Lessons Learned

I've been here almost a week and I've learned a few important things:

1. When attempting to cross the street, find an Indian who is doing the same. Wait until they deem it safe to cross and follow closely behind them until you reach the other side of the street.

As I mentioned previously, there are generally no cross walks or intersections in India. Coupled with the fact that drivers are constantly weaving all over the road, crossing the street is a daunting task. Thankfully, it seems individuals who have grown up here have developed a sense of which vehicles you can walk out in front of and expect to stop (I'm not prepared to start making that judgement at this point).

2. If while walking on a sidewalk you encounter a section that is unstable, do not step on it!

Upon my arrival in India, I was under the impression there were no sidewalks. Turns out many streets do in fact have them. It also turns out that directly below them (about a foot) there are sewers. As far as I can tell, there is no maintenance done whatsoever on the sidewalks (so you can imagine the shape they are in). As a result, if you'd prefer to avoid submerging your foot directly in sewage, its advisable to also avoid the wobbly sections of the sidewalk.  

3. When looking at a menu in a restaurant, select at least three items you'd consider ordering.

Every single time I've been to a restaurant in India, at least one person in our group has attempted to order something from the menu that wasn't available on that particular day. Often, it takes three four attempts to find something that's actually available.

4. Never leave home without Kleenex and hand sanitizer, ever. 

Prior to leaving for India, I had read several times it was a good idea to carry these two items with you. It was not until my first day in the office that I realized how important having them really was. I made the mistake of assuming the bathrooms in the office would have toilet paper. Not the case. I also assumed that soap would be available. Again, not the case. Needless to say, I have not left home without either item since (and generally avoid using any restroom other than the one in my house). 

5.  The Indian head bobble means yes, not no.

Within a few minutes of talking to an Indian you'll notice a head gesture they use often. The best way I can describe it is a cross between someone shaking their head no and the movement a bobble head makes. I've tried on numerous occasions to replicate it but have been unsuccessful. When someone does it, it generally means they agree with what you're saying or they understand what you're saying. When a person begins to make this gesture, it initially looks like they're going to shake their head no, resulting in much confusion for foreigners especially the first time you encounter it. In fact, I am still confused by it on a daily basis.  

First day in India

Yesterday, my first day in India was quite the experience. It began with our drive from the airport to our apartment. Jaleesh, our driver was there to pick us up when we arrived. I've read several times that driving in India is very different than it is in the US. I realized pretty quickly just how different it is. As I've told some of you, it reminded me of a giant game of frogger with people weaving in out of each other like crazy!

After we got to our apartment, we took a little time to settle in. Our place here is huge! It has two levels. The main floor has a kitchen, living room, dinning space, extra bedroom with a bathroom off of it, and a balcony. Upstairs there is another living room, two bedrooms (each with a bathroom), and another balcony. Thankfully, the entire place is air conditioned.

After we got settled in, we had lunch at a cafe down the street from our apartment. The walk over there was another experience. Sidewalks don't exist here so people just walk down the side of the street and try and avoid the traffic. There also aren't crosswalks or typical intersections making crossing the street semi-difficult. I learned about "Red Killers" which are big red buses that apparently don't stop for anything (probably a good idea to try and avoid them). Anyways, I had some typical Indian food for lunch. It was pretty good but my guess is after three months, I'm going to be ready for American food! 

After lunch we were planning on going to the grocery store but it was pouring. Its monsoon season here so I think that's going to happen a lot. Instead of shopping, we came back to the apartment and I took a nap. I think my body was still adjusting to the time change. After I woke up we headed to dinner at a hotel near our apartment. Again, the food wasn't bad. After that we headed home and I talked to a few people from home and then headed to bed. Overall, it was a good first day! Who knows what the remaining 96 days will be like:)