What’s in a name?

Why Cherri Cherri?

On my last trip to India, I was lucky enough to have a day free and spend it with a coworker, Revathi, who, armed with a driver and a list of demands from me and my travel-mates, spent her free weekend day taking us to various sights in Chennai.  Temples, the beach, jewelry stores and even the Basilica to see the tomb of St Thomas (which I entered hoping I’d not be struck down by lightning, as my track record of getting to Mass could be better).  St Thomas was one of the 12 apostles and Portuguese explorers built the Basilica over his tomb in the 16th century.

We made our schedule as we went – so flexible that we could just ask for anything and she and the driver would speak about the best way to get from here to there (if you think traffic in Atlanta is bad….try India, but that’s an entirely separate post) and which stops to make in what order.  All in Tamil.  Tamil is a Dravidian language predominately spoken by the Tamil people of India.  It is one of the 22 languages in India.  That’s right, 22.  Anyway.  Once they reached agreement, Revathi would reply “Cherry Cherry”.  At least that’s what it sounded like.  Our whole crew was chanting this phrase by the end of the day.  It is, in fact, “seri seri”, and it means “ok, ok”.  I love it.  It’s bright, it’s cheerful and positive.  So I knew I had to borrow it, creatively, as it’s everything I hope you’ll find this blog to be!

(buffalo blocking traffic in India)

SJ