I am in south India right now, in Kochi (formerly Cochin) in the state of Kerala for the Fulbright conference. Fulbrighters from around India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Central Asia are here to talk about their projects. Some amazing presentations! There are over 100 participants, including about 60 Masters and Ph.D. students here to do research. They are really inspiring!
A panel of presentations on Gender Studies and women’s issues in India. Such a lot of smart young women! Really inspiring. My paper is the last paper in the last paper session of the conference…View from my hotel room — living in the lap of luxury! This is the farthest south I’ve been in the world – nine degrees north of the equator. I am reveling in the luxury! Kerala is known for its spices, cashews, and ayurvedic medicine. It has India’s highest literacy rate (nearly 94%, compared to the national Indian average of 74%). The state of Kerala is filled with lakes and canals. Terrible flooding hit in the summer of 2018. This lake is part of the hotel grounds. Tandoor oven that was fired up this morning around 10:00 in preparation for making naan for lunch at 12:30. Amazing food! Mini-bar lyfe. My first beer since I arrived in India. India is not “dry” per se, but it isn’t easy to find alcohol and in any case, for a woman to buy it — pretty sketch! No bottle opener in the hotel room (yeah, they have beer, you just can’t open it!). Acknowledgments to Dr. Li and China for teaching me how to open a bottle without an opener (and not with my teeth). I owe you a cold one!
Find a hard surface with a sharp 90 degree angle — like a table top. Hook (or rest) the edge of the ruffled bottle cap against the top edge of the surface. There has to be clearance for the bottle below the surface (bottle at right angle to surface). Holding the bottle lightly in one hand, whack the top of the bottle with your other hand made into a fist — the top should pop off. I cover my hand with a cloth so I don’t hurt it — the feminine way to pull off a macho move. Also, make sure the surface you use is hard and won’t be damaged by the bottle cap — don’t use a wooden table, for example. (Feminine concern about not damaging furniture or counter top when pulling off macho move.) My room had a marble counter top in the bathroom and I used that — it did not get damaged!
Find a hard surface with a sharp 90 degree angle — like a table top. Hook (or rest) the edge of the ruffled bottle cap against the top edge of the surface. There has to be clearance for the bottle below the surface (bottle at right angle to surface). Holding the bottle lightly in one hand, whack the top of the bottle with your other hand made into a fist — the top should pop off. I cover my hand with a cloth so I don’t hurt it — the feminine way to pull off a macho move. Also, make sure the surface you use is hard and won’t be damaged by the bottle cap — don’t use a wooden table, for example. (Feminine concern about not damaging furniture or counter top when pulling off macho move.) My room had a marble counter top in the bathroom and I used that — it did not get damaged!
A Northwesterner in North Bengal 
Enjoy the luxury, Mary! Sounds like a fun conference.
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What? Beer is not readily available? Yikes!
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BYOB
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Find a hard surface with a sharp 90 degree angle — like a table top. Hook (or rest) the edge of the ruffled bottle cap against the top edge of the surface. There has to be clearance for the bottle below the surface (bottle at right angle to surface). Holding the bottle lightly in one hand, whack the top of the bottle with your other hand made into a fist — the top should pop off. I cover my hand with a cloth so I don’t hurt it — the feminine way to pull off a macho move. Also, make sure the surface you use is hard and won’t be damaged by the bottle cap — don’t use a wooden table, for example. (Feminine concern about not damaging furniture or counter top when pulling off macho move.) My room had a marble counter top in the bathroom and I used that — it did not get damaged!
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OK, tell us. How do you open it???
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Find a hard surface with a sharp 90 degree angle — like a table top. Hook (or rest) the edge of the ruffled bottle cap against the top edge of the surface. There has to be clearance for the bottle below the surface (bottle at right angle to surface). Holding the bottle lightly in one hand, whack the top of the bottle with your other hand made into a fist — the top should pop off. I cover my hand with a cloth so I don’t hurt it — the feminine way to pull off a macho move. Also, make sure the surface you use is hard and won’t be damaged by the bottle cap — don’t use a wooden table, for example. (Feminine concern about not damaging furniture or counter top when pulling off macho move.) My room had a marble counter top in the bathroom and I used that — it did not get damaged!
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