Traveler's Log: Days 4-6

The past few days have been eventful to say the least. I have experienced riding the Metro--which in my opinion is a much better experience than riding the Boston T, just saying-- going to a restaurant, going to a mall, and going to a food store. As you can probably imagine, all of these experiences were drastically different than my experiences in the United States. It was quite an interesting feeling to have trouble in these places. I imagine this trouble is very similar to what a person from India experiences when they move to the United States.

One of my biggest intentions when coming here was to go to places I typically go to in the United States and experience things I normally do back home and see how they differ. As someone who enjoys to go shopping and likes to go out to eat on occasion, visiting a mall and going out to eat here were near the top of my to-do list. I still have a lot I would like to experience, but the over the past couple of days, I have been to two malls and two restaurants.

I have to say, the malls in India seem very familiar...or at least initially. Shopping seems to be as popular of a hobby--if not, more so-- than it is in the United States. Both malls I went to were packed with people, and of course, I evidently stood out which doesn't really bother me anymore. It's just something I have to accept; such is it for a foreigner who comes to the United States, I suppose.

Anyway, one particular moment while shopping really stood out to me. It was annoyingly challenging to say the least and made me feel out of place. I wanted to buy a pair of shoes that were more comfortable than the ones I wore here. So I went into a store that sold apparel and found a pretty decent pair of black slip-ons for 1,500 Rupees (basically 21 Dollars). After discovering I am a size 43 in European sizes, I went to the register to purchase them.

It felt like a fairly normal experience, something I've done hundreds of times in the U.S. However, the challenge came once I made it to the register. I walked up to the cashier and greeted him as I normally do. The problem was I didn't understand his response. In fact, I barely understood anything he said, nor do I think he could understand what I was saying. Fortunately, my friend's uncle, who was close by, noticed what was going on and quickly came to my aid. It was both somewhat frustrating and embarrassing that I needed help buying shoes.

My experience when I went out to eat was pretty much the same. I had a difficult time understanding what was going on and, even more so, what was being brought to the table. Once again, my friend's uncle had to help me out. It felt almost like I was a child having my parents order food for me. Even so, in both instances, the help was necessary and I'm glad that I had someone who was there for me both times.

So what did I learn from these experiences? A few things. First, when you are in an unfamiliar country, whether it is India, the United States, or anywhere else, you need to be accepting and appreciative of any help you get. I know if I had insisted on making the purchase on my own or ordering my own food it would have been frustrating and stressful for both me and the other person. There's no shame in accepting help, and quite honestly, that's how most relationships/friendships begin. It doesn't matter if you're traveling abroad, studying at a foreign university, or even in your hometown, a lot of relationships begin when one person helps another.

The second lesson I learned has to do with the first one. While initially when in a new country understanding the language and dialect may be difficult, the one form of language that is universal is smiling. I think since I've been in India I have smiled more than I typically do back home. Truthfully. That is because, while most people are probably unfamiliar with my accent, my smile means the exact same thing as anyone else's. Also, the more visibly happy you seem, the more other people will want to help you. 

The third lesson I learned has to do with understanding different dialects. When I arrived in India last week I could barely understand anything anyone said. When I initially spoke with my friend's uncle I had a difficult time understanding any complete sentence, but now, six days later, I can understand almost everything. Here's the key to understanding different dialects: be an intent listener. This may seem fairly obvious, but the more you listen to people talk-- and I mean really listen-- the more you start to understand what is being said. Also, be patient. It can be frustrating trying to communicate with someone who doesn't understand you, but trust me the more calm you are the better. 

Have you had any experiences similar to mine? If so, reach out to us at leavelupproficiency@gmail.com or message use on Facebook.