http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoGqwPOFCcQ
Ok, I'm exhausted from a long work day and gearing up for another very long one, but I have to post this.
We roll into work at noon and go on up to the roof where the whole group has gathered. Like us, they are mostly all wearing traditional clothing. Many of their clothes represent their traditional areas and backgrounds' style. So, there were a lot of different outfits.
They bought us clothes as well, so we were decked out, too. I will post photos later.
So, the program on the roof starts with the preseident of the company giving a speech. Then, as in the state-wide program, there is entertainment. A gentleman started out with a traditional drumming exhibition. Next came a dance, but there was a technical glitch with the audio. So, they announce the problem and say, while we are waiting would anyone like to come up and sing a song. Brief pause and then, yes, someone does get up and belt out an accapella number. Big round of applause.
The dancing turns out to be more Bollywood style, but it is very exubeberant and we cheer loudly. They do a couple numbers, including one to a rap-style song. "East to West, India is the Best", that sort of thing.
Finally it's games: an eating contest and then charades. I go first and the phrase I draw to act out is "there are two kinds of men; the dead and the deadly". Wha? I figure the best bet here is to just make a fool of myself pretending to be dead and deadly, in hopes that it is a common phrase. I flop around dead and somehow act like a lady to make them get "man" but time expires and they are left bewildered but amused.
Most of the phrase ones were unfamiliar to us like "Tarzan on the tallest tower". I don't know if they are idioms or just tricky sentences.
Afterwards we had a home-cooked meal which was delicious. At the end they served paan, which is a betel leaf chew. It was minty and surprising. I think I should have chewed it more slowly or treated it like a tobacco plug. It was a little strong. But overall, a great Republic Day celebration and such gracious hosts. I couldn't be happier with them.
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the betel nut is a mildly narcotic and used in liberia when heavy work like cutting bush is required. having used it once (or twice) I might note its not heavily narcoatic nor tasty. they did make a nifty cutterfor used with the betel nut/ grampa me
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great day! You're experiencing things the average tourist never would -- lucky you, to have a look at real life. Too bad we don't have celebrations like this at work!
ReplyDeletePaan is in all the Indian novels I've been reading. Must be, as you say, like chewing tobacco; addictive and nasty (stains the teeth and people spit red juice).
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ReplyDeleteP.S. Cross-cultural charades! The idea boggles the mind; you're a good sport. Love the video! These do not look like people who are shy in any way!!!
ReplyDeleteYou mean you couldn't do charades to Michael Jackson jokes? Huh?!??? The celebration sounded fantastic. If I was there, I would've stepped to the front and sang, "Let's Hear it for the Boy."
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Can't wait to read more.
Hey Mo!
ReplyDeleteActually- the charade match was tied two to two and it came down to the final charade; either team could guess it and win.
Sham came up to me and did that move from the Beat It video. We all screamed "Michael Jackson" for the win. Our prize (like all the other winners that day) was a Toblerone bar, which they all seem to adore