I need a passport!!
Speaking of funny episodes in India (see previous post), one started with my mom even before I got started for India.
During my usual daily morning call to mom (one of the first things I do almost everyday is talk to her for a few minutes) the topic went to our trip to Canada for Niagara Falls. She was asking how beautiful it was and how big it was and what did the grand daughters do and so on. I could hear my dad – who last week got hearing aids put in his both ears and therefore overheard it – talking loudly that Niagara Falls is not the biggest waterfall – it is Victoria Falls.
BTW, something about my dad here. He is somewhat of a geography buff. If you ever happen to meet him and ever the topic goes to geography, he will absolutely challenge you to name the capitals of various countries in the world. Fortunately for me, his knowledge of geography stalled after 1980. Every time he challenges me, I counter challenge him with “name the capital of Kazhakastan or Azerbaijan or Eritrea….” – basically any country that has been formed after 1980 or so. “Dekh ge jaa” is usually what he will say before he gives up and goes around doing his usual stuff 🙂
Getting back to the story, my mom heard about Victoria Falls and tried encouraging me to take the daughters to Victoria Falls. She said that they will absolutely love it. Then something struck her. “Jaabi ki? Ota to Africa-y. Passport laagbe to!!”. (“How are you going to go? It is in Africa. You will need a passport”) !!!!!
I still wonder if she has any idea how we go to India. Or for that matter how we went to Canada to see the Niagara Falls.
Of course, I sympathetically agreed with her “That is true. That is true. It will be very difficult”!! 🙂
Visa and passport are synonyms for most folks in India 🙂
Tell your dad Victoria is tallest; Niagara is largest by volume of water passing over. That’s what I remember from geography class.
Wikipedia has some interesting alternating point of view. Check out the entry on Victoria Falls.
Ha ha ha!!! Very funny!! BTW, I also got challenged by Jethu on Geography questions…. And Miss (your mom, I still call her miss, as I used to in school days) always tries to save me by saying, “osob anek din age poreche”… Miss and Jethu ke pronam janio
I thought the tallest were the Angel falls in Venezuela? Could be wrong though. My expertise on the subject is limited to locating the US and UK on a map without too much of searching 🙂
Subramanian, I think many Internet sites will say you are right!!!
Both Falls are amazing. Victoria Falls is less commercialized – therefore far more beautiful(its been a while since Ive seen either)
great!! Rajibda, I heard about your mom that she is very simple, & down to earth lady.
I have to introduce Natasha(our capitals expert) to your father. She loves being challenged.
Rini, do you really want to subject her to such capital punishment 🙂
Badmaishi bondho kor
Amader to entertainment hoi kintu after all gurujon
Passport and visa mixed up…quite commonly done by our parents! Good that are not as informed about the series of shots one needs to take 🙂