So now I'm into the real day to day and there's no other way around it but to just be honest. It's hard to live here. I don't know if others that have gone before me have done better than me but I am definitely at the stage of fight in my culture shock experience. Although I've lived overseas before, I'm pretty sure nothing could have really prepared for me the type of every day chaos, frustrations, lack of comforts, and disappointments that I face on a daily basis. I truly don't want this to come across as a giant complaint, because there have been good parts with some wonderful people along the way, but in order to understand the process, I feel I need to share the good, bad and the ugly.
Like for example, the simplest of things that just happened as I tried to write...one slight touch of the cord and I can't get the plug to stay in the wall so that I can keep my computer charged. Not really a big deal but when you encounter these types of small hassles each day on a regular basis, they begin to add up.
My day usually begins with me crawling to the bathroom half asleep, in order to shock my body into waking up with a cold shower. Sometimes there is water, other times there is not. There are few times the water is totally gone but I have definitely learned how to master the 5 minute trickle shower. I then get dressed in my parachute pants and long churidar shirt (in which I have 5 choices that get recycled every week) and barely bother with a brush of mascara, a pair of earrings and figuring out which way I'm pulling my hair up that day. Doing my hair here would be a complete waste of time with the humidity and the amount of regular sweating...waiting impatiently for it to grow out more so that I have a few more options!
I then go downstairs and depending on the time of morning in which I have to leave, I make myself a simple breakfast of maybe an egg and piece of toast and fruit. On the days when I get to leave a little later, (Thurs and Fri) my sweet host mother makes me something for breakfast, usually a more typical Indian fare with curry, some sort of bread like "apum" or "dosha" or a tortilla-like bread called "chapatti" and she will typically make me an egg since she knows I love them. Then I head back upstairs and finish the last minute preparations for school, load my bag, a light layer of lipstick, brush my teeth and feel the sweat begin to bead on my forehead. I leave my house shoes at the door, put on my sandals (which at this point are all brown, no matter what color they started as) and either walk to catch the shuttle van or I walk to find an auto rickshaw (just called an auto here). If I take the shuttle, (Mon and Wed) then I ride in a nice air conditioned van almost 2 hours to one campus, over bumpy streets filled with cars, bikes, motor bikes, buses, autos and people milling around. Unfortunately this road is very curvy and there are a ton of sudden stops, therefore, I usually end up getting carsick. We get out of the van around 9:00 to have breakfast (despite the fact that my first class begins at 9) and each day I am treated to dosha with curry and a small hot coffee. (if I'm not too sick)
I usually ride with a group of 2 to 3 others, which are all doctors at the eye hospital or instructors at the school. One doctor has a knack for asking me the most interesting questions and I'm always impressed at his ability to never run out of things to say. I try my best to stay engaged although most everyone knows that mornings are not my happy time! But I like him and we have good conversations. Everyone else pretty much zones out, listening to music, sleeping etc. When we arrive at school, there so many people to greet along the way to my office. I'm trying to learn some names but it's just so many people that I don't spend any genuine time with...so it's a struggle. But I smile and say good morning and head upstairs. I usually have about 3-4 one hour classes to teach and in between I talk with other staff, chat with students in the hallway, prepare lessons or read a book. It depends on if the internet happens to be working. If it is, then I try to get something productive done. There's no wifi at the school and I use an internet stick that plugs into the USB drive and most of the time it works. But it has to be recharged and I never know when it might run out of juice.
Because all of the computers that are used in the classrooms have malware and viruses, here are the steps in which I have to take to complete my classes each day. I first do my lesson on my own computer (using powerpoint), then I email them to my boss's email account. When I get to school, I open the email, save them to a folder on the desktop and then transfer them to a flashdrive that I only use for work purposes and then can head to class. After each class, I've acquired a virus so I take it back to the main computer, wipe the flashdrive clean by emptying all of the documents, then re-save them from the folder on the desktop and then head to the next class. It can be infuriating. I have asked each class to please make sure the computer and projector are ready prior to me coming into the room so that we can start right away..but this has yet to happen in two weeks. For the most part, I really enjoy the students and they comprehend almost every thing I say. They have had many English lessons but lack confidence in speaking. However, the classrooms are stifling and there are always odors of various sorts. I was very sensitive at first and still struggle but can tell that it's getting a little better each day. I feel like I drink water all day, however, never have to go to the bathroom. I'm constantly dehydrated from the heat and the large quantities of salt that compose of Indian diets. But I'm more or less grateful for that, since going to the bathroom is an unpleasant experience which I'll have to cover in another story.
There's never a set time when the shuttle will take me back to Calicut and there have been times I thought I would lose my mind waiting on doctors to finish. We've left as late as 7 at night. And on the way, there are typically stops that must be made at the mosque for them to pray. The only saving grace is that usually Thurs and Friday are shorter days for me.
When I stay in Calicut, I never know how long it might take to track down an auto to bring me to work. I have so little control over anything. I eat when other people say it's time to eat, I teach when people tell me it's time to teach, and I hope for the best that a driver will take me to my destination. Sometimes, they pretend they know what I've said and then stop and ask other drivers along the way, sometimes they will take me part of the way but not all of the way, sometimes they will overcharge me for the fare because I'm a westerner and sometimes they will flat out refuse to drive me. But overall, I would say that most auto drivers are helpful and kind. They try to speak English and I've heard that they are way more honest here than most northern cities. For that, I am grateful.
Often I fight the ants out of my belongings and everything must be kept in airtight containers or else, you're screwed and the mosquitoes love to eat my ankles and attack my face (usually the only parts of my body that shows), and I wake up every day at 5:30 or 6 to the sound of birds squawking outside my window...like the loudest birds you've ever heard! (My friends have even heard them when we've skyped!) I feel super accomplished when I can get one thing done on my own, like go the store or successfully navigate a place by auto and have to constantly remind myself that it will get easier and that I am here for a purpose. I pray for those I encounter and constantly ask God for help in relinquishing my comforts and any control I think I might have. I hope that I'm cut out for this and I do worry about failing. I know there have been mistakes I've made and probably have offended many, but I'm trying my very best. After a rough week last week, God completely provided a piece of heaven when my friend and I found a place to get a pedicure. It was wonderful and couldn't believe how much it boosted my morale. We joked to each other that we would have paid the 600 rupees just to lie down in the comfortable chair in the A/C. Forget the pedicure...we were perfectly content with those two things. But we were given above and beyond, with a 20 minute massage, clean feet, cute toes and kind women that made us feel so pampered.
One thing that has also been hard is the lack of being able to exercise. I mean, don't get me wrong, I sweat each hour, but I really wish I could go out for a walk somewhere and just blend in, breathe some fresh air and not feel so cooped up all the time. But God also provided an outlet that I've occasionally been able to utilize. My friend takes her kids to the pool every day after school and there is a time for ladies only swimming (which means I can get away with my western style bathing suit) and swimming laps feels soooo nice! I can't go regularly because I'm often still at work, but as is the culture here, plans change day by day, sometimes hour by hour and sometimes I have a chance to join them. I'm sure you are tired of reading by now but it is cathartic for me to write down all that happens on a daily basis. Prayers for continual adjustment are appreciated and I hope that all is well in your lives. I'm incredibly thankful for the ways to keep in touch with those at home and it helps so much! Persevere! Character building! Determination! You've got this! My daily little pep talks :) Until next time
Like for example, the simplest of things that just happened as I tried to write...one slight touch of the cord and I can't get the plug to stay in the wall so that I can keep my computer charged. Not really a big deal but when you encounter these types of small hassles each day on a regular basis, they begin to add up.
My day usually begins with me crawling to the bathroom half asleep, in order to shock my body into waking up with a cold shower. Sometimes there is water, other times there is not. There are few times the water is totally gone but I have definitely learned how to master the 5 minute trickle shower. I then get dressed in my parachute pants and long churidar shirt (in which I have 5 choices that get recycled every week) and barely bother with a brush of mascara, a pair of earrings and figuring out which way I'm pulling my hair up that day. Doing my hair here would be a complete waste of time with the humidity and the amount of regular sweating...waiting impatiently for it to grow out more so that I have a few more options!
I then go downstairs and depending on the time of morning in which I have to leave, I make myself a simple breakfast of maybe an egg and piece of toast and fruit. On the days when I get to leave a little later, (Thurs and Fri) my sweet host mother makes me something for breakfast, usually a more typical Indian fare with curry, some sort of bread like "apum" or "dosha" or a tortilla-like bread called "chapatti" and she will typically make me an egg since she knows I love them. Then I head back upstairs and finish the last minute preparations for school, load my bag, a light layer of lipstick, brush my teeth and feel the sweat begin to bead on my forehead. I leave my house shoes at the door, put on my sandals (which at this point are all brown, no matter what color they started as) and either walk to catch the shuttle van or I walk to find an auto rickshaw (just called an auto here). If I take the shuttle, (Mon and Wed) then I ride in a nice air conditioned van almost 2 hours to one campus, over bumpy streets filled with cars, bikes, motor bikes, buses, autos and people milling around. Unfortunately this road is very curvy and there are a ton of sudden stops, therefore, I usually end up getting carsick. We get out of the van around 9:00 to have breakfast (despite the fact that my first class begins at 9) and each day I am treated to dosha with curry and a small hot coffee. (if I'm not too sick)
I usually ride with a group of 2 to 3 others, which are all doctors at the eye hospital or instructors at the school. One doctor has a knack for asking me the most interesting questions and I'm always impressed at his ability to never run out of things to say. I try my best to stay engaged although most everyone knows that mornings are not my happy time! But I like him and we have good conversations. Everyone else pretty much zones out, listening to music, sleeping etc. When we arrive at school, there so many people to greet along the way to my office. I'm trying to learn some names but it's just so many people that I don't spend any genuine time with...so it's a struggle. But I smile and say good morning and head upstairs. I usually have about 3-4 one hour classes to teach and in between I talk with other staff, chat with students in the hallway, prepare lessons or read a book. It depends on if the internet happens to be working. If it is, then I try to get something productive done. There's no wifi at the school and I use an internet stick that plugs into the USB drive and most of the time it works. But it has to be recharged and I never know when it might run out of juice.
Because all of the computers that are used in the classrooms have malware and viruses, here are the steps in which I have to take to complete my classes each day. I first do my lesson on my own computer (using powerpoint), then I email them to my boss's email account. When I get to school, I open the email, save them to a folder on the desktop and then transfer them to a flashdrive that I only use for work purposes and then can head to class. After each class, I've acquired a virus so I take it back to the main computer, wipe the flashdrive clean by emptying all of the documents, then re-save them from the folder on the desktop and then head to the next class. It can be infuriating. I have asked each class to please make sure the computer and projector are ready prior to me coming into the room so that we can start right away..but this has yet to happen in two weeks. For the most part, I really enjoy the students and they comprehend almost every thing I say. They have had many English lessons but lack confidence in speaking. However, the classrooms are stifling and there are always odors of various sorts. I was very sensitive at first and still struggle but can tell that it's getting a little better each day. I feel like I drink water all day, however, never have to go to the bathroom. I'm constantly dehydrated from the heat and the large quantities of salt that compose of Indian diets. But I'm more or less grateful for that, since going to the bathroom is an unpleasant experience which I'll have to cover in another story.
There's never a set time when the shuttle will take me back to Calicut and there have been times I thought I would lose my mind waiting on doctors to finish. We've left as late as 7 at night. And on the way, there are typically stops that must be made at the mosque for them to pray. The only saving grace is that usually Thurs and Friday are shorter days for me.
When I stay in Calicut, I never know how long it might take to track down an auto to bring me to work. I have so little control over anything. I eat when other people say it's time to eat, I teach when people tell me it's time to teach, and I hope for the best that a driver will take me to my destination. Sometimes, they pretend they know what I've said and then stop and ask other drivers along the way, sometimes they will take me part of the way but not all of the way, sometimes they will overcharge me for the fare because I'm a westerner and sometimes they will flat out refuse to drive me. But overall, I would say that most auto drivers are helpful and kind. They try to speak English and I've heard that they are way more honest here than most northern cities. For that, I am grateful.
Often I fight the ants out of my belongings and everything must be kept in airtight containers or else, you're screwed and the mosquitoes love to eat my ankles and attack my face (usually the only parts of my body that shows), and I wake up every day at 5:30 or 6 to the sound of birds squawking outside my window...like the loudest birds you've ever heard! (My friends have even heard them when we've skyped!) I feel super accomplished when I can get one thing done on my own, like go the store or successfully navigate a place by auto and have to constantly remind myself that it will get easier and that I am here for a purpose. I pray for those I encounter and constantly ask God for help in relinquishing my comforts and any control I think I might have. I hope that I'm cut out for this and I do worry about failing. I know there have been mistakes I've made and probably have offended many, but I'm trying my very best. After a rough week last week, God completely provided a piece of heaven when my friend and I found a place to get a pedicure. It was wonderful and couldn't believe how much it boosted my morale. We joked to each other that we would have paid the 600 rupees just to lie down in the comfortable chair in the A/C. Forget the pedicure...we were perfectly content with those two things. But we were given above and beyond, with a 20 minute massage, clean feet, cute toes and kind women that made us feel so pampered.
One thing that has also been hard is the lack of being able to exercise. I mean, don't get me wrong, I sweat each hour, but I really wish I could go out for a walk somewhere and just blend in, breathe some fresh air and not feel so cooped up all the time. But God also provided an outlet that I've occasionally been able to utilize. My friend takes her kids to the pool every day after school and there is a time for ladies only swimming (which means I can get away with my western style bathing suit) and swimming laps feels soooo nice! I can't go regularly because I'm often still at work, but as is the culture here, plans change day by day, sometimes hour by hour and sometimes I have a chance to join them. I'm sure you are tired of reading by now but it is cathartic for me to write down all that happens on a daily basis. Prayers for continual adjustment are appreciated and I hope that all is well in your lives. I'm incredibly thankful for the ways to keep in touch with those at home and it helps so much! Persevere! Character building! Determination! You've got this! My daily little pep talks :) Until next time
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