How Is My Life Different Today?

How is my life different today than it was one birthday ago?

--I never drink water from a faucet. Any faucet, anywhere.

--My body is more familiar with 37 degrees Celsius than 37 degrees Fahrenheit. (37C = 98F). I am in a perpetual state of Sticky and Sweaty.

--Instead of worrying about whether my pipes will freeze, I worry about whether my air conditioner will make it through another hot, sticky night.

--I don’t wear shorts outside of my house, and I wish I could.

--I am stared at wherever I go.

--Dosai have replaced donuts as my staple food. (A dosai is a crepe-like rice pancake; see picture above.)

--I’m keeping tabs on the election in Sri Lanka more than the election in U.S. (I've been planning a weekend trip to Sri Lanka, but I was warned that things get volatile around election time).

--I jingle when I walk. (Hey! I said jingle, not jiggle! As in, a sound made by the anklets and bangles that I now wear....)

--I wake up each morning at 5 am to the “call for prayers” chanting from the mosque down the street.

--I don’t watch TV. I don’t miss it much. (Well except for Survivor. If Survivor was on here, I’d buy a TV just for that.)

--In addition to no TV, I do without a microwave, oven, stereo, washer, or dryer.

--I have no hot water in my kitchen, and it doesn’t seem to make much difference.

--I haven’t been behind the wheel of a car in 3 months.

--I walk along the beach 3 or 4 times a week. My house frequently has sand in it.

--I chat more with my sisters, now that I’ve convinced them that they should give Yahoo Messenger a try.

--I chase lizards with a broom. (Sorry Sheila; I mean, I escort them out of my house with a broom!)

--Half the time, I have no idea what people around me are saying. The other half of the time, they are speaking English, but I still have no idea what they are saying!

--I walk around barefoot a lot.

--I am never bored, rarely homesick, occasionally disgusted, frequently fascinated, and usually, content.

Comments

[Trina]

Happy Birthday!!! Sounds like you are right at home there now. I can't believe it has been 3 months, and I can't believe you have found a substitute for your beloved Dunkin Donuts!!! They may go out of business now!!

[Chuck Lundeen]

Basia, I read every one of your blogs and continue to find them absolutely fascinating. Your vivid writing makes me feel as if I'm in India with you!

We miss you at ImageOut. You may have heard that Rachael is leaving us. She's taken a job as Executive Director of the Seattle LG Film Fest. We're all thrilled for her. It's also forcing ImageOut to learn how to cope with life without Rachael, which is very good for our organization.

Happy Birthday!

Chuck

[Donna K]

Can you do a life inventory list for me? This is another thing you could sell and market: A yearly "taking- stock -of -life questionaire" I see it in linked to one of your cards. And the cards are marketed for different ages. I am very serious about this. I am tellling you copyright it now. You can give me credit in a footnote.

[Sister Gosia]

Now you know why I always threatened to "just retire to India" HAPPY BIRTHDAY IN THE MOST SPLENDID SETTING FOR YOU, MOTHER INDIA HAS EMBRACED YOU!

[Dale B.]

Happy Birthday, Basia!

Sounds like your new world is different but rich in all sorts of neat ways. What fun!

I wonder what it is like to jingle with every movement. I bet the constant feedback leads to smoother motions, perhaps even with a heightened sense of femininity. Yes?

No further mention of motorcycles. Hmmm.....the silence is ominous. Knowing you, the warnings probably sent you right out to buy one. (But I hope not)

Gee, I wonder where in the world you will be on your next birthday...

Dale

[Shannon]

Hi Basia,
I just got home from Washington, D.C.We drove and the farther north we got, the prettier the flowers got. I thought of you on your birthday- hope it was a nice one-- even after all these years- I remembered the day!