Some other changes

Another major change was that of my food habits. In India we were used to eating only Indian cuisine when we were growing up, specially for our main meals - lunch and dinner. For lunch the main ingredient was rice which was consumed with a few vegetable preparations and fish. For dinner we frequently had tortilla-like freshly made bread called roti which we ate with vegetables with gravy, a meat curry and so on. The drink with these meals were always water. Tea, (hot and always served with milk and sugar), was made for breakfast and afternoon snacktime. In our house we had toasts for breakfast and fruits and other Indian snacks were served during afternoon teatime betrween 4 and 5 p.m.. Growing up with with this type of food I had to learn to adjust to different kinds of food preparation and meals. In the beginning I thought it rather strange to eat just baked or fried pieces of meat without any spice and call those 'chops.' In India a chop was deliciously spiced breaded and fried. It could be either vegetarian or non-vegetarian. It is very similar to what is known here as croquettes. It was also quite strange to eat boiled vegetables with just salt and pepper with the meals. But my husband appreciated western meals too. So with help of our friends I learned to prepare, and gradually to also enjoy western cuisine. Now I really like to have just a salad for lunch and dinner. This is still unthinkable to my relatives in India!! All this has taught me that out habits can be changed with the environment and that the changed habits can be enjoyed as much, sometimes even more, than the habits that one grows up with. I have also learned not to critisize and consider our ways as the only way to do things. There are many different lifestyles in this world. Differences have taught me many things and broadened my outlook. I am thankful to God for letting me have this opportunity.

Adjustments- continued

My lifestyle changed in other ways too. One major change that I had to get used to was managing without servants, washerwoman, a cook and so on. Though India was considered to be a 'poor country' by many people across the world, most households had some kind of help to aid the lady of the house in accomplishing the management of her household. That 'help' could be someone coming in to scrub the pots and pans the the kitchen, grind the spices needed for daily cooking using the grinding stone and pestle, sweep the dusty floors, wash clothes - in other words do the heavy work around the house so to speak. When I came away from the land of my birth I learned to do all the work myself. I admit that I did feel sorry for myself at that time for all the work that I had to do; but gradually saw the positive results of doing the chores myself. On top of that list was the sense of accomplishment that I felt; closely following that, was that I learned that I did not have to depend on any one to do my work. Of course having machines and gadgets helped too. Now a days I think it is no big deal to run the washing machine and the dryer to do our laundry, and the grinder and the food processor when I am cooking.
In the meantime things have changed in India too. More and more younger couples are managing their households without servants. The machines and gadgets are also available there too. And also because more housewives are following careers now they are also buying more packaged food now. In short, Indians have progressed too.

Some thoughts

Because I am confined to home these days -due to severe pain in my knees- I have had some time to think about some of the changes that I had to adjust to after I came to this country in 1970 and how I have accepted these.
The very first among these is that I had to learn to drive. One of the things that I missed was walking or taking a public transportation to where ever I wanted to go. My husband was busy with his occupation. It was not possible for him to drive me every where. So at his suggestion I enrolled myself in a driving school and after some lessons acquired my driving licence. That was quite a big step for me in those days. Specially so, because at that time in India very few ladies drove their own cars. Of course times have changed there too. Now when I go to visit my relatives in my homeland I see quite a few women drivers in clogged streets of that country. Driving here has given me independence to go where I need to go. But even today I do not drive for enjoyment. I only drive out of necessity.
Now with the price of gas fluctuating almost daily I wish I had also learned how to ride a bike. That would be helpful not only for small chores but also for my health. I wonder if it is possible for a person of my age and girth to be able to learn that now! I wish I knew.
More about my thoughts later. I have to go for physical therapy now.