Learning About Hyderabad

My first week at Hyderabad University:

On Thursday I was able to get in contact with Krishna, a friend of a friend who studies in Illinois, he offered to take me to his home to meet his family. His home was beautiful and his mother greeted me warmly. They showed me around the house and then Krishna and I sat on the roof patio, where there was nice seating and we talked and enjoyed some snacks and chai. After we finished he asked me whether I wanted Indian or American food. I decided for Indian food and he took me to Paradise, which is where the best Biryani is made. Biryani is a famous Indian dish made in Hyderabad. It is a dish with rice and a sort of vegetable mix underneath the rice. And then I, since I can’t stand as much spice, put a lot of the white, cold, similar to a cucumber sauce on top. That is the best I can do to describe the dish, but in case you were wondering it was great.

It has been quite hectic trying to figure out class times. Indian students only take classes from one department and those times match up well, but for students trying to take classes from different departments it can be quite difficult. However, I think I have figured out my schedule and I will be taking Yoga: theory and practice, Human Rights in India, Medieval India, and Indian Philosophy. I should learn a lot and am excited to get started. Since I don’t have any extra curricular activities I am excited to enjoy a semester of leisure. I plan to read, travel, and enjoy riding my bike over the beautiful campus. That’s something else I should mention it is a fifteen minute bike ride to the other campus, and one time I walk to almost the far side and it took me an hour to get there.

Our student guide Abishek took us around town on Saturday to show us the city and understand public transportation a little better. We took a train into town and then went rickshaw crazy. We fit seven people into one rickshaw every time we traveled. These auto rickshaws are three wheels and the driver sits in front and then there is room for three maybe four to fit comfortable, but the more the merrier in India, so six it is. There is a picture of an empty rickshaw below.

We ate lunch at a fast food restaurant. Abi Shek recommended that we get a dish that had a huge piece of bread that was really thin and was completely hollow. It made me think of when pizza have thos air pockets except it’s an air pocket as big as a small pizza. Then you dip it in this chick pea dish and onions and lime. It was simple, but good. There were three green chiles that went with it. We asked Abishek if they were spicy, and he said no their not spicy. Well, I took that as truth for me and took one huge bite let me tell you my mouth has never been so much on fire in my life. I don’t even know what this chile was called, but it was hot. Now I know that if an Indian says a chile isn’t hot, still proceed with caution.

Sunday a friend and I decided to try and get into the city on our own using the trains. We took a rickshaw to the station, and realized that there were fewer trains that traveled on Sundays. The best thing to do was to just laugh and we went back outside the station, where we found the driver who took us to the station. He definitely enjoyed laughing at us Americans, who still haven’t figured out the system. But I guess that happens in all new places.

Later in the afternoon six of us decided to go to shilparamam, which is a craft village. People have to pay 25 rupees (about 50 cents) to get in and then there are three or four blocks of booths with all different types of hand made things. I was able to practice my bartering skills and it is getting a little bit better, but I am still a little too hesistant for India shopping. I did end up buying some clothes that will help keep me cool in the warm months ahead. It is winter in India right now and everyday it is 80 degrees and sunny, its funny because it feels so great to us, but there are people here wearing coats and earmuffs because it is so cold. 

I hope everyone is doing well.

Judith