Sometimes you get lucky and you happen to flag down that special auto with speakers installed in the back and blue neon lights lining the ceiling. When my driver began to blare 'Gangnam Style' in the middle of his random Bollywood mix the other day I decided to start filming! It's a bumpy ride...Enjoy!
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Gone Running
You never know exactly what you are in for when you head over to the track. Some evening there are tons of women doing laps in Sari’s and sneakers, other nights its mostly men smoking pipes. Sometimes there are a million kids that want to do a lap with you, and other times you almost get run over by motorcycles. Just depends on the day I guess. We definitely stand out as ‘Runners,’ not to mention ‘American Runners...’ Here are a few of my favorite interactions.
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| One side of the track |
The gang:
About 10 children have watched me do 10 laps at this point. Every time I pass them they cheer and say ‘Hi! Hi madam!’. Finally I get to my final lap and the kids have decided that they will join in.
Kids: One round madam? One round?
Me: Um, ok!? (What the heck is a round?...O, ok, one lap...)
The kids start to run with me, barefoot, I might add. We all laugh our way through half a lap and then..
Me: Ok, ready?
Kids: Yes, yes!
Me: Ok, go! (I start to sprint)
One boy keeps up for awhile and then we slow down and left everyone catch up. We are almost back where we started and then...
Kids: Madam, Speed! Speed Madam!
I have created a monster. They all start to sprint again and leave me in the dust.
Chubby Boy on a Bike:
Boy (Riding up beside me on his bike): “Excuse me, ma’am”
Me (Startled, taking my headphones out): “Hi”
Boy: “Hi, How are you?”
Me: “I’m fine, How are you?”
Boy: “Fine. Jogging?”Me: “Yes... What is your age?” (Ask, ‘How old are you’ and they stare at you like you are crazy!)
Boy: “13.”
Me. “Oh, wow”
Boy: “Ok, bye!”
Me: “....bye!”
***5 minutes later
Boy: “Excuse me, ma’am”
Me (again, startled, taking my headphones out): “Hi! yes?”
Boy: “Jogging have very nice habbit”
Me: (wiggling my head in agreement) “Yes, very nice. Thank you. Bye”
Boy: “Bye!” (Turns around and rides away)
“I love Americans”
Two girls came up to me one day one on each side, trapping me in with their bikes...doesn’t really startle me anymore.
Girl 1: “Hello!”
Me: “Hi, how are you?”
Girl 1: “Fine! What is your name?”
Me: “Courtney, and yours?”
Girls 1: (I have no idea...some names you don’t even try to pronounce)
Me: Oh, good. You go to English Medium School?”
Girl 1: “Yes, Madam! I am 10 years. Girl, red shirt, American?”
Me: “Yes, that is my friend.”
Girl 1: “Oh! Your friend? What her name?”
Me: “Andrea”
Girl 1: “Oh...can we talk to her?”
Me: “Sure! Just go up and say, Hi Andrea!”
Girl 2: “We love Americans”
Me: “Oh yea? Why?”
Girl 2: “They have such white color skin...”
Me: “......”
Girl 1: “You come back tomorrow?”
Me: “No, next day”
Girl 1: “Saturday, ok, we come jog with you”
Me: “Ok then, bye!”
Girls: Bye! (giggling.....)
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| Notice the flip flops and bare feet... |
**Two days later I ran into the same girls again. They followed me all the way home..literally to my doorstep. They said they would walk me home the next time I came also...so thats fun!
I often get children who simply shout “America!!” When I turn around they just wave..
It’s getting hotter every day, so I’m not sure how much longer we will be able to actually run outside, but I’m loving it while it lasts!
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