The first post has arrived!

So here's how my first few days have been:

Aside from a very angry disruptive Hindu and a medical emergency mid-air, the flight to Delhi was pretty enjoyable! I had no problem sleeping – which I’m sure is no surprise to you all. Upon arrival, however, Elayne and I became painfully aware of our connecting flight cancellation due to the Air India strikes. We thankfully managed to recruit an Air India representative who would soon become our saviour after booking us on the last flight out. It was a race to get there, but we made it!

My apartment is above and beyond my expectations. Its located in Dollars Colony which is a high-income group neighbourhood – hence the name – with streets lined with lush trees. It’s really a very nice place to call home for three months. I share the apartment with two professors – one of epidemiology and biostatistics (YAY!) and the other of communications, which is right up my alley. The both live in Canada, though originally from India, but are sadly leaving in the next month. Apparently people come and go a lot from this apartment so expect to hear more about the roommates to come!

Project House, Dollars Colony, Bangalore

I’m staying in a double room in the apartment on the top floor and was expecting to have it all to myself until last night when an unexpected visitor arrived on my pillow, right next to my head, in the middle of watching Pans Labyrinth. It was a monstrous insect much too large to attack for fear of the dreaded ‘crunch.’ I obviously could not sleep knowing it was fluttering around my room, and was a little freaked at how the movie had become a reality in my very own bedroom. How mysterious. Anyway, setting my hesitations aside, I went in for a sneak attack at around 3am until it was completely obliterated. Success! It took a few hours, but I won this round!

The last two days have been spent getting lost, found and frustrated. I live at the 5a Cross off 3^rd Main – seems like it would be chronologically sensible, however I assure you, it is most definitely not. There are Crosses and Mains that start from 1 through x all over the place and each street looks identical to the last. None of my established landmarks held distinctive and I had no phone or map to work with. Patience was definitely tested. Alas! After two days, I can officially say that I know how to get home.

To my pleasant surprise, I have not been smothered or harassed nearly as much as I thought I would. Bangaloreans (?) are seemingly used to white folk like myself – I’ve barely even experienced any standard double-takes! Its glorious. I can't help but draw the contrasts with Kenya where people would scream out 'mzungu, mzungu' (foreigner) everywhere I went. Such a refreshing change. In fact, the rickshaw drivers here even completely ignore me! Most of them do not speak English and cannot read my address and deem a customer of such descent a waste of time. I’d say 8 of 10 drivers will refuse my service, and then when those 2 patient drivers accept, they usually overcharge, at which point I am in no position to bargain. Damn.

As a side note: in Mombasa, taking the tuk-tuks (aka rickshaws) was really only for the wealthy or tourists and so we would always take the matatu (mini-bus), but here it is widely accepted and common among locals. Interesting. I do not believe I will ever take the buses in Bangalore – they are extremely intimidating and to be honest, they look like they smell bad.

I’m getting used to the city – slowly but surely. Despite the preferred local transport, the battered landscape does remind me of Mombasa, however for every independent, run-down and decrepit shop/shack, there is a fancy glass-walled, air conditioned Colors of Benetton, McDonalds or Addidas store right next to it - a parallel reflecting the socioeconomic stratification in India that can be seen everywhere. Fact: I was told yesterday that 4 of the top 10 billionaires in the world are actually from India.

Anyways, before I bore you all to death, I am happy to report that things are going well! Friend count remains at zero…although I have about 24 new inside jokes with myself…pretty exciting stuff. I signed up for a cooking class and mayyy partake in a little early morning yoga with a woman down the street…maybe I’ll meet some friendly companions there! I also looked into a Hindi class, but apparently the majority speak Kannada here. Strange EH?

I officially start working tomorrow so stay tuned for another update!

More pictures will be posted soon - it takes too long to upload more now....but here's another! (just couldn't resist sharing the joy)

5-10 puppies in an overcrowded puppy shelter (for lack of better term)