It's the weekend again - and we were determined to get work boots for the guys. Not an easy item to find in a country where anything looking like WCB is non-existent and sandals are the normal footwear for the workers.
But, first a Hindi lesson. A tutor came to our house and not only taught us about language but about customs as well. An hour (turned into 1.5 hrs.) for 800 rupees. He has 2 masters degrees in languages - English, French and translation. Things don't add up the same way here as what I'm used to.
The main thing to remember is that the verb ALWAYS goes at the end of the sentence. The word of the day is: Nahi (No) and with respect Ji Nahi. Very successfully employed "Nahi" stopped the rickshaw drivers from following me down the street. Not so successful with the wee urchins wanting coins.
Then, it was time for lattes at our Galleria Market...
and, the trial and error with cards at the 24 hr. ATMs...
and, a pause for a trim... and lunch...
The guys really got into power shopping!
4:30PM and still no work boots ...at least 3 shoe stores with blank looks & offers of the popular pointy toed number - people couldn't even fathom a shoe with steel toes - wrong turns, wild goose chases, (asking directions is an adventure when nobody will admit to not knowing where we should go) ...we did finally find a more industrial shopping area and Bata shoes (in India since 1932) able to provide us with very light work boots for Rs1,000/$20.
Tired and dusty and probably dehydrated, we were in no mood for our driver's kind offer to take us to yet another shopping emporium. ji nahi nahi
Find us some electrolytes - coconuts at the side of the road...
Shukriya, Achchwa Shukriya. (Thank you, good thank you.)
Namaste.
But, first a Hindi lesson. A tutor came to our house and not only taught us about language but about customs as well. An hour (turned into 1.5 hrs.) for 800 rupees. He has 2 masters degrees in languages - English, French and translation. Things don't add up the same way here as what I'm used to.
The main thing to remember is that the verb ALWAYS goes at the end of the sentence. The word of the day is: Nahi (No) and with respect Ji Nahi. Very successfully employed "Nahi" stopped the rickshaw drivers from following me down the street. Not so successful with the wee urchins wanting coins.
Then, it was time for lattes at our Galleria Market...
and, the trial and error with cards at the 24 hr. ATMs...
and, a pause for a trim... and lunch...
The guys really got into power shopping!
4:30PM and still no work boots ...at least 3 shoe stores with blank looks & offers of the popular pointy toed number - people couldn't even fathom a shoe with steel toes - wrong turns, wild goose chases, (asking directions is an adventure when nobody will admit to not knowing where we should go) ...we did finally find a more industrial shopping area and Bata shoes (in India since 1932) able to provide us with very light work boots for Rs1,000/$20.
Tired and dusty and probably dehydrated, we were in no mood for our driver's kind offer to take us to yet another shopping emporium. ji nahi nahi
Find us some electrolytes - coconuts at the side of the road...
Shukriya, Achchwa Shukriya. (Thank you, good thank you.)
Namaste.
