My feet are on Indian soil!

Walking in Bangalore this afternoon was a treat for all the senses! Just steps from the hotel are cars, auto rickshaws, people selling fruits, people begging on the corner, entire families on one motor scooter, and everywhere a smile or polite nod!

In a city of 8 million people (more than twice Chicago's population), I'd expect more, um, drama? The sounds and sights just seem to work so well together, like this dance between people and vehicles and animals and life has been going on for years and years, so there is no reason to disturb it now. In a twenty minute walk, I counted at least fifty places where I needed to walk carefully because of a gap in the sidewalk or missing chunk of earth. I counted at least 500 honking horns, seven homeless dogs, two roundabouts, zero crosswalks and only one traffic light!

It all works, though. I don't know how, but it just does.

Adding a small group of American teachers to the mix didn't phase anyone. We thought there would be stares or at least sideways looks. Nope. Walking around the area near the Lemon Tree Hotel, we encountered a friendly indifference to our presence and picture taking.

After dinner, another small group of us went on a walk in the oppostite direction. Now here was a totally different area! Auto rickshaws honking, motorcycles darting in and out of alleyways and narrow streets, brightly lit shrines along the roadway, cows ambling through empty lots, shopkeepers cleaning their sidewalks. . . There was still a symbiosis of "haves" and "have nots," but the elements were just a little different. Maybe it was the darkness; maybe it was the closer proximity to downtown Bangalore that made the difference. At no time did I feel uncomfortable, though, because there was still the friendly indifference to the small group of curious teachers.

Tomorrow, we'll visit a local school and then return to discuss our findings. It should be very interesting. . .stay tuned!