Today was my last official day as an employee of the Leela Hotel! I am sad to be leaving, but I am ready to come home. For my last day, I spent the morning in the Chinese and Thai kitchen learning some techniques and then the afternoon tying up loose ends with the Hotel.
While I was working in the Chinese and Thai kitchen I was put on seafood duty – believe me, it was not as glamorous as it sounds. I learned how to clean a fish with the scales still on, de-bone a fish, gut a fish, clean prawns, kill a crab and a lobster, gut a lobster of the meat, and search for the roué. By the end of the morning I smelled pretty disgusting. The chefs in the kitchen taught me a pretty awesome trick to make your hands stop smelling of whatever it is they smell of: take a handful of salt and half a lemon – rub the two together on your hands, almost mashing them together. Do this for about two minutes, then rinse off with soap and water, then poof the smell is gone!
The head chef from the Chinese kitchen was from Singapore and was very enthusiastic about me receiving hands on work experience in his kitchen. Chef Ho was also very chatty, even telling me about the “Julia” tattoo that he had on his upper are – I saw it, it did say Julia. Chef Ho asked me if I knew anyone from Singapore and I almost started to laugh. All I can think of when asked about Singapore is “Richard from Singapore” (family joke – if you’re not a Murphy, don’t worry you shouldn’t get it).
Chef Ho asked me if I was pretty grossed out by the condition of the country compared to the US, and of course in the nicest way possible I said yes. He then continued to say, “if you feel grossed out can you imagine what I feel like coming from the cleanest country in the world?” Now I am not sure this is true, but I am pretty sure States like Vermont and Colorado are as clean as they get. Chef Ho then went on a rant on how he needs to teach others because the people of Singapore are so far ahead in the world and they feel it is the duty to teach others. Now, this is very nice, but just because you’re from Singapore does that mean you know more than me?
While I was learning how to gut a crab, one of the sous chefs started to talk to me. He was really nice and, like almost ever Indian I have met, asked me if I speak Hindi. I replied no I wish I did! He then asked if I spoke any other languages, I said just enough French to get by! I shot the question right back at him and he said three: English, Hindi, and Marathi (Mumbai’s local tongue) and that he had to study French as a foreign language in school. I was a little surprised and asked him why English didn’t count as his foreign language. I was very surprised to hear that his FIRST language is English, he learned Hindi in 4th grade, and Marathi from his mother through conversation. He told me that most Indians are now learning English before Hindi – but everyone knows both. Indians are learning English first?! English is taking over the world – maybe that is why they are calling it the international language. But still, I was so surprised, Indians learn it before their national language?! The accents are so difficult to understand, but I guess it goes the same way for me.
Once I arrived home from work, I didn’t say my goodbyes yet because I have to go in again on Monday to hand in some items and show off my new Sari skills and Mehndi, Heer and I ventured off to pick off the final pieces of the Saris. When we got back, Heer and I went to see “Aisha,” a Bollywood movie. We were supposed to see “Once Upon a Time in Mumbai,” but it is like an Indian Godfather. Both movies are in Hindi, which mean I cannot understand it, but that is part of the experience! Heer loves dancing and singing, Aisha was the right film to see! Tomorrow, after I get my Henna (mehndi) done, I am going to go watch “Once Upon a Time in Mumbai” by myself. The movies here only cost $1.75 a seat!! The volume is SO loud in Bollywood movies, but the clothing and dance was just amazing to watch.
It was so funny, even though the movie was in Hindi, the script was still partially in English. Every ten minutes or so there would be a dialogue in English! Because of this I was able to follow the plotline pretty well and loved the movie. In India, you can order your food to come to your seat at a certain time of the movie (seeing that a shorter movie in India is 2 ½ hours minimum, long ones can go as far as 4 hours). Heer and I ordered chilli cheese popcorn, fresh corn husks with masala and lime, hot samosas, and pepsi all for a bargin price of $2 USD - not shabby.
Indians are not very shy to ask you about your personal life. Granted there are a few exceptions, but for the most part there is nothing too private not to ask about. I have been asked about my age, weight, salary, “class,” cost of University, and cost of personal items. Money is always mentioned, if they like what you are wearing instead of saying, “I love your dress!” they will say, “How much was that dress?” Another difference I have found since arriving is the use of the word “yeah.” It is slang, but many Indians will tag the word “yeah” at the end of sentences like Americans would use “man” or “bro.” For example, “I really want to get lunch yeah” or “I love your shirt yeah.” I was so confused at first, but I even slipped up today and used it – remind me once I arrive home NOT to say it!
The way Indians speak in general, as in their tone, is so different from Americans. I really believe that everyone was yelling at me when I first arrived, but that is just how Indians speak – loudly and defensively. To me, I believe they are yelling but really they are just speaking.
After the movie, I stopped by the store to purchase one last masala to bring home. I found it so funny that on the boxed spice they were advertising that it is hygienic. Wow. Especially after working in the kitchens here, it is hard to eat the food. Veg vs Non-Veg just means that there is no meat on your plate, that doesn’t meat or meaty hands have not touched your food. Raw chicken has no boundaries – even when tasting a marinade, if it is raw chicken you still must taste it. Washing your hands is not common, most kitchens don’t even have soap at the sink – what good does just water do? But someone told me that these unhygienic ways of cooking is what makes the food taste so good. I am so happy someone told me this. While I still think twice before I pop something in my mouth, I understand this IS India, it IS dirty, and this food ISN’T perfect but it is delicious. I have to accept this the way it is and just enjoy the food for the time I have left here. Which I have been trying to get my hands on as much of my favorite as possible.
My mystery fruit yesterday? It is called custard-apple in English and Sharifa in Hindi. I do not think this is available in the US but it is so amazing. These heart shaped fruits, with an unusual skin that looks like scales or even an artichoke and are rather ugly. Heer taught me that the method to select these fruits is when their skin develops brown patches they are ripe and delicious. You eat Sharifa in a similar way that you eat a Pomegranate – you must take one small piece at a time. The pieces are white and you must suck the outside layer of flesh off the black kidney bean-sized seed on the inside and then spit out the seed. There are about 50 seeds in each fruit and it tastes like a sweet banana and mango combination – I just love it.
When I was at the store, I discovered something amazing: Maggie. Maggie is the Indian version of “Cup of Noodles” that costs barely 15 rupees and will fill you up. The Indians of course put a twist on the dull college student favorite by adding masala and other spices to the noodles. They are nice and spicy and have a delicious flavor, I am not sure I can enjoy Cup of Noodles the same again, I’ll have to reach for some masala and red chilli! Which, by the way, my palate has DEFFINITELY changed in a good way. My spice (hot and flavorful) tolerance has gone up so much, jalapenos have nothing on me. I might even need to start carrying Tabsco around in my purse! I also picked up some Indian Ginger Beer – my favorite soda of all time, an no it is not Ginger Ale. O MAN was it good. Obviously because I am in India it tastes differently, but there was so much fresh ginger chunks in the soda that it was almost too spicy to drink, but that is what makes it so great.
Speaking of which, I have finally figured out why people stare at me when I drink so much water at lunch: you do not drink DURING you meal in India. Indians believe that if you drink water while eating you will not be able to eat as much as you possibly can – duhhh that is the point! Unlike Americans, most Indians are trying to gain weight. Because of this, no water is served with meals, only after. And to make sure your stomach can absorb as much of the water as possible it is served at room temperature. Indians believe that cold water is bad for the body. No ice water at dinner? This is the first Indian eating habit that I must disagree with – I still love the hands as utensils though!!
