Little cultural misinterpretations

Today we are in Madurai...smack dab in the middle of Tamil Nadu. A fairly decent town with a very big elaborate temple (Meenakshi Temple). But I don't want to talk about temples...rather, what we've been spending most of our time thinking about: cultural harrassment. By this I mean simple little cultural differences (and big ones I guess) that can drive you NUTS!!!! when you're not in the right mood....or most of the time, that is.

Some highlights:

"Pepsi madam!" "Monkey madam" "Tsshst! Rickshaw...hey rickshaw madam!" (We are perfecting the disapproving scowl"

"Hey madam...where you from? Canada? Ah...I'm a tailor...tshhh I smoke marajuana grass!" (said in a devilish whisper)

And then there is the restaurant phenomenon...which is a regular occurrence as we eat about 3 meals a day:

US: "Hi...we'd like to order 3 pineapple juices, one aloo paratha, plain rice, channa masala and 2 corn soups and out hot and sour soup"

man: you want mango lassi? indian thali's are really good...south indian thali comes with rice, raita, naan...(cut off)

US: no we'd like 3 pineapple choices, one aloo paratha, plain rice...(cut off)

man: just a minute madam (goes and gets a second man)
2nd man: yes?

US: umm..we'd like 3 pineapple juices...(cut off)

2nd man: 3 pineapple juices...we only have watermelon juice and orange juice.

US: then 3 watermelon juices!!! :/

2nd man: ah, 3 watermelon juices! (turns to original man, mutters something in tamil, gives an enlightened look, laughs and then both men disappear

US: sigh......(we see original man coming by again and we flag him down. He ignores us and we wait 5 minutes and then we see him again and flag him down) "Excuse me, we'd like to order!"

man: "Just a minute madam!" (Goes and gets second man)
2nd man: Yes? (takes out a notebook...halleluiah!)

US: umm, we'd like a stuffed paratha, channa masala, plain rice, 2 corn soups and one hot and sour soup...(roll our eyes and look exasterbated)

2nd man (says amazingly) stuffed paratha, one, channa masala...only one? corn soup, 2 and one hot/sour soup?

US: yes!!!!! (this continues...the men return 2-3 times usually just to double check and we re-order till it all appears)

You may think I'm exaggerating...but I'm not...not in the slightest. maybe not every restaurant is this bad, but most. We're learning that people don't like to listen to you, or take 3-4 repetitions to get it right. We like it especially when people assume they know what you want and where you want to go and blatently don't listen to what you're actually trying to say!!

So much fun!