For some reason, I feel the need to compare things. I think this is a natural human tendency and can be good when trying to better understand new surroundings. It certainly helps when describing things to people back home. For example, our trip to Mysore reminded me a little bit of going to Duluth from Minneapolis. A good day or weekend trip and both around a 3 hour drive. Or another example, the Mall we live near by (UB City) is somewhat like the Galleria of Bangalore (X10) or the Mall of America of Bangalore (if it were made completely of Marble).
Last night Lori and I went to the ever so popular bi-annual 'Flower Show' in Lal Bagh Park, located in the south central part of the city (it's kind of like the Minnehaha Falls of Bangalore :). The park is a nice get away from the crazy city life and has beautiful greenery and a small lake. The Flower Show definitely felt as if it was the 'MN State Fair' of Bangalore. There were thousands of people, vast amounts of great food and several vendors selling everything from toys, to gardening tools, to home made crafts, to 'Herbal Cockroach Vanishior'. It ran the gamut. Crowds of people pushed their way around to see the beautiful displays of flowers and take family photos at every angle. I honestly can say I was not very excited to see flowers on a Saturday night, however this was by far and away the most creative floral display I've ever seen. See the Budda surrounded by flowers, flower water fall and bulls eye red / white flowers (they love Target, even in Bangalore!) in the photos below.
Where this comparison game becomes dangerous is when you look things through the lenses of 'good' and 'bad'. This can be very easy to do and does not prove to be productive or positive for most situations. For example, we had the internet installed last week. I have always complained about the 1 day or 1/2 day installation time window provided by companies back home. Well, we landed on a set day and time last Saturday, they didn't show up. Ok, rescheduled to Monday - no go. Ok lets try Tuesday - nope. Wednesday was scheduled (after many empty threats made on several phone calls to the local internet company management!) and our 9:30 appointment promptly arrived at 10:30 (again after many intense phone calls). So here is the fun part. I filled out the paperwork with the paperwork guy (person #1), then the wire guy showed up to hook up wires (person #2), then the wireless guy showed up with a box (person #3), then the network guy showed up to hook everything up outside (person #4), the network guy had some issues so he called a back up network guy (person #5) and voila we have 2MBPS internet set up. That was an easy 6 and 1/2 hour process, now wasn't it? Ok, so here I did compare and when we get home, I will welcome that one day or better yet 1/2 a day window, for the one person to arrive and set up my internet!
One thing I have tried to do, inside and outside of work, is take in these differences and view them as just that, different. Not good, not bad - but different. It can be easier said than done, but so important to support the learning process in a new culture or environment and seeing new way of doing things. More importantly it can help to not become frustrated with a situation, rather learn from it. In and outside of work I have learned to understand many differences and appreciate things that I had taken for granted back in the US. This has helped me see that there are more than one way to do things, some more productive than others, however faster does not always = good. I look forward to continuing to learn about the many, many, many differences of the US and India. And as mentioned in this post, it will be much easier to compare good vs. bad, however I will work hard to look at the 'just different' and learn, share, change, influence and adapt from there.
Last night Lori and I went to the ever so popular bi-annual 'Flower Show' in Lal Bagh Park, located in the south central part of the city (it's kind of like the Minnehaha Falls of Bangalore :). The park is a nice get away from the crazy city life and has beautiful greenery and a small lake. The Flower Show definitely felt as if it was the 'MN State Fair' of Bangalore. There were thousands of people, vast amounts of great food and several vendors selling everything from toys, to gardening tools, to home made crafts, to 'Herbal Cockroach Vanishior'. It ran the gamut. Crowds of people pushed their way around to see the beautiful displays of flowers and take family photos at every angle. I honestly can say I was not very excited to see flowers on a Saturday night, however this was by far and away the most creative floral display I've ever seen. See the Budda surrounded by flowers, flower water fall and bulls eye red / white flowers (they love Target, even in Bangalore!) in the photos below.
Where this comparison game becomes dangerous is when you look things through the lenses of 'good' and 'bad'. This can be very easy to do and does not prove to be productive or positive for most situations. For example, we had the internet installed last week. I have always complained about the 1 day or 1/2 day installation time window provided by companies back home. Well, we landed on a set day and time last Saturday, they didn't show up. Ok, rescheduled to Monday - no go. Ok lets try Tuesday - nope. Wednesday was scheduled (after many empty threats made on several phone calls to the local internet company management!) and our 9:30 appointment promptly arrived at 10:30 (again after many intense phone calls). So here is the fun part. I filled out the paperwork with the paperwork guy (person #1), then the wire guy showed up to hook up wires (person #2), then the wireless guy showed up with a box (person #3), then the network guy showed up to hook everything up outside (person #4), the network guy had some issues so he called a back up network guy (person #5) and voila we have 2MBPS internet set up. That was an easy 6 and 1/2 hour process, now wasn't it? Ok, so here I did compare and when we get home, I will welcome that one day or better yet 1/2 a day window, for the one person to arrive and set up my internet!
One thing I have tried to do, inside and outside of work, is take in these differences and view them as just that, different. Not good, not bad - but different. It can be easier said than done, but so important to support the learning process in a new culture or environment and seeing new way of doing things. More importantly it can help to not become frustrated with a situation, rather learn from it. In and outside of work I have learned to understand many differences and appreciate things that I had taken for granted back in the US. This has helped me see that there are more than one way to do things, some more productive than others, however faster does not always = good. I look forward to continuing to learn about the many, many, many differences of the US and India. And as mentioned in this post, it will be much easier to compare good vs. bad, however I will work hard to look at the 'just different' and learn, share, change, influence and adapt from there.
Wow, the flowers are amazing!
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely human to compare. I am comparing the weather (among other things) in Austin to Minneapolis daily, and that's given that I'm still in the same country.
I think as much we can tend to focus on differences, ultimately we discover that (once we strip away complications like internet) we are still more similar than different in our existence as humans.
Have a great week! Namaste!
How true it is .... different ways, just different. When people are a real resource (and lots of them), having 6 people to do the job of 1, well, creates jobs and little specializations, but at the cost of efficiency. Buying school supplies in central america required dealing with 3 people at the bookstore. 3 people to buy a simple notebook! But, that employs more people, and makes for more people use for society.
ReplyDeleteThank you for having such good attitude and approach to India. Its definitely a "choice" to embrace India, but if you can, it'll change your life. As you mentioned, you cant change India but India will change you. Glad you are making a positive impact:)
ReplyDeleteTracy Murphy (former India expat)
I just caught up on reading your blog posts. I love the writing style! The flowers are stunning and the people beautiful. It's kind of like...last week in my step-aerobic class when the instructor looked out at our group and shouted, "look at all the beautiful people!" She is from Malta and has a lovely sing-songy accent which made her declaration of our exercise class being beautiful all the more charming.
ReplyDelete