Communication is key

We left Mumbai yesterday and made our way by rail to Pune (a town of merely 1.2 million as opposed to Mumbai's 16 million and growing). On the trainride, we finally got a glimpse of a bit of blue sky after traveling several hours from the city. It was a refreshing site indeed. However, we are in another chaotic town, although there is not the tourism here that Mumbai sees, or at least in the area that we are in. So, Katie and I ventured out last night for a bite to eat. Our few days in Mumbai, we dealt with many people that had a basic, working knowledge of English. We are encountering much less here. At the restaurant, the waiter brings out two glasses of water. I ask (through exaggerated hand motions) for a bottle of water. Katie orders lime juice with soda water, which can be ordered 'sweet' or 'salty'. Katie says 'sweet lime'....'Sweet lime?' the water responds.....'Yes, sweet lime'. We all think the message has been conveyed. But in the end she ends up with a salty lime juice that we decided we should try to get a taste for. After we finish our meal, the water brings out two small silver bowls of water with a wedge of lime floating in it. My first thought is that we are supposed to drink this to freshen our mouths. Katie and I shoot quick glances at each other and quietly ask the other what is to be done with this water. We figured out that it was to rinse our hands. We could only imagine the look on the waiter's face as he returned to clear the table and found two empty bowls sitting there!