So I am nearing my last week in Pune before taking off for my grand vacation with evie! Yes I know it probably seems ludicrous to all of you that I am taking a vacation, but after you spend two months in Pune then you will understand how much I am looking forward to it. As I wind up my stay here, I started thinking about all the things that I noticed when I got here - things i thought were weird, or interesting or funny - things that I now don't notice so much. I thought Id share some of them before I lose that perspective entirely.
The dump.
Down the street from the insitute is a large toyota dealer. All fancy like. Directly across the street from the toyota dealer is the dump. A large dumpster with garbage flowing all around it. The dump has become a regular part of my day. It is a reference point for most everything "yea, it is just past the dump, then take a left...".
We buy our vegetables at the dump. Yes, we go shopping at the dump. The veggie wallah (guy selling veggies from a cart) parks at the dump every day all day. At first i thought it crazy that he would set up shop in front of the stinking pile of overheaping garbage. I also thought it entertaining that it was right across from the fancy toyota dealer. And that every day there is a family of pigs, a goat, and sometimes a cow and donkey that hang out at the dump eating the garbage and occassionally crossing the street. Then one day we stopped to buy veggies there because it was convenient. And now he's our guy.
The sweeping.
I wake in the morning to the sound of sweeping. It starts at 5am. The stick brooms are everywhere. Really everywhere. They are in use by everyone who seems to be sweeping at all times. They are for sale at every shop, and they are for sale by guys riding around on their bikes hollering something (i presume something like 'brooms for sale!). Pune is like the city that always sweeps. The sweeping is not contained to houses or patios or shops. They sweep the gravel, they sweep the dirt path, they sweep the street. I am not exadgerating - I have seen people sweeping gravel multiple times. The constant sound of sweeping used to grate on my nerves, and i couldnt help my brain sometimes from internally shouting 'why are you sweeping DIRT?!'. I still dont fully understand, and dont expect to, but suspect it has something to do with all the bare feet.
The cows and sheep.
They are everywhere. There is one flock of sheep that the sheep guy brings to the lot next to my flat (also a place for garbage) to graze. There is one cow that lives on the sidewalk by my phone shop (where I bought my phone and where i recharge at intervals and amounts that continue to astound the friendly phone shop guys). I am finally no longer startled by this cow. Imagine walking down the street and almost stepping on a large supine cow. Now I expect the cow. There is also a neighborhood cow who has an injured leg so is easy to spot as he takes leisurely strolls up and down the streets and backalleys of our hood. Goats and pigs too, but the cows and sheep are the most prevalent. Well, besides the dogs.
The beds.
You know those beds you can buy that cost a bundle and are so special because you can lie in the bed and a large human can jump into the bed and it wont even jostle one bit? Well India has perfected (or perhaps invented) this idea. The beds are so firm that I set my cup of chai on the bed with nothing under it. Then i proceed to sit down, get up, do whatever, and do not at all need to worry about the tea spilling. It is like magic. Fortunately I prefer firm beds. My peers here are constantly whining...
Business hours.
It took me way too long to figure out that most stores are closed between the hours of 1 and 4pm. Now it all makes sense. But for the first month I just could not pick up on the pattern. Or perhaps refused to believe it. Also took me way too long to realize that the frequent power outages had a pattern too. And that they are planned andthe times are actually posted in the paper!
Oh man there are way too many of these. I will have to come back later to tell you about addresses and directions and bhindis and standing in lines and much more I am sure!
