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 Auto-Rickshaw Ride and other Incredible India Events Today
For the Indians who visit my blog, you may want to pass up the following video displaying my very first auto-rickshaw ride! I’m sure it’s nothing you haven’t seen! But for my parents and friends at home and others interested in coming to India, I think you will love to see exactly what I am seeing here and I am so excited to share it with you. (It only took me 250 minutes to upload using this mobile data card so you BETTER enjoy it! 
) My First Bangalore Rickshaw Ride
Today has been one full day of firsts: My first auto-rickshaw ride, my first time crossing the crazy India streets, my first time apartment searching in a foreign land, my first Indian movie theater, (complete with hot chai delivered straight to our seats during intermission!) AND, my first time riding on a motorcycle here! (sorry mom!)
The motorcycle ride was so random and made my entire day. It happened when we contacted an agent to help with the apartment search, and he asked us to meet him at Bethany High School where he would be waiting on his motorcycle. The man set to unlock the apartments showed up on his motorcycle as well, and both asked us to hop on the back to take us to the locations. I hesitated at first but really had no other option so on I went, having no idea if I should put my hands around his waist or what. I ultimately did for the first ride but by second ride I figured out the handles behind me! I have now ridden through the Indian streets by car, auto-rickshaw and motorcycle, and I have to say the motorcycle trumps them all!
We saw four apartments today total. The first one was off the beaten path which gave me an unsettling feeling that only got worse when we climbed the narrow four flights of stairs to a tiny (shoebox tiny!) dark and gloomy efficiency apartment. The porch was bigger than the actual apartment. So that was an easy no. The asking price was $400 a month (Rs. 20,000). I got a little down after seeing it and wondered if this was going to be our only option. But the second was completely different: gorgeous and huge which turned out to be the problem; it was too huge. Everything else, like the floor to ceiling windows, verandas every which way you looked, and the location directly across from a park with a walking trail was perfect. The price unfurnished was $500 (Rs. 25,000).
Huge Living Room
Look at that window!
The third was located in a big complex and an older couple still resided there as we looked around. They kept the place immaculate. It was sparkling, located on the top floor with great views, tons of fresh breezes coming through the open windows, and a perfect kitchen. Again, it was too big but fully furnished. It’s placed high on the favorites list for me. Asking price: $600 (Rs. 30,000). The final apartment in the same complex was the perfect size but wasn’t taken care of well at all, had bad views, a little dark and gloomy, and generally a bad gut feeling towards it for $500. That completed our apartment search.
The final apartment complex.
We did a lot of walking and rickshaw riding today. I take back what I said about the pollution; it is a menace! After returning from the first time out, I needed to take out my contacts because of all the dust and smog and suffered from a slight sinus ache. I have eaten nothing but Indian food since arriving, and only very slight stomach problems so far. Nothing very bad yet.
Tomorrow we are headed out to look at some villas, which we are told reside many expats. Looking forward to finalizing a place and getting on with the job search and forming a nice routine.
Till next time!
Glad you’re enjoying yourself hun! When I went back, I was terrified of riding on a motorcycle, and it was my first time as an adult after going back to Pakistan after YEARS away!
It amazes me how they can fit entire families on the motorcycles!
i was looking at pics of apts n i couldnt bealive, realy
i live in bombay n we pay around 1000$ for much worse flat
we should move there
Would finding a job as an expat not be a problem, visa vise ? May be working for an american company in bangalore is an option ? What area are you looking for a job ? If it is in software, sales or marketing may be big name usa companies are the way to go ? Another idea which came to me is that I had heard indian IT companies like infosys, wipro, etc are interested in hiring sales and marketting reps in usa. What you could sell them is that you could get trained in bangalore for a year or so and help them out in usa, they might be interested with that.
Another career which I though would suit you well, what with your born interest in foreign cultures is to pass the us civil service exams and join the state dept. in some capacity (they have a whole bunch of jobs-am sure they want folks to relocate to different cities around the world).
Seems like you’re having an experience! Hope you find an apartment soon! And wow, I was scared of the driving in Italy, but India actually beats it! Yikes!
I love your rickshaw ride video! Its almost like being with you there! So exciting!
Im in the process of planning my trip but haven’t booked anything yet. Not sure if I should go it alone or go with an escorted tour?
I’m reading as much as I can and your blog really helps!
Keep it coming!
Hey lady! I am loving reading about your exploits and am SOOOO envious of your trip! Looks like an adventure, for sure! Keep the posts coming. I (and a lot of others, it seems) am eating them up.
Be safe and have fun!!! xoxo
Welcome to India!
I too just arrived, around a month ago and am settling in slowly. I’m amazed at how beautiful and relatively inexpensive rents appear to be in Bangalore. Rentals in South Delhi where I live are crazy high.
You’ve done quite a bit for someone who just arrived. Crossing a road here is indeed an adventure and I’ve yet to ride in an auto rickshaw. Well. I’ve ridden in tuk tuks while in Bangkok so that should be close enough. LOL….
Thanks Maria! Being thrown right in is the best way I say! I’m crossing like a pro now and it’s only day 4! Although, each time I cross the less I care to do it…
Bangalore has been great in all aspects so far so I’m very happy we settled here. What made you come to India?
@Tricia, I’m envious of your beauty
If you can round up 1,000 (I know, crazy expensive) I would love love love for you to come stay here with me for 2 weeks. Please!
@Courtleen, I know some women can handle traveling to India all on their own, but I sure couldn’t. Coming with a friend and staying with friends until settled on my own was the only way I could make this trip. So my personal suggestion would be to book a tour or find someone you can stay with and who can show you around. (like me!) If you want to see a lot of India, book a tour that takes you to and fro. If you just want to experience a piece of India, perhaps find a family to host you or work with a volunteer organization that will house you, etc. I did this when I went to Costa Rica alone; I booked a week stay with a company that provided Spanish lessons and yoga and a place to stay. That way I traveled alone but there were people expecting me to arrive and looking out for me. And I was able to meet some really cool people! Let me know what you choose to do!
Hi MDG,
I’m here because my husband is working in one of the embassies in Delhi so I’m quite fortunate to already have a house, domestic help etc when I arrived. Visiting India is not the same as living here, something I’m discovering on a daily basis. I think I’ll feel better and more “independent” when I get my own car and driver. I’m not brave enough to self-drive in India.
I’ll be following how you settle into India and all the adventures you’re going to have. Have fun.
@Durrani, yes, working would be a problem because I am on tourist visa so, it will most likely be volunteer work for me. Thank you for giving all the suggestions! That was so nice of you. I have a friend who’s bf worked for the state department and was stationed in India for 2 years. I always thought that would be a good job for me! Problem is, I’m really not a career woman. I wish I did have that mentality but I simply don’t! I like having a billion hobbies and making some money here and there with random employment…