July 27

I am in my apartment and am adjusting to the small space. The electrical voltage is higher here, so plugs are different.  I have been plugging my computer into a converter and I kept noticing that I could feel electricity running around the edge of the computer and buzzing my arms.  It dawned on me that the charge was not being entirely used by my computer so the excess was running around the edge.  Once I unplugged the computer, it stopped biting me.  Electric service is very expensive here. All electrical outlets, water heater, and air conditioning units have turn off switches.  To turn on the stovetop, you have two separate switches to use.  I have not seen the bill yet, but I am sure I will be impressed.

Yesterday was the Ghost Festival.  It is a Chinese and possibly Buddhist celebration based on the lunar calendar.  Along the streets, people left gifts of fruit and other items for their deceased relatives who are believed to return to the realm of the living on this day.  There are burners along the street for the burning of incense, paper money, and paper-mache items shaped like gold and clothing, items the relative would like. 

Burner for offerings

Food offerings and incense burners

Rather than thinking that is this idea is weird, let’s consider our cultural history.  In the pre-Christian tradition of Europe (nature-based spirituality), our ancestors had a similar tradition on Halloween based on the solar calendar.  It was the day that the veil between the spirit and material world was thin.  It was believed that spirits could be seen and/or experienced.  The Christian church in their efforts to convert the pagans created a related celebration on Nov. 1 and calling it All Saints Day.   In addition, they gave Halloween a scary story.  Much of that scary story is acted out in Halloween costumes and decorations today.  Sorry if I sound like a teacher; I can't resist the impulse.

Tonight I went out to dinner with another teacher and his wife in Little India, a section of the city that is almost completely Indian.   We went to a great Indian restaurant.  It was truly unimpressive on the outside, but the food was incredible.  They had a 10 page menu with every form of Indian food other than the name of the bread, I could not read the words.  Fortunately, they had pictures.   Afterwards, we walked down the local streets; they were teaming with Indians, mostly males.   They sat in large groups on the sidewalk or congregated around their cars and trucks right on the edge of the very narrow, one-way streets.  There were very few women out in the streets.  I could have been in India itself.