There are neighborhoods in the Silicon Valley fondly referred to as Gandhinagar. This weekend, I could see why. The Blockbusters and Kay jewellers were replaced by "Sur sangeet music and dvd", and "Something-ji jems and jewels". We walked to komala vilas at 8:30 am for some hot filter coffee accompanied by MS Subbulakshmi's Vishnu Sahasranamam. For lunch and dinner, it was a literal embarrassment of riches - was it going to be Madras Cafe or the Jain diner? Tiffin or meals? South indian or North indian style buffet? And why eat icecream when you can get fresh cham-chams at Rangoli?
It was fascinating. I saw a mini mile-sur-mera-tumhara video by just watching the parents going for their customary "walk" (do they make it a requirement when approving someone's visa? "thou shalt walk for 3 miles a day through deserted suburban streets"?). I saw a traditional Sardarji, a kadar wearing thamizhian , and a pretty mod jogging Mama - all in exactly 2 seconds.
It was a little mind boggling. I immediately crawled into my virtual shell the way a desi typically does when in the company of other unknown desis. Oh, you know what i am talking about - The soundtrack that runs in our minds as we avert our eyes and frantically (but discretely) head in the opposite direction - Oh...please don't ask me about my employment and GC status and force me to lie and downplay my general good fortune in life..and no....I don't want to become an Amway agent for you...and no....I can barely hold on to my job, there is no way i can sell your "consulting services" to my company....And no, please don't stereotype me by asking "which software platform"....not all we desis are software types
Anyway, I need not have bothered. The junta were pretty cool, nobody gave us as much as a second look. After all, I was in little India, just another face in the crowd. I banished the defensive soundtrack playing in my mind and reveled in my new found status -someone that fits in. And, at the Udupi palace, as I unapologetically attacked my third-trip-to-buffet plate (scaring my husband with my immense appetite), I felt like I was at home. And it felt really good.
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3 comments:
So tell me babe :
what is your employment and GC status ? You know how much networking you can do via amway ? Their glister toothpaste rocks :) Full teeth shine.
What software platform you work on yaar ? And what's that nice homely smell on your jacket ? Everest ya MDH chana masala ? Btw, what good fortune for you, your cousin writing blogs and all about you ? Nice ya ? How much cousin's husband is making ? Kid was really dumb at school yaar. You think I should inject him with some pepsi in a syringe to make him more energetic. you know how pepsi makes these children hyper.
But seriously. Glister mouthwash and toothpaste rocks.
hey never really heard of glister toothpaste. i'm sure i'll have plenty of opportunities to purchase!
London is mini Chennai/India. From Saravana Bhavan and Vasantha Bhavan to getting mallipoo and kumudham/anandha vikadan, everything is here. Hubby says I really have no reason to grumble. Sounds like California is the same.
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