Reflections and Random Thoughts (Cindy)

So, I’m kind of in love with India. We’ve barely been off the grounds of Kaivalyadhama yet, but the people here are absolutely amazing. We’ve gotten so many offers to stay with people in Mumbai for a couple of days before heading back to the states, that we don’t even know whose house to choose! I don’t think we’ll have time to see everyone we’d like to. It seems like we’ve practically made more friends in the few days we’ve been here than we have in Atlanta. The people staying at this retreat center are extremely warm, genuine and as interested in learning about us as we are about them. So many of the employees and guests we’ve talked to say they’re really happy, and they look it. Maybe they’ve all figured out the key to enlightenment. I suppose that’s what a daily regimen of yoga, pranayama and meditation will do for you! It’s a nice change to hear people say how much they love the U.S., too. And as much as there are differences (no toilet paper in the bathrooms, arranged marriages, conservative dress, ancient traditions), there are the similarities that transcend culture (girl talk about nail polish and weddings (theirs last for 4-5 days and can have 1-2,000 guests!!!), weight loss techniques, Facebook and American films).

As is the case in many foreign experiences, everyday things here have been fascinating to us. Some construction workers are building another guesthouse next to the one we’re staying in, and the women who are working wear colorful saris and carry bowls of materials on their heads. And you don’t hear drills or other electric-powered chain saws—it’s all done by hand. We also took a walk to an ATM down the road a few days ago, which was another adventure. Small food stands, women carrying baskets on their heads, old men riding rusty bicycles, and ox-drawn carriages are all part of the “landscape.” We even had an impromptu education on Indian toilet etiquette from an Indian woman who lives in New Mexico, but is studying yoga here for six weeks. I’m all for adopting the culture of your host country, but I have to say, I draw the line at using my hand instead of toilet paper!

We’ve been asking the other guests lots of questions, about the Indian culture, their food, their religions. I love that families are so close and live either together or close by, and aren’t separated across the country like many families are in the U.S. They have different words for “aunt” and “uncle,” etc., depending on what side of the family they’re on, so you know immediately which aunt or uncle you’re referring to. And many people call their cousins “brother” or “sister,” or “cousin brother” and “cousin sister,” because they’re that close. They often see each other daily. And there are so many varieties of food, it’s amazing that people can remember all the names of the dishes! The food is different in the regions—for instance, south Indian food uses less oil or ghee, and tends to be healthier. We went to the local market tonight and tried some street food—a bit of a no no for the stomach, but we were with Indians (three naturopathic interns working at Kaivalyadhama and another guest ) who assured us it was okay. We tried some paniputi (cute name, right?), a fried shell filled with a liquid sauce and a potato mixture, as well as a sweet version with sweet sauce. They’re small, and you pop the whole thing in your mouth, where it sort of explodes—and it’s kind of a weird sensation. It was unlike anything I’ve eaten before. We would have eaten more, but we wanted to go slowly at first! A few hours later, they’re a little queasy, but we’re hanging in there. The girls also schooled us on a few other Indian customs: they do not let their guests pay for anything (they covered everything tonight, including the treats and rickshaws, and made us dinner afterward), and friends do not say “thank you” to each other. That one is hard for me to get used to—it’s so automatic, and then I find myself apologizing for saying it!