7 signs that I am a Mumbai expat only

This post may be read as a warning to you folks back home ( for anyone else: just as a humble tribute to what India has taught me so far - *blinking the eye*)  - Because, yes, I might have changed - just a tiny little bit..So, be prepared back home! You may recognize me, by the following signs:

1. Clothes
The glitter&glam&bling element of my wardrobe has increased dramatically. You should be able to recognize me, but you just need to look beyond the golden sandals and the bright green colored kurta with glitter ornaments from the neck to my belly. Nope. Less is not more. More is more.

2. Time
This might come as a shock to you, if you knew me in my pre-India life. I might have adopted a more relaxed relationship with Time. You see, 12 o'clock Thursday does not necessarily have to be 12 o'clock Thursday. It can also be 3 o'clock Thursday, 5 o'clock Friday or next week. Go with the flow.

3. Dining
Try not to act surprised if I add some extra pepper or chili on the food. Fear not, if I rush off in a desperate search for masala, or if I suddenly start to sprinkle some fresh coriander on my dish - and probably on your dish too! My taste buds has adjusted to another palate, so the food back home might be a bit bland, now..

4. Driving
If you suddenly notice someone driving 1 cm from the back of your car, honking the horn like crazy, driving on the road-shoulder or accelerating when the signal turns yellow - in stead of reducing the speed - Well. That might be me, back home for vacation!

5. Shopping
5.1 You might see me looking Confused in the store, if there is no staff following me around, or available within 10 seconds after I need them. What kind of service is that? 
5.2 You might also find me looking Lost at the cashier. I have payed, and you see - I am waiting for someone to put my groceries into my bags for me. What? No one does that for you?! 

6. Queues
If you are standing patiently waiting for your turn in a neatly formed line (f.ex in a public washroom) - and you see a lady in kurta and golden sandals walking pass all of you and straight up to the front of the line.Yep. That might be me. Feel free to remind me of the local customs. Sorry, forgot myself there. 

7. Language
I have polished my English by adding phrases like: - I need to pre-pone that meeting ( opposite of postpone), - Please, do the needful! (do what you have to do) and adding "only" to the end of every second sentence I utter. It is just a habit I like.  - What can I do? I am on holiday only! 

Yes, 7 points- we are in India after all. But I have to add that I will not look away if we meet: I will look you in the eyes, and start to talk to you immediately whether it is on the street, in an elevator or on a bus. Life is too short not to catch up:-) I will bring color, spices, some Bollywood-moves and music! I will carry with me stories from India and show you pictures from amazing places and tell you about some wonderful people I have met. I might also a bit aggressively try to recruit you as a sponsor to support a child's education in Mumbai, because I have seen with my own eyes how just a little support can mean the world for some of these kids and their chances of making a better life for themselves.

So, you see where this is going right? To end this post in a more serious way, living in Mumbai has reminded me: to not take things for granted, to be appreciative of what we have, to be open and humble to life and to be happy here and now. To enjoy the present. And I have been reminded that things do not make you happy. But people and moments do! Ok, then - and maybe just a tiny bit of bling-bling on your blouse:-)

Hope you enjoyed my *blinking the eye* post today.

Good evening from Mumbai, dear reader!