Some tips for the first time traveller

Alifay

I will be studying at the University of Hyderabad. I would love any and all advice I can get! It seems a lot of advice here is for backpackers and people traveling around a lot. It is all quite useful, but I know I will be staying in a dorm and in one location the whole time. Everything is organized by AIFS (American Institute for Foreign Study), I just need more information about getting along, learning the language, etc.
I was so upset to learn that there wasn't enough interest next semester for a homestay option though! I would have loved to stay with an Indian family .

Thank you for your congratulations!! I am very, very pleased. I voted for Obama today!

-Alifay

harsha

University of Hyderabad (HCU) is a really nice institution and it has a nice campus. I am glad you made a good choice and you will love it. So will you be staying on the campus? Staying in a dorm is a bit boring and the campus is a bit far from the main town However, I am sure you will have enough time on the weekends to go out. In fact, lot of new shopping areas are coming up close to HCU campus so I guess you will be fine.

Since you will be there from end of December till mid may, be careful about the weather. It will be pleasant and nice till mid march but from then on it gets pretty hot. So dont take any winter clothing and take lots of cotton stuff, t-shirts and half plants.

I am sorry that you were unable to get a homestay. However, I will be visiting hyderabad during x-mas and new year so if you would like to have lunch or dinner with my family you are more than welcome.

Congratulations on Obama....I am Hillary supporter but glad that the democrats won.

Stay well and do keep in touch.

Harsha

Alifay

I know! This is why I wish that a homestay option was available!

I had heard that. I think I will likely purchase a lot of clothes when I get there. I do have several t-shirts and one or two pairs of half-pants I will definitely bring with me. Thanks!

I would simply adore the opportunity to have a meal with you and your family! When I have my itinerary (I know there is a trip to Dheli at the beginning for site seeing) I will be sure to post it here .

BTW my name is Alison, but a lot of my friends call me Alifay (my middle name is Fay). So either way is fine

-Alison

harsha

Hey Alison...glad that you found my post helpful and yes you are most welcome to have dinner with my family. Let me know once you schedule is fully decided. There are so many posts around so in case I cannot trace this post or something you can mail me at: shpeechara at gmail dot com. I check that mail daily.

It would be wonderful to visit Delhi...especially in December. The weather will be perfect. I can give you lot of tips and if it is a weekend I would love to do sightseeing along with you.

Please do buy some light cotton stuff. It is very important. Do take one or two sweaters as you will need them in dec and Jan, especially if you are coming to Delhi.

Keep in touch and take care.
Harsha

Alifay

I will be sure to start scouring the shop for cotton. Though, with winter approaching here in Denver, it might be a bit difficult. ...More excuse to shop when I get there! Yay!

I am wondering, in Hyderabad, what language is best? I am about to sign up for a conversational Hindi class, but I have no way of knowing of Urdu or Telugu (sp?) would be better. Any advice on that?

Hal

Hyderabad is mostly Telugu. Some Urdu in the Old City near Charminar. Hindi as a second language, English third.

harsha

Hey Alison...yeah I think it must be cold in Denver...all my friends in US are cribbing about the early winter

Telugu is the language spoken in Hyderabad but if you can learn Hindi that is also fine as 90% of people there can speak Hindi and Hindi is understood all over India so when you are travelling outside Hyderabad you will not have any problems.

I will teach you some basic telugu words for daily use when we meet in Hyd during x-mas. So do not worry too much about it.

BTw, did I tell you that I studied at George Washington Univ Law School. I was there till June this year. I miss US and the east coast a lot.

Take care,
Harsha

Alifay

So it sounds like Telugu would be best, but Hindi would be fine? If you spoke only English (and a very small amount of Spanish and Japanese... ) and were going to live in Hyderabad for 20 weeks, would you select a class on Basic Hindi, Conversational Hindi, or Telugu (or Urdu, that is offered as well)?


It is currently about 25 degrees f (about -4 Celcius) at 10:30 pm here in Denver. A chilly night! We had unseasonably warm weather until a few days ago though -- with temp getting into the sixties

Thanks again! I don't think I will be in Hyderabad until early January (with the first several days after arriving in late December in Dehli), when will you be in town until? I am really excited to learn a new language! Oh that reminds me! Do you have any favorite movies that I might try to track down here? I want to watch some movies in Hindi so I can get used to the sound of the language.

I lived in Virginia for a year just a bit ago, and took a few day trips to GW. It is a great school, and a lovely area! I am not fond of the East Coast though. The people tend to be extra closed off, and the whole atmosphere is almost .. sterile. I much prefer the further West

harsha

Hey Alison...your understanding is correct...Telugu is the main language but Hindi should work. Please try and learn basic hindi for daily conversations and to read some sign boards.

You think 60 F is warm weather...Jesus..I would have loved it..my ideal weather is to have it between 40-70 F all throughout the year. The weather is not so cold in Delhi even though its already November...it is a bit strange

Wow, what a coincidence..you did live in Virginia!!! I was living in Arlington, VA and used to take the orange line metro to go to GW. GW is a really nice school and yeah I agree that people on the east cost can be very un-friendly at times but overall it was a good experience. I never got a chance to see the west and west coast. I did go to South though and I liked it a lot. People are really nice.

I will be living in Delhi all the time so we can definitely catch up when you come here. I am not sure of my exact dates to Hyd but will let you know. ANyways I keep going there once in two months so if not during x-mas we can have dinner at my place in feb. You can have dinner at my place in Delhi during x-mas.

My favorite movies in Hindi are: 'Swades', 'Dil Chatha Hai', 'Rang De Basanti' and 'Kal Hona Ho'. I think you can get these on Netflix so try and watch them.

Stay warm.
Harsha

Jean-Philipe

Mixing up hundreds with smaller denomination should not be a problem,
as they are different sizes and colours. The real potential pitfall is the
old style 500 notes, which are almost exactly the same size and colour
as the hundreds. The new style 500s are a different colour. I always
try to spend or exchange old style 500s as soon as possible.

__________________
It's all part of the adventure of travelling!
http://indiajp.blogspot.com/

Nick-H

I have the same trouble with 100s and 500s, especially in the dark --- and it very often is dark when you come to pay drivers, for instance.

An honest driver returned thousands to me because I'd paid in 500s thinking they were 100s.

The other problem is telling Rs2 and Rs1 coins apart --- but the consequences are not quite so expensive!

Alifay

Here is my itinerary:

Saturday, December 27 Flight from U.S. to Delhi
Sunday, December 28 6-day Golden Traingle tour
to Friday, January 2

Saturday, January 3 Fly from Delhi to Hyderabad.
Sunday, January 4 Orientation
Monday, January 5 Classes begin
Tuesday, April 21 Classes end
Wednesday, April 22 Examinations begin
Tuesday, May 5 Semester ends
Wednesday, May 6 Return flight from Hyderabad to U.S.

harsha

Hey Alison,

Sorry for the delay in response. I was in Dharamshala for the last four days and just got back yesterday.

Wow, I will in Delhi during the time you will be in Delhi. So that is great. You are welcome to have dinner at my place in one of those days.

I am going to Hyderabad in December first week and again in January end so I will be around when you are there and you are more than welcome to have dinner with my family.

You will be spending at least 8 weeks of summer in Hyderabad so be prepared for the heat.

Anyways, let me know if you need any information or tips about Hyderabad or Delhi or India in general.

Later,
Harsha