Little acts go a long way

As I have worked with and gotten to know the locals here in Hyderabad, I am amazed at their openness and kindness. I realize and have experienced that not all are like this, but so many are, especially in the poorer areas.

When we took a wrong turn in the slums on our way to our mural project we started asking around if someone had a phone we could borrow. Even though some of them just laughed and informed us "they were street bums, so no they didn't have a phone", one family took us in, let us use their phone and cared for us while we waited 2 hours for Bindhu (our Indian partner for murals) to come.

They gave us food, water, offered to wash Lydia's feet, and go safer shopping with us, so we wouldn't get ripped off. They gave us 100% hospitality asking if people in India were kind to us, it was so important to them, that their countrymen were treating us right.

On the flip side I have realized there is also the selfish side in people as well, and having experienced both sides here is a bit overwhelming at times. I have realized that being open (to an extent) and loving is necessary but trust needs to be prove. Just when I believe that most people have an innate desire to do good & help out their fellow man, I get a slap of reality when twice in one day the auto drivers decide to rip us off. We agree on one price (the foreigner price most of the time) before we hop into the auto, on top of that once we get to our destination they demand more money saying they didn't know it was 1 min from the club we told them, or that there was traffic... Blah blah blah whatever happened to being honest and a decent human being who keeps their word. I get they are living in a third world and need to make money, but I get upset when people try to take advantage of us.

It is annoying that they think they can rip us off in everything (autos, shopping, food etc.) and think we don't know better. 

Nevertheless I love that people come out of nowhere to help us out, focusing on that helps me to stay positive and love the place I am. 

3 things I love about India 

-mango milkshakes=heaven in a glass

-people love to shake hands ask my name and then run off. 

-women are blank faced until I smile and wave & then they give a beaming/shy smile

Today Andrah Padesh was officially broken into two states. Everyone was out  celebrting the newly formed Telengana state, some added lots of color to their otherwise white doorstep murals!

Our trip to Sharmenar bazaar and Mosque

Taken from inside the Mosque looking at the bazaar below

Peace & happiness