As I walk to class each day or go to the fruit and veggie market the sights and sounds of Pune are quite distinct. Turning the corner onto a main street, the oncoming traffic generally resembles a motorcycle convention -- and that's just a normal day's traffic.
I generally pass a person doing various kinds of repair work as he sits on the ground in baddha konasana, cobbler pose, with the bottoms of his feet together. Is one thing to do it in class for a few minutes, but quite another to sit like that for much of the day.
Across the street from him a group of elderly men often gather on the curb, with one squatting in the street in malasana, his upper arms on his knees, looking perfectly comfortable as he chats with his friends.
I now understand how it is that pedestrians, especially from the U.S., can get hit here. Even after a week here it still feels strange to have to look right first, then left before crossing a street instead of vice-versa. Jane, who has been here several times, has been a big help in getting me oriented to crossing streets safely.
I generally pass a person doing various kinds of repair work as he sits on the ground in baddha konasana, cobbler pose, with the bottoms of his feet together. Is one thing to do it in class for a few minutes, but quite another to sit like that for much of the day.
Across the street from him a group of elderly men often gather on the curb, with one squatting in the street in malasana, his upper arms on his knees, looking perfectly comfortable as he chats with his friends.
I now understand how it is that pedestrians, especially from the U.S., can get hit here. Even after a week here it still feels strange to have to look right first, then left before crossing a street instead of vice-versa. Jane, who has been here several times, has been a big help in getting me oriented to crossing streets safely.
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