Japan
mumbai
bengaluru
USA
Tanaka San
My India, My country We have a short rainy season(June – July) in addition to the four regular seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter. This helped in accustoming myself to the long rainy season in Mumbai. In recent years we have had extremely hot summers in Japan - probably due to effect of global warming which has helped me survive the heat India. My Favourite Indian As I waited in line to board an aircraft at the Mumbai airport, the sliding door of a van that had pulled up opened and there was Mr. Amitabh Bachchan- with the aura of a superstar. I knew him because I see him everyday on TV, in magazines and on posters around town. How could I not name him here after such amazing experience? My Indian Cuisine As a beer drinker, I’d say the dish that goes best with it is tandoori murg! I eat tandoori murg as soon as I reach India everytime. My Indian friends keep telling me that there are a lot more Indian foods which are tasty. I don’t deny it, but my favorite still is tandoori murg. It is the best. My India Insight There are too many things in India which puzzle me, surprise me, annoy me and please me. Once I have settled in here, I will enjoy the cultural differences more. My Tip to India I am confused or, to be blunt, I dislike seeing Indians talk on their mobile phone up until the very last minute before an aircraft is to take-off, or to see them switch it on immediately upon touch-down at the airport. It seems almost like an addiction. At least while on the aircraft, relax!
Matt and Jen Weimann (In photo: Rachel, Erica, Michael and David) My India, My Country Similarity – There is a lot of horn honking in Boston! Dissimilarity – In India, drivers don’t seem to get as mad over bad drivers as the US drivers My Favorite Indian Mother Teresa was an amazing woman because she lived the majority of her life helping the sick, poor and destitute. We also admire Anna Hazare for his courage in standing up to corruption. My Indian Cuisine Matt and I are a bit more adventurous than the children; however, we all liked masala dosa! We look forward to trying a lot more Indian food during our stay in Bengaluru. My India Insight I love the kindness of the Indians. They are so quick to flash a friendly smile! I dislike the trash on the roadsides. Maybe our family could start a weekly trash pick-up club?! How about something like “TrashTime Tuesdays”. My Tip to India Americans like to be punctual, so if you give us a meeting time, try to be there on time.
culturama | october 2011
27