Sanjay Varanasi

Hurray!! After 10 months of living in a foreign land, and after having completely settled and adjusted to the new environment, I came back to my home land on 20th May. I stepped out of the terminal expecting the shock of my life.

Initially I found the place to be wierd, coz I was used to US airports, and their way of handling people and issues. The new Shamshabad airport left a lot to be desired. It was awesome by all Indian standards, but, pathetic by any global standard. I found the staff at the airport very non-professional, and the immigration officials very unfriendly. Luckily, I didn’t have to put up with them for long, as the immigration process was short. Baggage collection was equally quick too. After coming out, I had to wait for my parents for quite sometime, and I heard people were still waiting for their baggage.

My uncle had come to pick me up in his car, and when we drove back, I was quite uncomfortable with the lane-less bumper-bumper driving, especially as I was so used to US driving.

When I finally reached home I still wasn’t sure if I was really in India. I needed some serious sleep. It was only after I woke up I realised I really was in India. (I hate these spell-checkers. Why can’t I use ’s’ instead of ‘z’ in realised?)

That very day, I met my friend in the evening, and I ventured out to explore my favorite city. I was apprehensive if I would be able to drive.. duh .. ride my motorcycle in the city’s extreme traffic conditions. Nevertheless, I decided to try it out, and was surprised that I fit so well into the messy traffic. Initially I felt a li’l uncomfortable, but that was shortlived. Very soon, I started zipping and zooming through the traffic like always.

Went to visit some of my ( and all Hyderabadis’) favorite spots - Necklace Rd/ Eatstreet, Prasad’s IMAX, Hyderabad Central). I liked the experience, but not to the fullest, since there was little youth around, mainly due to the fact that it was mid-week. I came back happy to have rediscovered my Indian-self.

I still do find a few things to be wierd, esp. after knowing for a fact that we can do better than this. Like for ex: the utterly  pathetic download speeds of BSNL - 256kbps as compared to 1.5Mbps I get with ATT at the same price (in rupees), the list of requirements - Photo, ID, proof etc required to acquire a SIM card for a cell-phone, etc.

Enough said. I’ve been enjoying the new-old experience of being in a hip and happening city, that is Indian, and that I can relate to very well.

Related posts:

1. A few images of Houston
2. Hyderabad’s Traffic- Major suggestions
3. It is ‘in’ to be in India ! US is out !
4. Terror Strikes India again!!
5. Road rage and us.