India Begins

I've been in Hyderabad for over a week now.  Even in that little span of time, the experience has been amazing.  I have been spending the bulk of my time in the office, but I did get to tour the city a bit.

My first observation upon arriving at the airport was this:

I don't know why, but I love this picture.  I think it's because it represents the dichotomy of cultures here.

My first day in the office, the majority of the engineers in my department stopped by my office to introduce themselves with a big smile.  I really wasn't expecting that.  I've never had that happen in any other job.  But I thought it was really nice.

I met up with a friend of a friend and quickly became friends with her family.  The first day I met them, they invited me to be a groomsman in the eldest daughter's wedding!

I've always liked Indian food - both at home and in restaurants.  But eating the food here is just a whole new experience.  The tastes are different and everyone eats with their hands.  I have to say I really enjoy it, even though I'm very much a novice.  I'm always a little worried that I'm getting too much food on my hands.  Or that somehow my technique is offensive to the others at the table and they don't want to say anything about it.

This latter concern actually arises in a number of situations.  I don't know if I should take my shoes off upon entering a home.  I don't know if I'm addressing people in the proper manner.  This list goes on and on.  The problem is that views on these things vary by age group, religion, and probably a bunch of other factors.

I went to one day of the Telugu assembly this past weekend.  Here is a photo of lunch:

    
The brothers were super friendly.  I got to meet so many, even many who didn't speak much English.

Now we come to autorickshaws.  These things are simultaneously great and crazy.  Here is what they look like:

They are basically mopeds with three wheels and an outer shell.  They have one bench seat in the back and one seat for the driver.  Today I saw one with 8 adults.  I am not joking.  Here is a short clip of my ride in one going the wrong way on the street.  Just when it looks like he is going to turn and go in the proper lane, he turns and then goes the wrong way down that lane too:

Well, there is a lot more to say about India so far, but I'll stop here for now.