Just a few awesome things from yesterday. Yesterday afternoon, we were part of a birthday celebration, and we were served cake on sheets of brailled paper instead of paper towels or paper plates. The second really awesome thing was seeing our teaching pay off. We observed some of the O&M students teaching their students, and they did such an amazing job. It was really fantastic.
This morning and afternoon, Lauren and I went shopping. We started out at this place called Mother Earth, not too far from the hotel. We found some really great things there. I (big surprise) found some great children's books in English and other native languages. They were beautifully illustrated, but they only cost 75-200 rupees. That's $1.50 to $4. At home, I'd be okay paying $8-12 for the same thing at home. We wandered more through the store and then spent forever playing with all the beautiful pillow covers. Here, they sell the covers without the inserts, so that makes it even easier for us to get them home. I bought several beautiful covers, and I just LOVE them. No one bothered us, so we spent a lot of time just enjoying ourselves making matches.
After some shopping, we headed to MG Road, the touristy part of town. We found a McDonald's and had that adventure. It was completely and absolutely packed. In the two story place, we could only find a table that we had to share with two other people. There was no beef on the menu - only chicken and various veggie concoctions. Still, we just adored our chicken nuggets, fries, and cokes for 150ish rupees ($3). The meal was nice and bland, but the honey mustard sauce was spicy, because well, this IS India.
After that, our lovely day got a little less lovely. Being in a tourist area, we had to contend with all the beggars and pushy street vendors who shove their wares in your face. You can say no and nod your head all day long, but they creepily follow you, saying "Madam, Madam." At first, the beggars pull at my heart, because they don't always say anything and just hold out their hands, and maybe they have a half-naked baby with them, but when they touch me, it sets off the crazy in me. It just gets to be more than I can handle. On a different note, the sales people in these tourist shops are super pushy. I can't really explain it, but they won't just let you browse. They follow you around the store, and they want to show you things you don't really want. You can't just sit back and think about what to buy because some sales person is breathing down your neck.
After a while of that, we got tired of the crowds and the pushy people, and we decided to head home. We did buy some cool things, and tomorrow, we are planning on doing a bit more shopping and a pile of homework. Until then.
This morning and afternoon, Lauren and I went shopping. We started out at this place called Mother Earth, not too far from the hotel. We found some really great things there. I (big surprise) found some great children's books in English and other native languages. They were beautifully illustrated, but they only cost 75-200 rupees. That's $1.50 to $4. At home, I'd be okay paying $8-12 for the same thing at home. We wandered more through the store and then spent forever playing with all the beautiful pillow covers. Here, they sell the covers without the inserts, so that makes it even easier for us to get them home. I bought several beautiful covers, and I just LOVE them. No one bothered us, so we spent a lot of time just enjoying ourselves making matches.
After some shopping, we headed to MG Road, the touristy part of town. We found a McDonald's and had that adventure. It was completely and absolutely packed. In the two story place, we could only find a table that we had to share with two other people. There was no beef on the menu - only chicken and various veggie concoctions. Still, we just adored our chicken nuggets, fries, and cokes for 150ish rupees ($3). The meal was nice and bland, but the honey mustard sauce was spicy, because well, this IS India.
After that, our lovely day got a little less lovely. Being in a tourist area, we had to contend with all the beggars and pushy street vendors who shove their wares in your face. You can say no and nod your head all day long, but they creepily follow you, saying "Madam, Madam." At first, the beggars pull at my heart, because they don't always say anything and just hold out their hands, and maybe they have a half-naked baby with them, but when they touch me, it sets off the crazy in me. It just gets to be more than I can handle. On a different note, the sales people in these tourist shops are super pushy. I can't really explain it, but they won't just let you browse. They follow you around the store, and they want to show you things you don't really want. You can't just sit back and think about what to buy because some sales person is breathing down your neck.
After a while of that, we got tired of the crowds and the pushy people, and we decided to head home. We did buy some cool things, and tomorrow, we are planning on doing a bit more shopping and a pile of homework. Until then.
Birthday cake served on braille paper--I will never look at my trashed braille assignments the same way! Can't wait to see your wares from India! Give my x0x0x to Lauren, Mickey & Family. When you get back, I am taking you out for a steak!! x0x0x
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