While talking to my mom on the phone the other day, she and I began reminiscing about our hilarious and, at times, perilous adventures in India. She came to visit me for two weeks in the Spring of 2013 while I was living in Jaipur studying Hindi. As an American, traveling to India for the first time (and even subsequent times) can be difficult because of the immense culture shock awaiting you there.<\/p>\n
Almost everywhere you go, the crowds of people, melange of smells and sights (some good, some not so good) and the sheer nightmare that is local transportation can leave you feeling exhilarated, dizzy, confused and exhausted, all at the same time. For me as well, traveling to and living in India has always been a mixture of intense emotions, which I recall now with equally potent nostalgia. During my mom’s visit, we visited six towns and cities together: Jaipur\/\u091c\u092f\u092a\u0941\u0930<\/strong> (of course), New Delhi\/\u0928\u092f\u0940 \u0926\u093f\u0932\u094d\u0932\u0940<\/strong> (the capital or \u0930\u093e\u091c\u0927\u093e\u0928\u0940\/Raajdhaani<\/strong> of India), Chandigarh\/\u091a\u0902\u0921\u0940\u0917\u0922\u093c<\/strong> (in the Northwestern state of Punjab\/\u092a\u0902\u091c\u093e\u092c<\/strong>, which borders Rajasthan\/\u0930\u093e\u091c\u0938\u094d\u0925\u093e\u0928<\/strong>), McLeod Ganj\/\u092e\u0915\u0932\u0949\u0921 \u0917\u0902\u091c<\/strong> (where the Dalai Lama lives), Dharmshala\/\u0927\u0930\u094d\u092e\u0936\u093e\u0932\u093e<\/strong> (both this town and McLeod Ganj are in the Northern state of Himachal Pradesh\/\u0939\u093f\u092e\u093e\u091a\u0932 \u092a\u094d\u0930\u0926\u0947\u0936<\/strong>) and Amritsar\/\u0905\u092e\u0943\u0924\u0938\u0930<\/strong> (also in Punjab).<\/p>\n Read the dialogue below carefully to find out more about our adventures in North India:<\/p>\n \u092e\u093e\u0901:<\/strong> \u0915\u0948\u0938\u0940 \u0939\u094b, \u0930\u0947\u091a\u0932? \u0906\u091c \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0915\u093f\u092f\u093e?<\/p>\n Kaisi ho, Rachael? Aaj kyaa kiya?<\/strong><\/p>\n How are you, Rachael? What did you do today? <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u0930\u0947\u091a\u0932:<\/strong> \u0920\u0940\u0915 \u0939\u0942\u0901, \u092e\u093e\u0901 \u0964 \u0906\u091c \u092c\u0938 \u0915\u093e\u092e \u0915\u093f\u092f\u093e \u092e\u0948\u0902\u0928\u0947 \u0964 \u0924\u0941\u092e \u092c\u0924\u093e\u0913, \u0915\u0948\u0938\u0940 \u0939\u094b?<\/p>\n Thik huun, Ma. Aaj bas kaam kiyaa maine.<\/strong> Tum batao, kaisi ho? \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019m alright, Mom. Today I just worked. Tell (me), how are you? <\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u092e\u093e\u0901:<\/strong> \u092e\u0948\u0902 \u092d\u0940 \u0905\u091a\u094d\u091b\u0940 \u0939\u0942\u0901 \u0964 \u0906\u091c \u0915\u093f\u0938\u0940 \u0935\u091c\u0939 \u0938\u0947 \u092e\u0941\u091d\u0947 \u0939\u092e\u093e\u0930\u0947 \u0907\u0902\u0921\u093f\u092f\u093e \u0915\u0947 \u0938\u092b\u093c\u0930 \u0915\u0940 \u092f\u093e\u0926 \u0906 \u0930\u0939\u0940 \u0925\u0940 \u0964<\/p>\n Main bhi acchi huun. Aaj kisi vajah se mujhe hamaare India ke safar ki yaad aa rahi thi. <\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019m also well. Today for some reason I was recalling our trip to India. <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u0930\u0947\u091a\u0932:<\/strong> \u0905\u091a\u094d\u091b\u093e ? \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u092f\u093e\u0926 \u0906\u092f\u093e?<\/p>\n Accha? Kya kya yaad aaya? <\/strong><\/p>\n (Oh) really? What all did you remember? <\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u092e\u093e\u0901:<\/strong> \u092a\u0939\u0932\u0947, \u092e\u0915\u0932\u0949\u0921 \u0917\u0902\u091c \u0938\u0947 \u091a\u0902\u0921\u0940\u0917\u0922\u093c \u0924\u0915 \u0935\u093e\u0932\u0947 \u092c\u0938 \u0915\u093e \u0938\u092b\u093c\u0930 \u0964 \u092c\u0939\u0941\u0924 \u092d\u092f\u093e\u0928\u0915 \u0925\u093e! \u092c\u0938 \u0907\u0924\u0928\u0947 \u090a\u0901\u091a\u0947 \u092a\u0939\u093e\u0921\u093c \u0938\u0947 \u0907\u0924\u0928\u0940 \u0924\u0947\u091c\u093c\u0940 \u0938\u0947 \u091a\u0932 \u0930\u0939\u0940 \u0925\u0940 \u0964 \u0924\u0941\u092e\u0928\u0947 \u092e\u0941\u091d\u0947 \u092e\u0947\u0930\u0940 \u0906\u0901\u0916\u093c\u0947\u0901 \u092c\u0928\u094d\u0926 \u0915\u0930\u0928\u0947 \u0915\u094b \u0915\u0939\u093e \u0932\u0947\u0915\u093f\u0928 (\u092e\u0948\u0902) \u0905\u092a\u0928\u0940 \u0906\u0901\u0916\u0947\u0902 \u092c\u0928\u094d\u0926 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0915\u0930 \u092a\u093e\u092f\u0940!<\/p>\n Pehle, McLeod Ganj se Chandigarh tak vale bus kaa safar. Bahut bhayaanak tha! Bus itne unche pahaar se itni tezi se chal rahi thi. Tumne mujhe meri aankhe band karne ko kahaa lekin (main) apni aankhe band nahin kar paayi! \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n First, (I remembered) the bus trip from McLeod Ganj to Chandigarh. It was very terrifying! The bus was traveling on such a high mountain at such a fast pace. You told me to shut my eyes but I wasn\u2019t able to (shut them)!<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em>\u0930\u0947\u091a\u0932 (\u0939\u0901\u0938 \u0930\u0939\u0940 \u0939\u0948):<\/strong> \u0939\u093e\u0901, \u092e\u0941\u091d\u0947 \u092d\u0940 \u0909\u0938 \u0938\u092b\u093c\u0930 \u0915\u0940 \u092f\u093e\u0926 \u0939\u0948, \u0925\u094b\u0921\u093c\u093e \u092e\u091c\u093c\u0947\u0926\u093e\u0930 \u092d\u0940 \u0925\u093e \u0964 \u0932\u0947\u0915\u093f\u0928 \u0905\u091a\u094d\u091b\u093e \u0939\u0941\u0906 \u0915\u093f \u0905\u0902\u0924 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0939\u092e \u091a\u0902\u0921\u0940\u0917\u0922\u093c \u092a\u0939\u0941\u0901\u091a \u0917\u092f\u0940\u0902 \u0964<\/p>\n (Hans rahi hai): Haan, mujhe bhi us safar ki yaad hai, thoraa mazedaar bhi thaa. Lekin accha huaa ki ant me hum Chandigarh pahuch gayin. <\/strong><\/p>\n (laughing): Yes, I also remember that trip, it was sort of fun too. But it\u2019s good that, in the end, we arrived in Chandigarh. <\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u092e\u093e\u0901:<\/strong> \u0939\u093e\u0901, \u0932\u0947\u0915\u093f\u0928 \u091c\u092c \u092c\u0938 \u0930\u0941\u0915 \u0917\u092f\u0940, \u0939\u092e\u0928\u0947 \u0926\u0947\u0916\u093e \u0915\u093f \u0915\u093f\u0938\u0940 \u0915\u094b \u0939\u092e\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u092c\u0938 \u0915\u0947 \u0920\u0940\u0915 \u092a\u0940\u091b\u0947 \u0909\u0932\u091f\u0940 \u0906\u092f\u0940 \u0925\u0940, \u091c\u0939\u093e\u0901 \u0938\u0947 \u0939\u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0905\u092a\u0928\u093e \u0938\u093e\u092e\u093e\u0928 \u0932\u0947\u0928\u093e \u0925\u093e !<\/p>\n Haan, lekin jab bus ruk gayi, humne dekha ki kisi ko hamaari bus ke thik piche ulti aayi thi, jahaan se hume apnaa saamaan lenaa tha! <\/strong><\/p>\n Yes, but when the bus stopped, we saw that someone had thrown up right behind our bus, where we had to get our luggage from! <\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u0930\u0947\u091a\u0932 (\u092b\u093f\u0930 \u0938\u0947 \u0939\u0901\u0938 \u0930\u0939\u0940 \u0939\u0948):<\/strong> \u0939\u093e\u0901, \u0939\u093e\u0901 \u092e\u0941\u091d\u0947 \u092f\u093e\u0926 \u0939\u0948 \u0932\u0947\u0915\u093f\u0928 \u092e\u0941\u091d\u0947 \u0932\u0917\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0948 \u0915\u093f \u0935\u0939 (\u0909\u0932\u091f\u0940) \u0939\u092e\u093e\u0930\u0947 \u092a\u0939\u0932\u0947 \u0915\u0940 \u092c\u0938 \u0938\u0947 \u0925\u0940, \u0939\u092e\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u092c\u0938 \u0938\u0947 \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0964 \u092f\u0939 \u092d\u0940 \u092f\u093e\u0926 \u0939\u0948 \u0915\u093f \u092c\u0938 \u0938\u0947 \u0909\u0924\u0930\u0915\u0930 \u0939\u092e\u0928\u0947 \u0930\u093f\u0915\u094d\u0936\u093e \u092a\u0915\u0921\u093c \u0932\u0940 \u0914\u0930 \u0930\u093f\u0915\u094d\u0936\u093e \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u092c\u0948\u0920\u0928\u0947 \u0915\u0947 \u0920\u0940\u0915 \u092c\u093e\u0926 \u0935\u0939 \u0930\u093f\u0915\u094d\u0936\u093e\u0935\u093e\u0932\u093e \u0939\u092e\u0947\u0902 \u092e\u0928\u093e\u0928\u0947 \u0932\u0917\u093e \u0915\u093f \u0939\u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0926\u0942\u0938\u0930\u0947 \u0939\u094b\u091f\u0932 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0920\u0939\u0930\u0928\u093e \u091a\u093e\u0939\u093f\u090f \u0964<\/p>\n (Phir se hans rahi hai): Haan, haan mujhe yaad hai lekin mujhe lagta hai ki voh (ulti) humare pehle ki bus se thi, humaari bus se nahin. Yah bhi yaad hai ki bus se utarkar humne rickshaw pakar li aur rickshaw me baithne ke thik baad voh rickshawvala hume manaane lagaa ki hume dusre hotel me thehernaa chaahiye. <\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n (Laughing again): Yes, yes I remember (that) but I think that that (vomit) was from the bus before us, not from our bus. I also remember that we got down from the bus and caught a rickshaw and right after we sat down in the rickshaw, that rickshawvala (rickshaw driver) started convincing us that we should stay in another hotel. <\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u092e\u093e\u0901:<\/strong> \u0939\u093e\u0901, \u0909\u0938 \u092a\u0930 \u092e\u0941\u091d\u0947 \u0921\u0930 \u0932\u0917 \u0930\u0939\u093e \u0925\u093e \u0915\u093f \u0915\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0939\u092e \u0905\u092a\u0928\u0947 \u0939\u094b\u091f\u0932 \u092a\u0939\u0941\u0901\u091a \u0928\u093e \u092a\u093e\u092f\u0947\u0902 \u0964<\/p>\n Haan, us par mujhe dar lag rahaa thaa ki kahin hum apne hotel pahuch na payen. <\/strong><\/p>\n Yes, I was afraid (at that) that somehow we wouldn\u2019t be able to reach our hotel. <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u0930\u0947\u091a\u0932:<\/strong> \u092a\u0930, \u0905\u0902\u0924 \u092e\u0947\u0902, \u0939\u092e \u0938\u0941\u092c\u0939 \u0915\u0947 \u0915\u0930\u0940\u092c \u0922\u093e\u0908 \u092c\u091c\u0947 \u092a\u0939\u0941\u0901\u091a \u0917\u092f\u0940\u0902 \u0964 \u0939\u092e\u093e\u0930\u0947 \u0938\u092b\u093c\u0930 \u0915\u0940 \u0924\u0941\u092e\u094d\u0939\u093e\u0930\u0940 \u092a\u0938\u0902\u0926\u0940\u0926\u093e \u091c\u0917\u0939 \u0915\u094c\u0928\u0938\u0940 \u0925\u0940 ?<\/p>\n Par, ant me, hum subah ke karib dhai baje pahuch gayin. Humare safar ki tumhaari pasandeedaa jagah kaunsi thi? <\/strong><\/p>\n But, in the end we arrived at about 2:30 in the morning. What was your favorite place that we went to on our trip? <\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u092e\u093e\u0901:<\/strong> \u092e\u0947\u0930\u0947 \u0916\u093c\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0932 \u0938\u0947, \u092e\u0915\u0932\u0949\u0921 \u0917\u0902\u091c \u092c\u0939\u0941\u0924 \u0938\u0941\u0928\u094d\u0926\u0930 \u091c\u0917\u0939 \u0925\u0940, \u0932\u0947\u0915\u093f\u0928 \u0935\u0939\u093e\u0901 \u0906\u0928\u0947 \u0914\u0930 \u091c\u093e\u0928\u0947 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u092c\u0939\u0941\u0924 \u0926\u093f\u0915\u093c\u094d\u0915\u093c\u0924\u0947\u0902 \u0925\u0940\u0902 \u0914\u0930 \u0935\u0939\u093e\u0901 \u092a\u0930 \u092e\u091c\u093c\u0947 \u0915\u0930\u0928\u0947 \u0915\u0947 \u0932\u093f\u090f \u092c\u0939\u0941\u0924 \u091c\u093c\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0926\u093e \u0928\u0939\u0940\u0902 \u0925\u093e, \u091a\u0932\u0928\u0947 \u0914\u0930 \u091f\u094d\u0930\u0947\u0915\u094d\u0915\u093f\u0902\u0917 \u0915\u0930\u0928\u0947 \u0915\u0947 \u0905\u0932\u093e\u0935\u093e \u0964 \u092e\u0941\u091d\u0947 \u0932\u0917\u0924\u093e \u0939\u0948 \u0915\u093f \u0905\u092e\u0943\u0924\u0938\u0930 \u092e\u0947\u0930\u0940 \u092a\u0938\u0902\u0926\u0940\u0926\u093e \u091c\u0917\u0939 \u0925\u0940 \u0964<\/p>\n Ma: Mere khyaal se, McLeod Ganj bahut sundar jagah thi, lekin vahaan aane aur jaane me bahut dikkaten thin aur vahaan par maze karne ke liye bahut zyaadaa nahin thaa, chalne aur trekking karne ke alaavaa. Mujhe lagtaa hai ki Amritsar meri pasandeedaa jagah thi. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Mom: In my opinion, McLeod Ganj was a very beautiful place, but there was a lot of inconvenience (troubles) in coming and going there and there was not a lot to do for fun there, besides walking and trekking (hiking). I think that Amritsar was my favorite place. <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u0930\u0947\u091a\u0932:<\/strong> \u0905\u091a\u094d\u091b\u093e ? \u0915\u094d\u092f\u094b\u0902 \u0907\u0924\u0928\u093e \u092a\u0938\u0902\u0926 \u0906\u092f\u093e ?<\/p>\n Accha? Kyoon itna pasand aaya? <\/strong><\/p>\n Really? Why did you like it (Amritsar) so much? <\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u092e\u093e\u0901:<\/strong> \u0935\u0939\u093e\u0901 \u0915\u0947 \u0932\u094b\u0917 \u092c\u0939\u0941\u0924 \u092e\u093f\u0932\u0928\u0938\u093e\u0930 \u0925\u0947 \u0914\u0930 \u0916\u093e\u0928\u093e \u092d\u0940 \u092c\u0939\u0941\u0924 \u0905\u091a\u094d\u091b\u093e \u0925\u093e ! \u0905\u092e\u0943\u0924\u0938\u0930 \u0915\u0947 \u090f\u0915 \u092e\u0949\u0932 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u092a\u0939\u0932\u0940 \u092c\u093e\u0930 \u092e\u0948\u0902\u0928\u0947 \u092a\u093e\u0928\u0940 \u092a\u0942\u0930\u0940 (\u0917\u094b\u0932 \u0917\u092a\u094d\u092a\u0947) \u0914\u0930 \u0926\u0942\u0938\u0930\u0947 \u091a\u093e\u091f \u091a\u0916 \u0932\u093f\u092f\u0947; \u092c\u0939\u0941\u0924 \u092e\u091c\u093c\u093e \u0906\u092f\u093e !<\/p>\n Vahaan ke log bahut milansaar the aur khaanaa bhi bahut accha tha! Amritsar ke ek mall me pehli baar maine paani puri (gol gappe) aur dusre chaat chak liye; bahut mazaa aaya! <\/strong><\/p>\n The people there were very friendly and the food (also) was very good! In a mall in Amritsar, I tried\/tasted paani puri (gol gappe) and other types of chaat for the first time; it was a lot of fun! <\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u0930\u0947\u091a\u0932:<\/strong> \u0914\u0930 Golden Temple (\u0938\u094d\u0935\u0930\u094d\u0923 \u092e\u0928\u094d\u0926\u093f\u0930) \u0915\u0947\u00a0\u092c\u093e\u0930\u0947 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u0924\u0941\u092e\u094d\u0939\u093e\u0930\u0947 \u0915\u094d\u092f\u093e \u0916\u093c\u094d\u092f\u093e\u0932 \u0939\u0948\u0902?<\/p>\n Aur Golden Temple (Svarn Mandir) ke baare me tumhaare kyaa khyaal hain?\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n And what do you think (what are your thoughts) about the Golden Temple?<\/em><\/p>\n \u092e\u093e\u0901:<\/strong> \u0939\u093e\u0901, \u0935\u0939 \u092d\u0940 \u092c\u0939\u0941\u0924 \u0939\u0940 \u0938\u0941\u0928\u094d\u0926\u0930 \u0925\u093e \u0939\u093e\u0932\u093e\u0901\u0915\u093f \u092c\u093e\u0930\u093f\u0936 \u0915\u0947 \u092c\u093e\u0926 \u0935\u0939\u093e\u0901 \u091c\u093e\u0928\u0947 \u092e\u0947\u0902 \u092e\u0947\u0930\u0947 \u092a\u0948\u0902\u091f\u094d\u0938\u00a0<\/span>\u0916\u0930\u093e\u092c \u0939\u094b \u0917\u092f\u0947 \u0964 \u0924\u0941\u092e\u094d\u0939\u0947\u0902 \u0915\u094c\u0928\u0938\u093e \u0936\u0939\u0930 \u0938\u092c\u0938\u0947 \u092a\u0938\u0902\u0926 \u0906\u092f\u093e?<\/p>\n Haan, voh bhi bahut hi sundar tha halaanki baarish ke baad vahaan jaane me mere pants kharaab ho gaye. Tumhe kaunsa sheher sabse pasand aaya? \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Yes, that was also very beautiful even though, after the rain, my pants got ruined going there. Which city did you like the best? <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u0930\u0947\u091a\u0932:<\/strong> \u092e\u0941\u091d\u0947 \u092d\u0940 \u0905\u092e\u0943\u0924\u0938\u0930 \u0938\u092c\u0938\u0947 \u0905\u091a\u094d\u091b\u093e \u0932\u0917\u093e, \u0936\u093e\u092f\u0926 \u0939\u092e \u0906\u0917\u0947 \u091a\u0932\u0915\u0930 \u0935\u0939\u093e\u0901 \u090f\u0915 \u0914\u0930 \u0938\u092b\u093c\u0930 \u0915\u0930 \u0932\u0947\u0902\u0917\u0940 !<\/p>\n Mujhe bhi Amritsar sabse accha lagaa; shaayad hum aage chalkar vahaan ek aur safar kar lengi!\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n I also liked Amritsar the best; maybe we\u2019ll take another trip there in the future! <\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u092e\u093e\u0901:<\/strong> \u0936\u093e\u092f\u0926\u2026<\/p>\n Shaayad\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n Maybe\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n If this blog has gotten you in the mood for a bit of traveling, you’ll enjoy this Bollywood song “Yunh Hi Chalaa Chal Raahi” (\u092f\u094b\u0902 \u0939\u0940 \u091a\u0932\u093e \u091a\u0932 \u0930\u093e\u0939\u0940, Just Keep Going, Traveller)<\/strong> from the popular movie Swades\/\u0938\u094d\u0935\u0926\u0947\u0938 (One’s Own Country)<\/strong>:<\/p>\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=zKgm_wPh1HU<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" While talking to my mom on the phone the other day, she and I began reminiscing about our hilarious and, at times, perilous adventures in India. She came to visit me for two weeks in the Spring of 2013 while I was living in Jaipur studying Hindi. As an American, traveling to India for the…<\/p>\nVocabulary List <\/strong>(\u0936\u092c\u094d\u0926\u093e\u0935\u0932\u0940 \u0915\u0940 \u0938\u0942\u091a\u0940\/Shabdaavali ki Soochi):<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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