First time International Traveler

The time spent getting to India was an exercise in mental and physical endurance. After breezing through security at CRW and short flight to DC, I waited 6 hours for the flight to Germany. Lufthansa Airlines are very nice, but 8 hours crammed into an economy class seat was too much for my back, legs, and feet. By the time we reached Frankfurt,  my ankles and feet had swelled alarmingly, even with frequent walks around the plane. I discovered from a flight attendant than this is a common occurrence.  We had 5 hour layover in Frankfurt,  then we began the last leg of our airborne journey.  After 8 more hours, we landed in Bangalore!  But wait...the journey does not end their! We had to collect our bags, go through immigration,  customs, and money exchange. Machine gun toting guards were stationed at the exits of the airport.
My first breath of Indian air was filled with smells of exhaust and city life. Bangalore is home to over 8 million people. We arrived at our gated hotel around 2-3 am, and shortly after, were tucked safely into our rooms. The accommodations are nice, with a few surprises In the bathroom...no wash clothes but there is a hand faucet by the toilet...you can imagine why.  With the plush blackout curtains in the room, I slept until 2:30 pm the next day! We had a short presentation introducing us to Indian education and then a wonderful buffet style dinner at the hotel. With so many delicious items to choose from, no one left hungry. After dinner, a few of us took a swim in the rooftop pool. It was surreal to float in the water, gazing at the Indian sky, and listen to the city sounds below. The rooftop provided a beautiful view of the city lights below. It was a very pleasant and therapeutic way to end the day.