Mother Mary, Trains, and the American Embassy

You know you have been in India too long when the fingertips of your right hand are curry stained and your head is ever so slightly starting to nod side to side for yes, versus up and down....the side to side nod is almost a necessity lest everyone think you are saying no all the time.
Aside from those slight observations, I apologize for the delay in blog update. I have been very busy and I will tell you all about it! This past weekend started off like any other thus far, but ended with a true Indian adventure. On Sat. I left college early with Renu, (surprise, surprise) to head back to Bandra for the final day of the Mount Mary Festival. I had gone the week before with Andrea and it was a lovely, peaceful, not so very crowded experience, not this time, however. As soon as Renu and I made our way into Bandra, I knew it wasn't going to be good. I had never seen so many people in my life. The place was jam packed with people. Literally, there was a line over half a mile long and 10 people wide to get into this church. People were carrying all sorts of "offerings" to leave for Mother Mary, flowers, candles, wax statues, you name it. It was insane, people pushing and shoving just to get inside. Once inside, there were nuns holding huge plastic tubs to collect all the offerings. I am not sure just how many Mother Mary got, but it was something to see. Renu said it best when she said, "so many Christians today, there weren't this many in Mumbai yesterday??! After that nightmare, we went to eat on Hill Rd. in Bandra and met up with Annie, Renu's amazing daughter. We all then went to see "Rock On," the Bollywood rock and roll movie....not bad considering I didn't understand anything. The music was great, but I can't sing along.
On Sunday, I went to the gym per usual and my friend Vasanti was there. She suggested we finish our "gym program" (love the lingo here) and have a true Indian adventure. I was game. She said first stop Sion, but we had to take the TRAIN! Now, up to this point, no one has allowed me to go on the train. Most people I spend time with are not train-goers. Allegedly, you are not a true "Indian" until you navigate the train system, so why not. We bought our tickets and stood in line for the "ladies" coach. Ladies only in this car. I see why now. The crowd of ladies behind me was starting to grow and I could see Vasanti getting nervous. She kept saying, if we don't make it on, we will just wait for the next train. I was like, uh, ok...why wouldn't we get on? The train pulls up and holy crap, the pushing, scratching, shoving, climbing, I don't even know what else, began before the train even stopped. I had NEVER in my entire life fought so hard to get into one place. It was absolutely insane. As the train starts to pull away, people are hanging on for life, just trying to find a place to stand and breathe. There was no room. I was like, no way, this isn't for me! We, by the grace of God, made it to Sion.....Sion is in the heart of the Dharavi slum, the largest slum in Asia. Up and down the streets of Sion are leather stores, one after another...little bitty shops that sell mostly the same thing. Most all of the leather work comes directly out of the slum and is shipped all over the world. We stopped in a few shops. At the last shop, I tried on a coat or two, (c'mon, you would have too) and I didn't see anything that I loved....alas, don't see something you like, well then you can have something custom made right there in a day! All for $37, yep I said thirty-seven dollars US, I designed my own leather jacket tailored to fit, sketched it out, took pieces parts from other jackets until I had it just right! I couldn't believe it. The jacket is great, but the sport of it was the real thrill!
After leaving Sion, we headed to Mantunga for some Pav Bhaji, this week's favorite food, and then back on the train to Coloba. This time, the train was empty! Thankjesus......and also the whole way back home, empty train. It was an adventure to say the least! It is a cheap way to travel, but I am not sure at what cost really?? It is moments like the Mount Mary Fest. and the train that I realize how big this city is. There are just people stacked and stacked and stacked on top of each other all the time.
Monday night, I went to the American Embassy for a cocktail "thing." The embassy is located in the Breach Candy area of Mumbai, a swanky neighborhood near the Haji Ali temple. The Cadbury family (yes, the "thanks Easter Bunny" egg people) have a high rise there. The embassy itself sort of looks like a metal temple-thing from the road, but once inside the many, many layers, it is a beautiful sort of colonial-type mansion. I took Renu (surprise, surprise) with me. We had drinks and appetizers with the General Consulate and his wife, many other cultural affairs people, some vistitng professors and some other Fulbrighters there for educational work, not teachers, more like students so to speak. It was great. I met some awesome people and was invited back, we all were, for an "American" style bbq this Saturday. I think I just may go. It isn't often one "hangs out" at the embassy, I suppose. I will spend all your tax dollars wisely folks.
In all, everything is moving along in Mumbai. Time is going very quickly now. It is still dang hot, I am done with that really and October is going to be hotter still.....grrrr......! So, with a slight nod of my head side to side...I will "make a move" (more great lingo)!