My first year in Delhi
BLARING horns, inching car movements, and the zigzag navigation of Delhi’s roads by battery rickshaw drivers and cows are something I am still trying to adjust to from day one of my arrival in the city.
Coming from a small coastal country, Fiji, whose population has not even crossed a million to a State with the sheer size of the population and volume of vehicles where traffic is immense, though never stagnant is an eye-opener.
Blue skies, clean rivers, and footpaths are very unusual in Delhi. Now, I get even more surprised at myself when I get happy after witnessing an area that is clean and has no cows while surfing around Delhi. My eyes are raring to see blue skies, and seas as in Fiji.
So, engrossed in Bollywood movies, soon after landing in Delhi, I was eagerly waiting to see and feel the environment portrayed in Shahrukh Khan’s movies, but the reality struck me soon after I stepped out of the Indira Gandhi International Airport and it testified that we should not believe everything we see in Bollywood movies.
If you’re thinking about going to India and reading this to help make up your mind, don’t take everything you’ve heard too seriously. Yes, there’s a lot of noise, traffic, people, cows and even monkeys.
But there’s another side to the story. India is a huge country with lots of different landscapes and people. Each state has its own unique culture when it comes to things like food, language, and way of life. So, while there are challenges, there’s also a lot of diversity and richness to explore.
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Food, conduct, language, and travel all become integral parts of adjusting to new circumstances and environments. Even some simple things like crossing roads become the greatest task. Crossing roads in Delhi is like passing through one stage of American Ninja Warrior.
Language and communication are also vital for surviving anywhere in the world. Knowing to speak in Hindi was a plus point for me as I could easily mix around with the locals and escape the foreign treatment especially when dealing with rickshaw drivers or vendors.
Let’s talk about the vibrant world of bargaining in Delhi – it’s like stepping into a game where the rules are unlike anywhere else!
If you’re up for it, a little negotiation can work wonders. You might snag that cool item you spotted for at least half the original cost, especially when dealing with street vendors. It’s practically an art form, and believe me, it has become a daily adventure for me when navigating from College to Hostel.
But hold on, not everything revolves around bargaining. Negotiating is the go-to move only when you think the price doesn’t match the quality of what you’re eyeing. When it comes to essential stuff like food, it’s all set at a fixed price. So, while you might be a bargaining pro, some things are best enjoyed without the back-and-forth dance.
Surviving the extreme winter of Delhi is another story. In Fiji, one Puffer jacket is enough to protect you from the cold and rain, but here I had to wear three to even five layers of clothes to brave the winter.
But that is not enough especially when you are traveling in battery rickshaws early in the morning.
Like Fiji, the pull factor for Delhi is its people. I easily forged friendships with many people within one week of my arrival and this group expanded after I joined the prestigious Delhi School of Journalism, Delhi University for my studies.
Getting around in this big city is pretty budget-friendly, thanks to the need for public transport. Buses and metros connect almost every corner, and you can grab tickets at metro stations or straight from bus drivers.
The best part is that bus services are free for women so you can hop onto your bus and just collect a ticket from the collector to escape getting
fined. Just a heads-up, keep an eye on your wallet and phone in crowded spots – they might decide to go on a little adventure of their own. However, if you’re feeling a bit fancy or want some privacy, you can always opt for Uber or Ola.
Despite some hiccups along the way, so far, the city has overwhelmed me. It is genuinely metropolitan and, to me, quite contradictory. On one end, there are slums, and on the other, there is the gloss and glamour of the wealthy.
Street food and classic restaurants, rickshaws, metro stations, and worldclass airport facilities. Everywhere you look, you will find parallels. Delhi though, has its charm.
It is certainly a feast for the senses, with everything from museums, libraries, and sanctuaries to government institutions, theatres, and retail centres.
As a Fijian with roots in India, being here feels like a special journey back to my ancestral land. This is just the beginning of my adventure – I’m all set to dive into the history and unique vibes of different Indian states.
■ WANSHIKA KUMAR is a former journalist of The Fiji Times studying in India. She writes about her experience as a Fijian student visiting various parts of India.