A couple of things I've learnt so far....

Well if my first day of India observations is anything to go by, this trip will be beyond every expectation that i could have... I LOVE IT!!!!

Things i have learnt:
· Under 5 mortality rate 87/1000 ... WAY TO HIGH!!!
· Sati – widows are sometimes burnt alive on the same fire as their husbands. legislation against these practices are in place, but it still happens. It is considered a curse for women to be widowed. There are some towns and villages only for widows as they are shunned by their family.
· Eating with your right hand is no problem, but the remembering to not also use your left takes a bit of practice. I’m sure I’ll need to sit on that left hand for a few more days until i’ve mastered it.
· I am yet to ask the question if Indian food in India is still called Indian food..or just food... either way...tastes sensational!!!!
The non-verbal yes and no in communication over here is constantly confusing me, because there is an extra one with head moving from side to side... neither a yes or a no specifically.... but sometimes it is.... one of them... but im never really sure which one.... it also means ok... or not ok... confusing... YES! i still have more practice on this one. I think it means OK the majority of the time. or yes i am understanding you, but i might say no afterwards. or yes i am hearing you, but not really understanding you. hmmm. and then actually perfecting this head movement... another task altogether... but one which might quickly become habit myself. ah talking about habit, the number of times i have accidently spoken to people in Chichewa is hilarious. different language TJ... different language.
· 3% of Indians are Christians which is slightly more than Aussies who go to church on a Sunday. There are anti-conversion laws in place, if you change your religion from what you were born into, you must report this to the police. There can be consequences.
· There are many differences that i have never seen before. I love different.
· Alot of life happens on the roof tops – flying kites, bathing, washing clothes, soccer, cricket, hackey sac.
· I’ve seen nearly 30 people squatting and the sun is only just coming up... carefully avoiding where they have been squatting is most certainly to be advised.
· Housing is square, like lego blocks everywhere, in different shades of white, cream light grey and the occasional pink, lime green and pale blue. And like patchwork they are all drawn together by the same dust that covers them all and the ground that is much lighter in colour than i expected., its a very white/cream soil. These colours by the way are the perfect reflective device for the orangey pink sun as it rises, just stunning!!!
· There is more dust than usual in Dehli at the moment as construction and roads covers the city in preparation for the commonwealth games next year.
· The trains go mighty fast – and i have decided i would never live next to a train line. More than 80% of the time the horn blasts very loudly.
· Note to self – do not walk along the train track – all of the 'toilets' on the train are open holes directly to the tracks. Probably not wise to drop anything or fall in yourself. Bad news.
· Everything is very geometric. Not round houses like Africa, with smooth edges and rounded corners. Instead they are sharp square edges, all shapes and sizes. But always square blocks.
· I can see children in the sugar cane fields, and brick piles and working on the roads... all of whom look like they should be at school.

· The whole day has orangey sunset light that we have on really hot and smokey days. Like a sepia tone photo... is that the name?? Not black and white, but the old fashioned looking one. Like that... but then as if someone has that special feature like some digital cameras have where there’s a bright red rose in amongst everything the same colour... the clothes are like that in the midst of everything else looking amazingly similar.
· Being cold, homeless and hungry in a cold climate has got to have more challenges than a hot climate.
· Lack of occupational health and safety in the workplace (e.g scaffolding of buildings) is not just isolated to Africa
· Watch where you walk
· I haven’t seen cricket on the beach, but plenty in the dust.
· You have to dodge people spitting - although i have to do that at work as well, so not so bad.
· I really really want my own auto taxi, all time best way to get around town!!! vroom..

These are just the day 1 surface observations... so much more to discover I’m certain!