All white people look exactly alike.

Just the other day in the internet cafe I learned that I have a long lost twin! She just happens to have landed in Madurai, of all places, just like me! She looks very similar to me and in fact, has a name very similar to mine. Her name sounds something like a very garbled "Melanie." The funny thing is that my twin doesn't speak Tamil, while I do! HAHAHAHAHAHA! This is what the internet folks were telling me the other day. They were very amused at this coincidence, as was I. Imagine!

Well, folks, sorry to disappoint you, but I don't actually have a twin. At least not that I know of. You see, all white people look exactly the same. This is the source of the confusion. I threw things all out of kilter the other day when I came into the internet cafe and spoke a few English words to the girl here. When I showed up two days ago speaking Tamil she then got confused and mistook me for the girl who looks a lot like me and has the same name but doesn't speak Tamil. When I came in just now she looked at me with a very curious look like she was waiting for me to say something so she could figure out whether the English or Tamil twin had shown up today. I said nothing and instead utilized hand gestures which will no doubt introduce the possibility of triplets.

Also, just the other day a woman in my neighborhood swore up and down that I had been to the neighborhood last year for a housewarming party. I told her that I was in the U.S. so this was impossible. But as she herself said, since all white people look exactly the same, it's no wonder she got me confused.

Last night I actually made a friend in the neighborhood. Her name is Prabhu and I guess she's in her early 20s. Somewhat surprisingly she is not married but is working at the Corporation office, which I gather is a pretty good job.
She and her family invited me in for coffee. Very nice folks. Her father told me that I was welcome anytime and that I should consider him as my adopted father while I am here.

Prabhu asked me how did it make me feel that everyone in the neighborhood is making fun of me, thinking I don't know Tamil, every time I set foot on the street? Hearing her say this actually made me feel pretty bad. I have sort of been in denial about the extent of the provincial behavior I have received, but when she confirmed it I sort of couldn't ignore it. I told her that it made things difficult. The fact of the matter is that I am just completing ignoring it, or trying to. But sometimes I realize just how much of an alien people think I am and it's difficult. I know that I'll never exactly fit in, but I do wish that the harassment would subside somewhat. It makes me want to run away to another neighborhood for sure.

But why would I want to leave Meenambalpuram when the Mariamman festival is about to crank up, with *48 hours* of non-stop cone speakers blaring music at ear-splitting volumes throughout the day and night? This is going to be interesting!

Turns out that Panguni Masam (the Tamil month that we are currently in) is a big time for Mariamman festivals and for other important functions as well, especially ear-piercing ceremonies for kids. A lady tailor that I have made acquaintance with has invited me to two such ceremonies next month, and both of Chellapandi's kids will be having theirs done at Pandikovil, a temple on the outskirts of town. I am very much looking forward to witnessing these, though probably not the goat sacrifice part, I have to say.

Roommate/Lizard: The ugly creatures supposedly eat mosquitoes, but my house is full of both somehow.

Yesterday I used the kerosene stove for the first time in an effort to make coffee. Right after this photo was taken, I accidentally let the pot explode and boil over, pretty much ruining the stove. Way to go! This is why cooking in India should be left to the hands of trained professionals.