US AND +

STANGE FACTS ABOUT INDIA

• When they shake their head from left to right (ear to shoulder manner), it doesn't mean yes, doesn't mean no but means "maybe", "it's a possible" or even "I understand what you mean"
• Spitting on the street is usual
• Burping after or during a meal just means that you are enjoying
• We eat with our right hand, the left hand is for unpure activities
• To say "hello", we put our hands together like a praying gesture, bow our head slightly and say "namaste"
• The shoulders and upperarms are considered as erotic zones of the women's body and therefore should be covered at all times (yes even though it is 30 degrees!!)
• Indians don't use toilet paper, but water
• Indians don't blow their noses with tissues
• They are no public bins (not in Kundapur anyway)
• Cows rest in the middle of the road, and that's okay
• Indians honk their horn continuously
• Tea and coffee is only drunk with lots of milk and sugar
• Indian heterosexuals hold hands in the street and hug each other but women have absolutely no physical contact with each other
• There are holes in the roads, and that's okay
• There is only 40 km of motorway in the whole of India
• Homosexuality between men is illegal in India but there are no laws for lesbians
• Indian culture is so different to ours, its very interesting to learn about. One of the India coordinators told us about arranged marriages and how it's very much accepted in Indian society, even by younger people. It's not at all forced marriage because the younger generation is quite happy to let their parents choose for them. They respect their parents a lot and trust their judgement. If ever they are not happy with their parents choice, they can change their mind at any moment, even girls! The couple can meet together before marrying but not live as a couple.
• We were also told about the cast system which is a big problem in India! There are 4 casts : the first ones, the Brahmans are the religious people and their families, the second ones are the warriors, the third ones are the traders and the last ones are the labourers. Often the fourth cast members are shun upon in society and can only work as servants, cooks etc. In one of the host families here in Kundapur, the servant eats and sleeps on the kitchen floor ... a very sad life.
  This tradition is apparently not so bad in cities where Indians can't tell the difference between casts.
  
  More to come ....