After searching through the internet over the weekend, I found a Delhi Expat group that meets every Tuesday morning for coffee. I was able to get the time off to go to the meeting this morning. For about a 15 mile drive it took about an hour and a half. Traffic is crazy. I saw a couple new things – 5 people on a motorcycle made for 2, child on the gas tank, dad driving, another kid, then mom sitting side saddle holding onto a baby with one arm. The other site was 4 men on a bicycle – 1 sitting on the handle bars, the guy peddling was standing up, another guy sitting on the seat, and the 4th was standing on the spokes area. I also saw an elephant on the way back on the side of the road. It looked like it was lifting cement pylons for the road construction crew.

Anyway the event was at the Hyatt Regency. It is an upscale place. I saw more Caucasian people there then the entire two months I have been here. After asking for directions a couple times I found the conference room. There were about 100 people there. I counted 5 men including me and the rest were women, the wives of the expat workers. It was basically a social gathering for them to figure out how to stay busy during the day and who were the best babysitters. I was even offered a babysitting job. I asked for American wages and was shot down.

Tables were marked for each city. My table was Noida and about 4 other towns. Not one other person was from Noida, they were all from the other towns with are about 10 miles away. People at the table were from Australia, Holland, Germany, South Africa and the UK. I did not hear a single American accent there. It was mostly British and Australian accents. They all had the same complaints of the heat and the spicy food. Most were renting new apartments and all the paperwork was delayed for one reason or another.

I sat through the meeting, they were mostly looking for volunteers and money for different charities in the area. I stood around for a little bit afterwards and took off. It definitely was not the event that I was hoping for. I had the concierge call my taxi for me from the parking area. As I am waiting I saw the best vehicles since I have been here picking up the other individuals. They were mostly Honda’s and a couple Land Rovers. Then my little hatchback taxi pulls up. I proudly strutted into the car and did not tip the concierge as he opened and closed my door.

The ladies mentioned there is another group that the US Embassy has. I will have to look into that.

One rule here that appears to be followed by everyone but me is calling your superiors “sir”. Call it my American ways, but I can’t get around to calling someone sir. Although it does come in handy if I can’t remember a name or how to correctly pronounce a name. I don’t like being called sir either. For instance at the apartment, every morning I walk to the neighboring restaurant for breakfast. Between my room and the time I sit down to eat I hear “Good morning sir” about 10 times between all the staff. Also at work it happens. The other thing is the order in which you walk. The highest superior should walk first followed by the next and the next in order. I don’t really follow this either. It really throws them off when I go first and then hold a door open for everyone else.