India: Am I in the 19th or 21st century?

My name is Rina Thi, and I am studying information systems at the Foster School of Business. Last September, I went on an Exploration Seminar to South Africa and enjoyed it so much, I decided to enroll in a second. One of the biggest advantages of an Exploration Seminar is its short time frame. I was able to do an internship and a 3 week study abroad experience in the course of one summer. For those of us in a time crunch, an Exploration Seminar certainly serves well.

Hauz Khas Village

I have been in New Delhi, India for 3 days. Upon stepping into India, I was hit with humidity, constant glares, and an indescribable smell. I also saw traffic at its worse: two lane roads with over five cars squeezing their way in, honking that never seems to cease, random cows in the streets, and the brave tourists willing to try crossing the jam packed streets.

After a long day of visiting Boeing India, the Lotus Temple, Hauz Khas Village, and Old Delhi, I am more than glad to soak in everything I’ve seen through this journal entry. Being a true Seattleite, I was excited to see Boeing’s presence in India – and I wasn’t disappointed. It’s unlike the facilities in Everett, WA, but the energy from the employees was enough proof of Boeing’s achievements in India and in the world. We headed to the Lotus Temple, where people of all faiths were welcomed in to pray. With its design based off the Sydney Opera House, the Lotus Temple is an architectural masterpiece. Our next adventure was in Hauz Khas Village, a market village for high class shoppers and designer products (and prices!). With empty stores aligning the deserted streets, Hauz Khas didn’t quite look like a place to find designer clothing. Tucked behind the village were the ruins of an old prison. The village definitely had a ‘Resident Evil’ feel to the place. After Hauz Khas, we headed out to Old Delhi, the walled city of Delhi. Just when I thought India wasn’t hectic enough, I was

Old Delhi

proven wrong. Once entering Old Delhi, I saw auto rickshaws, bicyclists, and cattle navigating through the narrow and crowded streets. In the center of the Old Delhi is the oldest mosque in India. As I was bargaining to drop the price of a scarf, the owner finally gave in because it was time to pray and break fast for Ramadan. As I heard the call of prayer (an Islam ritual before the daily 5 prayers), people closed their shops and rushed to the mosque as others quickly served food to eat. If anybody decides to visit New Delhi, I strongly suggest dropping by Old Delhi. In Old Delhi, I found a hidden jewel of India. I started the morning with the one of the biggest company globally and ended the day with a tour of Old Delhi….two different worlds, but all within one country.

A very long day and tomorrow…..we head to the Taj Mahal in Agra!