The Hired Help

I’m a little uncomfortable with skinny dudes always standing around waiting on me. I’m staying at my company’s guest house, and these dudes are always just waiting to do something for me. These Indians don’t think much of it. Oh, you need some water? Babu! Water! Or however you say that in Hindi. (At work, water, coffee, or tea is as easy as dialing 333 on the phone, and a pantry boy will bring what I want) At my guesthouse, I come out of my bedroom to blow my nose in the bathroom and Babu is watching tv. When I come out of my room he jumps up and looks at me. Dude, even if I wanted you to do something for, you couldn’t understand me He doesn’t speak English. Luckily, after eating a Pizza Hut pizza, I was able to explain that the toilet paper was all gone, and one of the dudes got some more for me. Crisis averted. So, now I want to leave my room and go get coffee. This is a big deal because it involves a white guy venturing out to the sweltering streets. But I also just feel awkward with dudes outside my room waiting for me to tell them to do something – except I couldn’t tell them to do anything cause they don’t speak English. (I didn’t ask, but I doubt my French would get me anywhere)