Back in the US; Catching up on TV

I've been back in the States for exactly a week, and I've spent half of that time staying with friends who are introducing me to American television. Since returning, I have been privy to episodes of The Bachelor, The Office, Desperate Housewives, Gray's Anatomy, and more. I have never been much of a TV fan but it's been fun to see what these shows are all about, especially since my yale suitemates talk about them in every suite-email we send out. Actually, for all I know, these shows may have been around even before I left for India and I was just too much of a cultural dinosaur to ever catch them. Anyway, fun times.

It's quite an experience though, returning to America after a year abroad and feeling temporarily like a foreigner here. I have to get used to cars driving on the right side of the road, and to counting with American money. To speaking English and not Hindi, with shopkeepers and waiters. To remembering that one cannot order fresh lime sodas, my favorite drink, in restaurants. To not wobbling my head during transactions or interactions with people. To not bargaining over the cost of every and any item. To the outrageous prices of everything here. Although, in many cases, the better quality of goods and food here somewhat makes up for the price issue.

India has also transformed me from a cold-weather to a warm-weather person. I'm freezing! I miss wearing sandals every day. And I miss my Indian clothes that provide lots of color and sparkle but absolutely no warmth. I went to an Indian restaurant with my dad and instantly regretted not wearing Indian clothes, when I saw the hostess decked out in salwaar kameez. Fortunately, every single person who I am meeting in the next month asks if we can go out for an Indian meal together so I guess I'll have plenty of chances to wow the waiters with my Indian get-up.