Oh man -- I thought I was finished catching up to Mumbai time last night, but today I was dying by 4:30pm. I had given my presentation from 1-4, and had enough adrenaline to last all the way through...but after, it was a struggle to keep my eyes open at my desk. P.S. -- they put us in the center of the room, with all the other desks surrounding us. There was no getting away with closing my eyes. I did that trick where you pretend you're rubbing your eyes, hoping just the act of having your eyes closed will somehow recharge your internal battery. But, how many minutes can you do that before someone thinks you have pink eye? Anyway, I got through it...
Before I gave my presentation, our colleagues provided lunch for us. There was buttered chicken, dal makhani, and some other things I wasn't sure what they were, but everything was absolutely delicious. They told us it was mostly Punjabi cuisine, and that if we wanted the really hot stuff we should try some Maharashtra foods. We're up for the challenge, so I think we might be trying that tomorrow. Looking forward to it -- I'll be bringing tissues for my runny nose.
We also talked about all the different kinds of breads, and what breads go with with foods. Punjabi foods are generally eaten with naan, which is what we had for lunch today. This part was really interesting, actually -- So, we were eating family style, passing the dishes around and sharing, and using the naan to pick up and eat the various foods and sauces. I picked up the naan with one hand, and used the other to tear a piece off, and had done this a few times before I froze with TOURIST'S-PANIC. I noticed the other men were using just one hand to simultaneously hold and tear the naan. I suddenly remembered that people here don't generally use their left hands socially -- you don't eat with your left hand, or touch someone with your left hand. It's traditionally considered "unclean." I'm sure it wasn't a big deal, but I'm really trying to get into this experience, and I immediately corrected myself and starting using just my right hand to tear the bread. But let me tell you, that was no small feat. My regular muscle memory was not prepared for this, and I fumbled a few times to find my groove. Eventually I got down a technique of holding down the bread with my pinky and ring fingers, and using the other three fingers to tear away some bread. I will definitely be keeping this in mind for the rest of my stay.
For dinner tonight, we and I did our own thing -- we were both exhausted, and I really wanted to get in a second trip to the gym and get some other things done. I ordered room service -- I think this is the first time in my life ever doing that -- and, as per usual, my eyes were bigger than my stomach.
I was trying to keep it light tonight. Ha. On the right there was a vegetarian kebab platter, with tandoori broccoli, paneer pukhtan, paner aur akhrot ki seekh. That green mint-cilantro chutney is my absolute favorite, it has come with almost every meal we've had so far. It reminds me of a chimichurri sauce, and it's so good. Then on the left there, there's biryani chicken (that's hidden under the khumati rice). I feel bad for not finishing it all, but I didn't realize there'd be so much.
Well that's it for tonight. I know, I know, I need to upload more pictures. I don't have a lot, but I will try to get them posted by the weekend. Right now I'm going to do some work, and then read some before bed.
P.S., What Not To Wear is very much still alive here in India -- I'm catching an episode right now as I'm typing. This really feels like home.
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