13 weeks in India and I have not been called out on doing culturally insensitive things more than in these last 7 days.
- I lay down on a bed and didn’t realize that I was pointing my feet toward the Laxmi shine, so I had to apologize to her.
- Suresh opened my journal and started reading it and I snatched it away from him (because his name is written in it a few hundred times), and I sat on it. But books are considered gods, so I had to bless the book.
- I turned down chai… I know!!! Stupidstupidstupid, but I was in an emotional mood and I just couldn’t handle being put through the wringer of no brother/not married again.
- I was called out on talking while I ate, but I think it was because everyone is annoyed with not being able to understand me (Newsflash: I cannot understand you either.)
- I went to the rat temple in Bikaner (rats. everywhere. no shoes.) and freaked out, but had to be reminded that they worship these creatures.
and
- I don’t think anyone noticed, but I did laundry and put my underwear outside to to dry.
Jaipur tomorrow! Face-to-face with native English speakers! Gosh, I haven’t experienced that in over a month…
