My experience living in India has been amazing so far, and successfully integrating into the New Delhi community has been a huge part of why I am enjoying my time here. There are many things that have helped me to meet new people, form strong relationships and just enjoy the experience.
Being open to new experiences and saying “yes” when asked to do something is a great way to integrate into new places. I’ve noticed that my initial reaction when asked to participate in new activities is often an inclination to be guarded with my time. This can be helpful from the standpoint of productivity at work, but when it comes to fully enjoying new experiences, meeting new people and just having a good time in a different culture, going against this resistance and saying "yes" to new things is honestly almost always the way to go. During my second week, here my cousin asked me if I wanted to play futbol. I was feeling tired and not yet adjusted, so I wanted to say no. But I ended up agreeing and inviting another Fulbright friend along. This is one of the best decisions I have made! Since that night, playing futbol in Delhi has been an awesome highlight of my experience. It has been a fun way to connect with my cousin and friend, and it has also provided a great channel to integrate into the Delhi community.
Another important quality when living in a new place is patience.
