So I grew up in a small town - corn fields in the middle of town, farm fields surrounding town, school getting canceled because it was too cold for the rural kids to stand outside and wait for the bus. Everyone and I mean everyone knew me, or at least it felt like it. I went to the school with the same people since from kindergarten through twelfth grade, I played sports, my parents heard about events at school before I got home from practice, there was never more than two degrees separating me from knowing the person I was talking to. But I can't imagine the two events that occurred this past week happening after only living there for two months.
First on Sunday, I wanted to get a few onions and tomatoes for cooking. So on my way home from walking around on Sunday I stopped at the cart (I'll explain fresh fruit and vegetable shopping another time) and used sign language and fragmented English to get five small red onions and two tomatoes. However, I only had a 500 Rupee note with me. The guy standing behind the cart took one look at the note, laughed a little, shook his head, and said "Next time." He then handed me the bag of onions and tomatoes. This is the first time I have bought, talked, nodded, or really even looked at him or his cart and I'm walking away with the food I wanted to get with a promise to pay him next time. Shocked to say the least.
Then, yesterday I was walking home from the office and I hear a car behind me honk. No big deal, I'm used to car horns, I don't even flinch anymore. It's like the white noise of Los Angeles traffic. Except this time the car is slowing down and we're not near a house or another street. Now I'm a little more aware. Inside the car, a woman leans over and offers me a ride - "I'm your neighbor." Okay ... don't ask me why, but I got in the car for the last two blocks to the house. I passed up a ride on the back of some guy's motorcycle on the way to work (I'm pretty sure it's the second time he has offered), but I just hopped into her car. I met Fareen. She has great English and lives just across the street from me.
So, in the span of three days, I walked away with onions and tomatoes after my first attempt to purchase them and was randomly offered a ride by my neighbor who I don't remember ever seeing. All of a sudden the town is pretty small. I may not recognize anyone, but everyone sure knows me. Sometimes it pays to be the only foreigner among 450,000 people.
First on Sunday, I wanted to get a few onions and tomatoes for cooking. So on my way home from walking around on Sunday I stopped at the cart (I'll explain fresh fruit and vegetable shopping another time) and used sign language and fragmented English to get five small red onions and two tomatoes. However, I only had a 500 Rupee note with me. The guy standing behind the cart took one look at the note, laughed a little, shook his head, and said "Next time." He then handed me the bag of onions and tomatoes. This is the first time I have bought, talked, nodded, or really even looked at him or his cart and I'm walking away with the food I wanted to get with a promise to pay him next time. Shocked to say the least.
Then, yesterday I was walking home from the office and I hear a car behind me honk. No big deal, I'm used to car horns, I don't even flinch anymore. It's like the white noise of Los Angeles traffic. Except this time the car is slowing down and we're not near a house or another street. Now I'm a little more aware. Inside the car, a woman leans over and offers me a ride - "I'm your neighbor." Okay ... don't ask me why, but I got in the car for the last two blocks to the house. I passed up a ride on the back of some guy's motorcycle on the way to work (I'm pretty sure it's the second time he has offered), but I just hopped into her car. I met Fareen. She has great English and lives just across the street from me.
So, in the span of three days, I walked away with onions and tomatoes after my first attempt to purchase them and was randomly offered a ride by my neighbor who I don't remember ever seeing. All of a sudden the town is pretty small. I may not recognize anyone, but everyone sure knows me. Sometimes it pays to be the only foreigner among 450,000 people.
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