I arrived in Pune two days ago. With everything so new, my first impressions are still forming. There is one aspect that is impossible to ignore about Indian cities, however. The traffic. It is different than anything I have experienced, even this not being my first time outside the country. There is no clear definition between pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists. Rickshaws (Indian taxis), motorcycles and walkers all share the street. Honking your horn is the primary mode of communication, and it is used often. At times the traffic is so slow and so thick, people can actually talk to one another from rickshaw to motorcyle on the road, asking for directions or just simply chatting. Sidewalks exist, but only sometimes around major commerical centers. Alliance doesn't permit us to operate a motor vehicle here in Pune, but I have to learn India's unique "rules of the road" all the same. As a country of 1 billion, India has a definite human traffic that you can feel, hear, smell, and sometimes even taste at all times.
Interesting side note: Today my roommate and I saw a man riding an elephant strolling down a main street. To our amazement, our host family said that is very common. *Since writing this post (there was a delay in posting this due to issues with internet access) I have seen three elephants.
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