Rangolis

"L" and I took a walk though the neighborhood. The sun shines brightly with nary a cloud. It's quite warm, but not sweltering. Chickens, roosters, goats, cows, and buffaloes share the area along with homes, cars, motorbikes, and people.

Curious, intricate drawings covered the driveways of many homes. They're called "rangolis" (they may be called different things in other states). "L" says they're there to ward off snakes. The powder used for the drawings irritate the snakes. "L" said there aren't many snakes in the area and that it's mainly a custom more than anything, not related to any religion per se. Dad and Mom don't do this.

We visited "L's" god-family. We met "Dy" and her mom. They have a feisty, 10-month-old golden lab named Cushy (Hindi for "happy"). Along the way home, we stopped by "L's" friends, "A.N." and "A.C.". Their mom was home. Their dad, who's a pastor, came home later. Their 2 dogs scurried mischievously about. "A.N." has a master's degree and teaches in a school. She teaches full-time and makes about Rs. 1000 /month (USD $22). "L" encouraged both "A.N." and "A.C." to consider teaching English in China, which pays much more working less hours.

Baths/showers are taken by filling large buckets with warm water heated over a gas burner. The water is then scooped by a small pail onto one's body. Mom and Dad get their drinking and bathing water from a tanker truck that comes by every 4-5 days, which they have to fetch using buckets and carrying it into the house.