As promised in my previous post, here some more about how I did tackle the saree issue at this mushroom plant.
Harvesting of mushrooms has to be compared to working in a hospital, strict hygiene rules and we have to avoid contamination IF there is somewhere a moldy spot or whatever.
Clothing has to be rather tight and no sweeping baggy sleeves, long open hair, and surely no long sweeping sarees should be seen.
Far better than a saree would be a kind of pajama, a North India type of clothing.
To convince the harvesting crew, I did propose to let one of the supervisors wear my jeans for a day, to check it out and to get the feel of it.
Since I had only one pair of jeans with me at the location (more in the suitcases left in Delhi at the office...) the only solution would be to swap!
So I got outfitted for the day in a saree, that Krishna lend to me as she did wear my jeans...
Getting dressed by the Tamil ladies into a saree...
A cropped short sleeved saree blouse on an under skirt...
Krishna starts draping the many yards around me.
Here I am, the blue eyed Indian in saree.
Krishna seen to the right in this photo and she did wear my jeans for that day.
Blue eyed Indian in saree with blue eyed husband.
A pity that I don't have a photo from the fresh hair flowers they did pin on top of my braid...
This crew wanted to be captured on camera with me.
Krishna the one that dressed me and will wear my jeans, holding my hand...
Oh, it was not easy to move about and to climb up on the steps wearing this restricting saree but I managed for that day.
Management did provide them with the special pajama pants so they did switch to different outfits!
It was a pleasure to work with these ladies, they were quick learners and hard working!
Quite touching when you get presented something like this writing, on the final day on March 16 of 1990...
We always left feeling emotional; such a beautiful country and very warm and caring people.
As for the food, I am in heaven when eating Indian!
Stay tuned for our very special trip on Sunday, March 11.
Thanks for your visit and comment!
Harvesting of mushrooms has to be compared to working in a hospital, strict hygiene rules and we have to avoid contamination IF there is somewhere a moldy spot or whatever.
Clothing has to be rather tight and no sweeping baggy sleeves, long open hair, and surely no long sweeping sarees should be seen.
Far better than a saree would be a kind of pajama, a North India type of clothing.
To convince the harvesting crew, I did propose to let one of the supervisors wear my jeans for a day, to check it out and to get the feel of it.
Since I had only one pair of jeans with me at the location (more in the suitcases left in Delhi at the office...) the only solution would be to swap!
A cropped short sleeved saree blouse on an under skirt...
Krishna seen to the right in this photo and she did wear my jeans for that day.
A pity that I don't have a photo from the fresh hair flowers they did pin on top of my braid...
Krishna the one that dressed me and will wear my jeans, holding my hand...
Management did provide them with the special pajama pants so they did switch to different outfits!
It was a pleasure to work with these ladies, they were quick learners and hard working!
We always left feeling emotional; such a beautiful country and very warm and caring people.
As for the food, I am in heaven when eating Indian!
Stay tuned for our very special trip on Sunday, March 11.
Thanks for your visit and comment!
Previous post:
Pond's (India) Limited Mushroom Project | previous post by me
My 1st Trip to India - Consulting Together with Husband Pieter | previous post by me
Husband Pieter's ADVENTUROUS 2nd Trip to India | previous post by me
Pond's (India) Limited Mushroom Project | previous post by me
My 1st Trip to India - Consulting Together with Husband Pieter | previous post by me
Husband Pieter's ADVENTUROUS 2nd Trip to India | previous post by me
Wow, how you tackled the saree issue...I didn’t see this coming, Mariette! You are so creative to let the lady wear your jeans! And you are so beautiful in blue saree. Glad they got special pajama pants for work. Must be much easier to work around while keeping the good hygiene. The card is very sweet and heartfelt. Oh, I love Indian food, too :-)
ReplyDeleteDearest Tamago,
DeleteWell, with only a limited time of 2 weeks, you have to do things rather drastically and this worked.
Thank you for the compliment about the saree, I sure did love wearing it.
That card remains very special to me and the food was a daily treat.
We had it Sunday again as we visited our Indian friends...
Hugs,
Mariette
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeleteeinen sonnigen und frohen Sonntag wünscht dir
Elisabeth
Liebe Elisabeth,
DeleteDanke sehr und liebe Grüße dir entgegen.
Mariette
Sehr schön, liebe Mariette! Und der Punkt zwischen den Augen ...
ReplyDeleteDa bist Du schon viel herumgekommen in der Welt und hast viel erlebt.
Liebe Grüße
Sara
Liebe Sara,
DeleteJa, das stimmt schon und irgendwo arbeiten und täglich mit den Menschen umgehen ist total anders als wie ein Tourist der nur ganz oberflächig etwas vom Land und Kultur mitbekommt.
Liebe Grüße,
Mariette
Hello Mariette, You look great in that Saree, which seems particularly to flatter you in color and form. I have never worn any of the traditional Taiwan/Asian clothing, although to be sure, most of the natives there wear Western clothing most of the time. Asian clothing seems more like a costume, even when worn by the locals.
ReplyDelete--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteThank you and we both have worn also the Indonesian traditional clothing. Still have a beautiful blue (!) silk sarong with a white cotton lace kebaya but there is here no reason for wearing it. Pieter also has a formal Indonesian silk batik shirt/jacket with lining. We only wear some of the Indonesian batik when attending a Dutch/Indonesian gathering in Atlanta with special Indonesian food.
Our foster-daughter is renting the traditional Javanese costumes that are only used for weddings. As you already mentioned here, they mainly wear Western clothing... Wonder if one generation down, they still will use the traditional costumes.
Hugs,
Mariette
Hello again, Your reply reminded me of the fancy embroidered silk Asian baby clothing that is still available. When my friends had babies, I got them those traditional baby outfits, and the babies looked adorable in them! --Jim
DeleteDearest Jim,
DeleteWhat a thoughtful and most precious baby gift you presented your friends! Hope they have photos from those special pieces as a memory.
Hugs,
Mariette
Love the color of that saree. It's similar to the one I'm in on my sidebar. Definitely not easy to get around in when you are not used to them, but they certainly seem to do so with ease. Great pictures.
ReplyDeleteDearest Tammy,
DeleteNo we are not at all familiar with the walking restrictions that come with such an elegant full length Saree. you too have had several nice experiences in foreign cultures as you both travel frequently for work related business.
Hugs,
Mariette
Dearest Mariette,
ReplyDeleteyou look so wonderful in this Saree!
Thank you for those wonderful pictures!
Wishing you and Pieter an lovely new week!
Love and hugs, Claudia xo
Dearest Claudia,
DeleteThank you and we sure treasure all our photos.
Hugs,
Mariette
You look lovely in the saree Mariette.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful farewell card :)
Dearest Sami,
DeleteThank you very much for your sweet comment and that farewell card was precious.
Hugs,
Mariette
Wow, what an interesting experience (my guess for both of you!:). Mariette, you are truely a global traveler.
ReplyDeleteDearest Debbie,
DeleteYes, both of us always have enjoyed this work in India and it was unique in many ways and very pleasant.
More than global traveler; we worked in those countries.
Hugs,
Mariette
Dearest Mariette; You REALLY look GORGEOUS wearing Saree♡♡♡ Oh, it must be hard to move around with it and I was guessing that must be as hard as when we wear Kimono p;-) I am happy to see people were helpful and smiling faces♪ Wearing the jeans must have been be a fresh experience for Krishna later. Wonderful ladies, aren't they♧♧♧ Oh, and I wish I could enjoy real Indian food :-)
ReplyDeleteWish you and your husband are doing fine, Dear friend.
Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend, xoxo Miyako*
Dearest Miyako,
DeleteYes, that is a good comparison with the Japanese Kimono, both are long and kind of restricting your movements, compared with jeans.
People in India always have been very helpful in every way and we worked there with great pleasure!
Now the fond memories remain.
Hugs,
Mariette
Olá querida Mariette,
ReplyDeleteamei essa indiana de olhos azuis. Ficastes linda com esta roupa. Vou te contar meu sonho. Eu e Alfredo vamos fazer 33 anos de casados. Eu queria casar novamente, fazer uma cerimônia indiana e usar as roupas e joias indiana. Mas está difícil conseguir encontrar aqui em meu país essas roupas.
Acredito que terei que ir a Índia para comprar uma roupa. hahah
Abraços, fiquei feliz que já estas bem e fazendo aventuras de bicicleta.
Dearest Anajá,
DeleteThank you for your compliment about the blue-eyed Indian.
Oh, here in the USA you would easily become any Saree... too bad you cannot find one in your region.
Yes, we both do enjoy our biking trips, so happy to be mobile again.
Hugs,
Mariette