We can’t believe it’s already been one week since we landed in Hyderabad!  We spent this past week visiting the schools, exploring Hyderabad, and basically getting our feet on the ground.  Since there are not many foreigners here in Hyderabad, we have found ourselves attracting lots of attention from the locals!  Many people have approached us, striking up conversations to practice their English.  Others have asked to take pictures with us. And others just like to wave and say “hi”.  We have found people to be very open, and ready to help with advice, as we have had to stop and ask for directions many, many times.

We have met with both the A.P. Residential boy’s school in Nalgonda and the Government High School Vijaynagar Colony in Hyderabad and have set up our weekly schedules with them. This past Wednesday we visited the boys Residential school in Nalgonda. The trip to Nalgonda is a hike from our apartment in Abids. Along the way, we got a chance to see some wandering cows and also the incredible traffic here in India (which goes many different directions and at high speeds!)  The boys at the school were all enthusiastic, friendly and very eager to learn. A friend helping with the Modern Story project, Sayed, introduced us to the administration at the Boy’s school and the boy’s quickly took us under their wing, showing us around the school grounds and talking with us in one of their classrooms. They were excited to see us and couldn’t get to us fast enough to say hello and shake hands. We visited the girls school yesterday and were greeted by a warm administration, who was hospitable to our needs and excited about the potential of the Modern Story Program.

Today Swarna, our American Indian Foundation coordinator, invited us to an event at the Ossmania University campus, on the east side of Hyderabad.  It was a chess and art competition for blind and deaf students.  The students played on boards with grooves in the spaces so they could feel where to put their pieces.  

We also befriended a group of enthusiastic young girls who were there to paint and sing at the event.  They gave us a mini-lesson on some Telugu, the state language of Andhra Pradesh, which we would both like to learn some of while we are here.  They also gave us some suggestions for Indian music to listen to. They attend a high school in Secunderabad, a northern section of Hyderabad.  We are determined to go visit them sometime soon!

After a week in India, we are feeling more settled. The auto rickshaws are now a common sight. The haggling has become second nature and we are both becoming skilled bucket bathers! Our short time here has made us eager to see more and learn more about this wonderful place. As much as we are here to teach, there is also much here that we can learn – the many languages, the history, the culture, the family relations, the food, religion, and on and on and on! We are very happy to in one day be teaching at the schools and will keep you posted on our progress!