Oops... It’s been a week since my last post - sorry for not posting sooner but everything has been crazy busy here in India...
Why has it been busy? Basically a president of one of the rotary clubs in the UK, Northampton Beckett, is visiting due to the fact their club has fundraised money for the Madras Rotary Club's charity foundation (who run and fund the boys town that I am staying at). He is of Indian heritage himself although he has lived in the UK for many years and his British wife grew up in Calcutta... so therefore I have been very interested in their opinions on this insane place – I found out he had to move to England because he had an Anglican name – when searching for a job he found that, despite having all the right qualifications and more, the Sangeeta, Kamal or Bhattacharya always got it... This is due to the nationalist bias that was instilled in the post independence population.
I was meant to on Thursday night go to a jazz night with some Rotarians and our guests, which I was very excited about, me loving a bit of the jazz every so often, however everything from clerical errors, a fiercely nationalist doctor and a (as it turned out a not-so) rabid dog bite… A dog went a little bit psycho and bit me though it was more of a nibble than a bite – barely drew blood! basically when I was asked why I didn’t make the night my reply was invariably “India!” – I got to see the medical facilities of India however (surprisingly impressive), met a few doctors (infuriatingly obnoxious) and only after having several irritating syringes stuck in several annoying places did the owner of the canine decide to reveal that the dog had been vaccinated for rabies a few months ago (extremely annoying)… so don’t worry I’m OK and I promise not to keel over dead any time soon!
Over the past week the rotary club has been putting on a lot of events and programs, last night however was by far the best - a rotary club night! When I say ‘rotary club night’ I don’t mean a ‘rotary club’ night I mean a full on nightclub event for the Rotarians – it was an experience! More importantly however it was an experience with an open, free, fully stocked & overflowing with alcohol bar… it was a unique sight to see some of the older members of the club spilling their drinks whilst trying to shake their hips to Shakira or singing along at the top of their geriatric lungs to my great delight ‘Alice, Alice, who the f**k is Alice!’ – This in contrast to the normally strictly reserved and uptight moral culture…
But it is now tomorrow morning and I managed to get up relatively nice and early – feeling almost 100% and fine!!
I promise to try and post again soon - but no promises - the electrical students here for some reason decided to rewire the whole building through one tempermental fuse - electricity is sort of a bonus at the moment! By the way feel free to leave comments - it would be nice to know I'm not just talking to myself...
Saturday, 28 November 2009
Saturday, 21 November 2009
Papa's got a brand new bat...
Sorry for not posting sooner - the Internet has been down for the whole area for the past 3 days, I hereby also apologise for the bumper double size posting that follows - I've got to catch up on lost time...
Today I went shopping... and it was crazy...
The director of the boys town, two of the kids and I headed into the centre of Chennai to one of the main shopping districts, a place called T.Nagar - a place full of market stalls, shops and giant, humid & busy megastores. We ended up in one of these previously mentioned megastores, but only after walking through the markets, where of course, myself being white (Indian logic = Rich), I was accosted by hundreds of day-glo plastic flutes, baby clothes & tacky ball games...
The boys town had to stock up their supply of raincoats by about 40 - thus the two boys who acted basically as walking, talking shopping trolleys! While we were there I strolled randomly into the Sports section (in between the raincoat and the mysteriously named Fancy section...). There was, it appeared , no logic to the mapping of the store but I suspect there was some sort of crazy genius to it that went straight over my head...
But I digress, as I said - I ended up making an expedition to the sports section - where I decided to purchase a cricket bat for the younger boys - who often made do by playing with a large stick! After wading through the chess department and circumnavigating the Antiperspirants (see the crazy genius - chess is a very stressful game!) I found the till - at least I think the till was somewhere inside the mad throng of people surrounding an circular station where the staff were working with all the energy of a manic 13 year old child on speed...
After refueling with some butter masala (wow!) and some Butterscotch Ice cream (double wow!) we walked back to the bus stop carrying our shopping, which meant having to go back through the market... I got ready, psyched myself up and braced myself for the barrage of brightly coloured tat - but it never came! One man started towards me with a brightly coloured holographic picture of a baby before he exclamed "oh, you have a cricket bat" and retreated prompltly to the safety of his stall. I think they thought I had 'my weapon' (the bat) for their benefit - There must have been rumours that a crazy white guy was out on the rampage with his trusty child sized cricket bat - I think I might not actually give it to the kids and just take with me every time I go shopping!!!
----------------------
Quick breather before part 2 - cup of tea suggested! (sorry again for the length....)
----------------------
Whilst on the bus home I also began thinking about the Indian rules of the road... and therefore I have listed for your pleasure the Indian Highway code (as viewed by me):
1. Drive on the Left (unless the right looks nicer - then just go for it!)
2. Maintain a constant speed of 50 km/h at ALL times - even in the face of heavy traffic, wayward animals/children & oncoming buildings
3. If you have to break, do it properly! i.e. as fast as possible - no point in not putting 100% effort!
4. Concerning animals on the road:
Dog - rev engine violently (you always have right of way over dog)
Cow - Honk horn (respectfully!) then drive round
Pedestrian - slow down slightly, then get angry and accelerate shouting wildly
5. Your skill of Driving is only as good as your proficiency to honk - it takes a real man to be able to suffer from a mad bout of road rage and still be able to honk the chorus of MJ's Thriller... (and it is your duty to practice honking at any nearby vehicle, animal or empty stretch of road)
6. Before any long journey collect all non biodegradable items in your house (plastic, metal or preferably any nearby spare crude oil) and randomly throw it onto the side of the road periodically through the trip - plastic makes the boring earth really nice and colourful plus it gives the cows food!
7. The lines painted on the road (if any...) are completely coincidental and have no bearing whatsoever... Feel free to weave about and change lanes as much as possible - doubly so if on motorbike and in heavy traffic
8. The bigger the vehicle, the more likely it has right of way
9. Traffic lights are only guidelines...
10. If in doubt stop, exit vehicle, start shouting loudly and threaten to slap all near drivers, pedestrians and/or animals
-
Wow, that was a marathon entry - maybe I should have done that in two posts... Oh well, it's written now and I'm officially knackered!
Now what happened about that cup of tea...
Cheers for reading!!!
Today I went shopping... and it was crazy...
The director of the boys town, two of the kids and I headed into the centre of Chennai to one of the main shopping districts, a place called T.Nagar - a place full of market stalls, shops and giant, humid & busy megastores. We ended up in one of these previously mentioned megastores, but only after walking through the markets, where of course, myself being white (Indian logic = Rich), I was accosted by hundreds of day-glo plastic flutes, baby clothes & tacky ball games...
The boys town had to stock up their supply of raincoats by about 40 - thus the two boys who acted basically as walking, talking shopping trolleys! While we were there I strolled randomly into the Sports section (in between the raincoat and the mysteriously named Fancy section...). There was, it appeared , no logic to the mapping of the store but I suspect there was some sort of crazy genius to it that went straight over my head...
But I digress, as I said - I ended up making an expedition to the sports section - where I decided to purchase a cricket bat for the younger boys - who often made do by playing with a large stick! After wading through the chess department and circumnavigating the Antiperspirants (see the crazy genius - chess is a very stressful game!) I found the till - at least I think the till was somewhere inside the mad throng of people surrounding an circular station where the staff were working with all the energy of a manic 13 year old child on speed...
After refueling with some butter masala (wow!) and some Butterscotch Ice cream (double wow!) we walked back to the bus stop carrying our shopping, which meant having to go back through the market... I got ready, psyched myself up and braced myself for the barrage of brightly coloured tat - but it never came! One man started towards me with a brightly coloured holographic picture of a baby before he exclamed "oh, you have a cricket bat" and retreated prompltly to the safety of his stall. I think they thought I had 'my weapon' (the bat) for their benefit - There must have been rumours that a crazy white guy was out on the rampage with his trusty child sized cricket bat - I think I might not actually give it to the kids and just take with me every time I go shopping!!!
----------------------
Quick breather before part 2 - cup of tea suggested! (sorry again for the length....)
----------------------
Whilst on the bus home I also began thinking about the Indian rules of the road... and therefore I have listed for your pleasure the Indian Highway code (as viewed by me):
1. Drive on the Left (unless the right looks nicer - then just go for it!)
2. Maintain a constant speed of 50 km/h at ALL times - even in the face of heavy traffic, wayward animals/children & oncoming buildings
3. If you have to break, do it properly! i.e. as fast as possible - no point in not putting 100% effort!
4. Concerning animals on the road:
Dog - rev engine violently (you always have right of way over dog)
Cow - Honk horn (respectfully!) then drive round
Pedestrian - slow down slightly, then get angry and accelerate shouting wildly
5. Your skill of Driving is only as good as your proficiency to honk - it takes a real man to be able to suffer from a mad bout of road rage and still be able to honk the chorus of MJ's Thriller... (and it is your duty to practice honking at any nearby vehicle, animal or empty stretch of road)
6. Before any long journey collect all non biodegradable items in your house (plastic, metal or preferably any nearby spare crude oil) and randomly throw it onto the side of the road periodically through the trip - plastic makes the boring earth really nice and colourful plus it gives the cows food!
7. The lines painted on the road (if any...) are completely coincidental and have no bearing whatsoever... Feel free to weave about and change lanes as much as possible - doubly so if on motorbike and in heavy traffic
8. The bigger the vehicle, the more likely it has right of way
9. Traffic lights are only guidelines...
10. If in doubt stop, exit vehicle, start shouting loudly and threaten to slap all near drivers, pedestrians and/or animals
-
Wow, that was a marathon entry - maybe I should have done that in two posts... Oh well, it's written now and I'm officially knackered!
Now what happened about that cup of tea...
Cheers for reading!!!
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Tim meets a super mega movie star... apparently
Whoa - 2 posts in 2 days... Don't expect this all the time!
I promise to keep this one brief!
Today I met a man named Kamal Hassan - apparently he is a major Tamil movie star (Chennai is in the region of Tamil Nadu, who have a different dialect and movie industry to the rest of India).
I was told that Kamal was the Tamil equivalent of Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks & Tom Jones all rolled into one... he was being given the Rotary club of Madras 'Lifetime Achievement Award' - and promptly he gave a speech thanking his family and friends who he couldn't have done it all without - I guess he must actually be famous then!
To tell the truth it was an interesting afternoon except for the fact a large portion of the presentation was in Tamil and I was the only person in the room who didn't speak it. Don't tell anyone but I was secretly more impressed by a beautifully preserved Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle in the car park... A very famous Indian/British motorbike that holds the record for the longest production run of any bike model having been made non-stop since 1948 (oops - I'll put the anorak away - I promise!)
I did notice one interesting & quirky fact at the meeting though - ever since I got here I thought there was something slightly odd about the way Indians talk (apart from the accent) and today I finally put my finger on what it was: they use words that are deliberately long-winded or extravagantly Victorian... things are not definite or certain - they are manifestly indubitable. I even recently passed an old poster in a slum part of Chennai that was telling the passing crowds to bank with their firm due to their 'predilection to expedient enterprise'. To my great surprise the sign didn't seem to be attracting many of the market goers attention...
I promise to keep this one brief!
Today I met a man named Kamal Hassan - apparently he is a major Tamil movie star (Chennai is in the region of Tamil Nadu, who have a different dialect and movie industry to the rest of India).
I was told that Kamal was the Tamil equivalent of Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks & Tom Jones all rolled into one... he was being given the Rotary club of Madras 'Lifetime Achievement Award' - and promptly he gave a speech thanking his family and friends who he couldn't have done it all without - I guess he must actually be famous then!
To tell the truth it was an interesting afternoon except for the fact a large portion of the presentation was in Tamil and I was the only person in the room who didn't speak it. Don't tell anyone but I was secretly more impressed by a beautifully preserved Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle in the car park... A very famous Indian/British motorbike that holds the record for the longest production run of any bike model having been made non-stop since 1948 (oops - I'll put the anorak away - I promise!)
I did notice one interesting & quirky fact at the meeting though - ever since I got here I thought there was something slightly odd about the way Indians talk (apart from the accent) and today I finally put my finger on what it was: they use words that are deliberately long-winded or extravagantly Victorian... things are not definite or certain - they are manifestly indubitable. I even recently passed an old poster in a slum part of Chennai that was telling the passing crowds to bank with their firm due to their 'predilection to expedient enterprise'. To my great surprise the sign didn't seem to be attracting many of the market goers attention...
Monday, 16 November 2009
Tim's school trip...
Today I visited a few of the local schools in the area near me. It was a bit of a shock!!
One that I visited was a government school for those who are below the poverty line. When I first arrived I reckoned the facilities were suitable maybe for a school of 400 but 1200 pupils attended it, despite this it only had 24 teachers... Class sizes easily reached up to 120 pupils
Picture trying to teach a class the size of a whole year in a school in Belgium or the UK squeezed into a classroom built for maximum 40 - especially as the class is full of energetic teenagers! In a discussion I had with one of the teachers he said 'the size of the school and the needs of the pupils, there ought to be at least 70 teachers'.
That however does not tell the truth about the facilities: The classrooms were blocks of bare rooms, the classrooms not large enough though for any chairs or desks - the kids did their school work on their laps...
I visited on an exam day to see the pupils doing some important tests. I saw the kids trailing long lines out of the doors of the classrooms into the playground, sat cross legged on the floor in the dust next to where children were playing and running around, all the while trying to answer an important exam paper. As is the norm for India goats, dogs and cows were also wondering around grazing freely - just imagine trying to sit a gcse or A-level equivalent exam sat on the floor outside, surrounded with children playing and goats wandering around you! Then couple it with the fact that we are coming to the end of the monsoon season and at the moment flash storms are common - you maybe sat outside writing a paper, with all mentioned above, under a small overhang of the roof in thunder & rain...
As I say it was a bit of a shock - especially as the students were not moaning or complaining - they just wanted to learn, to do well in exams, to get to a good uni. The fact is that these facilities were what they were brought up with, what they were used to. But most of all they were adamant that a little thing like astronomical class sizes, minuscule class rooms and not even a stray cow during an exam would get in the way of their dream of the money, the job and the all important BMW...
P.s. I have now got a camera to show you all the things that I write about! However at the moment I have no way of uploading photos to the computer off of said cam... but expect photos soon!
One that I visited was a government school for those who are below the poverty line. When I first arrived I reckoned the facilities were suitable maybe for a school of 400 but 1200 pupils attended it, despite this it only had 24 teachers... Class sizes easily reached up to 120 pupils
Picture trying to teach a class the size of a whole year in a school in Belgium or the UK squeezed into a classroom built for maximum 40 - especially as the class is full of energetic teenagers! In a discussion I had with one of the teachers he said 'the size of the school and the needs of the pupils, there ought to be at least 70 teachers'.
That however does not tell the truth about the facilities: The classrooms were blocks of bare rooms, the classrooms not large enough though for any chairs or desks - the kids did their school work on their laps...
I visited on an exam day to see the pupils doing some important tests. I saw the kids trailing long lines out of the doors of the classrooms into the playground, sat cross legged on the floor in the dust next to where children were playing and running around, all the while trying to answer an important exam paper. As is the norm for India goats, dogs and cows were also wondering around grazing freely - just imagine trying to sit a gcse or A-level equivalent exam sat on the floor outside, surrounded with children playing and goats wandering around you! Then couple it with the fact that we are coming to the end of the monsoon season and at the moment flash storms are common - you maybe sat outside writing a paper, with all mentioned above, under a small overhang of the roof in thunder & rain...
As I say it was a bit of a shock - especially as the students were not moaning or complaining - they just wanted to learn, to do well in exams, to get to a good uni. The fact is that these facilities were what they were brought up with, what they were used to. But most of all they were adamant that a little thing like astronomical class sizes, minuscule class rooms and not even a stray cow during an exam would get in the way of their dream of the money, the job and the all important BMW...
P.s. I have now got a camera to show you all the things that I write about! However at the moment I have no way of uploading photos to the computer off of said cam... but expect photos soon!
Sunday, 8 November 2009
So this is India...
Sorry for not posting earlier - everything has been a bit mad! India is an incredible place, it has a culture that is so different to that of the west, EVERYTHING is different here.
The first thing I noticed was the visual differences from that of Europe. I got a Tuktuk ride from the airport after i landed at 4am local time (an amazing, if not slightly scary experience) and saw that the roads are encased by thousands of short squat terraced garages, these little buildings form the shops for the city. In front of those actually on the edges of the roads are carts and stalls which sell everything under the sun - The whole city is a giant marketplace. Even more in contrast to the UK is the amount of colour, the buildings, the lights and even the clothes are awash with seas of yellows, greens & pinks - compared to the greys, blacks and navys of the average European high street. it is like someone cranked up the hue to full on the TV and somehow made it a country!
However once you get into the country and begin to see more you realise that the colours and sights are just the start of the differences. The sounds & the smells of the city are completely indescribable...
The weather is also very different - it is the end of a particularly long monsoon season - it rains everyday 24/7. Heres how it feels in UK weather terms - imagine the worst winter rainstorm continuous for months in July high temperatures with the humidity of a steam room to boot. My air con is on constantly and it feels like I am getting through a can of antiperspirant a day! The worst thing is it is only going to get hotter! The boys are expecting me to play cricket when the playground dries up. I have no idea how I am going to play in this heat (actually that says very little - I've never really played cricket - I have no idea anyway!).
The boys are great. They are so intensely different from school kids in the UK that it really, really shocked me. I was talking to one boy who was quietly studying in a corner and he told me he wanted to be a civic engineer after going to uni and getting his masters - when I asked him how old he was he said he was twelve. They all are really working hard to further their education, to go to a good uni and get a good job. Some people I know in the UK didn't work out what they wanted to study until the week UCAS statements were due. The kids are trying so hard to better themselves and their families. The boys here really are appreciative of what they have.
One example of this is that the boys town recently got a TV for the library (read: large room with three small bookcases of old tatty textbooks). Now when I was boarding in Cranbrook, the Cornwallis TV room usually had about 10 or so people there in the evening and there would always be an argument over who had the remote, what channel was on or what seat people could sit in. Yesterday I walked into the boys library and saw 100 kids quietly sitting on the floor watching TV - no arguments, no fights and no unnecessary throwing of objects (or cushions - a Cornwallis favorite). One of the boys would have the remote & they would scroll through the channels however not one boy would complain - they just enjoyed sitting there watching TV...
I know that is a really small thing but to me it was huge... it highlighted the great cultural divide between the UK and India!
The first thing I noticed was the visual differences from that of Europe. I got a Tuktuk ride from the airport after i landed at 4am local time (an amazing, if not slightly scary experience) and saw that the roads are encased by thousands of short squat terraced garages, these little buildings form the shops for the city. In front of those actually on the edges of the roads are carts and stalls which sell everything under the sun - The whole city is a giant marketplace. Even more in contrast to the UK is the amount of colour, the buildings, the lights and even the clothes are awash with seas of yellows, greens & pinks - compared to the greys, blacks and navys of the average European high street. it is like someone cranked up the hue to full on the TV and somehow made it a country!
However once you get into the country and begin to see more you realise that the colours and sights are just the start of the differences. The sounds & the smells of the city are completely indescribable...
The weather is also very different - it is the end of a particularly long monsoon season - it rains everyday 24/7. Heres how it feels in UK weather terms - imagine the worst winter rainstorm continuous for months in July high temperatures with the humidity of a steam room to boot. My air con is on constantly and it feels like I am getting through a can of antiperspirant a day! The worst thing is it is only going to get hotter! The boys are expecting me to play cricket when the playground dries up. I have no idea how I am going to play in this heat (actually that says very little - I've never really played cricket - I have no idea anyway!).
The boys are great. They are so intensely different from school kids in the UK that it really, really shocked me. I was talking to one boy who was quietly studying in a corner and he told me he wanted to be a civic engineer after going to uni and getting his masters - when I asked him how old he was he said he was twelve. They all are really working hard to further their education, to go to a good uni and get a good job. Some people I know in the UK didn't work out what they wanted to study until the week UCAS statements were due. The kids are trying so hard to better themselves and their families. The boys here really are appreciative of what they have.
One example of this is that the boys town recently got a TV for the library (read: large room with three small bookcases of old tatty textbooks). Now when I was boarding in Cranbrook, the Cornwallis TV room usually had about 10 or so people there in the evening and there would always be an argument over who had the remote, what channel was on or what seat people could sit in. Yesterday I walked into the boys library and saw 100 kids quietly sitting on the floor watching TV - no arguments, no fights and no unnecessary throwing of objects (or cushions - a Cornwallis favorite). One of the boys would have the remote & they would scroll through the channels however not one boy would complain - they just enjoyed sitting there watching TV...
I know that is a really small thing but to me it was huge... it highlighted the great cultural divide between the UK and India!
Monday, 2 November 2009
Wow... It's really happening!
Hi and welcome to my pathetic excuse of a blog!
Ok - so most people who read this will probably know me... and be amazed that I have actually got this trip organized! This is my first post on this or any other blog so please bare with me!
In 2 days I am leaving my home in Belgium and traveling to the UK where I will board a plane to Chennai in India. From there my trip will start...
I will travel to India, Australia & the USA.
First things first, however - Chennai. The Boys Town is a charitable organisation that teaches young Indian boys the skills they need to suceed in trade and of course life... My big brother James went a few years back and really enjoyed it so it was top on my list of priorities for my trip... I am facinated by the whole of the culture and history of the country and really want to go and meet the people that live there. I dont want to do the Thomson package tour of India nor do I want to live in luxury. I want to live, eat and sleep like a local, I want to be at the grassroots of the country - actually seeing the real India not the 5 star resort India.
I have virtually no plans for this trip apart from my flights and no preconceived expectations of what may happen... It is to be a year free from School, a year free from Duties and a year spent almost completely out of my comfort zone! I will be living with my pack on my back, the shoes on my feet, and the road steching in front of me into the distance. my main contact with my family and friends will be this blog.
I will try and post once more before I leave but now I have to pack a solitary 70 liter backpack with everything I need for a year... good times!
Tim
x
Ok - so most people who read this will probably know me... and be amazed that I have actually got this trip organized! This is my first post on this or any other blog so please bare with me!
In 2 days I am leaving my home in Belgium and traveling to the UK where I will board a plane to Chennai in India. From there my trip will start...
I will travel to India, Australia & the USA.
First things first, however - Chennai. The Boys Town is a charitable organisation that teaches young Indian boys the skills they need to suceed in trade and of course life... My big brother James went a few years back and really enjoyed it so it was top on my list of priorities for my trip... I am facinated by the whole of the culture and history of the country and really want to go and meet the people that live there. I dont want to do the Thomson package tour of India nor do I want to live in luxury. I want to live, eat and sleep like a local, I want to be at the grassroots of the country - actually seeing the real India not the 5 star resort India.
I have virtually no plans for this trip apart from my flights and no preconceived expectations of what may happen... It is to be a year free from School, a year free from Duties and a year spent almost completely out of my comfort zone! I will be living with my pack on my back, the shoes on my feet, and the road steching in front of me into the distance. my main contact with my family and friends will be this blog.
I will try and post once more before I leave but now I have to pack a solitary 70 liter backpack with everything I need for a year... good times!
Tim
x
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