Culture Surprises: London - 6/12
Within few days of our landing there we heard a lot about snow everywhere. Everyone was talking about it with a lot of interest. I saw something like salt on the roads on the second or third day. First I thought it was the remnants of previous night's snow. Then I understood that it's a kind of salt that is sprinkled on roads to melt the snow as a precautionary measure. They call it 'road salt' or 'defrosting salt'. Then on another evening there was a fall of some white small thing from sky. Again I thought it was snow and realized even that was wrong. Even that has a different name, they said. It's called 'flurry'. 'Oh my goodness, how many different varieties within this?!' - I was getting more and more confused and curious about snow.
Another evening, I went out to buy groceries for home. While going itself I saw that they were shedding some sand kind of thing everywhere (it's the same salt I talked about in last paragraph). When I was coming back, I could feel a soft - white thing falling down from sky. Within five minutes, even before I reached home, I could see that the roads had all become white as if someone painted them all white. That beautiful thing now is snow. As I had to wake up early in the morning to go to work, we had dinner quickly and fell asleep. My wife woke me up in the middle of the night with a lot of excitement to show that the nature's painting job was complete. I woke up and saw it in half sleep and went back to sleep immediately.
She explained the whole thing again with the same excitement after getting up in the morning as well. The roads were more beautiful in the morning. Not just the roads, even the buildings, vehicles and parks were all showered with snow white snow. How would you feel if everything around you were white? That's not an ordinary thing, right?! White is such a pleasing color as well. Who doesn't like purity? Even the corrupt and dirty like white, right?! We roamed around and took a few snaps. I have always had difficulty with photography. I was wondering why she was taking so many photos from so many different angles when everything was white! When I sought to clear my doubt I only got a scary stare as an answer! I understand... it's a life time experience and the beauty needs to be captured and cherished for ever. Still...not so much!!!
The next day after snow, there was ruckus across the city with the news about snow in all media. This is damaged, that is damaged, there were accidents... and so on and on. That is when I realized what is so beautiful to see could be so problematic to handle. This is why our forefathers have told, "Beauty is dangerous". Are you wondering, "Does it include this beauty as well?"! Yes, that's our style. We would say something first and include everything that comes our way later within that and claim, "That's what I meant!". Who can question us?! That's not new for us. The same ice that we buy for money as a commodity back home was available free of cost everywhere there. Nobody even cared that so much ice was getting wasted. I was so upset about it. But what could I have done for that? There were many things that I used to get free of cost in my childhood for which I need to pay an unbelievable price now. Nobody is upset about that, right?! So I should learnt to live with these things! :)
It took two to three days to lose all the snow from sight. That was okay. They said that it's even worse in many other European countries. On the other hand, some were saying, if it was in US, everything would have been back to normal within few hours. So it's only those can bear the pain get so much pain. Imagine the same thing was happening in our place. Not even 5% of this effort would be put. Our leaders would plan all their overseas travels during that time of the year only every time. The servants of the public would take bribe from those who have the power and money and serve only for them. But the leaders there try to calm down the public by constantly appearing before media and explaining various steps they took to control the effects of snow. The government and corporation staff take all the pain to restore normalcy as quickly as possible throughout the city. Even after all that those people complain so much about the quality of service provided. "You collect so much tax. What the heck are you doing with it?" is the question that everyone raises. That shows how far ahead their democracy is.
It's like being in Kodaikanal when the Kurinji flower blossoms, like being in Mumbai during Ganesh Chathurthi, and in Kolkata during Durga Pooja. We could see snow two-three times during our one month stay there. We must say we were so lucky in one way. All these wouldn't have mattered if I had alone. It's because I went with a four-and-a-half year old daughter, I have allocated so much space for a thing like this. If you look at it, otherwise nothing has changed in my life after seeing the snow. Nothing changed after I saw the train for the first time. Nothing changed after I saw airplane for the first time. Nothing changed after I crossed the seas for the first time. Nothing changed after I saw the sea for the first time. Nothing changed after I saw a mountain for the first time. Nothing changed after I saw a waterfalls for the first time. Nothing has changed after seeing snow also. So it's just proved again that just seeing something will never change anything in your life. That's it!
The experience of snow is one and the killing cold is another. Even that got better after first few days. Rather we got used to it. We did discuss earlier about how they have designed everything around them to safeguard themselves from cold. I missed two important things in it. One, our habit of cleaning with water (I hope you wouldn't ask cleaning what!). They wipe off with tissues. The main reason is that the water will always be ice there. They can't wash like how our people do in ponds here. Even in their ponds it will only be ice. Hence they have reduced their reliance on water as much as possible.
The next one is, I heard that they mix lead or something with the tap water to prevent it from becoming ice. So someone told me not to drink hot water that comes from tap even if I wanted to drink hot water. It was suggested to take cold water, boil it and drink even if I wanted to drink hot water. I didn't know this before. So on the first few days I was drinking the hot water straight from tap. I was thinking I was too smart to save time by using the hot water from tap even for making coffee. Then I realized how smart it really meant!
After the first few days I felt a kind of itching throughout the body. I was thinking maybe if it was because of my drinking of hot water from tap. Then I heard that it was common for those go to cold places for the first time. Some said it was due to the cold itself and others said it was due to the lead mixed in hot water in which we took bath. I was even told that there is a cream that I could buy from shops for that but I managed without it.
There is a button below the traffic signals in all places. If the pedestrians pressed it the signal immediately turns red for the vehicles and the pedestrians get a green signal to cross the road. This change happens immediately. I saw this in Singapore as well. But it wasn't this quick in Singapore. Sometimes it happens immediately. Sometimes it takes longer. But in London, it's immediate. It's almost like, 'you press and cross'. I don't think I have seen this anywhere in India. Their logic is like this - If it is a crowded place they can wait till all the vehicles stop but in less crowded places why should the pedestrians be kept waiting for so long?! But where is the less crowded place in India? So that proves why it's not required here!
I also saw another interesting thing. The moment they see pedestrians standing near zebra crossing in the sides the vehicles stop immediately and let the pedestrians cross first. In fact, the pedestrians don't even have to look around if it is a zebra crossing. They can just cross with closed eyes. If you are driving a vehicle, it is your responsibility to slow down, look around and stop if required wherever you see lines on the road. As an Indian, I couldn't digest the way the pedestrians crossing the road so slowly like a duck with the least worry about all the vehicles waiting for them to cross as if it was only them and their road. Can you imagine that kind of a scene in our place? You will be cursed to death. We see every day how even people of our grandparents' age get cursed when they cause even the slightest of inconvenience to moving traffic here. Even their parents and grandparents are not spared when it comes to scolding. So the pedestrians are the kings and queens there. It's the drivers who have to be more careful. If you drive like how you do in India I am sure within few days you will end up behind bars. Now imagine this - Let's say someone who is so used to their traffic rules came to our place and crossed the zebra crossing like the way they do there. Especially the children who come here have to be instructed properly on all these. Otherwise, it may lead to unimaginable consequences.
What may be the reason for giving so much respect to the pedestrians? Maybe the population, I thought. If it is only once in a while that someone would cross the road like that then there is no problem for the drivers to slow down, look around and then go. If we did that so patiently to every pedestrian in our place, someone who is starting to office in the morning will reach his office only by 6 o'clock in the evening.
The trains are packed in peak hours. The central places of the city are always crowded. Someone said, "It's only few specific places that are crowded here. But if you walk around our streets, some times you won't even find one person unlike in India!". Their empty streets were really scary to me - someone like me who mostly likes empty roads and once in a while crowded places for a change. They made me realize, 'It's better to be safe in noisy places like here than to be in seemingly peaceful but unsafe place like there'. :)
- TO BE CONTINUED...
Another evening, I went out to buy groceries for home. While going itself I saw that they were shedding some sand kind of thing everywhere (it's the same salt I talked about in last paragraph). When I was coming back, I could feel a soft - white thing falling down from sky. Within five minutes, even before I reached home, I could see that the roads had all become white as if someone painted them all white. That beautiful thing now is snow. As I had to wake up early in the morning to go to work, we had dinner quickly and fell asleep. My wife woke me up in the middle of the night with a lot of excitement to show that the nature's painting job was complete. I woke up and saw it in half sleep and went back to sleep immediately.
The next day after snow, there was ruckus across the city with the news about snow in all media. This is damaged, that is damaged, there were accidents... and so on and on. That is when I realized what is so beautiful to see could be so problematic to handle. This is why our forefathers have told, "Beauty is dangerous". Are you wondering, "Does it include this beauty as well?"! Yes, that's our style. We would say something first and include everything that comes our way later within that and claim, "That's what I meant!". Who can question us?! That's not new for us. The same ice that we buy for money as a commodity back home was available free of cost everywhere there. Nobody even cared that so much ice was getting wasted. I was so upset about it. But what could I have done for that? There were many things that I used to get free of cost in my childhood for which I need to pay an unbelievable price now. Nobody is upset about that, right?! So I should learnt to live with these things! :)
It took two to three days to lose all the snow from sight. That was okay. They said that it's even worse in many other European countries. On the other hand, some were saying, if it was in US, everything would have been back to normal within few hours. So it's only those can bear the pain get so much pain. Imagine the same thing was happening in our place. Not even 5% of this effort would be put. Our leaders would plan all their overseas travels during that time of the year only every time. The servants of the public would take bribe from those who have the power and money and serve only for them. But the leaders there try to calm down the public by constantly appearing before media and explaining various steps they took to control the effects of snow. The government and corporation staff take all the pain to restore normalcy as quickly as possible throughout the city. Even after all that those people complain so much about the quality of service provided. "You collect so much tax. What the heck are you doing with it?" is the question that everyone raises. That shows how far ahead their democracy is.
 |
| Daughter and me! |
The experience of snow is one and the killing cold is another. Even that got better after first few days. Rather we got used to it. We did discuss earlier about how they have designed everything around them to safeguard themselves from cold. I missed two important things in it. One, our habit of cleaning with water (I hope you wouldn't ask cleaning what!). They wipe off with tissues. The main reason is that the water will always be ice there. They can't wash like how our people do in ponds here. Even in their ponds it will only be ice. Hence they have reduced their reliance on water as much as possible.
The next one is, I heard that they mix lead or something with the tap water to prevent it from becoming ice. So someone told me not to drink hot water that comes from tap even if I wanted to drink hot water. It was suggested to take cold water, boil it and drink even if I wanted to drink hot water. I didn't know this before. So on the first few days I was drinking the hot water straight from tap. I was thinking I was too smart to save time by using the hot water from tap even for making coffee. Then I realized how smart it really meant!
After the first few days I felt a kind of itching throughout the body. I was thinking maybe if it was because of my drinking of hot water from tap. Then I heard that it was common for those go to cold places for the first time. Some said it was due to the cold itself and others said it was due to the lead mixed in hot water in which we took bath. I was even told that there is a cream that I could buy from shops for that but I managed without it.
There is a button below the traffic signals in all places. If the pedestrians pressed it the signal immediately turns red for the vehicles and the pedestrians get a green signal to cross the road. This change happens immediately. I saw this in Singapore as well. But it wasn't this quick in Singapore. Sometimes it happens immediately. Sometimes it takes longer. But in London, it's immediate. It's almost like, 'you press and cross'. I don't think I have seen this anywhere in India. Their logic is like this - If it is a crowded place they can wait till all the vehicles stop but in less crowded places why should the pedestrians be kept waiting for so long?! But where is the less crowded place in India? So that proves why it's not required here!
I also saw another interesting thing. The moment they see pedestrians standing near zebra crossing in the sides the vehicles stop immediately and let the pedestrians cross first. In fact, the pedestrians don't even have to look around if it is a zebra crossing. They can just cross with closed eyes. If you are driving a vehicle, it is your responsibility to slow down, look around and stop if required wherever you see lines on the road. As an Indian, I couldn't digest the way the pedestrians crossing the road so slowly like a duck with the least worry about all the vehicles waiting for them to cross as if it was only them and their road. Can you imagine that kind of a scene in our place? You will be cursed to death. We see every day how even people of our grandparents' age get cursed when they cause even the slightest of inconvenience to moving traffic here. Even their parents and grandparents are not spared when it comes to scolding. So the pedestrians are the kings and queens there. It's the drivers who have to be more careful. If you drive like how you do in India I am sure within few days you will end up behind bars. Now imagine this - Let's say someone who is so used to their traffic rules came to our place and crossed the zebra crossing like the way they do there. Especially the children who come here have to be instructed properly on all these. Otherwise, it may lead to unimaginable consequences.
What may be the reason for giving so much respect to the pedestrians? Maybe the population, I thought. If it is only once in a while that someone would cross the road like that then there is no problem for the drivers to slow down, look around and then go. If we did that so patiently to every pedestrian in our place, someone who is starting to office in the morning will reach his office only by 6 o'clock in the evening.
The trains are packed in peak hours. The central places of the city are always crowded. Someone said, "It's only few specific places that are crowded here. But if you walk around our streets, some times you won't even find one person unlike in India!". Their empty streets were really scary to me - someone like me who mostly likes empty roads and once in a while crowded places for a change. They made me realize, 'It's better to be safe in noisy places like here than to be in seemingly peaceful but unsafe place like there'. :)
- TO BE CONTINUED...
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