Happy Parsi New Year!

So, Parsi New Year was the reason I was off school today. It is a state holiday, and best I can tell, it really only applies to the Parsi population meaning nothing around here seemed any different! The day started with no power. I am learning that electricity around here is sketchy....mostly it is on, but here and there, not so much. The monsoon season has not produced enough rain which causes planned power outages. They just keep not telling anyone what the plan is!
I spent the day with Shyamala. I needed to go to the grocery again, so we went. This time was a lot less crowded and I could really take my time to find some different types of food to try at home. Cereal and Prego is getting old after only a few days. We then went to some other stores, had ice-cream at a shop that rivals Jeni's for sure, amazing saffron and fig flavors....and lastly checked out the two gyms in my neighborhood. I hate to admit it, but Gold's Gym Mulund was the best deal. It is brand new and state of the art, dj to spin turntables while you run....uh...huh?? Can I get a cocktail too? Anyway, I am going to go tomorrow and suck it up, otherwise this paneer (cheese) that I have come to love is going to do me in quick!
This evening, Shyamala and Aruna, another neighbor, took me to a wonderful cultural celebration native to the state of Maharashtra (where Mumbai is located). The name I will butcher, so I won't even try....but basically for the first five years a woman is married she, during every Tuesday of this month on the Hindu calendar makes an offering to a particular god (having trouble keeping that straight too??) that her husband will live a long life. I guess after 5 years he is on his own. I did ask the husband what they did for the wives and he had no answer....?! The dancing was lovely and of course there was FOOD! I can't get away from it. To not eat is an insult...back to the aforementioned Gold's Gym....anywhoo.....I have learned the three most important questions you will be asked in the course of the day are, what did you have for your breakfast, what did you have for your lunch and what did you have for your supper? To not have a clear answer as to what you ate and when is unacceptable....to say, I wasn't hungry and didn't eat is also unacceptable....I am getting good at making things up on the fly....that was my day in a nutshell. Back to school tomorrow....