I didn't understand: Put your arms out like you're going to do the chicken dance at a wedding. - now move your forearms and fists in quick movements away from your body once or twice, keeping your elbows stationary. Go ahead, do it.
Of course, I asked what that meant and was told nicely, that it meant the pool of girls there were, ahem, on the bigger side (uh, FAT???). I laughed and wondered what 'bigger' was for Indian girls since most of the young women I have seen are pretty darn skinny. Well, ok, move on.
The next day Kalpana takes me to the blouse store to have a blouse made for a sari that I bought in Columbus. We're all having conversation (so to speak since I don't speak Hindi or Marati or Gujrati - whatever language they were speaking) about the sleeve and the little decoration at the bottom. The tailor seems to not be agreeing with me about the style (he understands English of course), the decoration or something and as I am intently trying to gather visual clues from faces, pointing, stretching fabric, etc., HE MAKES THE MOTION LIKE THE CHICKEN DANCE!!!!!! It's because I'm, ahem, 'on the bigger side'
I try not to make a horror face (OH MY GOD HE DID NOT JUST CALL ME FAT) and manage to not giggle even. Later, Kalpana tries to play down the fact as I jokingly exaggerate how offended I am, "no, he was not calling you fat, just saying you are bigger than most Indians" - that might have been what Girish said, but the point was made and I'm definately REDUCING with fervor when I return home. It's great incentive when a total stranger calls you fat. I'm wearing a beautiful blue sari today, in the Gujrati style to maximize coverage.
Namaste
We have a full schedule of things to do before I leave - so there's no time to be hot! I'm wearing a beautiful sari today (thanks to Kalpana). Here's a funny story.
Two women were talking about one woman's search for her son's marriage match in which she attended a large gathering of eligible young men and women. She was talking in another language of course and she made a motion that I didn't understand: Put your arms out like you're going to do the chicken dance at a wedding. - now move your forearms and fists in quick movements away from your body once or twice, keeping your elbows stationary. Go ahead, do it.
Of course, I asked what that meant and was told nicely, that it meant the pool of girls there were, ahem, on the bigger side (uh, FAT???). I laughed and wondered what 'bigger' was for Indian girls since most of the young women I have seen are pretty darn skinny. Well, ok, move on.
The next day Kalpana takes me to the blouse store to have a blouse made for a sari that I bought in Columbus. We're all having conversation (so to speak since I don't speak Hindi or Marati or Gujrati - whatever language they were speaking) about the sleeve and the little decoration at the bottom. The tailor seems to not be agreeing with me about the style (he understands English of course), the decoration or something and as I am intently trying to gather visual clues from faces, pointing, stretching fabric, etc., HE MAKES THE MOTION LIKE THE CHICKEN DANCE!!!!!! It's because I'm, ahem, 'on the bigger side'
I try not to make a horror face (OH MY GOD HE DID NOT JUST CALL ME FAT) and manage to not giggle even. Later, Kalpana tries to play down the fact as I jokingly exaggerate how offended I am, "no, he was not calling you fat, just saying you are bigger than most Indians" - that might have been what Girish said, but the point was made and I'm definately REDUCING with fervor when I return home. It's great incentive when a total stranger calls you fat. I'm wearing a beautiful blue sari today, in the Gujrati style to maximize coverage.
Namaste
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