Vegetables and Friends on the Bus
We’re now in the process of buying a car, but for the last four months we’ve been mostly dependent on public transportation to get to language lessons, meetings, and shops. Public transportation here takes a variety of forms: buses, 4×4 shared taxis, and auto-rickshaws. 
This kind of travel can be slow, uncomfortable, unpredictable, and sometimes dangerous (depending on the mood of the driver, and of the other drivers around him)! But we’ve had some interesting encounters and met lots of friendly people while enroute from there to here.
One day last week we were on our way home late in the day, feeling hot and tired, and squeezed into the last two seats at the back of the bus. More passengers got on at the next stop, standing in the aisles and gripping seat backs and each other to stay upright as the bus careened around curves. By now we’ve met many of the people who ride on this route regularly. We heard some passengers around us asking who we were and others explaining that we were the foreigners living in the next town who were learning the language. The man next to me opened up his shopping bag and started quizzing me on the vegetables inside. “What’s this?” “It’s a squash.” “What’s this?” “It’s a turnip.” A few others joined in with questions for me and for my husband, and pretty soon it seemed like the whole back of the bus had joined in on a group language lesson!
There’s always room for a few more on the back!
The man with the vegetables got off at the stop just before ours, and he invited us to get off with him and meet his wife. He led us to his house, and his wife seemed surprised and excited to meet us. They invited us to come over another time (after Ramadan is over) to drink chai. We walked home feeling encouraged and re-energized by the friendliness of our fellow bus passengers. One day soon we’ll be able to ride in the quiet, roomy, air-conditioned space of our own car. But we’ll miss the personal connections we make with our fellow passengers on the Indian bus.
Posted in Uncategorized and tagged bus ride by Lisa
It’s Your Turn!
What do you think?
Here’s something that drew my attention on a recent walk—it’s a 1000-watt street light with a small household light bulb wired to it. Apparently the big light doesn’t work, but the small one does. A great example of Indian ingenuity! This picture is trying to say something to me, but I’m not quite sure what. What is it saying to you? Write to me and give me your own short impression or reflection on this photo. You can use the message box to the right. I’d love to hear from you—tell me what you think!
Posted in Uncategorized by Lisa
Fish Bread!
On the way home last week, I stopped by my neighborhood bakery to pick up some rolls, and was delighted to see something new– on the counter was a tray of fish-shaped bread! Of course I had to buy one, and the baker kindly let me snap a photo. He seemed proud of his craftsmanship– the little scales, fins, and eyes must have taken some time and creativity.
We’re one week into Ramadan, and this fish bread seems to be one of the special foods that appear as part of the very early breakfasts and late dinners of the Muslim holy month. Ramadan, like Lent, is a time of fasting– denying oneself normal pleasures in order to connect more deeply with God. It’s a time for asking the important question: What am I really hungry for?
The bread looks like a fish, but it isn’t one. 
If I’m hungry for fish, this bread won’t really satisfy me, or nourish me in the same way. How often do I reach for something to nourish my heart, only to be left still hungry as I sweep up the crumbs? Is what I’m feeding my soul really satisfying? I’m praying that the baker and his family, our other new friends, and I can help one another find that life-giving bread.
Posted in Uncategorized and tagged fish bread by Lisa