Code of Conduct

Chennai is a wild city, and traveling by any means is always an adventure. In my last visit I was going with my friend and fellow activist Sherin to meet a team of drug sellers in the district of Guindy. No, we weren't going to fuel our cocaine addiction, these people are selling pharmaseuticals under the prestegious name Swiss Garnier. Personally I think of pocket knives mixed with hair products from Swiss Army Knives and Garnier Fructis shampoo's and conditioners. From Perambur we took an auto rickshaw that Sherin had already taken one tour of the city with previously that day. You have to be careful not to hire a drunkard, then your drive will be more nauseating and dangerous than imagineable. Since she trusted this driver she hired him again. The drive in auto is almost one hour through the dusty streets, past slums and high class neighborhoods and hotels, but this certain adventure would show how comfortable I have become as an expatraite, and also how much more adaptation I would need to really become a local. We were driving along a stretch of road consisting of three lanes, at least the pavement marking were for three lanes, but the drivers created about 5. This auto rickshaw driver had been driving dangerously close to every car, person, and fueling tank that we approached. In one instance a two wheeler, otherwise known as a motorcycle rolled back 1 inch after coming to a stop in traffic and hit the auto because our driver was so close to his bike there was no place for his movement of any kind. Fortunately or not this couple was muslim and the woman on the back of the bike was sitting side saddle wearing a burka. As soon as her eyes met the auto man's her arm flew in the air and a clenched fist began waving in his direction. He tried to pay no mind, but because he was so close her scolding was unavoidable. So on the three lane open road the traffic was building. Auto man's phone started ringing in his pants pocket. He began frantically searching for it, something to distract him from his hectic and semi-unfortunate life and a driver. He ended up missing the call but slowed the auto so much so that he was lagging behind all other traffic. He placed the phone next to his left leg on the seat. About 3 minutes later the phone rang and his erratic driving slowed again. He began talking and driving Sherin and I. This moment is similar to being the passenger on a motorcycle driven by one hand. I freaked out. Earlier I had asked for his accident record and he told me he was a very safe cautious driver. No way I felt safe at this point. I began first telling him to hang up the phone, louder and louder I commented. He began talking about me in another language to the third party. After he hung up in annoyance I really sent him some words. I told him he was an idiot for disobeying the traffic laws that you can't drive and speak on the phone and that he knew better. I told him I didn't want to die in India and that he was responsible for my life, Sherin's life and his own which clearly didn't affect him at all. Then I said if he recieved any other calls he must pull over and by this point I was making huge gestures with my arms to explain myself better. I'm sure he understood everything I said. He said the call was an emergency and I said I didn't care who it was he must pull over or i'll beat him until he does. I told him that he knew better and why didn't he use his head to think instead of just hold the phone to it. Does he want to die? I pestered him until his repeated yes mam's because monotonous. So much for the traffic police or the intense signs saying all these things like talking on the phone and drinking will kill you and someone else in your potential accident. Really the signs are intense I'll post some traffic and health safety signage in the future. So now i'm working to change the individual and act as a mother or guidance counselor for all the misdeed's I witness. I can almost guarantee that I didn't affect him at all, but at least Sherin was entertained for part of the ride.