A shot while one of my favorite cricket bat wallas (whose sir name happens to be Batwalla) made his cricket bats...this is one of his sons.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Photo of the day
Whew! It's been a long time since I put a post on this site! Sorry about the delay. South Asia has a crazy rule...no cameras in hospitals. Since I am usually out and about all day, I had to plan for the no camera rule...and not take my camera anywhere because I have been at the hospital each day visiting my friend's dad. (What is the logic behind that rule???) Only slightly frustrating. Anyway, here's the much anticipated photo of the day...In this photo, I took some developed pictures back to a slum area and got to spread a little joy by handing out the photos to the communinity.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Why South Asia Isn't an International Superpower yet...
Most of the time, I don't miss America...but when I do, it's the little things I miss. Like being able to get all of my errands done in one day...I will not miss the time it takes to get EVERYTHING accompished here. Yesterday was no exception. I needed to deposit money into someone's account to pay for something to be printed. Simple right??? First of all, in America, I would pay with a debit or credit card...but here, in many cases, you can't use a credit card unless you have a South Asian credit card. You can't get a South Asian credit card unless you are a citizen. You can't be a citizen unless you are a citizen by blood....sounds like a catch 22??? It is.
So I went to the bank...from here it should be easy right??? You go to the bank, fill out a deposit form, hand over the money...done. Not so here...
I was told the name of the bank, C bank. So, I looked up the one closest to my house. I told an auto walla to take me to the C bank near a specific charasta. The driver took me to that charasta and we started to ask for C bank. We were directed to "Premier" C bank. So I went inside. Everyone turned and looked at me...no one asked what I needed or greeted me. So, I went to the first man. He didn't even attempt to help me. He just pointed me to the next man. So I went to the next man.
"I need ot make a deposit into this account, " and I handed the man a printed email with account information. The first man came over and looked over the second man's shoulder and read the email. They discussed for a minute. Then they handed the email back (only after reading the ENTIRE email, not just the account information) and said, "You should proabably go to the first desk in there" and pointed to a second room.
So I went into the second room. There is no one at the first desk...or any desk for that matter...I finally found one man behind one counter. So I handed him the paper and said, "I need to make a deposit into this account." He looked at the email (once again reading the entire email!) before he said I should talk to the manager.
Oh, the manager has gone home without letting anyone know? Too bad. So talk to that guy (pointing to the second guy I met). Oh, you already did??? Hm...then take a seat.
So I sat down. Then, the 2nd guy comes back and asked for the email. He took the paper and started reading the ENTIRE email again. I finally said, "Excuse me, sir, you only need the account information at the top of the email...so why do you need to read my email that is none of your business???"
He looked at me. "What exactly do you want?"
"I want to deposit money into this account. Put money into this account. Pay money into this account."
"So you want to put money into this account?" "Yes."
"You can't do that here."
"So where can you do that?"
"At the charasta C bank."
"This is the charasta C bank."
"The other one."
"Where is the other one?"
"Just there," and he pointed to the left.
"Where is just there??? Give me a landmark or directions or something."
He gave me directions and I took my email and left...
And then I walked to the other bank. I walked up the stairs and a guard stopped me. "Excuse me, ma'am? Are you looking for C bank?" "Yes." "It is here." and he pointed to the door plainly marked C bank...thank you, Captain Obvious.
Then I entered the bank. The first man I see, I pounce on and say, "I need to make a deposit into this account," and I handed him the email. He took teh email (once again reading the entire email!) Then he shrugged his shoulders and handed the email to a man sitting behind a desk. He also purused my email and said, "What exactly do you want?"
"To put money into this account, deposit money, make a payment,.."
"Oh, ok...hm..We need you to come back at 9 am in the morning." "Why?" "Because we only take money from 9 to 2:30." "So why are you open now, after 6???" Oh, South Asia...
I laughed, took my email and left....
This morning, I went back to the bank. I walked in a grabbed a pink piece of paper that said deposit slip. So, I filled it out and put the customer no. that the man gave me to put on the form. I stand in line at the counter marked, "cash deposit." (sounds logical, right)
Except that the man at the counter kept calling token numbers and ignoring me. So, being the logical person I am, I decided I should get a token. So, I got in another line where the tokens were. The man asked me what I needed. I handed him the deposit form and said, "I need to make a deposit into this account." He asked me, "dont' you have the entire number???" So, I handed him the email with the account information.
"Oh, you need to get a yellow deposit into a savings account form and fill it out. Don't put the customer number, put this other crazy number that he gave you. (ok, so maybe that wasn't actually a direct quote)."
So, I filled out the form and tried to give him the money. He said, "You have to go to the cash deposit line (yes, the one I have already been in)" I paused, waiting for a token...but was not given one. So I went back to the line and this time, he magically took my money and my deposit form and gave me a reciept...it only took me a period of 2 1/2 hours over 2 days to get it accomplished....
And that is why South Asia isn't an international superpower yet....at least in my opinion. But I still love South Asia...
So I went to the bank...from here it should be easy right??? You go to the bank, fill out a deposit form, hand over the money...done. Not so here...
I was told the name of the bank, C bank. So, I looked up the one closest to my house. I told an auto walla to take me to the C bank near a specific charasta. The driver took me to that charasta and we started to ask for C bank. We were directed to "Premier" C bank. So I went inside. Everyone turned and looked at me...no one asked what I needed or greeted me. So, I went to the first man. He didn't even attempt to help me. He just pointed me to the next man. So I went to the next man.
"I need ot make a deposit into this account, " and I handed the man a printed email with account information. The first man came over and looked over the second man's shoulder and read the email. They discussed for a minute. Then they handed the email back (only after reading the ENTIRE email, not just the account information) and said, "You should proabably go to the first desk in there" and pointed to a second room.
So I went into the second room. There is no one at the first desk...or any desk for that matter...I finally found one man behind one counter. So I handed him the paper and said, "I need to make a deposit into this account." He looked at the email (once again reading the entire email!) before he said I should talk to the manager.
Oh, the manager has gone home without letting anyone know? Too bad. So talk to that guy (pointing to the second guy I met). Oh, you already did??? Hm...then take a seat.
So I sat down. Then, the 2nd guy comes back and asked for the email. He took the paper and started reading the ENTIRE email again. I finally said, "Excuse me, sir, you only need the account information at the top of the email...so why do you need to read my email that is none of your business???"
He looked at me. "What exactly do you want?"
"I want to deposit money into this account. Put money into this account. Pay money into this account."
"So you want to put money into this account?" "Yes."
"You can't do that here."
"So where can you do that?"
"At the charasta C bank."
"This is the charasta C bank."
"The other one."
"Where is the other one?"
"Just there," and he pointed to the left.
"Where is just there??? Give me a landmark or directions or something."
He gave me directions and I took my email and left...
And then I walked to the other bank. I walked up the stairs and a guard stopped me. "Excuse me, ma'am? Are you looking for C bank?" "Yes." "It is here." and he pointed to the door plainly marked C bank...thank you, Captain Obvious.
Then I entered the bank. The first man I see, I pounce on and say, "I need to make a deposit into this account," and I handed him the email. He took teh email (once again reading the entire email!) Then he shrugged his shoulders and handed the email to a man sitting behind a desk. He also purused my email and said, "What exactly do you want?"
"To put money into this account, deposit money, make a payment,.."
"Oh, ok...hm..We need you to come back at 9 am in the morning." "Why?" "Because we only take money from 9 to 2:30." "So why are you open now, after 6???" Oh, South Asia...
I laughed, took my email and left....
This morning, I went back to the bank. I walked in a grabbed a pink piece of paper that said deposit slip. So, I filled it out and put the customer no. that the man gave me to put on the form. I stand in line at the counter marked, "cash deposit." (sounds logical, right)
Except that the man at the counter kept calling token numbers and ignoring me. So, being the logical person I am, I decided I should get a token. So, I got in another line where the tokens were. The man asked me what I needed. I handed him the deposit form and said, "I need to make a deposit into this account." He asked me, "dont' you have the entire number???" So, I handed him the email with the account information.
"Oh, you need to get a yellow deposit into a savings account form and fill it out. Don't put the customer number, put this other crazy number that he gave you. (ok, so maybe that wasn't actually a direct quote)."
So, I filled out the form and tried to give him the money. He said, "You have to go to the cash deposit line (yes, the one I have already been in)" I paused, waiting for a token...but was not given one. So I went back to the line and this time, he magically took my money and my deposit form and gave me a reciept...it only took me a period of 2 1/2 hours over 2 days to get it accomplished....
And that is why South Asia isn't an international superpower yet....at least in my opinion. But I still love South Asia...
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Story of the day
Today, there is no photo of the day...sorry, I've spent all day either at the hospital (my friend's dad had part of his foot amputated) or waiting for a locksmith...and that brings me to today's story. Last night, we arrived home late...around 11 pm (Which for my area of South Asia, is really late). When we arrived home, Kimberly put her key in teh lock and turned it....and nothing happened. We put my key in the lock...nothing happened. We got the watchmen for our flat...they tried...nothing happened. Bernard came over and tried again...even using oil...nothing happened. Basically, the wood of our door had swollen so much because of the monsoon that the lock had jammed. Great...what are we going to do at 12 (because it was 12 by this time)??? We called some friends. No one answered. Kimberly's cell phone died... We finally got a hold of a family who let us come crash on their couches...
The next morning, we woke up and went back to the door, hoping that by some miracle, it had decided to shrink and let us in. No such luck. So, we went to our manager who told us to wait for the next manager...the next manager showed up. He didn't believe our door was jammed (yeah, apparently we just aren't smart enough to open a door....) so he tried...nothing happened. So he went to get a locksmith...
Now in America, you call the locksmith and he gives you a time to come...not so in South Asia. Here, you go find a key walla on the side of the room and ask him to come to your house....then he walks or bicycles or whatever mode of transportation he can find to your house. Then, he carries his little bag of tools up the stairs and finds you, who has been waiting for him for 2 hours, sitting on the stair well...oh, and for those of you who are wondering, the lock walla will come whenever he feels like it...so you can't leave because you might miss him when he comes.
When he arrived, he picked up a pair of plyers out of his bag, puts the key in the keyhole and bangs the key with the plyers... and finally, vwalla...the door opens. :)
Thanks monsoon for the swollen door which lead to hours of sitting...at least I had a good book with me.
The next morning, we woke up and went back to the door, hoping that by some miracle, it had decided to shrink and let us in. No such luck. So, we went to our manager who told us to wait for the next manager...the next manager showed up. He didn't believe our door was jammed (yeah, apparently we just aren't smart enough to open a door....) so he tried...nothing happened. So he went to get a locksmith...
Now in America, you call the locksmith and he gives you a time to come...not so in South Asia. Here, you go find a key walla on the side of the room and ask him to come to your house....then he walks or bicycles or whatever mode of transportation he can find to your house. Then, he carries his little bag of tools up the stairs and finds you, who has been waiting for him for 2 hours, sitting on the stair well...oh, and for those of you who are wondering, the lock walla will come whenever he feels like it...so you can't leave because you might miss him when he comes.
When he arrived, he picked up a pair of plyers out of his bag, puts the key in the keyhole and bangs the key with the plyers... and finally, vwalla...the door opens. :)
Thanks monsoon for the swollen door which lead to hours of sitting...at least I had a good book with me.
Monday, September 13, 2010
9-13-2010 photo of the day
Today, we went to slum that we go to regularly...but this day, they wanted to feed us... so we shared a wonderful meal with them...here's a couple of pics from the meal..one is a pic of a little boy peeking in to watch us eat...the other is food they served us....broken up corn roti (flat bread) covered with daal (beans) and kichudi (a veggie soup with buttermilk base)...might sound weird to the american pallate, but it was great!
Photo of the day 9-12-2010
The day after Eid, I ventured into the old city, where the majority of muslims live. Because they had just celebrated Eid, most people were in their best clothes. This precious little girl was wearing her best...and her grandfather was proud to show her off...
Sunday, September 12, 2010
9-11-2010 photos of the day
Once again, a lot of pictures...this is the first day of the ganesh festival...people from all over teh city came to this street to buy their idols...
Photo of the day 9-10-2010
This is preparation for ganesh chaturti, a 10 day festival where people bring in a ganesh idol into their homes, do a special pooja for 10 days, and then, on the final day, they will march the ganesh idols to the river and drop them in. Ganesh chaturti started on September 11. These pictures were taken on September 10, at the area of town where they make and sell ganesh idols.
Photo of the day 9-9-2010
I can't take credit for this beautiful picture...a 9 year old Indian girl took it... I let her hold my camera and she just clicked away...South Asia's next biggest photographer...
photo of the day 9-8-2010
Here's the pic of one of my good friend's sisters...i just happened to capture this pic...got lucky with the light and her facial expression...magic.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
9-7-2010 Photo of the day
This precious child was named Mampta. She asked me to take her picture...I gladly obliged...:)
9-6-2010 photo of the day
This picture is so South Asian to me...dupatta tied into a ghost scarf, mehendi on the hand, and even the flap of the autorickshaw in the background...
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Some days feel so surreal...
Some days feel so surreal...like it should be a scene out of a movie, not real life. Take today for instance. We (2 Americans and 2 South Asians) went to a slum where they make idols. We sat with about 3 people from the slum. Suddenly, a man appeared who makes, plays, and sells bamboo flutes. He starts playing... sitting next to me is a 10 ft Ganesh statue. A man begins cleaning the idol with a toothbrush looking item...a little boy cried...it was just surreal...with the pulsating south asian music, the 10 ft idol, the cleaning, the tears...everything... I could just imagine the cinematography...
Photo of the day 9-4-2010
Precious people...How can you look at these people and not think beautiful???
Thursday, September 2, 2010
What's cool?
So I realized something the other day....
All the cool, "rebel" things are commonplace in South Asia....
Boys on motorcycles??? Even the grandpas drive motorcycles...
Men with piereced ears??? So, even the old farmers do that.
Tatoos??? Everyone's got them....and because they are written in hindi, they are much cooler looking than the ones that say "I heart my mom" on them.
So, does America in some ways want to copy South Asia???? How did that become cool in America but commonplace here?
All the cool, "rebel" things are commonplace in South Asia....
Boys on motorcycles??? Even the grandpas drive motorcycles...
Men with piereced ears??? So, even the old farmers do that.
Tatoos??? Everyone's got them....and because they are written in hindi, they are much cooler looking than the ones that say "I heart my mom" on them.
So, does America in some ways want to copy South Asia???? How did that become cool in America but commonplace here?
Americans, we are blessed...
There are so many times here that I realize how blessed I am to be an American. I come from a middle class family in America...but let me tell you, compared to teh world, I am rich. I am reminded of that over and over again...
That time you buy a camera and everyone gawks at it...and you realize you are embarrased when someone asks you how much it costs...because that is more than months of wages to them.
When you drop off three or four new shirts (that you don't REALLY need) at the tailor, only to hear one of your best friends tell her mother the next day that, yes her clothes are falling apart, but she will get new clothes when she gets the money to buy the new cloth (which is the equivalent of $2-3).
When you realize you are embarrased to buy a chicken nugget meal at mcdonalds because all of your friends can't fathom spending $3 on a meal that you will eat all by yourself..
When your friends are all in awe of your house because who in their right mind spends more money so that each person can have their own room?
These are just a few examples...Americans, remember you are blessed...
That time you buy a camera and everyone gawks at it...and you realize you are embarrased when someone asks you how much it costs...because that is more than months of wages to them.
When you drop off three or four new shirts (that you don't REALLY need) at the tailor, only to hear one of your best friends tell her mother the next day that, yes her clothes are falling apart, but she will get new clothes when she gets the money to buy the new cloth (which is the equivalent of $2-3).
When you realize you are embarrased to buy a chicken nugget meal at mcdonalds because all of your friends can't fathom spending $3 on a meal that you will eat all by yourself..
When your friends are all in awe of your house because who in their right mind spends more money so that each person can have their own room?
These are just a few examples...Americans, remember you are blessed...
Photo of the day 9-2-2010
Here is the face of yet another beautiful beggar. And, I wanted to throw in a picture of a man giving food to the beggars. Today, my heart was really sad when I watched him throw granola bars at these beggars like he would throw treats to dogs...all because it was the birthday of Krishna and they get a blessing if they feed poor people on this day...
Photo of the day 9-1-2010
Can't believe September is already here!!! (and the monsoon hasn't left yet).... Here's the beautiful part of the monsoon...great clouds.
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