Questions and Answers about India
Now that I’ve been in India for a week, I feel a bit more prepared to answer some of the GREAT questions I’ve been getting. Here it goes:
As for food, I’ll let some pictures speak for me:
Dinner in Bodh Gaya - noodles with an Indian sauce
Mashed Potatoes with Mushrooms and Onions - I was craving a taste of home when I saw “mashed potatoes”, and figured I’d order them with a twist (the mushrooms and onions). This is what I got - and they were delicious!
Breakfast today (Fri, 1/18) was “banana toast” - the bananas were toasted right into the middle - and chai - A type of thick tea with a bit of milk (it’s kind of the national drink of India).
Here are some friends I’ve made on the streets of India:
Monkeys on the rooftop next to my hotel in Varanasi
A cow wandering around Varanasi train station
A puppy and some birds on the bank of the Ganges River in Varanasi
A goat on the walkway alongside the Ganges River in Varanasi.
A street in Varanasi - oh yeah, and another cow!
A cow eating leaves that had been used as bowls for food by humans on a street of Varanasi
A cow in the middle of Traffic in Varanasi
Hope this gives you a little insight into the food and animal life in Varanasi.
Thanks for checking in!
“Guru” Roberg
hey. is india fun?
I know that India has been westernizing but what makes that most evident?
My Reply
Sarah, you are on the ball! Another great question.
India’s westernization is mostly technological. In fact, I would call it modernizing rather than westernizing because they westernized (became more like the West) under British rule from 1800 - 1948. As a result of that period, there is an amazing mix between Indian and British culture, especially reguarding language. English is incredibly wide-spread. Most middle class Indians and all Indians involved in the travel and tourism industry speak English very well. A majority of the signs and advertisements are in English first and Sanskrit second, if at all.
As for modernization, India seems to be progressing quickly regarding modern technology. Of course many Americans think of call centers when they think of ‘modern’ India, but that is a VERY small part of their economy. In fact, the only city that I will be going to (or have been to) that has a call center is Delhi, the nation’s capital. The perception that India is wired, however, is correct. Many middle class Indians have a cell phone. If they don’t, there are ‘pay’ phones that are run by as small businesses where it’s possible to make a 2 minute local phone call for 2 Rupis (5 cents). I have also been able to call home for as little as 3 cents per minute. One of my favorite days was when I spent about an hour talking to my wife over the internet using Skype (a program that uses ‘Voice over internet Protocol’ [VoiP] to transfer sound over the internet) for only 30 Rupis (75 cents). I was even able to use the webcam they have so she could see me, and I would have been able to see her if we had a webcam at home.
So, the answer to your question, in short this time, is that I think the technological manifestations of cell phones and internet access are the most striking symbols of India’s modernization.
Again, thanks for another great question.
Mr. Roberg
hello mr. roberg
just wanted to let u know i am enjoying you website very fasinating. just wanted to say hi, have fun and be careful
hey Mr.Roberg
where are having so much fun reading what you’ve put on the website.and it is really fun to look at all of the pictures that you have postited for us to look at.they are very intersting.i am having a lot of fun with all the things that you have put on the website
What is the climate & geography like where you are right now?
What are some of your favorite foods so far?
What animals have you seen in India?
My Answers:
The Climate:
Right now, it is about 75 degrees and sunny, even though it is “winter” in India. It has not rained since I’ve been here (1 week so far) because it is the dry season. India’s weather is affected by seasonal winds called ‘monsoons’. These winds bring dry weather when they come from the north (during the winter months of November through February). During the summer season, the monsoons shift and come from the south, bringing VERY wet weather. During the wettest months, they get 20 inches or more during a month! In Coxsackie-Athens, we get about 40 inches of precipitation (rain or snow) in the whole year, so you can imagine how much it rains every day when they get 20 inches in one month!
My Favorite Foods:
This is a difficult one to answer, because I will eat just about anything. As far as food goes, I have no fear. I will try anything, and even if I don’t like it once, I will try it again another time to see if it was just that one place or whether I really don’t like the dish.
So, I have not had one bad meal yet. I have really enjoyed trying all of the different meals. For the most part, Indian food is very spicy. It has a lot of flavor and goes very well with rice. Overall though, I haven’t decided what is my favorite dish yet. There are SO MANY to try!
See the pictures and descriptions of meals I’ve had above.
The Animals
One of the amazing things about the Indian cities I’ve visited so far is the animals who are allowed to wander around. Cows walk through the train stations, dogs are everywhere, and goats and bulls hang around the riverside.
I’ve posted some of the pictures of the animals I’ve seen just wadering around in the space above.
Thanks for the GREAT questions. If you have any more, please ask.
Schubs wanted me to tell you to check out http://www.nygiants.com. This will give you tons of info. on the Giants. Being that the Roberg’s are superstitious, I told him that you need to stay in India unitl they win the Superbowl!!!!
Helen and I are enjoying your blogs.
My Reply
Thanks for checking in Uncle Bill!
Hi, Mr. Roberg,
Can
t wait to bring the kids down to the computer lab to check out all the animals in the pictures you’ve posted! Lots of great questions and answers!
Ms. Roberg
Hey Leif! Great blog! Thanks for keeping us updated- I feel like I am right there with you. Enjoy the rest of your journey!
I have read that there is alot of homelessness on the streets of India. Although that is usually expected in a big city is it worse than say NYC? and do you see the homelessness in the country side or are they self sustaining farm villages?
My Reply
There IS a lot of homelessness in the streets of India, though it depends on the city one is in. For example, Kolkata (formerly spelled Calcutta), has more homelessness than I have ever seen. It makes NYC pale in comparison, from what I know. However, I have not seen homelessness to that extent in other cities, like the one I’m in right now (Lucknow). One of the reasons that homelessness is such a problem in Kolkata is that many of the poor peasants from outlying areas have come into Kolkata to find jobs (which is usually what happens when a place is building industry). Unfortunately, many unskilled and uneducated workers have a tough time finding jobs and end up on the streets. India is developing VERY quickly, but with it comes differences between rich and poor.
As for the villages, most of the people have a home, but nothing like what we are used to. The one house I visited had two rooms, a dirt floor, and one light bulb for two children and a mother (and this was average or better than average for this particular village).
On the other hand, the growing middle class is doing very well in India. Many Indians in the cities are dressed well, have cell phones and motorbikes, and have a solid job. However, it will take some time to filter all of the way down to the millions of poor.
Happy Birthday Old Man!!!
Take a picture of whatever it is you get for a cake!
Matt
Thank you for answering our questions. We enjoyed your comments about food, animals, and climate. We all agree that we would love to try banana toast. Also, we are really enjoying the pictures of India. Keep them coming. Can’t wait to see pictures of Israel (we think that is where you are going next).
Het Lafe,
Lonely yet? I see you have a new love in your life (flat kat) very cute. The pictures look amazing. Someday when I marry well, I too, will live the life of leisure that you have created for yourself. I realize its not all fun and games, what with having to write in a journal and keep up the website. How is the beer there, had any yet?
My Reply
Flat Kat has been a great companion. It’s nice to have someone to take pictures of me. 
Nice spelling of my name Neekee.
As for the blog, it actually has been taking about 1 - 2 hours per day to try to keep up with it. It’s all worth it though when I get comments and my wife tells me how many people are telling her that they are checking up on me.
As for the beer, there aren’t many choices. Many Indians don’t drink alcohol because of their religion (
strict
Muslims + Hindus consider the consumption of alcohol somewhat of a sin). I have tried one though, and it’s not as tasty as one at home shared with friends.
Thanks for checking in.
Dear Mr Roberg
Have you been to Germany? If so, do you now any words? because im german
My Reply
Guten Tag, Chris.
I kenne Deutch, und bin ein bischen Deutsch auch. Sprichst du Deutsch?
(English Translation)
Good Day Chis.
I know German, and am a bit German (in heritage) too. Do you speak German?
Dear Mr.Roberg,
Is flatcat still making you sleep on the floor?How are things going in indina?Did you make alot of new friends?
Sincerly,Morgan Douglas
Dear Mr.Roberg,
How is Flat Kat? Where is your next place?
Sincerely,
Devin Meier
Dear Mr. Roberg,
What place will you visit next? If you aren’t sure where would you like to go?
My greatest question though is, how are you getting this information, are you asking people, are you getting tour things? I’m not too sure but that is all.
From,
A student of Ms. Roberg
My Reply
Hi Tyler,
I’m currently in Amritsar, and I’m going to Delhi, the capital of India. Before I left for India, I set out a general plan of the cities I wanted to visit and how long I would stay in each place (see on of my early blog entries for more information and a map I made to show people where I was going). I used a travel book from a publisher called Lonely Planet, which has been REALLY helpful.
However, no book can have all of the answers, so I’ve been asking Indians I meet along the way and other travelers for help and advice whenever I need it. Everyone has been really helpful.
For the most part, I haven’t taken any tours. Generally, I just haven’t taken the time to schedule them, though I probably should have. Even without the tours, I’ve learned A LOT about India just by being here.
Thanks for asking such GREAT questions!
Sincerely,
Mr. Roberg
P.S. Remind Ms. Roberg that her BROTHER is the smarter, better-looking Roberg child…
Hi, i’m from Ms.Roberg’s class. I was wondering what is your favorite thing in India. Food,relgion ect.?
From,
Matt Serignese
Have you tried aloo gobi yet? It’s so yummy:) We made it in our cooking class last year when we were studying India:)
My Reply
Thanks for the suggestion!!!
I tried it today because of your recommendation. I AGREE, it was “yummy”.
How is the food in India?
My Reply
Very different. Very spicy. I’m trying to get used to it.
How is their hygiene? Do they take showers? Do they wash their hands before eating?
My Reply
The Indian people are very clean for the most part. In fact, I’ve been in restaurants where there is a sink on the wall so that people don’t have to do into the bathroom in order to wash their hands.
An interesting fact: Indians believe that it is “unclean” to eat with their left hand because that is the hand they have traditionally wiped their bottoms with after they are done going to the bathroom. As a result, it is more acceptable to eat with your right hand only in India.
how is the food in india?
Hi! How was India? I thought the pictures you took were really good and quite nice. I have question I like to ask and it is What kind of other things did you see in India?
Hope you have a good time in India. I like the golden buddha. The well and bullet holes were very interesting. It proves the people in India were very tough. Sergey
Hi. I hope your having a great time in India!! I was just wondering how the cultures in India are different then here n the United States. Hope you enjoy the rest of your time there!!
Bye
Wow! The memorials look amazing…are there many of them there?? And…if you know…why are the cows randomly wandering the streets??
What is your favorite food in India??
My Reply
Surprisingly, it was “Spinich and Cheese Paneer”, which is spinach and cheese mixed with an unfermented cottage cheese dish. It was a bit soupy, but it tasted SO GOOD on the chipati (kind of like a thick pita bread).
Hi Mr. Roberg,
I saw all the pictures of food you took, but I never saw any type of desert. What deserts do they serve?
My Reply
Great question Jessica! I have been so full from the meals, that I’ve rarely ordered desert. However, I have had ice cream over here, and it is just as good as at home (they have both hard and soft ice cream too).
Their sweets are a bit different. To be honest, I don’t like them as much as the sweets at home, but that’s just my taste.
I’ll try to order more desserts… just for you, of course!
What do the people do when animals are in the middle of the road?
My Reply
Finally, a bit of an easier question to answer!! Thanks!
Answer: They simply go around them, no questions asked.
Are the people in india friendly and willing to help you? Or do they just ignore you?
My Reply
Actually, they are almost TOO happy to help me. They always want me to buy the food they are selling, or bring me into their friend’s shop, or give me a ride in their vehicle… always for a price of course.
It is actually a bit hard to get used to all of the people saying “Hello!” because they are trying to get your attention so they can sell you something!!
heller what are doin y come there s no cars and y is the cow in the road!!!! nasty they loooook sick.
OMG!
I hope you are having fun there! Why are those cows all over? Do they like cows so much even though they look like that!? Hope you have fun…
My Reply
Thanks Robert. I am having A LOT of fun!
As for the cows, they just wander around, eating and not hurting anyone. Kind of like Coxsackie!!!
Hi Mr. Roberg:
What is the strangest thing you’ve seen?
Tough question. I’d say the animals in the road.
Are the customs really different in india?
VERY different in some ways. For the most part, people all want the same thing everywhere, though (a good family, enough money to have a good life, and happiness in general.
Are the people nice to travelers?
Most people are very nice to travelers. I have felt very comfortable here.
Do they stop traffic if there is a cow in the road?
The traffic doesn’t stop. They just go around the cow, or get it to move.
hi
Hi Mr. Roberg.
Were the monkeys on the roof noisy?
My Reply
They were when they were wrestling on the metal roof above me!! I was sitting out on at roof-top restaurant when that happened.
Otherwise, they haven’t bothered anyone or made a lot of noise, from what I’ve seen.
Dear Mr. Roberg,
No offence to anyone in India, but the food there that you have showed in your pictures, does not look very appetizng. There seems to be alot of cows there, and they are EVERYWHERE. When you walk down the streets, is there as much cow poop as there are cows? Good luck with the rest of your trip,
From,
Catie
My Reply
The food doesn’t always taste the way it looks. Sometimes it’s worse, sometimes it’s A LOT better.
There is A LOT of cow poop on the streets.
Dear mr Roberg,
hope youhad a great trip so far in india. i’m sure you been having a great time. bet you can’t wait till you come home. enjoy your ride home be safe
Mr. Roberg,
I hope that your trip is going nice and smooth.
How many languages are there in India?
There are 22 official languages recognized by the Indian Constitution, 29 languages are spoken by at least 1 million Indians each, and more than 122 languages spoken by 10,000 people or more. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_India )
What are some of the most famous sites that can be found in India?
See my blog entries. I saw a lot of famous sites (like the Taj Majal, the ghats in Varanasi, the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata (aka Calcutta), etc.)
How do most of the people travel in India?
There are extensive train and road systems, so people mostly use public transportation. I’ve used trains mostly, because they are reliable, comfortable and cheap. Some people fly from city to city, then use buses and trains. I even met a guy who had bought a motorcycle and was riding through India on that!
What was the most interesting thing that you have done in India?
Sorry, but that’s an impossible one to answer. It’s all been interesting for different reasons.
Hope that your trip keeps you safe.
Thanks for the great questions Brian.
How will your trip to India impact your life when you return to the States?
My Reply
Great question. First, I think it will make me a much better teacher (at least I hope so). It has been really educational to see this fascinating country, or at least some parts of it.
Second, I think that I’ll be more responsive when I see examples of poverty on TV. Although most Indians are not poor, I have seen examples of extreme poverty up close for the first time in my life. I’ve had children who obviously have difficult lives tapping me on the shoe as I sat in a train station or tugging at my sleeve as I walked down a street begging for money. I’ve never had a more direct experience with that type of poverty before, and it was really difficult (and if it was difficult for me to see, it must be very difficult to be that child). Overall, I think I will be more generous (I plan on finding a reliable charity to donate money to benefit poor children in India and the rest of the world when I get home).
Again, thanks for a thought-provoking question Mike.
Hey Mr. Roberg,
So, when you meet people doing the same thing as you, do you like travel with them or are they just passing through and they keep on their ways? And how is the food in India? is it better than our greasy American food? =] well good luck india and keep safe…
Michelle Meigs
My Reply
When I meet people, sometimes we plan to meet up the next day to visit a monument together, and other times we just leave it at a pleasant conversation. Iit depends on the situation, and the people.
I have been fortunate enough to meet some really cool people along the way. I’ve received e-mails from half a dozen who have checked out my blog after meeting me. There’s no way to tell if I’ll ever see any of them again, but they have all been fun to get to know.
As for the food, I’m not a huge fan of really spicy food, so some dishes have been a bit much for me. I do like trying new things, though, so it has been quite an adventure when it has come to the food.
Hi Leif,
I’ve finally had time to catch up with your blog. Last time I checked it you had only been gone a couple of days. It sounds as if you are having the time of your life. It’s always interesting to immerse yourself into another culture, especially when you meet natives along the way. Your return will be an adjustment to say the least. Perhaps the question to ask is what have you missed most while you’ve been away?
So sorry you will miss the Super Bowl…more squares for me!!!
See you soon.
Sharon
My Reply
I miss my wife and family, a soft, comfortable bed, and the familiar food (but I wouldn’t have changed anything about the trip!).
Thanks for checking in.
Uncle Leif,
I can’t believe you forgot your camera the other day. I’ve learned so much about India and how they worship animals so much. Did you know that cows are there sacred animals? You probably already know that.
I did know that, but I’m very impressed that you knew that Brianna! Good Job!
What is your favorite Indian food so far? If you come up with it, tell me because we have to make a food from the country that we are studying in seminar.
I actually like Paneer (which is a type of fermented cottage cheese I think).
I also like the Nan, which is a flat bread kind of like a pita that can be served plain, folded over and filled with chicken, or just have butter put on it.
Right now we are studying the animals and there habitats. We already studied the climate, regions or Biomes, physical features and location, but I feel like I’ve learned way more than that! Bye!!!!!!!!!!
Keep it up Brianna! I’m proud of you for being so excited about learning new things.
Aw yay! Have you tried Carrot Halva then? I’m not sure if they would call it something different over there…I didn’t really like it though, I was just wondering if you did:)
My Reply
I haven’t seen Carrot Halva on the menu anywhere. It might be a regional dish. Like grits are served in the South of the U.S., India has certain dishes that are regional specialties.
I’d really like to try the Carrot Halva though. Maybe you can tell me how to make it (or even better, a restaurant I can go to to have it, so I don’t mess up the recipe)!
Haha:) Hm, well like I said it could be called something else too, I was looking it up online and when I put in “carrot halva” it also came up with “Gajar Ka Halwa” So maybe that could be it? haha:)
Well here this a recipe if you dare to try and make it yourself! (don’t worry its not some random one either, it’s the same one my teacher gave us): http://festivals.iloveindia.com/diwali/gajar-halwa.html
Ok, so have you had hummus then? I completely forgot all about that. We made it with Naan, and it was soooo good. That was probably my second favorite thing we made:)
My Reply
Thanks for the recipe!! I’ll definitely try the recipe for Gajar Ka Halwa (though I’ll try to get a better cook than myself to try it for me so I don’t mess it up).
I have had hummus, which is ok. But the naan (a type of bread that’s like a thick pita) was one of my favorite things too.
Have you lost weight since you left America and American food?
My Reply
I don’t know if I’ve lost any weight, but if I have its because of the walking I’ve done, and not the food. From what I’ve seen of Israeli food, it’s almost as fattening as American food, but they eat it in more reasonable portions. There’s no need for take home containers after a meal in Israel, which is what makes the most sense anyway, doesn’t it?
Dear Mr Roberg,
I hope you have fun in Israel. Be careful you don’t know what is lurking in the shadows. All of the sudden a cow or a monkey can jump out of an alley. But what is the chances of that, right? Well have a good time!!!!!!
My Reply
Thanks Matt. I haven’t seen any monkeys, and I don’t know if cows can really jump, but I’ll watch out for those alleys!
See you soon.
Hi Mr. Roberg
I really love your website (especally the pictures!). Ms.Roberg gave me this website and I’ve been really excited to go on it! I really want to travel and this website is really interesting! So how are other countrys different from the US? As in if you were going to take a walk on the street how is it different? The people? The street signs?
-Katrina
Hi Katrina,
When walking down the streets of a different country, there is bound to be something different, whether it is the architecture, the way people are dressed, some food being sold by a street vendor, or even the traffic patterns.
One of the things that I’ve noticed in China is that some of the traffic laws seem to be more like flexible guidelines to some drivers. For example, some people on mopeds simply go cautiously through red lights rather than waiting for them to turn green! Also, when there are not traffic lights to stop the traffic, pedestrians have to navigate through traffic at a crosswalk as carefully as they can through oncoming traffic. It’s almost like playing a real-life version of “Frogger”!
It is always fun to explore a new place. I hope you make it happen as soon as you can!
Thanks for your kind comments and good questions.
Dear Mr. Roberg,
I hope that your trip is going smoothly. I was wondering about somethings in China. What do the people dress like? What kinds of food do they eat besides rice(if they do eat that)? What is the strangest kind of food you have eaten? What is the most busy city? What kind of traditons do they have? Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip.
Thanks for such great questions Brian. I’m actually going to let Flat Kat answer those, because he was just about to write a blog entry about those specific topics. Check out his page for the answers.