Sunday, December 30, 2007

Koti

Sunday, December 30th, 2007

Today we finally got off campus! In groups of 5 we went by bus with an Indian student from the University into the actual city of Hyderabad. We are living about 24km away from the center of the city, which, I'm feeling is actually really a good thing. From today's ride into the city I can say that this country, well at least this city, is just as jam-packed and overcrowded as everyone says it is. Each morning we take a taxi from our home to the university and pick of the other people living in home stays. On our way we see rows and rows of tarps-tents crowded together, where families are living in extreme poverty. Late at night you can see the road sides lined with people sleeping, and going the 24km into the city took at least 45 minutes one way, and nearly an hour and a half coming home. Today was so intense. The streets are so crowded with people who are selling used books, fresh fruit (which I can't eat of course because it is all washed in bad water), clothing and shoes, everything you can image. This place is so interesting because in it everything is recognizable to things at home, but are so radically different from how I'm used to them!

We went into a part of the city called Koti today. It was so packed and insane, and hot! It is around 90 F here and I just learned that come April it will be around 120!! Today was nearly unbearably hot at times, the sun just bakes you, and I honestly can't imagine what I am going to do when it gets really hot. I'll get used to it though, so they say at least.

More later, tea now.
lots of love,
Sophie

1 comment:

Jaquelin said...

tea time sounds good, always a comfort. think i'll have a cup too. tea time kept you going in kenya, too. hot tea, or cold tea when it's @ 90ยบ outside?!?

picturing that many people finding food, water, shelter, and goods sounds incredible. there must be a huge agriculture and service sector attending to the flow of goods. what a huge enterprise that must be.

can you find some wood to whittle, or a few good books to read at night until you figure out the cell phone situation...?

LOVE AND COURAGE! mamaj