Last Days in India

Spending my last day here in India either in bed or on the toilet.  We have the whole day free and I can not seem to keep food in today.. not even a slice of toast.  I am afraid to venture out as I might get stuck without a bathroom.  I am hungry, weak, and tired.  I was so cautious.. but there are a few others sick today in our group as well.

In Delhi we had a gym I could run everyday and lift a few weights.  It was hot and smelly there but the gym in Delhi is now considered top notch compared to the one here in Bangalore.  The hotel gym is on the top floor in a hot room that smells really bad and does not have any light expect for a tiny window.  You would have to blow the dust off to find the "on" button for the treadmill here.  It was funny in Delhi.. when I would be in the basement gym, the Indian guys who worked at the hotel would come in and turn the radio on for me.. they would give me a thumbs up and leave.. I was listening to mostly Brittney Spears!  They must like her here.

This has been an amazing journey.  I am so grateful to have had this opportunity to see another part of the world, and a whole different society.  India is an emerging market with lots of potential.  The quality of the work I have seen here is amazing.  I think of products made in China and I think "cheap".  I have never been to China, but seeing the pride in the work by the Indians has been eye opening.  India is full of color and detail..don't get me wrong though.. there are still some cheap poor quality items on the streets.  I wish we could pick up a few pointers from the India culture on apparel.  The clothes are so comfortable, and the style so unique but simple.

I can not say I will miss it here.. but it makes me want to explore other parts of the world. 

Business Visits

Our first business visit in Bangalore was Target India.

Jayme is from Duluth and has been working for Target in Minneapolis for 10 years.  He has been assigned to Target India for an 18 month assignment.  I think he was excited to see Americans when we visited.  The security at the large corporation is crazy.. nothing like the U.S.  We had to go through multiple levels of security before our business meeting.  Common work hours are 10:00am-6:00pm.. In the U.S. we are accustomed to benefits such as health insurance and retirement benefits.. In India, benefits include free transportation to work and free lunch daily.. their health care was a small room that staffs a doctor a few days a week if you are sick..  Community work during normal business hours is also encouraged by large organizations.. India is a much more collectivism society whereas the U.S. society is highly individualistic.

A last-minute business meeting was negotiated and very interesting.. Idiom is a design firm that has been in business for 6 years.  The company does design and marketing for their clients.  This was the first Indian business that was more modernized.. just like the creative companies we see in the U.S.

And lastly we visited the Vydehi Medical Institute.  This medical institute is a large hospital and medical college in Bangalore.  The Institute is very proud that they are the cleanest medical facility in Bangalore and deliver high quality medical care.. compared to U.S. standards it was shocking what they consider clean.  I had to use the restroom and the restroom in this hospital had no toilet paper and no running water in the sink.  For India, this is common.. The hospital is well equipped with state of the art technology.

This was interesting.. specimen and organs.. each jar was labeled by a patient number.

Also.. Patient privacy does not exist.  We were brought into different wards and areas while patient were being treated and they allowed photo taking all over the hospital.  Zero Privacy!

Indifferent about Bangalore

Walking around in Bangalore is much different than Delhi.  I have not liked the city much.  There is so much crammed into one area and very busy.  We spend so much time in traffic that it drives you crazy.  Women cannot walk alone.  There must be at least one male in our group if you want to venture out.  In addition, women are not allowed to be out after 8pm.  I went for a walk with one other female and three males around the neighborhood one afternoon.. As an experiment I walked about a ½ block ahead of the group and they observed the surroundings as I walked through the neighborhood.. I was stared at!  I am sure my skin color and my gender was to blame.. I could feel the stares and was very aware.. every once in awhile I would double check over my shoulder that my group was still there.  The small shop owners are constantly approaching you to stop at their shop.. then they want to bargain so you will buy.. The people in India have been very gracious, but I am ready for some comforts of home.

The most uncomfortable thing since I have been in Bangalore is the fact that I am confined to either the group or the hotel.  We have had more free time here but it seems harder to get around.  There is no convenience store to buy a water or a soda.. besides they do not believe in refrigerators.. everything is served warm.. water, pop, even beer!  Gotta love the warm Kingfisher!

Here during one of our walks, we approach some cows just hanging out.  (There are cows everywhere!)  Matt decides to feed it some peanuts we had.. not sure what the cow thought of the peanuts because he moved his head like the Indian head nod.

The smells in Bangalore are a little better than Delhi.. while walking you would come across a corner when all of a sudden there would be a strong urine order.  We can only figure that is the bathroom area. The people in Bangalore have a different dialect and for me I have found it harder to communicate. 

In this city you will see many signs like this.

I asked a local Indian why.. he said that was government property. 

The Muslim community is much more noticeable here.  A few group members ended up in a part of town that they said was very uncomfortable with mean-like stares.. after speaking with our new tour guide, Anil, he said they were in a part of town that is very unsafe.  There is tension between the Muslims and the Hindus.. and the Muslims hate Americans. 

 

The picture below is quite unique.. Hindus hang these.  I have seen them on the front of vehicles, in windows and hanging from doorways.  They are a string of peppers and a lime.  The Hindus hang then to ward off evil and change them every Saturday. 

Silk Market

We had a free day when we arrived in Bangalore so we visited the markets.  Silk markets are the thing to do here I guess.. At one silk market we had a sweet talker.  In the U.S. we would call him “metro-sexual”.

Transportation

This is transportation in India

The first day we were driving in a modern car and Anil got pulled over.. Now getting pulled over in India is not a police car turning on their lights behind you.  Here in India the police officer is standing on the side of the road, and with a hand signal you must pull over.  He walked over to our car and had a confrontation with Anil in a local language that we do not understand.  They settled on a bribe of 100 rupees and the officer let us go.  Anil told us that had he not bribed the officer he would of had to pay a fine for us not wearing our seat belts.. but instead of a fine the officer will pocket the bribe money. 

Traveling

Flying in India you board at the front and the rear of the plane.. there is no first class seating.  What I’ve read about India is wide social and economic differences are undesirable. 

Security was unlike the U.S.  There is no order.  You place your bags and purses on the belt for scanning while Indians are shoving their stuff in with yours.  All women are brought behind a curtain in patted down by a female officer.. in the meantime your wondering if your purse is still there!  An Indian women in front of me must have sensed my concern because she turned around and said “I don’t think anything has ever been stolen here”.

The plane ride from Delhi to Bangalore was only 2 ½ hours but it was very bumpy and a little uncomfortable.. especially the sudden drop that made everyone gasp about 2 hours into the flight.

I have had a sick stomach since day 2 in India so the flight was nauseating.  When I arrived in Bangalore, I was happy to see more bland food on our buffets. In Delhi everything was spicy unless you were eating raw vegetables and bread.  I like spice but this spice was not agreeing with me.  It took about a day in a half of eating no vegetables or spicy foods for my stomach to start feeling better.

Headed for Bangalore

In the early morning hours we will be saying “Phir milen-gay!" to Sushil as we head to Bangalore.  The Indian have greeting us with great welcome and been very gracious.  Delhi and Agra have shown us the poverty, the poor infrastructure, the lack of sanitation, and the karma the Indians believe have shaped their lives.  As a foreigner in their country it is hard to understand their happiness, their smiles, their harmony.. Our group sat down for an open dialogue last night to discuss our feelings, our thoughts on this journey in a country that has formed by religious faith.  This contrast between the cities of Delhi and the rural villages to Agra only can be really understood by seeing it first hand.  You cannot smell, taste, or hear the country of India in a picture.. and you truly cannot understand the driving experience until you are playing chicken with every other vehicle on the road!  With that.. Sushil told us that you need three things to drive in India. 

1. a good horn.. 2. good brakes.. and 3. good luck (Karma!)