A key feature of the Hopkins MBA program is its Innovation for Humanity (I4H) project, in which students work abroad with an organization whose business practices impact people at the “Bottom of the Pyramid.” After our first semester of classes, I learned that my team’s project would be in India.

Despite the preparatory research, nothing could have prepared me for what was to come. I had never been outside of the United States before. To be honest, I was closed-minded and ignorant. Now looking back, this trip to India was perhaps the most life-changing experience in my 27 years on this earth.

Orientation

Upon arrival, I needed to quickly adapt to things that I was unaccustomed to:

1. Air and water quality
   I’ve always been skeptical of drinking tap water in the US. But knowing that in India only bottled water from certain brands was safe to drink, I was reminded of just how much I take access to clean water for granted.
   
2. Hospitality
   Indian hospitality is second to none. I’ve been told that a guest is comparable to a God in India. Everywhere I went, people were courteous, if not enthusiastic to see a foreigner. I did not expect to be treated so well, let alone be asked multiple times to star in some strangers’ selfies.
3. Standard of living disparity
   Here’s a picture I took of some beautiful houses in the hills on the left, and to the right: slum communities. It’s not so different from many US cities, but it was intriguing to see nonetheless.
4. Lots of animals
   Sure, sheep, goats and cows aren’t foreign to the U.S…. but I definitely saw my far more in Hyderabad and its surrounding areas than I had seen elsewhere. Not to mention, our hotel was next to an old parking garage that had been converted into a “cow hotel.”
5. Traffic, crowds and auto rickshaw “safety”
   Need I say more?

The Work

Through all the excitement that Hyderabad had to offer us, it was easy to get caught up in the tourist experience. Nevertheless, we were able to accomplish a great deal. Our consulting project led us to meet film producer Akkineni Ramesh Prasad at his production studio and private theater.

Somehow, we (almost) never let fun get in the way of our work…..

The Fun

After our workday was over, we’d explore Hyderabadi nightlife and its famous cuisine: biryani.

Weekends were spent trying trendy new food places, trips to the market or exploring historical sites such as Forts and Mosques.

Conclusion

To me, one of the most interesting things about Hyderabad was the religious mix. I met many Hindus, Muslims and much to my surprise, Christians all living in relative harmony. This is contrary to the narrative portrayed by modern media, so it was both surprising and encouraging to me.

By the time our adventure was over, I didn’t want to go home. Hyderabad had grown on me. As I walked off the plane into a wintry Baltimore, I knew in my heart that I’d have to return to experience more of India. Hyderabad was just a small piece of a much larger puzzle – a puzzle that intrigued me to the core.

Click here to read about my next adventure to Buenos Aires, Argentina.