Bits of Home in Delhi

For the most part (from what I have seen thus far), India is almost nothing like America. We are all about convenience and individualism and processed foods and the ability to have what we need (ahem, want?) instantly available at our fingertips. As fast-paced as India still is, it's different. It isn't designed on the assumption that people have cars and can drive distances to get whatever they need, so each neighborhood has at least a few little shops (for example, Neeti Bagh has a 24hr ATM, a chemist , a pet shop/hospital, and a couple assorted grocery-type stores). Family is hugely important and many people live with or near extended family members and life is lived together. You can get fresh fruits and vegetables off of carts at almost every corner (though, we unfortunately, are advised not to eat them if we can't peel it ourself, for sanitation reasons). And Indians make do with what they have. Power goes off at least once a day in Delhi (yesterday 3 times) and in more rural areas they sometimes always shut it off at a particular time, for example: some places have a system that all power stops at 8pm for the night. Water, also, runs out sometimes. They do their best. Unfamiliarity is one of the best words to sum up the trip thus far.

BUT little pieces of home pop up here, too, and sometimes in the most unlikely places. For example, some of us went to the Defence Colony Market this morning and one of the things I needed to do was buy new headphones (my week-old ones are broken...a Kelly Prak spaz moment ). As I was waiting for the electronics man to finish business with the woman in front of me, his cell phone went off. He answered it quickly, but not before Leila and I had excitedly turned to one another in shock. His ringtone had been the first few words of the chorus of Taylor Swift's "Love Story." Unmistakeable. It was like a little hug from the world I know :)

We then went to lunch at a delicious restaurant called Chilli Seasonss, offering a mixture of Indian Chinese, Thai, and Burmese food. We were eating a little earlier than most Indians eat lunch, so when the music turned on, they apparently had chosen it just for us. The best way to describe the station or mix or whatever they had on was American Chill Soul music. The first song they played? "Walking in Memphis". Hello home! Even the people in the group who don't particularly care for the song were thrilled that it was on. And each song just made us love it more and more. I hadn't realized how much I have been missing being able to hear music I recognize and sing along (either out loud or in my head) - no wonder everything's been so challenging...I haven't had my release of singing!

All in all, home has been waving at me today, bringing me such joy with every unexpected bit :)