Finally did it!!

I still have exams going on but I thought it important to write this. And sorry for not commenting on your blogs or to my own comments: my internet sucks and my exams end on the 30th. I just was too excited to stay away from blogging until then.

I Am VERY proud of myself today. Despite being a type A personality, I am pretty passive when it comes to dealing with people I don’t know. I mean, I should be more aggressive, right? I’m not ever going to see that person ever again so who cares? Back in the day when I used to carpool with my friend to school, my friend’s mom used to play these tapes on being assertive and speaking up for yourself. I have no idea why she did, but she used to all the time. And she’d always encourage us to be assertive and make our voices heard when something is not right; and to not take the passive path.

Well today, I did NOT take the passive path. Twice!!

We have demonstration classes in the mornings for our practical exams, so people like to sit it front to see better. But they come late, and make one of their friends come super early and reserve the whole frickin’ row. That, my friends, is not cool. Especially when I woke up to get a good seat only to find the first two rows “booked” even though there were only four people in the room. I grumbled about it the first day. But not today! Today the girl told me it was all taken. I told her that I got here early so I’m going to sit here and that her friends that roll out of bed ten minutes before class starts can shove it. Well, I didn’t say it like that. But I said it nicely, but firmly. I don’t expect people to save me a place nor do I ask so I think I have a right to do this.

Today while grocery shopping, this woman decided it would be fun to stick her gourd in front of me on the cash register while her son/grandson/servant did the rest of the shopping as she reserved a place in line. Actually, people here even throw money at the cashier on their way out in order to pay first. It’s really unorganized. The concept of a line doesn’t exist. So I grabbed her gourd and put it behind my stuff, look the cashier straight in the eye and said, "I was here first". He might have gotten scared, but it made him listen.

This might be miniscule for you, dear readers, but a huge leap for me. I think I could get used to this.

Edit: I didn't even speak to the woman without moving her gourd out of the way. That's because she didn't know Hindi or English and I do not speak Telugu. You can tell. I suppose I would have tried but she very rudely knocked me over a few minutes before. People trample all over me. rawr.