Sitting at Café Coffee Day, which is pretty much the Starbucks of India, I am writing and enjoying the beautiful day in Bangalore. I decide to get an iced coffee, which ordering is always a hassle. I want black coffee with ice and milk-no sugar. This is very difficult to communicate without speaking Kannada. She points at an ice cream shake with whip cream-the complete opposite of what I want. I have been more relaxed just taking in sugar in Malaysia and India, but it has cost me. Literally, I have gained weight on the scale from all this sugar intake.
After a few minutes with visuals and some Kannada, I think that she has it right-iced coffee with milk. As I am sitting nearby, I see her playing with a cup putting her hands all inside the cup and all over the outside rim. Like a hawk, I sit by and watch her continuously put her hands ALL over the cup. I think to myself, she must just be playing with an empty cup.
Next thing I know, the other girl finishes blending my coffee and goes to pour it inside the cup. Right before this happens, I shout “No, no, no.” Of course, they look at me and start laughing.
I say in English and use visual tactics to show them that you can not molest a customer’s cup with your hands. This was my American moment realizing that I am not in America and they do not care about germs or getting in trouble for doing it. This is India!
I honestly feel that God really tests me, especially when it comes to germs. I really failed this test as I shouted rudely, but I had to stop her from putting my coffee inside the molested cup.
Oh india!!!
Yeah.. this is something you need to get used to in India.. esp in South Indian eat-outs and the Indian chat masala eat-outs where hand is the norm. Not to worry, your system will build a resistance to the germs...
ReplyDeleteI once asked a Pan Shop owner as to why he makes a pan without using a plastic glove which is more hygienic.. (also the pan leaves a red color on the guys hands for days).. He answered that he once tried that and the customers were really unhappy as those plastic gloves gives them a dirty feeling as it reminds them of hospitals...
So what can be done in this case???