Foreigner Frustrations

June 14, 2013

When first coming to Delhi from a developed country, the city can be frustrating. While culturally there may be some differences, the marked frustrations come from the lack of luxuries that normally one takes for granted. For example, upon first arriving nothing seemed organized in Delhi. There are no rules in traffic, the water from the tap is not safe, transportation comes when it can, trash lies in the street waiting for someone to pick it up, stray dogs sleep away the hot days under parked cars congesting a small alley, too many employees crowd small alley stores, rolling brownouts don’t cause the blink of an eye, a sidewalk is a rare blessing, and it never seems like the grocery store kilometers away has what you need. In the face of so many annoyances, they beg the question, why can't this be better?

 While these differences seem unorganized to me, you discover after spending two weeks here that this madness is functionality. In a city of millions, the dangerous driving and habitual honking are efficient. The brownouts and unsafe drinking water are symptoms to the reality that Delhi is delivering these services constantly to more and more people. While it may seem that every store is overstaffed, so many more people have jobs that need them. So while these differences frustrated me, I see now there is a purpose. Further, that these are symptoms that Delhi is working on its problems and not just trying to annoy the traveler from the developed country. 

    Here are somethings that happened this week:

                This week I got sick from some food I ate. I’m not sure what it was, but as soon as the strange bacteria hit my stomach, I knew. Luckily I had an awesome anti-biotic and it took care of the problem right away. But I’m starting to understand how people can die from dehydration from these illnesses so quickly!

                Everyday to and from work, I’ve taken an auto-rickshaw. They remind me of a fair ride; they’re pretty rickety, minimal safety assurances, and questionable operating staff. But they are very cheap and they get you where you need to go! It usually takes me a few tries to get a good driver; a lot of times the drivers try to charge me extra by not using the meter, sometimes they don’t know where I want to go, and other times where I want to go is too far for them (2km…I guess that's too far for someone who is in the business of transporting people....) But they always make for a good story! Like yesterday I had a driver who stopped in the middle of an exit ramp and ran to get some water. I sat in this little rickshaw for two minutes as cars whizzed by and honked their horns, thinking this would be such an anticlimactic way to kick the can. Nothing happened of course and he was kind to bring some water back, but it was pretty murky and looked more like mud than water so I kindly turned him down.I'm surprised more of the drivers haven't stopped for water! It gets so hot and they're out in it all day and night!

                I’ve been working on various cases some of the associates at the office have, and then working on a larger more comprehensive project on compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act for new businesses in India. Both are actually really interesting and each time I have to do something new I learn a lot because I have no former knowledge of Indian Law. Everyone at the firm is nice! I’m sad that I’ll have to rotate to a new firm soon!

                Last weekend we were able to go shopping and this weekend we can hopefully do a little of the same! Prices are incredibly cheap if you know where to go; and if you’re a girl, clothes are incredibly colorful and beautiful. (I’m kind of jealous….).

                Overall I’m still getting acclimated to the differences abundant in India; but I’m getting the hang of it, slowly but surely!