Hi! I'm MDG.
I am an American woman in love with an Indian man. I moved to Bangalore, India July 25th, 2010, and am happy to be sharing my experiences with you!
Please don't hesitate to comment or contact me directly. I love both! 
First Moments in India
It’s raining in Bangalore. Yes, I have arrived safely! Internet has been hard to come by and even now I am typing this as a Word document and will have to upload it when possible. I have been dying to get everything down before I forget a thing, and share it with all of you! Thank you for being patient and writing to find out if I have arrived safely.
I am sitting inside a friend’s apartment where we are staying for the moment, staring beyond the plant covered veranda out into the rain that is falling heavily upon rows of parked motorcycles.
View from friend's balcony, Bommahalli, Bangalore, India
We just came back from a car drive around town, checking out apartments and stopping at the mall, almost purchasing a ticket to see Inception, then finding out only the front row was available. I was in complete awe the entire drive, staring every which way like a small child, trying to take it all in, but quickly realizing there is never enough time to take it ALL in. There is SO much going on around you, it’s unbelievable. But I can’t help but love the madness. I love how everything that seems so impossible- in India, has a way of working itself out. The vehicles come within millimeters of brushing a bus, or a rickshaw, or a pedestrian or dog, but somehow all pass untouched. Indians are daredevils to say the least. You have to be to live here. I’m surly going to have to grow a tough skin!
We arrived at Bangalore airport around 3:30am after a four hour flight from Dubai. The taxi drive was as scary as I thought it would be, with no seatbelts available in the backseat, and the driver flying through stop signs with only a beep of the horn. Laugh all you want, but I sat in the middle and pulled both seatbelts across my chest, twisting them around each other until tightly fastened! I then grasped it with white knuckles the entire hour ride. I always thought I would ride eyes closed at first, but I couldn’t stand not to look around. I found the arrival instantly pleasing, especially the cool weather and greenery. So far, I love Bangalore! Oh, it’s much better than Dubai for sure. Trees everywhere! We were surly ripped off by the driver but I left all that up to my Indian friend, who gave whatever the driver asked, even when he presented a form with set fees but said it’s 50% extra at night!
Breakfast was cashew upma and dosa with coconut chutney. Amazing! Sweet, hot chai followed afterwards. See, we have the luxury of a mother-in-law in the home! I eat very little at each setting usually, and felt bad denying seconds, but tried my best to smile, pat my stomach and say mmmm! so she understood I liked it very much. She only speaks Tamil, no English at all, so, it’s hard to communicate the way I want which can be frustrating.
Getting a little personal: there is no toilet paper in the home which was expected, but I packed wet wipes just for these purposes. There are hoses next to each toilet (public toilets included), but I have no idea the proper way to use them without accidentally taking a shower with them!
Public toilet in Dubai. Gross picture, I know! But wanted to show the hose.
I quickly realized when in the Bangalore airport there was a stream of water flowing from the next stall into mine, that it wasn’t urine but water from the hose! How do women in burqas, or with so much fabric draping from their Indian dress, juggle all of this? In fact, I find Indian women amazing after seeing how much they have to juggle in India in general. Riding side saddle on the back of a motorcycle through unforgiving traffic, balancing items on their heads and they tread the streets full of dirt, garbage, potholes, or construction, and in our case today, walking through ankle high areas of water, crossing treacherous roads with children by their side…To the Indian women who may read my blog, I bow to you!
The apartment we are staying in for now is very nice by Indian standards and very expensive, but still very basic by American standards. The bathroom leaves much to be desired, but I expected that. It makes me appreciate what we get for our money in America.
- The cutest sight to see? Hands down the school children walking in groups in their school uniforms, and the pigtails and bows in the school girl’s hair.
- Best sound to hear? The Muslim prayer that emanates from the nearby Mosque. Such a soothing break in the day for everyone I would assume, Muslim or not.
- Best smell so far? I really dig the Indian liquid Santoor hand soap kept in the house! I’m sure this will be replaced by something better later…
- Scariest moment? Taxi ride for sure, when the car in front of us missed getting side swiped by less than a second.
- Most shocking? The Indian traffic. I have seen so many videos and was mentally prepared, but being IN it is nothing like watching it.
- Most relieving? Not being stared at. In Dubai, I was stared at like crazy so I expected the same from India. Sure there may be a few looks here and there, but everyone seems way too busy and on the go to spend much time staring at little ole’ me!
- What turned out not to be true in my case? The smell and the pollution that I heard so much about, I don’t seem to notice either! ..yet!
- What I didn’t expect to see so many of? Security guards. They are everywhere from apartment complex entrances, mall entrances, roaming through the stack of motorcycles you see above…
- What I love most about Bangalore so far? The cool weather and trees trees trees!
I have started a post about the two days spent in Dubai as well, but I was in more of a hurry to update about India! Dubai shall follow when possible.
So exciting! Can’t wait to read more, have been checking in every day since you left to see if you had arrived. Glad to know you are safe and sound
Hey MDG,
I have reading your blog for sometime now and I wish you the very best in this new venture of yours……….
At times, you will find that India will delight and at times frustrate as well….. it is just that we have a totally different outlook to things; but what I wanted to say that, I hope you learn to “Experience India”; then your stay in India might not be that bad. You might just even learn to drive our style
Another thing is that I hope you do learn the basics of Kannada/Hindi. Trust me, you will need it
and maybe you will also learn to haggle with the Taxi/auto drivers about the price 
Lastly, please do visit Kerala which is actually just an overnight journey from Bangalore. We call it God’s own country.
Best Wishes; Cheers!
Hi MDG,
Have been looking over your blog since early spring. I’m so glad to be able to read about someones journey from the beginning instead of going back to catch up months later. Really glad you are enjoying it so far. It sounds like you have been very well prepared and know what to expect. I guess that’s the plus of dating a Desi. You get used to the thought of things most Americans would find to be not so pleasant.
Good Luck and I really can’t wait to hear more.
Kat
Hiii, MDG!!! I am sooo happy and relieved to see your post…I hope I get soo enchated by what I will see. It is great to know the experiences you are having and how much you are enjoying them. I am eager to read more about your new life
YAY I’m glad that you made it safely to India thank you for sharing the photos with all of us! Now I will email you my list of what I want form India while you are there LOL! I can’t wait to hear all about yout days and trips while in India
So glad to know you made it! The first few days are intense. I keep thinking I’ll start listening to music or reading during my commute, but I still can’t stop watching everything. I look forward to reading about your experience!
Hey MDG,
Glad to read you’ve reached safely and are taking in all the sights and sounds well
small Q – are you sure the second pic is of a public toilet in dubai and not B’lore? coz immediately after the pic you describe the scene from a toilet at B’lore airport!
BTW – once you get used to pipe hose you will be disgusted at using only toilet paper! hehe
When I lived in Jaipur my host mother also didn’t have toilet paper in her house. I decided rather than try to buy toilet paper I’d try living without it for a while. She didn’t have the spray hoses, but small plastic cups that you filled with water and used. It was pretty refreshing, until I had a “running stomach” and then I felt a little moist all the time. Worth a try though!
You also find the Muslim call to prayer soothing? A has it on his computer and it always goes off, he usually turns it off when we are together but when I am there, alone, during the day I always listent to it.
I am so glad you reached Bangalore safely and many wishes to a great stay over the next 6 months!
Why u talking about wipes & toilet peper? U r grossing me out.Ewwwwwwwww!!
@Americanepali, I haven’t built up enough courage to try it yet, although they also have the bucket and small cup, which I was used to seeing already in MIM’s place.
@Wildflower, I did mention the toilets in B’lore but this one was taken in Dubai – I think at the airport…memories running together now! I agree with you, and I now wet the toilet paper bc MIM has taught me how much cleaner it feels, but still can’t just use water!
@Jubeee, it’s SO soothing. I had no idea it plays so often and loud enough to be heard everywhere. I have never heard it before arriving in Dubai and now hear it constantly in India. That’s cool your bf has it on his computer!
@Mahesh, I know, gross! But I want to talk about everything and be helpful to others also considering traveling to India. All advice helps!
@Abby, thanks! Actually, I think it may be opposite for me. The first few days are like a vacation. I think when it comes to settling in and finding a job is when it will become a bit intense!
@Nicki, thank you and let me know if there’s anything you are dying to have!
@Karina, Kat, Ajit and Stacia, thank you!
Whew, think I’ve caught up now!
well glad u made it safe on ur trip i think its great ur leaving blogs to let everyone know how it is if they ever go to india ill have a good idea when i go in nov takecare god bless ps i thik its much cleaner to wet the tp lol never would have thought of it intell my hus ill say is is very refreshing afterwerds
Hey,
Nice mixed experience till now and hope it will continue for you. One thing I liked in this post is about the apartment. You are very right that a nice and very expensive apartment in India is not up to even the basic standards in America or any other western country. You the the value for money is less in here. Anywayz B’lore is a very nice place to be. Especially the gardens are very b’ful. Waiting for your next post with your further daily life experience in here. If you plan to watch a movie, you can book the tickets online in advance and select the seats of your choice. So that will save you from the last minute hassle.
Vanakkam,
Welcome to India. Hope that you are not starting to miss America!
Are you learning few words in Tamil to speak with your mother-in-law? If so, share the experience when you get time to do so. I would like to know what do you think of Tamil language.
Take care.