I Try

Still working a lot and not much to report there. But I have other things I can discuss about India…like more stories about eating.

I would not describe myself as a picky eater. Sure, I don’t like olives (much to the chagrin of the Casazza family), but that is really the only food I can’t tolerate. I really love all kinds of food and also the social aspect of it, going out to dinner with friends and enjoying a nice piece of meat and a glass of wine. India has really taught me a LOT about food.

My eating experiences have been unusual, to say the least. First, breakfast, which I will demonstrate with a few graphics. For breakfast every day I make an egg sandwich and have a little banana usually. For the past 3 weeks, I have been using a flat skillet that is curved like this ) so the top is arched, just slightly. So for the past 3 weeks, my egg will either slide all the way to one side of the pan like so:
),, or, it will slide to one side, and I will unsuccessfully try to slide it evenly to the other side, but instead it goes everywhere and my sandwich is horribly flat like this ). Did you ever think when you make eggs in the morning how lucky you are to have a decent fry pan!! I have found however a new skillet that is flat, but deeper, so now the egg stays put but I can’t flip it, instead it kind of just rolls to one side and then the other and cooks. But I have three more weeks to figure that out. Also, I make toast. To make toast, you have one of two choices. You can A) stand at the toaster and hold the lever down, because it will not stay down, and literally watch your bread toast for 3-5 minutes, or B) stick a spoon between the lever and toaster so that the lever stays down, at which point you are free to go, but chances are 4 in 5 times, you’ve burnt your toast by the time you’ve come back to remove the spoon. So far I’ve only burnt mine one day this week. Kathryn seems to not be as lucky. I also recently got some cereal and “slim milk” (yes, slim milk) but have been taking it as snack after work. Maybe if I want to have a less adventurous breakfast, I will have it then too.

Next is lunch. Except, I don’t take lunch in India. (“Take” is something I’ve acquired while being here!) I eat breakfast around 1pm and then sometimes will have a samosa (veg pastry puff) around 6 or a granola bar. And candy of course because there is always candy here. But I don’t eat again until dinner at 8 or 9. So I am pretty much starving for a good 2 hours before I go to dinner. For dinner, we eat a lot of pizza hut which is good – I stick to veg. Other times in the cafeteria I will get a cheese sandwich and fruit plate (total cost - $1). Sometimes also biryani (rice). I know my poor mom is distraught that at this point I have not mentioned any vegetables (sorry mom, I get my biggest intake of vegetables from the veg pizza!)

Monday night I wanted to try some Szechuan noodles that I saw other Americans eating. And I love noodles and am sick of rice. “They will be a bit spicy mam,” my cashier told me. “It’s ok, I like spicy,” I replied. I took my ticket to noodle man and presented it. He shook his head. “Too spicy for you,” he said. “Too spicy?” I said indignantly. No one tells me what I can and can’t eat at 25 years old. “Can I try them?” He looked at me and shrugged his shoulders, as if to say, “stupid American, don’t say I didn’t warn you.” “I can’t believe that, too spicy. I like spicy!” I thought. I sat down and took a bite. Mmm…noodles…spicy…yes…very spicy, but good. Bite #2. A little more spicy. Bite #3. Now time for some juice. And maybe some of Kathryn’s fruit too. Cooled off now, for bites 4, 5, 6 and 7. hmm no….too hot again. Need juice need juice! Lips starting to tingle. But noodles are so good…2 more bites and I am sweating. 1 more and my eyes are watering. And after 10 bites, I’m done trying to eat noodles in India. I had to swallow my pride (and several tums, later) and get a cheese sandwich. My stomach hurt all night from just those few bites. One of my colleagues told me that when I return to the U.S., I will find the food too bland. Maybe so, but that sounded good to me on Monday!