Life in India Part II

Lajpat Nagar Market

There are some things I really like about India.  When I walk down the street people don't look very happy.  A smile or or a nod saying Namaste will usually bring a gentleness to their face.  I go for a walk in the neighborhood everyday so there are many familiar faces along my path who now smile back.  Often I go to the same store and it seems that people are nicer and friendlier to me than other folks. Don't have a reason for that but it's good. 
The other thing which I like and have mentioned before is trust, if you don't have the right change they ask you to bring it tomorrow.  Usually it is only a few rupees (a few cents) but still I like the communication and the trust between consumer and seller. 
On the other side, the auto rickshaws are a challenge to find one that offers reasonable fairs. I now have an idea of what fares should cost (I have become a educated consumer!) and I really dislike when they over charge. My response to this is to either walk or find another Rickshaw.

The pups are my highlight for the day. One man I met lives very close to where the dogs hang out. He had his own names for the dogs. I had to laugh as the one that I call Alpha, he called Boss. Very similar. By now I am sure the dogs have many names. When I get there, all I do is call "puppies" and they all come running.
Most of my interaction with people is when I visit my puppies. The other day I walked by and there were two kids playing in the street.  When they saw me - they called the puppies.  This wasn't dinner time but biscuit time.  Many of the children speak English quite well. These two did not.  I asked if they went to school and she said no (did she understand me?). The girl was maybe 8 and the boy 5, they were thin; I realized they probably do not live in the homes in middle class CR Park but might live in a shelter close by. Their parents iron clothes on the street.  This is done by heating coal under a board and then using the board as the table to lay out the clothes. They work outside all day, I do not know where they go at night.  When the children see me feeding the dogs, what do they think?  I realize they are probably hungry also.  As I was on my way to the store, I picked up a box of energy bars to give the kids on the way back.   I showed the bars to the Mom for approval, she nodded and came over to receive one also. I ended up giving them all away. Now I am feeling guilty- I take care of the dogs, but what about the children.  The kids didn't eat the bars right away but looked at them and smiled. Of course we can't help everyone!
Leaving the kids I met up with a boy who was in a school uniform.  They have classes on Saturday. The boy spoke perfect English.  He told me that he went to private school; all the text books are written in English and they speak English In school. He told me that in public schools Hindi is the language and they don't learn English until 5-6 grade. This puts the government educated kids at a disadvantage.  Just that day I was reading an article pertaining to government run schools vs private schools.  It stated that it is a disadvantage not to have English taught in the government schools, but it is difficult to find qualified teachers. Most of the governmental representatives send their kids to private school.

Yesterday the fifth puppy was there but unwelcome from the others. I wish I understood Dog dynamics so I could understand their interactions.   I decided that my favorite is Nimba. He is mellow, sometimes feisty, indifferent at times, but he does love his food and a neck rub. Whiskey is my least favorite as she is a bully, wouldn't want her at home! Now it's a choice between Spritey and Nimba. If I bring two home then at least they would have company while being quarantined at animal security. Who wants one???