Day 3: Upper/middle-class India pt.2

22:00 In the "Tantra" - a downtown disco with American (bad) music, from middle to upper-class people and European price-level. We meet a team of five European medical students who're taking a night out from their clinic. Helene from Norway completes our Nordic team.

Indian disco-etiquette differs greatly from that in Europe. The first problem we encountered at the entrance because we were not even boy-girl pairs. Our Indian friends managed to talk us in and we went through the security check. Inside the club we were told that we can't dance without the girls. So for example me dancing with Anssi or Tommi would've been considered inappropriate. Very strange :-)

The evening was nice, but I'm not really a disco person and since the prices were quite high and the music terrible I decided to leave with Hanne and Aswath around 2 o'clock. The taxi-ride through the city is remarkably fast with no other traffic. In the streets people sleep without shelter or stare at the lonely Ambassador rushing through the city.

Oh yes, almost forgot. We saw a snake crossing the street in the campus. Probably a non-venomous one, said our Indian friends. Good to know, just in case.

Day 3: Middle-class India

11:06 I finally wake up. It felt so good and I feel all but numb, which often would be the case after a long sleep. I meet the rest of the guys who'd later form up our little group; Johan, Michel and Bart from Belgium.

With Umashankar (U.S) we go downtown to Salt Lake City (a new fancy district) to a shopping center which could as well be from any European city with the fancy boutiques and nice cafés. This together with the shopping center we saw yesterday really change (or actually create) my picture of what modern India is. There is already a huge middle class in India, which can't be forgotten!

We also visit US's brother's home nearby in a nice neighbourhood. They are all brahmin-caste (priests, though not practicing ones) and very nice. We spend some time planning our travelings together and watch some cricket, which is by far the most popular sport in India. The cricket-heros are just as worshipped as European footballers!

There are many possible and common misunderstandings what comes to modern India. I feel like even living here is studying, not to even mention the classes at the Institute.

Day 2: The longest day in my life

01:01 Incredible day! Without any doubt the longest day in my life. It actually began already on Tuesday evening/night when packing home in Piikkiö. Then a long day in Helsinki and a short night (again) before taking off early in the morning. Very short night in the airplane and the whole day here in Kolkata.

My mind feels overflowing of all the new things having taken place. Great experiences and it’s probably not going to end here. But now I really feel I need my sleep. Good night.

Day 2: Downtown

21:10 In a very fancy restaurant owned a famous Indian cricket-hero. We feel a bit underdressed, since we're (of course) in our casual-tolerate-the-heat-still-traveling-clothes. The food is excellent and a beer after a long day tastes great!

In the street we have an after-dinner-thing (spices rolled in a leaf) which tastes like mint and ice-creams. I give mine to the little boys begging around us. In downtown the beggars are everywhere, but still not as numerous that I would've expected. The advice "don't give money, buy some food, if you wish" might be worth it. The money seldom goes to help the one who it's given to and you just end up being requested for more. For a second I think they're greedy and show no gratitude, but end up feeling silly; it doesn't work quite like that.

Around midnight we're back in the campus witnessing something completely different; an IIMC-birthday tradition. The poor guy is beaten by everybody else, then covered with the cake and left sitting in the yard. Everybody seems to have fun, although I have doubts about the birthday hero himself.

Day 2: The First Contacts

14:18 I'm sitting with my new Indian friend, Ishvar, in an Indian fast food restaurant. We met in the computer class and 10 minutes later in one of the shops. He asked me to join him to go to the city for some banking and eating.
10 minutes later we were sitting in a taxi taking us to Tollygung metro-station.

The guard in the bank had a big rifle (the one that you shoot tigers or elephants with; although I hope you don't).

Ishvar turned out to be a very nice guy and very interested in European history, which I found nice of course. I gave him a brief lecture on how Finland made it through the war until today. He of course cleared many things about Indian culture for me too.

16:50 I met the first other exchange students; Hanne from Denmark, Sandra from Germany and Marine from France. They said we'd go to the city in the evening for a dinner. I said I'm in. Then I met Robert from Sweden and it was love at first sight.

Day 2: Settling down

10:30 I had a nap and feel a bit numb after waking up. I bought some drinking water and toilet paper. Let's hope that it lasts long.

The heat is really something; I'm sweating as a pig and my t-shirt feels like a second skin to me now. We've got gekkos, spiders, mosquitos and flies. On the contrary, we also have thousands of birds giving indian-western-fusion concerts in the yard. At the first glimpse the campus looks quite nice and green. Trash is everywhere, though. Except in the rubbish bins.

I haven't seen any other exchange students yet, and also very few locals. I decide to walk around a bit and try to get my papers in ordnung. This proves to be an ongoing process. I visit several offices and I'm told to sit down please at least as many times.

I feel I'm too enthusiastic. It seems to be siesta time. I can undestand why; there are approximately +38 reasons for this behaviour.

Day 2: First Impression

6:43 I'm sitting in a white Ambassador-car (Kolkata-made) with my buddy Avik Sarkar, who picked me up from the airport. A very nice guy and my first contact with the outstanding Indian hospitality!
The airport routines were ok and I have my passport stamped! Paperwork takes some time, but that's what I expected.

This is what I notice:

-It's hot and humid, although not as "bad" as in Bangkok last spring. (Later remark; this is probably because it's only 5 a.m. when I first set my foot on the Indian terrain.)
-It smells like greenhouse
-I have a spider in my room. Rather small, though.
-I live in Annexe hostel, room 138
-The poverty is very visible from the first drive through the city to the IIMC-Campus in Joka, South of Kolkata

-"It was my duty", said Avik when I thanked him for everything.

I wonder what's my duty?

Day 2: Arrival

3:35 (Indian time; from now on)
I wake up feeling awake, refreshed even, despite the sleep only lasted for two hours, I think. We're flying somewhere between Delhi and Varanasi. Breakfast was served during my sleep, but the Nordic co-operation seems to work and Lovisa has my snack bag too.

The muffin is good, but too small. Some things never change.

4:17:34 Touchdown. I'm in India.

Day 1: On the way

8:26 (Finnish time) "Kotimaa kun taakse jäi..." Johanna and Jussi drove me to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. The last sad goodbyes change to "intolerable lightness of traveling".
I miss Kaisa a lot and it feels strange to travel alone. On the other hand, that's what this journey is about: "Finding yourself, fullfilling a dream and building our life together." I feel that we both understand this. It's very difficult, but we will work it out!

I think I sound over-dramatic. Blääh. That's not what I want. Please read with patience; I will improve!


15:02 (GMT) I board the plane. British Airways aircraft model XY. There are lots of them but I manage to find the right one. I also bought and iPod. Now I'm broke.
I get the seat 17a, which is on the windowside. Except that there is no window. I maintain my good mood despite this minor drawback, which I'm happy about. Next to me sits a Swedish nurse who's going to work in Kolkata the next 9 months. I manage to speak fluent Swedish, which I'm also happy about. Also the food is good. I take two small bottles of wine! Both are good.
I change my clocks to Indian time. Looks like its time to get some sleep.
I won't, which is strange. I usually do. I miss Kaisa again. It feels sad but good. Missing the one you love is one of the most beautiful feelings. Happy being sad? Contradiction again.

Day 1: Departure and contradictory thoughts

Waking up 5:00 am at Johanna's and Jussi's place. First thought crosses my mind; what the hell am I doing and why would I ever want to leave Finland for India?
The answer seems to remain the same; "What I must".