So it has been about two weeks now since I arrived in Hyderabad and I keep starting posts but not actually finishing them. There is a guy named Aaron in the house who says that he can't go to bed until he has written about his day. So far that hasn't been a problem for me...I could do a recap of the various events that happened during this week but instead I will be lazy and just copy and paste my responses to an email. Wait for it...
1. What time is it in Hyderabad when it is noon here? So I can schedule accordingly, in case we wanna Skype. (San Jose)
-It's a 12 1/2 hour time difference so when its noon there, it is 12:30pm in Hyderabad and I will be sleeping because my roommate wakes up at 5:30am and goes to bed at 9pm.
2. What have you been up to?
-Trying to figure out what classes to take for the semester. I really dislike the way they organize classes here. Well.. it would be good if I wasn't here for an exchange. Each department has basically one class schedule depending on what year you are. It means everyone knows everyone else in their department and they are all basically taking the same classes. Problem is I want to take classes from multiple departments and I would like to avoid weekend classes. I got the RTVF departments schedule but everything clashes or is on the weekend or is something i have already taken. It's annoying. Plus the
department is so disorganized (Quite similarly to the RTVF department back home). I have tried to attend multiple different classes only to be told they are canceled or rescheduled or relocated. Also most of them start at least 15 minutes late. Except the one class I really wanted to take which started early and then locked the door.
3. Have classes started yet? What are they like?
-The one class I know for sure I am taking is Hindi and it is hard.
4. Have you met any India people yet?
- A few in passing. Mostly I have been with the other International students in the house. It's not mixed like I-house with locals. I get a lot of people looking at me (Mostly when i travel with other people from the house). Everyone is super nice. The more I go to the same departments and classes the more people I've been talking and I have a few potentials, but so far it's mostly Americans.
5. Have you gotten sunburned yet? (Hope not.)
-It's actually monsoon season. No sunburn, just a lot of rain and BUG BITES. I am telling you they have started a war. I kill the mosquitoes without mercy but i still get eaten. I've been sleeping with a mosquito net every night and i think i need to start wearing poison during the day.
6. What do people do for fun around there? What are the hotspots?
-Thursday nights are karaoke night, Its a lot of fun but more of an international house thing than a local thing i would say.
-There are several western style malls around, with theaters that play cheap Bollywood films.
-Markets, where you have to barter. Problem is that as obvious tourists we get horrendously overpriced for everything. My roommate just found out that she spent 1,500 INR (approximately $25) for a scarf that was worth about 200 INR ($4). There was this whole big thing with the guy that sold it to her too and now she feels really crappy about it. I love the markets though (The trick is I just don't buy anything).
7. What is the food like there?
-When I first got here I thought the food was great. I am starting to get a little tired of it now. Think of DC only better quality and always Indian food. It is good but gets a bit repetitive. There are also very specific mealtimes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Meaning less snacking and i spend a lot of time waiting around for meals. I think I have lost weight but now I found these cookies that they sell at the mini market across the street so...it won't last long. But I do a lot of biking because the campus is huge and all my classes are on the other side of it.
8. What are the people in your I-House like? What are the demographics? You can use our I-House comparisons, e.g. "He's like Dipesh, but slimmer." Or, "He's like Melvin, but without the cocoa."
-White and female for the most part. Mostly American. A few from Finland and Sweden and Russia but mostly different parts of the states. So far I have not spotted any similar characters.
9. Have you gone traveling around yet?
-We were taking on a tour of the touristy spots of Hyderabad. Otherwise I have not left the city.
-Toilet paper being a norm in bathrooms.
-Warm showers
-People
-Driving
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