Fresh Eyes

I had some time between checking out of the hotel and getting a car to the airport, and set off to wander towards the coast (Back Bay, as I believe it is called).  The streets do not go directly in that direction, so there was a lot of winding back and forth.  You learn that walking in the street is often the best thing to do, as vendors, dwellers and uncovered drain basins make the sidewalk a maze, and slightly dangerous.

I’ve the definite feeling of being a stranger in a strange land (thank you, Leon Russell).  People stare at me – taller than everyone, white, wearing strange clothes.  I smile when I feel it’s safe and kids, young boys to be clear, try out their English on me:  “Hallo!!!”

Down one street there was a quieter lane to the right, with trees and fewer people walking.  I took it, and as I went down that road I came upon a local garden (the Sagar Upvan Garden).  It was closed until 4:30.  What to do?

Just as I was considering my options some boys waved and said hello.  There was a pack of them – the street was a dead end, and they were using it as a cricket field.   Or pitch.  Or whatever you call it.  Let’s see; kids playing ball, me with time on my hands.

That was the first time I’ve ever ‘bowled’ – I got it past the kid with the bat, and all the kids cheered.  They crowded around me asking me where I was from.  Not a one of them guessed the US.  It was England, Australia, Brazil (???), Portugal (???), and on and on.  Nothing more energetic than a group of kids out of school!  We talked for a while, and then Allison called – so I put them all in a bunch and gave them the signal to yell ‘Hello!” to Allison.  It was a hoot.  They said they were dancers, so I took some pics of their ‘moves’ – and they all crowded around to get a glimpse of the photos, and of course make fun of each other.

My impromptu team

I said goodbye to them, and they all yelled goodbye, smiling and waving.  I made my way to the now open gates of the garden, and then heard a chorus from behind me:  “I love you!!”

“I love you too!!”

I’ve recently arrived in Ahmedabad, India for a work assignment.  This has been something I have looked forward to (and hoped to do) for some time.  I have never been to India, so this is all new.  Newness challenges us, as you know, to see thing differently – or, I believe, in worse cases, to close ourselves up and harden our imported points of view and beliefs and see them only as stark contrasts as compared with what we encounter abroad.

At this point in my life, I am determined to see what’s new for me with open (okay let’s say it, *fresh*) eyes.  With closed eyes would just result in bruises, right?

Speaking of bruises.  I almost hurt myself laughing on my first morning commute to the Duke CE office in Ahmedabad, on the campus of the Indian Institute of Management.  My driver, whose name I unfortunately can’t spell and can only barely pronounce, welcomed me into the Suzuki sedan from the Royal Orchid hotel, and away we went.

Into the melee.

There is nothing better than good fast food.

Okay okay.  I know.  It’s not good for you, and we should all examine our eating habits and think about the extremes to which we consume foods that are damaging our personal health as well as our health system.  It’s noted in Bob Johansen’s (of the Institute for the Future) book Get There Early that the world now has as many overweight people as underfed people.

So we moderate.  Okay.

So we will go once in a while to a local fast food restaurant not just for the quick service of happily (are they *really* happy?  maybe so, given this economy) employed teens, but also for the quality of the burgers, frozen custard and fries that Andy’s provides.

Jack at work

Oh, and Jack works there.

Jack works behind the counter, wearing the company colors, with the guys in charge of cooking and preparing the food.  Jack is my son.

And I’m flipping out.

Is it just me (rhetorical, thanks) or have the years spun by like a tilt-a-whirl or the scrambler?  At times, those rides made you feel giddy, sick, afraid, or elated.  Sometimes they go really quickly and you wonder what happened, and at other times you actually wish you could mind-control the operator into stopping the damned thing.

I’m flipping out (mildly, don’t worry) because I stepped off the tilt-a-whirl and my boys have grown into young men.  I’m sure many of you will have heard similar remarks or are living these same feelings.  I find myself saying “I have two boys”, still thinking of them with their backpacks-bigger-than-themselves and period lunch pails (think TNMT).

Now I have a young man flipping burgers at the best fast food place in town, entering his senior year of high school.  And I have another young man who is a college student, figuring out what it means to be an adult, pursue a specialty, and plan his own future.

They won’t read this blog, so I’ll tell you; I love them both.  I’ll tell them when I see them, or sooner when I text them.  And if you’re ever in Mebane with a hankerin’ for old-time fast food with cheerful, quick service – go to Andy’s.

And say hi to Jack, if you see him.

Ref.  Get There Early, Bob Johansen, Institute for the Future, 2007