Buffalo & Bobble Heads

When I was looking forward to India I kept remembering stories Sweet Pea would tell of the buffalo that hung out across the street and I had in my head this image of a motley assortment of animals roaming the streets of Hyderabad unfettered. I was envisioning at least chickens and buffalo scattered about here and there. However, since arriving I have been SORELY disappointed by the lack of livestock, parriah dogs, chickens and such. I've seen a few dogs here and there, but most of them have been rather cleanish looking and on leashes. The most wildlife I've seen has been in my bathroom (thank you mr. spider and the host of lizards slithering around the joint.) I did catch a quick glimpse of two buffalo along the side of the street Thursday night as we were driving home. They were totally inert and seemed like statues, but at least I can say I've seen them now. Hopefully I'll see some that allow for a more leasurely assement and provide some degree of animation.

The other thing on my mind today is the bobble head. It is a strange (to me) piece of body language employed in the subcontinent. It is sort of like a side-to-side nod (really, the thing it most resembles is a bobble head figuring) and is generally done with a completely expressionless face. To me it looked somewhat inquisative, somewhat irritated, somewhat disapproving. HOWEVER, turns out it is affirmative. Sort of like saying "yeah" or "okay." Sometimes it can be even, I thought it meant "I'm irritated that you are muscling into my way but there isn't anything I can do about it except give you this dirty look." Turns out he was actually saying to our driver trying to merge, "hey buddy, go ahead." Amazing. Its no wonder cultural miscommunication can lead to such disasters.

For more on the bobble head, check out "Trying Really Hard to Like India" in my list of links. Its an article by a guy who writes for slate.com and I really like his general attitude or approach. I won't go on and on saying basically the same things he is saying (and doing it less well than he does), but do check it out.