California Dreaming

Today I attempted to play out my normal California routine here in Hyderabad. After reflecting on the day, I have further realized just how much your location controls your life.

I woke up around 6 this morning, as I usually do in SF, to make it to work for an early morning meeting. Although getting ready in the morning was no different from home, the differences began as I walked to work. Each morning I leave for my shuttle in SF, I walk past the mansions of Cow Hallow, get a view of the bay, and most times, freeze my butt off. In India, I only have a two block walk to work in the heat and along the beach. I guess I am using the word beach liberally. This beach consists of a rancid puddle of filth and water left over form the rain three days ago (India does not have drains). Due to the lack of said drains, the puddle has extended into the road so I am walking along its muddy banks as close to the water as possible to avoid being killed by a bus or rickshaw. I really hate the cold and I have not been hit yet, so in the battle of commute, I give India a point.

For breakfast, my sprouted wheat toast and organic crushed peanut butter has been replaced by white sliced bread and creamy Skippy. This breaks my heart because if I am going to eat corn syrup and hydrogenated oil that is flavored like peanuts, I at least want it to be crunchy and of course Jiff! Point California.

The work day is no different from the typical work day in Mountain View. Talk of annoying CSRs, Gossip Girl, and how tired we are fills the day. In place of snack attack, there is tea, which is actually steamed whole milk with two tea bags in a dixie cup. This one is a tie.

After work, I decided to go to yoga. I was really excited because the teacher mastered in yoga in college and he is from India, so he has to be inspirational and amazing. Well, I was wrong. This was speed yoga. Each asana was done SO fast. He actually yelled at us to go faster. He also would count out loud while we did moves and made us rest for like 30 seconds in between each stretch we completed.

He would tell us to do a new move then yell "Come on!" "Faster!!!". At home yoga is smooth and relaxing as it strengthens and stretches your muscles. Here I am lucky I did not pull anything. Another completely annoying part was how he corrected our poses. At home, the teacher will carefully alters your hip and ask you if you feel the difference. Here he yells "NO! You were supposed to put your hands together before you touched your toes!"

Even in the last part of the practice where you can just lay there and relax he made me move my feet so my toes didn't point out to the side. He said "You have to relax in this formation". I don't think a command and relax really work together! I prefer my teacher at home who tells me to listen to my body and do whatever it tells me. Well my body tells me I like my feet to lean outwards when I lay on my back. They don't appreciate sticking straight up like the wicked witch if the east. For the yoga, two points California for the win.

I don't think I will try to live out my old life here. The days I am India Molly are the most successful. Although I did finish tonight off with some decent Mexican food!!! No American cheese, tortilla chips, and good refried beans. Yay!