Desi Buzz - Volume 1 - User Articles

I have become a mobile multiplication  machine (especially for the number 50)... In fact, I can multiply any number with 50 and give you the answer in less than 10 seconds.  I know that the actual conversion factor is about 48 point something, but 50 is an easier number to multiply with.

I know its common among the "new" Indian students in the USA to convert the dollars to the Indian rupees. But I think I have become addicted to the conversion. Last week I went grocery shopping for the first time. I was amazed by the kind of things that were available. I spent some time browsing the aisles, and thought that it was truly an all in all store.

Then it came time to actually start buying. I wanted some bread, milk, yogurt and sugar. I pulled out Wheat Bread (because it was good for health). I saw the price: $3.75! I was baffled. Never in my life have I bought a single loaf of bread for approxiamtely Rs 187. I sheepishly put back the wheat bread, and looked around the shelf for the least expensive type of bread available (The "healthy" wheat bread was now forgotten),  all the while putting up an act as if I was looking for the best quality. Then I found the "cheapest" @ $1.75. I bought it. The other items were left behind for reasons you now know.

I went home and carefully put the loaf of bread on top of the refrigerator. The next morning my stomach was rumbling. It was breakfast time, so I thought I would eat "the" bread. I almost took out the slices, but then realized the actual value (Rs. 90) and put it back. I had brought some ready to eat ‘upma’ from India. So I made upma’ and had it for breakfast.

Even after three days I had not eaten a single slice! I just did not feel like eating it. Today "dil pe pattar rakh ke", I have eaten two slices of bread. I do not know whether I will be able to digest it.

I guess I have to stop this conversion, in order to survive life in this country, although I wish I could forget multiplication!

Anusha Rajan