Superb South India
Our one month fieldwork is coming to an end. But what a great month it was, though the killer tsunami wave made us cry for the departed soul and affected people. We were fortunate enough to be allright as that day, we were supposed to be at Kanyakumari, but our Guide/ Reporting officer (Conservator of Forest, Vellore) could not arrage the visit due to some administrative problems. Right from learning eating manners to interacting with tribal people, it was great experience.
We got a taste of cultural difference in one of the restaurants, where we were taking our lunch. We ordered our lunch and as per thier routine, they spread banana leaves in front of everyone. We were waiting for the food to be served. Our waiter, an old man, who knew only Tamil, started shouting at one of our friends, we were astonished at what we have done that caused that old man to be angry (actually by the pitch and tone of his voice we guessed that he was upset with something), then called one of the staffs of the restaurant and he told us that first we have to put water on the banana leaves and wash it with hands,and we had not done that. That lesson we never forgot.
The amazing part of our stay, was interacting with waiters and local ppl, we were never sure what we will get in our lunch and we ordered something else and it was completely different, what was served. Being on official fieldwork, one or two forest department officials were always with us whenever we visited anywhere. Though they tried hard to answere our questions/queries but, often failed. So we were depending heavily on our observations. Luckily, we met five students from Chennai, pursuing Masters in Social Work and doing almost the same study we were doing. They proved to be of great help. Though, we could get then only in the last part of our stay. It also give us unique opportunity to interact freely about several topics related or not related with our study/course and they eagerly satisfied our queries. Thanks to them. wait... i am forgeting the three lovely girls, who were part of the group. They were really very cooperative and intelligent, no offence intended to boy.. If I get an opportunity to visit South again, I will really feel myself lucky.
Thanks IIFM.. For giving us opportunity to visit South India. Thanks South India For Rasam, Sambhar, Uttapam, Dosai , Coffee, Sri rangam temple, Rockfort, Yallneer and for wonderful hospitality ......