A post for my foreign visitors!

This post is "brougth to You by" Kati. Thank You!

We had to write 400 words about our experiences in India. And She came up with this, so enjoy! :)

None of us has been to India before. The prospects of the journey made me think and I tried to recollect all the words India meant for me by that time: the white marbles of Taj Mahal, bengal tigers hunting their prey in the jungle, the novels of Sommerset Maugham of the times of British colonies, Ravi Shankar's and his daughter's Nora Jones's music, the heavy monsoon rains, the land of exotic diseases, the famous Hungarian traveler Csoma Sandor Korosi who made his way up to Darjeeling, Mother Theresa, elephants and henna.

So on at the end of July we set off for a journey into a land of mysteries, a country we only knew from our history books and from the pages of the National Geographic. And we arrived to Hyderabad and were terrified to see the people sitting and living on the streets, all that kids running around in the dirt, the holy cows being all skin and bones, eating garbage from the roadside.

Even though accommodated at a premium place and having a cook at our service, most of us had difficulties with the food at the beginning, and we were casting nervous looks at the jugs filled with tap water. We've never thought that even the simplest meals - like pasta - can be over-spiced.

And then, our whole impression gradually changed.

We’ve got finally used to the food, experiencing that broad variety of chicken, lamb and rice dishes of the Indian cuisine. The little brown sweet (shankir palla, what we just call "szopott gomboc") and the chapati became favorites.

When strolling alongside the main Hyderabad roads, squeezing ourselves into one single rickshaw - there were the 9 of us in there - the endless noise of the horns, the hectic way people drive were definitely something unusual though interesting. And after visiting parks, bazaars, and restaurants, listening to their favorite music coming from speakers all across the city made us realize that the Hyderabad is buzzing with energy, that it truly never sleeps.

And as we ventured more into the city and spent more time at our workplace I think we've got to know Indian people better. It became apparent that there are strong family values, trusting friendships, respect for the old; that people are helpful and willing to work. I am glad that we are all here to see that, and I also hope we are here to see more. We should all be grateful for this India experience.