INDIA…MONSOONS 2009
Current mood: 
happy
Category: Travel and Places
INDIA…MONSOONS 2009
Linda Mary Liotino
Monsoons are coming to an end soon in spite of the clouds being stubborn about leaving due to the sleeping winds that refuse to blow them away. Fortunately for me I did not have any tasks that required me to stick my nose out the door during the heavy rains. However, the daily life of an Indian does not give them this same option life has to go on as per usual. The Indian people who I observe are truly amazing on the handling of life’s difficulties. They seem to have a resolve and when you look at their faces there are not deep frown lines that usually go with the face of discontent or being depressed from going through difficulties such as Monsoons. They age gracefully a lot better than those of us with every modern gadget at hand and yet continually in a state of discontent or depression.
In the Indian Culture shopping for the day’s meals is done daily. There is no weekly shopping of meats, fruits, vegetables or any other perishable item. Even bread is bought on as need bases and nothing goes into the freezer but the meat for the day, which is usually chicken. This way of shopping requires a family member to go to one of the many little shops in the neighborhood, where you can buy just about anything for daily living and the Monsoons do not hinder this. Dry goods are bought usually on monthly bases. I found it interesting that milk, oil and salt [to name a few] come in sealed plastic bags. Eggs are sold individually and wrapped in newspaper as well as things bought at the medical store etc etc. Rice is sold by the kilo and put in plastic bag as well as sugar.
I can see from the entrance foyer brightly dressed Indian woman wearing their Saree, with beautifully groomed hair, carrying a colorful umbrella, walking either by themselves or with family and friends chatting. Whether these women are with someone or not their faces look serene and peaceful as they go about their daily way of life.
The men are also of the same mindset it would seem by my observation as they walk or ride a two wheeled bike motorized or not. They too wear colorful traditional Southern India clothing called a Lungi. It is long and wraps at the waste and is folded down a couple of times to secure it. The Lungi is ankle length. The Lungi can be folded upwards in half to knee length and secure loosely in the front. This halving of the Lungi makes riding any type bike easier, for walking and it keeps it from getting dirty when it rains. Some men where shorts under the Lungi some wear it a little shorter. Any shirt one would wear with slacks or jeans is worn with a Lungi. The tradition of wearing a Lungi is worn by Indian men of all ages.
One of the milder times of the Monsoon I was observing the neighbors getting to the neighborhood shops before the heavier rains began again and I saw this Kodak moment. There where two elderly couples on a bike the husband I’ll assume was pedaling while a rather petite woman in a bright red pattern Saree rode on the back of the bike. As the man held on to the handle bar with his right hand as he pedaled he was holding a black umbrella over his wife and himself with left hand. The couple look so very precious and man was very gallant it is apparent shivery is alive and well at least with this Indian man.
The children do allot of praying during the Monsoon season for if the rains flood the streets or the rain is heavy and continuous the children get time off from school. If other households are anything like the Joseph home there may be a teenager somewhat like Mario Joseph who is glued to the local Chennai news looking to see if the school is closed. As he waits for the hopeful announcement of a school closing he watches the moment to moment happenings of the weather satellite on the internet as he tries to convince his father as well as himself that the clouds are moving in the direction that will make a school closing a reality.
As I have stated in earlier Blogs the Chennai traffic is a mess on a good day and a dreaded trip into the city because of it. The Monsoons only make matters worse. The water is traveled through on any type of vehicle provided the grill of the car is not submerged or the exhaust pipe on a motor bike. Once the water is too high this requires a diverting of the traffic and guess what this adds to the mess the city is already in…need I say more. The city is a sea of colorful umbrellas as the pedestrians walk about taking care of their business.
On the outskirts of Chennai one can see the thatched roof homes of the Nomadic Tribe People covered with blue plastic tarp to keep the rain out. These thatched roof homes are dilapidated and practically falling down. A picture also appeared in the Hindi News showing a family sitting in their dwelling on chairs with water up to knees. The children sat in children size plastic chairs near a table.
Today we had some short heavy rainfall with thunder and lighting and intermittent sunshine. India I cannot imagine anything drawing me away from her…She and her people sing to my heart.
May the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Bless You.
Copyright 2009 Linda Mary Liotino