First Day in Nagpur (Michael)

An amazing reality of being a guest in India is the unending flow of spectacular, gorgeous food!  Always a fan of Indian cuisine since college, I often wondered if the food in America was somehow changed or watered down like so many fusion dishes.  I am glad to report that Indian food in America appears to be the real deal, just maybe not as spicy.  For the first time in my life I had the opportunity to enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner all in the Indian style, but with a twist.  The food was in great supply, and it was ‘mild’ by all accounts by our gracious hosts.  The culinary landing pad was carefully designed to accommodate our American pallet, with assurances that the menu would step up by degrees, quickly.  This morning we had mildly spicy potato/onion cakes with smooth dal and basmati.  This afternoon an array of meat and vegetarian dishes, I mean dozens of unique dishes.  The spiciness ramped up slightly.  We were warned the spice builds up in the body, and that it must be balanced with the delicious yogurts that typically accompany these meals.  I can say this is absolutely true, as tonight’s meal was ever-so-closer to how Indians normally prepare their foods.  But still the chefs were asked to keep the fire low, gratefully at this point, as my mouth is still tingling from the rich, hot dishes.  I’m going to have to learn how to manage the spice, and eat much more yogurt, as eating just a little is not an option….the food is too good and our amazing hosts would have it no other way. 

So much has happened in the last 48 hours I’d have a difficult time accounting for all of it.  A few highlights though.  1) Meeting AJ who met us at the airport in Mumbai after 30+ hours of transit and got us set up at the BAWA Hotel, and was kind enough to give us the basics on what to expect and how to avoid creating difficult circumstances for ourselves, e.g. avoid fresh fruit and non-bottled water, and who escorted the District 5520 team to Nagpur. 2) Engaging District 3030 members in Nagpur and receiving a welcoming ceremony that included a colorful garland, sweets, a bindi and a blessing.  The members of the welcoming committee were overwhelmingly generous and helpful in getting us settled in Nagpur, and there is much more to go.  Tomorrow we will receive orientation training and meet our host families, which we are all excited about.  Many thanks to the District governor and members who made us feel so welcome. 3) Visiting the cricket stadium in Nagpur, where we got a personal tour of that facility by Bayal and Vinal were very knowledgeable about the art, sporting activities, and layout of the stadium building.  4) Ending the evening with full bellies and new friends with a sip of Kingfisher on the manicured open lawn in the cool evening, ready to go to bed.  The jetlag isn’t as bad as I thought it might be and I’m ready to hit the sack at 2:00 AM, when my body would normally be gearing up for a hike or an important meeting, which my colleagues in New Mexico are probably doing as I write this.  I think we all know we are beginning an exciting adventure, which, as with the spice level, is ramping up quickly.