Oh the Places we will go

In many places around the world, it is not common to grab your car keys and purse and run out the door in the morning to head to work or school. Here, instead, you slip on your favorite pair of flip flops, grab your bus fare and house key, and lock the door with a removable lock on your way out.

Actually, for me, work is where I live, so I just shower, throw on some clothes, and decide which house slippers to wear.

But walking to work is so common here, that even saving a few coins on bus fare holds value. Or maybe it really is just that close. For me, walking is an interesting experience.

Many days, I get stared at (okay, every day). But I don’t let it bother me. I just keep on thinking, “staring in India is not rude, but boy you better keep your thoughts to yourself or….staring in India is not rude, staring in India is not rude.”

Walking just to use the internet and grab groceries is entertainment in and of itself. It’s as if I had a video crew wandering around with me because people just don’t look at a normal person that much, or because things like this don’t happen in real life.

Take, for instance, the time Mackey and I were running by one of her favorite little shops to get some pencils. As we approached a cow (yes, they do just wander the streets here), Mackey commented on the size of it’s utters: “You poor bessie, somebody needs to milk you.” To which I responded internally, “out of all the things I would’ve called that cow it wouldn’t have been endearing.” As she passed the cow, it turned its head towards us and must have spooked because she gored Mackey twice before Mackey ran away. Yep, it left bruises, and not only on the cow’s self-image. That was an experience.

Walking here in Beach-Haven has been interesting because I’m realizing the complexity of the slum dwellers’ lives. Their houses are the size of my room in the trailer we lived in when I was a kid with upwards of 13 people all staying in one place. No running water nor toilet, the kitchen being the same place as the bedroom, and the essential TV in all of the rooms is quite an interesting mix. Seriously, every house has TV and cable. That’s more than I can account for in this “luxury” flat.

As I wander from the market back to my apartment building, I know people are constantly thinking, "why is that lady here???" See, my little area of Beach Haven doesn't exactly stand up to the normal white traveler's idea of 5-star hotels, likely to be found about 30 minutes away. Though my apartment is one of the nicer in the area, it doesn't exactly scream comfort for the average foreigner.

My little "luxury" flat has a very nicely set up kitchen where the sink sits just above my knees. I think the sink was made for the height of Indian women…they’re a bit on the short side. The kitchen window, just above and beside the kitchen sink stays open most of the days. I have a little crow friend I shoo away consistently from its perch atop the window.

The shower is a nice cool refresher from a long hot days, mainly because I do not have a water heater. Yet, it makes for some pretty breath-taking showers in the mornings. Now mom, there’s a really good way to wake up in the morning. The toilet is “Indian style,” or what has been most affectionately referred to as the “squatty” or “squatter.” No seat, mostly just 2 foot pads and a hole to the pipes. You have to be really good at directing your pee so that you don’t mess your foot. Mackey would laugh, "it’s really hard to pull my pants down while trying to pull them UP." I think she may have peed a couple of times on her foot.

The rest of the apartment consists of 2 bedrooms and a central “gathering” area which happens to be the sewing center. I hole up in one of the bedrooms with a few extra mattresses and bed frames that belong to Rahab’s. My bedroom looks out to the beautiful white Mosque next door. Wakeup call at 5am every day. I may possibly know the whole call to prayer when I begin my journey home just from hearing it so much.

Now, don't get me started on the transportation system. That could be a series of sermons. I'll think about that Sermon Series and tell what I think the vaious weeks would entail. For now, I will go to sleep yay!