5 new things Ive learned about myself - Random observations

When you put yourself into novel situation sometimes you begin to see yourself from...crap, this is to obtuse, let me begin again and say it plainly.  I find that each time I change my surroundings and put myself into completely foreign situations I get a new glimpse at what kind of person I am.  I become more aware of my inconsistencies and sometimes realize solidification of personal thoughts or philosophies on life.

Random people wanting their photo taken

1. I am not a photogenic person.  I rarely take good photos - and therefore hate being in front of the camera.  (OK hate is too strong of a word - dislike??)... I have noticed more and more here I will avoid cameras though I will not exactly run away either just cuz I think thats a little too silly. I notice this because random people will ask me to take their photo.  They do not know me, they do not know English, they do not ask for anything beyond looking at the display after their photos have been taken.  I do not often want my photo taken.  Thus the lack of me in pictures (as Cori observed from my Picasa album). If I happen to be in a photo - because I know I do not have a good smile nor a good "face" I will purposefully mess with the photo (see examples below).  My obvious favorites are to open my mouth as wide as it can be or stick out my tongue - WTH?  why do I do this?  If I thought I didn't take good photos before - this is not helping my case.  However, it does make for some entertaining pictures.

Unsuspecting Bibk

Seriously I am going to swallow his brain, maybe I can learn to unhinge my jaw like a snake...Ill work on it.

Needs work

 2. I am a late bloomer in many ways.  It took me for ever to come into my own style for feminine clothing - much to the chagrin of my mother.  I hated wearing skirts growing up - now I really like them, but only if they are knee length or longer and not frumpy.  Makeup and adornments were not that big of a deal to me and still aren't really, but here for instance eyeliner is something that is treated differently.  Its subtle, but the considerations about wearing it is different...different expectations.  There is this eye stuff the girls all wear here that is beautiful - and I can't recall the name (I am very bad at this) and at first I thought Divya was putting lipstick on her eyes - cuz thats what it looks like.  But it is this charcoal type stuff that you can get only in certain places like temples or something...eeh its not that great of a story cuz I don't know all the details. Regardless, I have taken to wearing eye liner of some sort and am trying this liquid stuff that Divya uses (even though she uses it for her Bindi and not her eyes).  I do not yet have the hang of liquid eye-liner and this stuff makes you look like a crack whore when you cry.  Lets just say you were cutting onions (for the many pork parties you have) tearing up is dangerous.

3. I really really really appreciate people who keep time.  I have lived and worked on native time in Alaska - but for some reason it really bothers me here.  When people say I will have it for you at X time or come meet me at X time or I will be there at X time...I fully expect them to be there/have it etc.  I think my expectations are higher because in AK this occurred when I was in the field or in a village...here it doesn't matter if you are in a village or at the embassy waiting for your 1pm appointment and finally getting in around 6pm.  Yeah - this doesn't EVER happen here.  I am also finding that I am slipping into this awful habit myself....and I am disturbed at this.

Chittu my big brother

Divya me Roshni

4. People in the US do not touch often enough.  (excuse me come again?)  There is something about a friendly gesture of holding hands or a hug or an arm draped over your shoulder that makes
me feel comforted.  Its strange - in my life in the past the people who pop out the most of "invading" my personal space are Harmony and Melody.  Maybe its because India is so crowded in the first place that you can't have a personal bubble?? Maybe its because there really isn't much to the concept of "Privacy"?  I realize how much I enjoy these subtle gestures.  I know that when I return to the US, I will have these different mannerisms that i have picked up here...like the ambiguous head nod that means Yes/No/As you wish/or I am indifferent.  Its a fine art in interpreting this gesture.  I also will occasionally ask a question with my hands - this twist of the wrist thing to say "what? what's it? where you going? what you doing?".....I am sure there are others.  Nonetheless, I will most likely be invading peoples personal space so be forewarned. One side note that is unrelated but not is I haven't picked up is the accent.  I can not yet mimic Apu - I seem to be in capable of pronouncing my Hindi correctly (according to Divya) so have extreme difficulty with the accent.  Unlike my Irish or Scottish or Australian or British accents...Dang it!

Sal

TP and Chetan

5. In Alaska I realized how much I like board games (roboralley rules!).  Particularly playing with others that are just as enthusiastic about the games as you are.  Sometimes people will play - but they don't LOVE it like you do, and the dedication is therefore lacking.  Here, I have come to realize how much I enjoy when people bust out into song.  I have no idea if this is common among all Indians or just the groups I seem to get attached to...but sitting in someones room, someone will start singing and others will join in.  It is a very pleasant feeling.  I don't care if they sound good or not - I can't sing and will only join in when my voice is drowned out by others.