Indian style

So the train ride presents a further adventure. The adventure that comes with dealing with my first real Indian food and toilet experience. The fact that I had to build up the courage to enter the bathroom is what makes me laugh. There seems to be a theme of a strange build up of expectations with regards to many experiences in making me more nervous than I need to be.


On the train they passed out bottled water, then tea, then a meal The meal was crazy. I did not get the same thing as my seat partner. She got 2 fried croquet things with random veggise and french fries cooked in them with 2 slices of white bread. I too got the white bread, but also I get this tray with what looks to be a fried donut and some white croquet looking rice patty thing but its not rice. I get a tray with curry and then one more tray with this white goo. Reminds me of gravy you pour over biscuits that has been refrigerated so has the movement of jelly. I eat the bread and tentatively taste the curry soup and donut. They do not taste as expect. I open the bottled water and pour a small dixi cup. I am 1/2 way through the cup when the paranoia hits - CRAP! can I even drink bottled water...thats OK right? Shoot - can I eat the curry, it looks more water based than coconut milk based. It was hot right? I saw steam?? I can't remember. I am now terrified to go to the bathroom. My stomach rumbles from the psychological terror I am putting it through.

I am watching the people head to the bathroom quite intensely (it is OK to stare in India - not rude unless you are a woman staring at a group of men, then you are asking for "IT"). I am trying to see if there is a trend to the 2 stalls....like a man and woman's or something. I am building up the courage waiting for the right moment to get into line. Finally I do taking my purse with my stash of toilet paper and get in line. I notice above the door the labels "Indian Style" and "Western Style". Phew - something I recognize, I will not fall in yet...but Holly crap! What if I get the Indian Style?? Oh well...guess I will just find out. Fortunately or unfortunately, my turn results in the western style bathroom. This means a tall toilet that still empties directly onto the tracks. But there is TP! There is also a cup with water, but I am weak and use the TP.

Feeling rather proud of myself for handling the bathroom the first time (which is silly I know), I do not prepare, I do not pay attention and I do not grab my purse. I just get up and head to the bathroom....you guessed it...Indian Style is open. Not wanting to look silly or picky I go in. I wish I had my camera - maybe some other day. It is a metal urinal with high rise foot places and a hole. Now that I come to think of it I think I was facing the wrong way. I still don't know how the cup with water is supposed to work. I tried splashing and pretty much just splashed the wall instead of myself. So, I would say failed attempt #1.

I have however, used the hand sanitizer thingie more in the past 2 days than I have used in the past 6 months. Maybe I am to prissy and I am sure that this will fade as my standards change and adapt.