Bangalore through foreign eyes

I took a bunch of students from the US on a trip to Bangalore (a course – not a sight-seeing enterprise!). They, of course, had many questions, which gave me an opportunity to see events through American eyes (and to provide my own spin to the reasons). Here is a sample:

1. The Deccan Herald (a local Bangalore paper) lists readers’ comments on some recent antics of Paris Hilton. Paris Hilton has a following in Bangalore! (Yes, she wants to act in local films.)

2. The elevator in the Barton Center goes up to the 13th floor where there are two restaurants. 13 is not unlucky in India? (No, we break a coconut on the elevator every day.)

3. They have not removed the plastic wrapping from their car seats! (Indians like to preserve the new car smell.)

4. Oh my God, there is a guy peeing in the corner of the side walk. (Indian men have weak bladders, I said.)

5. Did you see those two cows in the middle of the busy intersection? (Indian cows are sacred, and have the freedom to be where they want to be.)

6. There was a lizard in the bathroom! I ran out without going. (Let it fall on you. It brings luck.)

7. How does one cross the road? There is no pedestrian crossing and the traffic does not wait for you. (Walk slowly right through the traffic. They will flow around you. Indian traffic is in a symbiotic relation to its people.)