06.03.07

Unless You Become Like a Little Child…

Posted in India at 12:42

I’ve had to become a little child.  In America, we only use the implements God gave us for eating: Fork, knife, spoon, napkin, and occasionally chopsticks.  Since coming to India, I’ve had to learn the ins and outs of a new eating utensil: my fingers.  It’s not always easy figuring out which hand to use for which course.  I mean you never touch your food with your left hand, but sometimes it’s OK to drink with it, or hold a dish you are eating from. And for the inexperienced, lifting wet, messy food into your mouth with four fingers without dropping some into your napkinless lap is not easy!  So I’m the messy, clumsy one at the table.

And like a child, I’m constantly trying to watch people’s facial expressions and gestures and mimic them at appropriate times.  So far, I’ve gotten nodding down (sort of).  And smiling is universal.  So I mostly smile and nod like an idiot a lot.

And I’m learning my ABC’s.  There are 234 instead of 26.  Some little girls giggled and ran out of the room when their grandfather made the sounds for me.  I couldn’t help but smile as I realised how ridiculous I must look.

I’m having to learn how to cross the street.  There aren’t many crosswalks so everyone jay walks.  Crossing the street is like throwing yourself at a moving car and missing.  *Obscure literary reference.*

So yeah.  That’s my story about acting four years younger than my shoe size.

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