The Bike
As most of you know, I bought a bicycle to make getting around easier. It's been a mixed blessing of sorts.
When I was young, I spent hours riding my bike and performing great circus acts on my two-wheeler. My poor mom had to stand in the yard and applaud as I rode back and forth in the street doing things like riding without hands, without hands and feet, and so on. Now that I am no longer young, I am still riding a bike, and I am lucky to stay on the thing. I have a bike in Blowing Rock, but riding here is a bit different. Here, the bike is in the mix of every other kind of transport and it is quite tricky getting down the lane without hitting anything or anybody (walkers, dogs, and cows). But with practice, some old tricks are coming back into my memory bank. I can now get on and off without looking too klutzy. My feet do not touch the ground, only the very tip of my toes, so I had to relearn how to get on scooter style and stop the same way. I can now hug the shoulder while motorcyles and cars zip by me. I can avoid potholes and sometimes speed bumps, and more importantly, I can weave in and out of cow dung. I can ride my bike to the market and haul stuff home on the back. Bikes here come with a flat rack on the back just for such things. Sometimes, my loads are not balanced and that presents a big problem which I usually have to stop and correct or else, wipe out. My bike also came with a bell. Now this bell, which I have used maybe twice, sounds more like the ice-cream truck's bell so no one is particularly afraid of it. Riding my bike in Durgapur is one of my greatest accomplishments and it's carbon neutral!
The Cow
One morning when I was on my way to the gate of my building, there was an ox standing there blocking my way. What to do? Well, I wished it good morning, patted it on the head, slowly opened the gate and slipped past her. She never moved or even said Mooo.
Dogs of Durgapur
The dogs of Durgapur and probably all of India look the same. They are lean, not so mean except with each other, and have a personality. They are short-haired with pointed ears. They walk with a confident spring to their step, nothing like our domesticated poochies. They act as if they could take over anytime they wanted to.
These dogs carry the scars of street animals. A lot of them get by on three legs and most all of them have patches of fur missing. Some of them have been in so many night fights, they have a twitch in their head, even when they are asleep.
They hang out where ever there are people. At the school, when the last bell rings and the kids dash out, the dogs dash in and begin prowling the halls and classrooms looking for any crumb or morsel left from snack time. They don't bark at pedestrians, cows, or bike riders, but one night when I was walking home from the center, I was carrying a flashlight, and of course, the light was moving along with my gait which aroused the dogs at the corner tea shack. They rushed out at me, barking and howling. I guess they thought I was the moon. Some men at the shack shooed them away and I quickly doused my light. I think I learned a good lesson there.
The Clever Little Girl
The first time I went to the City Center to buy household things, a little girl accosted me and tried to sell me some incense, which I later bought. I met this little girl again when I was by myself at The Big Bazaar. She greeted me like a long lost friend, helped to the excess baggage check in counter, waited in line with me until the store opened and escorted me straight to the children's clothing department. Okay, so I bought her some jeans and a shirt. She seemed thrilled, and so I was hoping these were not going to end up on the black market somewhere. I also gave her my free gift for spending so much money, ice cream bowls. She was delighted.
I met her again this past Sunday. This time I was with my friend Lorraine when my little friend pops up inside The Big Bazaar. We were already in the check out line so no new clothes today, but some wash cloths. She claimed she wore the new clothes. She also said she attended school. I doubt both, but I like this kid and I'm sure I'll be seeing her again.
Hope these stories give you a little more of a glimpse into life in India.
The pics are of a couple of children who attend the school at the center.
