bobblywood

Have we already talked about the Head Bobble? I don't think we have.

Here in India there is a ubiquitous social phenomenon that we have been calling "the head bobble." It's sort of a gentle side-to-side figure 8 type motion people make with the lower half of their face. As far as we can tell, it can mean any of the following, or sometimes several of them at once, and probably many more things we haven't figured out yet:

* Yes.
* No.
* Maybe.
* Yes, if that is what you are hoping I'll say.
* No, if that is what you are hoping I'll say.
* I would rather not be here right now.
* Lady, you are out of your mind.
* I don't think you want to eat that.
* Please go back to America now.
* Whatever.
* Glad to be of service! But maybe not really so much. But maybe for real! You decide.
* That's not my elephant/goat/cow/monkey, so don't ask me.
* Sure I'll bring you another dosa, you porker; uh, you don't have to consume ALL your day's calories at breakfast, you know.

I have already found myself inadvertently doing the head bobble myself sometimes. "Did you just head bobble?!" Casey asked me the other day, sounding incredulous. I replied with a head bobble.