Differences 3
21-BYOB
Doesn’t mean bring your own beer or beverage. Rather bring your own bag. This is a real sign from a restaurant we ate at.
Most beds here are covered with a flat sheet used like a fitted sheet and tucked tight under the mattress. A fitted sheet is hard to come by. Instead a blanket, varying in thickness depending upon the time of year, is used for the top bedding. There aren’t comforters or bedding. To make your bed, one would just fold the blanket and put it away. For this reason, fitted sheets are very colorful because that’s what people see. We have seen ones with dancers, bold colors, plant life, and geometric shapes. These blue star ones were the most normal ones we could find for the boys’ beds.
22-Accidents/insurance
All cars are required to carry insurance, yet insurance works differently here. Most accidents, unless there is physical harm or severe damage done, end up being the responsibility of the car owner to fix. It takes the involvement of the police, months of waiting, and multiple visits before a judge to have someone else pay to fix your car even if they caused the accident. So usually the owner has their insurance fix their car. We have been hit 4 times already in the 8 weeks we have had a car. None of them were our fault and no one has paid to fix them. The first time the motorcycle just drove off. The second time the man stopped, told us he would pay to fix it, gave us his contact information but never answered. The third time a motorcycle took a chunk out of our tire and kept driving. Just this week we were hit for the fourth time. Someone hit our back bumper again. They stopped, looked at their car, yelled at us, saw Dennis get out of our car, and they hopped back in their car and drove off. Simple things that we think should be fixed on a new car, we’ve been told by the dealership are minor damage and not to worry about. It’s a brand new car!!!
23-Hurry up to wait
The motorcycles here take their size to their advantage. They weave and zoom between any space that’s available. Sometimes even driving where they shouldn’t. Like down the sidewalks in this photo. If the road doesn’t have room for them, they take to the curb. At stoplights, they maneuver to the front of the line and wait out in the intersection. Funny thing is that no one is ever on time. They are in a hurry but I’m not sure where to. Never to where we need someone. Just wait until you read Dennis’ take on driving with videos.
34-No plastic
The state we live in, Tamil Nadu, is fighting plastic waste. In order to reduce it, items are banned such as plastic straws, grocery bags, and containers. I haven’t seen plastic wrap or bags for sale at the stores. So I’ve resorted to washing plastic bags and reusing them.
25-Tools
We’ve previously shared about the difference in brooms. There is also a difference in other tools. This is a standard shovel in India. It’s shaped this way to make scooping and dumping in a pan easier.
26-Pickles
Unlike the traditional American pickle which is made from a cucumber soaked in a dill or sweet brine, India pickles can be made from various fruits and vegetables. They are coated in a combination of spices. In America, we add pickles to dishes to provide a sour flavor. My kids love to eat pickles plain. Here you often rub your bread against them to get the sour and spicy flavor and then scoop your food up to eat with it. We have tried some pickles made from lemons and mango. My kids learned they are very good; just don’t eat one plain.
27-Carrying items
People here still manually move items. Whether that means carrying pots and bowls on their heads or pushing large loads on a trailer.
28- the size of bugs
Bees, moths, ants, hornet, and beetles are all large here. This beetle was four inches long. The hornet in the picture was outside our window. You can see it’s stinger behind the thick metal bar.
29-dogs
There are lots of stray dogs here. People do have pet dogs but there is a stray dog problem. They lay in the street and wander around town. They often hang in packs and lately we’ve seen several new pups.
30-farm animals
People keep their farm animals in town instead of fields. We have seen cows, goats and horses on the streets of the city. The cows usually have their heads tethered to their legs preventing them from running off. You must watch for crossing animals as they are often unattended.
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