Survival of the Fittest

I haven’t found the time or the energy to blog in quite a few days so I will attempt to catch up. The rest of last week was a normal routine; breakfast, ride with a driver that does not obey traffic laws to work, stop for coffee (we finally found a coffee place that was half decent), sit in traffic to get to the office. The routine is now of Indian life. When we arrive at office we set up our desk area and check a few emails and then go down to the cafeteria to get a snack. I usually get a juice because it comes in a bottle and I can actually drink and enjoy it. My drink is “pulpy orange” by Minute Maid. We retreat to our desks and work until about 12:30-1pm. Then we go eat lunch in the infamous cafeteria. I heat up my Jenny Craig and bring it with me. I have discovered this yogurt drink which I sometimes include with my meal. I tried a few new food items that I can’t recall the name because they are too complicated, but nothing has really thrilled me-either too spicy or the texture was weird. I did try some spiced buttermilk, but it was a bit too creamy for my liking. They also eat a seed and sugar mix after lunch to ease digestion and smell good. I like the sugar crystals, the seed is OK, tastes like black licorice, but it is weird to have in your mouth. After lunch, occasionally I will walk up to the “tapori”-which is basically a stand on the side of the road to sit while my coworker smokes. It is good to get out in the sun since the office is usually very dark. The men that hang out in the tapori find it amusing that me and my other female coworker are there. I tried some betel nut with the attempt to stay awake the other day. It is basically some little pieces that you chew it your mouth. They tasted like rubber, made my lips numb, and the smell was so intense it did keep me awake. I googled betel nut when I got back to my desk and you may read for your knowledge: http://www.apollolife.com/healthy-living/Smoking,-Drinking-and-Substance-Addiction/featured-article/chewing-betel-nut. Then it is back to work until around 5pm. Since we have been staying in the office later each day, we usually go to eat again at this time. I usually get an omelet which is good because sometimes it is too late to eat dinner or I am unsuccessful at finding an enjoyable dinner. At home, I eat eggs once a week, here it has become the staple to my survival. I have other survival tactics: I do not wait in line anymore. With a population of over a billion, there is no concept of queues. I get my receipt for the food and I immediately jump in front of people. The first week I waited patiently only to realize that someone always cuts me, now I am the cutter. No one looks at you funny or says anything, it is a normal thing. This is how traffic is kept in the orderly chaos it is in and how this billion gets the things they want or need. When the elevator comes I jump right on and shove my way in. When the bus arrives at the airport I dive in between people and find my spot on the bus. I walk out in front of cars to get across the street. I even have a favorite pop song from a Bollywood movie -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvW4HOKcnPs - "Kabhi Kabhi Aditi Zindagi" or "Sometimes in Life Aditi" Aditi being the girl that stars in the film.
My coworker who is Indian has noticed the change. He is proud that I have adjusted to life here. There is one adjustment I cannot make. Aside from the food, I would have to get a pedicure. Exposure to feet here is so prevalent I guess no one cares how their feet look. Most people wear sandals (even at construction sites) or they walk barefoot (yes, even in the office) so you can imagine the state of a person’s foot. I will not elaborate, but let me just say the “pedi egg” is not making any money in this country.