On Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 2:30 PM, Suresh Ramasubramanian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote:
> Nishant Shah [29/08/08 14:26 +0530]: > > That's not just "are > you well / have you eaten" - its also an immediate offer to get you some > food if you're hungry. Which is why you ALWAYS answer "yes you have eaten", > unless you know the person really well and he HAS actually invited you to > dinner. > > Nobody asks you "oota madithi?" when they meet you the first time. > Chennagitheera (are you fine / well), or namaskara (like the thai sawatdee > kha, with the wai <- thai equiv of the namaskar). > Oh, they DO. They ask me on the bus...I gave up my seat to an elderly lady (well, more elderly than I am!) and she smiled at me and then asked me....The shoe repair guy asked me....I stop to get my cycle tyres pumped and that guy asked me...I was wondering if I was looking either too well-fed, or starved! It used to unnerve me until I realized that it is a social greeting, much like "how are you?" is NOT an invitation to talk about your piles problem. Deepa. > > suresh > >
