Back to work ...

I have reached my one month anniversary, and it feels more like four! I'm currently in Delhi and the plan is to move to Mumbai at the end of April. It has all worked out really well. In Delhi I'm staying in a flat 10 minutes walk away from work, which is quite unbelievable. The walk however is pretty treacherous, with no pavements you are constantly dodging bikes, cycle-rickshaws, auto-rickshaws, packs of dogs, cows, piles of poo and burning rubbish ... also the heat is increasing day by day, to the extent that 10 minutes walk will not be possible. It’s 36 today, so still manageable.

So, in summary for my first month in India

Seen the Taj Mahal, which every one must do especially before it turns yellow from the increasing urban pollution

Met a member of the Royal Family ... I think Princess Ann will be removing a patronage of VSO on return to the UK after questioning the recruitment process of volunteers. My colleague spoke to her in Hindi, of which her response was "careful" and I didn't do much better by admitting my dislike of the London transport system promoting me to escape to India!

Have used up at least 3 of my 9 lives on the roads in India ... huge juggernauts driving at full speed on the wrong side of the motorway is common practice. From now I will be taking the train everywhere

Becoming increasingly aware of the huge difference between corporate/foreign office expat and VSO volunteer life in India, they work 5 days and have washing machines, I spend half a day of my1.5 day weekend bucket washing! An English paper pushing bureaucrat at the British High Commission could not comprehend how we could survive on a monthly salary of 8,000Rs (100pounds) and proceeded to ask why we were not doing "proper jobs" ... if it wasn't for the free gin supplied at the bar within the High Commission compound I think I would have got rather upset!

Finally, last Friday in the centre of Delhi saw a groom, in his full wedding attire, on a white horse galloping down the fast lane of a dual carriage way .... either he was late or making a run for it ..

Will keep the updates coming ....

Namaste Liz