Wowki, Chowki, Expats go Native. Well, not really.

Last evening we attended the expat Chowki dinner and Ghazal sing along. OK, we only look like we've gone native and it wasn't a sing-along. However, the music was interesting as it comes from the time of the first Muslim-converted Arab and Persian traders, so it's about 1400 years old which is still relatively new for Indians. You will note through some of the photos that there are quite a few people of Indian origin. The TEA association is an expatriate group for those of us foreigners. Well, after Deb and I went to the US Consulate Town Hall meeting about a month ago, we realized that the vast majority of US citizens in Hyderabad were NRIs -- non-resident Indians. So they are in the same boat as us -- not having a home unless like our new acquaintance, Mahdu, you have family here in Hyderabad. Now Mahdu is a proud Aggie. Yep, she's a graduate twice-over from Texas A&M and she and her husband (also a grad) are proud of it. They have an interesting tale of their first experiences in Texas, but that is for her blog. She runs one of the two NGOs that she and her husband have founded.
But the Chowki dinner is an exposure to traditional Hyderabadi cuisine. There is, of course, Biryani. And there was Haleem which was either left over from Ramsan or was a subversion of the strict Hyderabadi tradition of only making Haleem during Ramsan. However, Indian "strict" is interpreted in the same way that most governmental offices define the unalterable rules of the day until when tomorrow comes and the new unalterable rules are given (all orally, of course, just like our malaria pills). And just like malaria, you get a high fever, chills, and jaundice if you (1) try to resist the unalterable rule of the day or (2) try to determine the logic in what the new unalterable rule of the day is supposed to do other than give you the symptoms of malaria. Butttttttt, I digress.
We were greatly entertained by a video that was produced by some of the expats with the help of some native Hyderabadis. I am trying to get a copy.
It was just so right-on about living in Hyderabad, it was scary funny. But Deb was very happy to be among some other expats so she didn't feel like she was the only blond in a sea of brunettes.




Now I see where FabIndia sells all their clothing. Besides Deb and me, every other expat has the entire line of kurtas and pajamas that FabIndia carries.



But overall, the party is a big event for the Expat community every year. So we went with it. Another check mark for our time in Hyderabad.

Here's a German couple that we sat with at dinner.

This is one of my classmates, Sandy, in my "Hindi for Dummies" class. Deb's driver, Ashraf is my guinea pig for practicing my phrases. I notice when he winces as I pronounce different words, but at least he understands them.
And we end with my "Moon over the Hyderabad Skyline". Well, that's not quite true. The old city is about 120 degrees to the left of the direction this picture was taken. It's more Gachibowli, Jubilee Hills, Madhapur, and HiTech City. But enjoy it. I do. I'll be posting again quite soon.