Whoo, it's late, so sorry if this isn't as long a post as you would like (mom). I promise I'll write more on Thursday, and maybe even put up some pictures of actual Inida! Right now I'm still kind of babying our new camera, meaning that I haven't taken it out at all, since I'm scared that it will get stolen. I'll have to take it on a trip to the market tomorrow ro something. Anyway.
This is funny. Jarrod is on the phone with Dr. Ahmed, our Indian friend, saying "I study and study, and sometimes I feel like I'm not making as much progress as what I'd hoped I'd be making..." Which just so happens to be what I wanted to write about today!
Last Monday we went to meet our language instructor, Madame Protima Dutt, at her office. She then walked us to her house, sat us down, and gave us our first lesson in Bangla. Since then, we've had three other lessons with her, and one drilling lesson just today with one of the junior teachers.
It's been hard work, and as Jarrod says, it feels like we are getting nowhere, but we have to remember that we've been studying seriously for only a week. We already know a lot, really: the days of the week, the numbers 1-20, along with every tenth number up to 100 after that, how to tell a cab driver "left, right, straight, stop here", a few colors, the major body parts, some words from nature and around the house...
I think the trouble is that we don't know how to use the language yet. Just this evening we began to learn the personal pronouns for the objective, possesive, and subjective case (meaning: I, my, to me, etc). I believe we're going to begin learning verbs soon, which should add a whole new dimension to our skillz.
But here's the thing: It's not like learning German or Spanish. To make things even more difficult than learning a new language already is, we're having to learn to read again. I touched on this a few posts ago, when I was still in America learning the letters, but it really hit me when Madame Dutt was grading our exercises where we had written Bangla words written in Roman script, in Bengali script. So for example, the word for "ear" is "kan", which we would have to change to কান. Fun, huh?
I noticed that Madame Dutt was just flying through the grading, making checks and corrections like nobody's business, which was really impressive, but then I thought about it. If I was teaching an Indian how to write Roman script, and the exercise were backwards, I could just as easily fly through correcting misspellings in a list of words like tree, flower, nest, fruit, soil, etc.
What I'm trying to say is, you don't remember how difficult learning to read and write was back in elementary school, perhaps because it was so long ago and now it comes so easily. But try learning a new script when you're 23 years old, and the difficulty of it all sort of comes back to you. Well, it doesn't exactly come back, but at least you can take pity on the little kids going to school every day and tediously copying letters in their wide-ruled exercise books.
I remember when I was in fifth grade, we had reading buddies in first grade. I always thought it was kind of pathetic how all the first-graders would sound out their words like, "Buh...bah...baaat. Bat." And I would be thinking in my head, "Bat, it's bat. Duh..the word is BAT!" But I totally do the same thing here (the first-grader thing, that is). If I'm sitting in an auto rickshaw in traffic, I glance at a sign and try to read it, but it takes time.
Yes...it takes time, there's my lesson for the week. Maybe a year from now I'll be able to look at a page of something written in Bangla and be able to read it as easily as I can read what I'm typing on the screen in front of me, but I just need to be patient and keep working on it. Too bad there's not a Treasure Mountain Bangla version*.
--Emily
*Apparently I learned to read from a really awesome computer game called Treasure Mountain. I was too young to read what the dwarves were saying, so I guess I just sort of taught myself? This is what my parents tell me.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Friday, August 27, 2010
Settling In (Yes, I'm Here)
What a week it's been! How can I even start? If I tell you that my overall impression of India is that it's "crazy", I feel like that's too much of a generalization, and kind of lazy also. You kind of have to be here though...
Well, I can at least give you a sense of what my first impression of the country was.
I took the O'Hare to Delhi American Airlines flight, which went without problems, except for the one problem of daytime disappearing, but that's another story. You know, because we took off in the evening, soon pulled the shades down for the plane to sleep, and then when I felt like the rest of the plane was generally up, we had already pretty much passed through the area of daylight and the sun was beginning to set.
Anyway, I got off the plane expecting a heat and humidity wave, but the Delhi Airport is actually air-conditioned, and also really, really nice. The International terminal was actually only opened two months ago, which a guy I was talking to told me is because of the Commonwealth Games coming up (the Commonwealth Games is an event which, according to Wikipedia, is the third-largest multi-sport competition after the Summer Olympics and the Asian Games).
So yeah. The Delhi Airport was really nice, I found a shuttle over to the Domestic terminal, slept a bit on the benches, and around 5:30 in the morning took off for Kolkata.
I had this secret fear that Jarrod wouldn't be there and that I would have no one to contact, but everything, again, was fine. In fact, Jarrod had paid a small fee to wait inside the airport just outside of baggage claim for me. My luggage came just fine and we were on our way.
So then we walked outside. My glasses fogged up, and I remember thinking that it felt like I had walked into a sauna. I mean, a huge sauna with a ton of people and lots of trash everywhere, but whatever.
This post is getting long, and the main purpose was to post pictures of our apartment. We found an apartment! It's very nice, furnished but no A/C, which is alright, because the fans here are turbo-powered. Judge from the pictures yourself.
This is our main living area. It's got couches and everything.
This is the other side of the room, the dining area. Check out the table: marble top, teak bottom.
This is the sweet side libary/sitting room. Though it still needs a chair, and that desk is full of papers.
The kitchen, very typical for India. We're hoping to get a cook for a few meals a week.
The bedroom. You can't see it, but in the corner is a sweet vanity.
The big bathroom, attached to our bedroom.
The guest bedroom. That trundle bed in the center will have mattresses, it's just that we're using them right now until our mattress is ready.
The small bathroom, attached to the guest bedroom.
I'm enjoying it here though. I haven't really experienced culture shock per se, or maybe it manifests itself differently in me. My main thing is that I feel really helpless to do anything, because everything is so different, and I'm still kind of scared to go out on my own, even though Jarrod has given me his blessing to. Well, it's only been a week. I'll start making foreys out pretty soon here.
Healthwise, we're well, although I'm working on a small cold, which is no fun. Nothing horrible though.
Today our facilitator, Sayani, is taking us to a big market, but I don't remember what it's called. I'm excited to get a few more outfits; I've acquired three so far, and I've been here a week. You do the math.
Anyway, I'm going to work on getting these photos up, so it's time for me to split. Keep in touch. I'll post again on Tuesday, if I can.
--Emily
Well, I can at least give you a sense of what my first impression of the country was.
I took the O'Hare to Delhi American Airlines flight, which went without problems, except for the one problem of daytime disappearing, but that's another story. You know, because we took off in the evening, soon pulled the shades down for the plane to sleep, and then when I felt like the rest of the plane was generally up, we had already pretty much passed through the area of daylight and the sun was beginning to set.
Anyway, I got off the plane expecting a heat and humidity wave, but the Delhi Airport is actually air-conditioned, and also really, really nice. The International terminal was actually only opened two months ago, which a guy I was talking to told me is because of the Commonwealth Games coming up (the Commonwealth Games is an event which, according to Wikipedia, is the third-largest multi-sport competition after the Summer Olympics and the Asian Games).
So yeah. The Delhi Airport was really nice, I found a shuttle over to the Domestic terminal, slept a bit on the benches, and around 5:30 in the morning took off for Kolkata.
I had this secret fear that Jarrod wouldn't be there and that I would have no one to contact, but everything, again, was fine. In fact, Jarrod had paid a small fee to wait inside the airport just outside of baggage claim for me. My luggage came just fine and we were on our way.
So then we walked outside. My glasses fogged up, and I remember thinking that it felt like I had walked into a sauna. I mean, a huge sauna with a ton of people and lots of trash everywhere, but whatever.
This post is getting long, and the main purpose was to post pictures of our apartment. We found an apartment! It's very nice, furnished but no A/C, which is alright, because the fans here are turbo-powered. Judge from the pictures yourself.
This is our main living area. It's got couches and everything.
This is the other side of the room, the dining area. Check out the table: marble top, teak bottom.
This is the sweet side libary/sitting room. Though it still needs a chair, and that desk is full of papers.
The kitchen, very typical for India. We're hoping to get a cook for a few meals a week. 
The bedroom. You can't see it, but in the corner is a sweet vanity.
The big bathroom, attached to our bedroom.
The guest bedroom. That trundle bed in the center will have mattresses, it's just that we're using them right now until our mattress is ready.
The small bathroom, attached to the guest bedroom.I'm enjoying it here though. I haven't really experienced culture shock per se, or maybe it manifests itself differently in me. My main thing is that I feel really helpless to do anything, because everything is so different, and I'm still kind of scared to go out on my own, even though Jarrod has given me his blessing to. Well, it's only been a week. I'll start making foreys out pretty soon here.
Healthwise, we're well, although I'm working on a small cold, which is no fun. Nothing horrible though.
Today our facilitator, Sayani, is taking us to a big market, but I don't remember what it's called. I'm excited to get a few more outfits; I've acquired three so far, and I've been here a week. You do the math.
Anyway, I'm going to work on getting these photos up, so it's time for me to split. Keep in touch. I'll post again on Tuesday, if I can.
--Emily
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Hey, An Extra Post!
I am learning the alphabet. I have this secret (or not-so-secret) fear that our language instructor will be extremely hard on us, so I've been feverishly trying to learn the seventy-odd (exaggeration, but it's a lot) characters, plus the innumerable (not an exaggeration, I don't think) conjunctives, which are basically new symbols made of two combined letters.
Anyway, here are a few fun videos I've been watching to help me learn the sounds.
Anyway, here are a few fun videos I've been watching to help me learn the sounds.
I'm Going to India! Tomorrow!
Well, my visa finally came. Yesterday I got the text alert in the morning and headed out to Chicago to pick it up in the evening. So yes, I'm going! Everything on the visa looks a-okay, the entry date is valid from the 13th of August, and Jarrod claims that I can get into the country without him.
Yes, it's true--I've been talking to Jarrod. No exclamation point there though; he's in the hospital. I know, already, right? The docs say it's food poisoning, but Jarrod claims that he hasn't eaten anything he's been told to stay away from. Anyway, it's nothing too serious. He checked in at noon on Wednesday (the day he was supposed to fly to Kolkata), and if all goes well he'll be released tomorrow morning (Friday). It's been quite a task to coordinate with insurance though. Since we're Tricare Overseas, we were told not to apply for insurance until we were in-country, "and if any kind of emergency should happen before then," the lady on the phone told me two weeks ago, "we'll certainly work with the hospital to get you covered."
Ha. Who expects a hospital stay two days into the country? I seriously blew her off, thinking it would never happen. Poor Jarrod. He's doing a lot better though--solid food, drinking, etc.
Other than that, all is fairly well. I booked my flight at 6:30 this morning, after waking up from a dream that Jarrod gave me a hot tub and a point-and-shoot camera for my birthday. Really, I thought, I don't need a hot tub. But thanks anyway. Man, I miss Jarrod. It will be nice to see him again.
But back to what I was saying! I'll be flying...let me see here...American Airlines/Jet Airways Konnect (yes, spelled with a "K", my favorite), taking off at 7:20 PM and landing in New Delhi at 8:30 PM after 15 hours of airtime. (Woo hoo. Not.) Then I've got an approximately 10-hour layover in Delhi, during which I'm hoping to meet up with Jarrod so we can fly to Kolkata together. But again, this all depends on when he's released, when he wants to fly out, etc. I mean, I'm going to be on that plane to Kolkata at 6:15 AM, but whether he is or not, I don't know yet.
Okay, dang. It's way cheap to fly around India, I guess. That last leg of the flight I just talked about? $53 smackaroos. Which is, I suppose, almost Rs 2500. Nothing to laugh about if you're Indian. Well, I'll figure all that currency/buying power stuff out when I get there.
So yeah. I'm getting nervous and stuff. Started my Malarone. I don't think it will really hit me that I'm going to India until I'm...in India. And for a year. The full extent of that hasn't really sunk in yet either. I mean, a year ago Shawna had just gotten hired on at work, but it doesn't seem that long ago! Time flies, I guess.
Tonight is my Last Supper (like I'm a death row prisoner, I guess!) Becc's coming home on the South Shore and we're having spaghetti (please pronounce that like 'es-pa-get-ti!', like you're singing). And tomorrow I'm off! I guess it really did happen as planned, a departure to India on Friday.
Yes, it's true--I've been talking to Jarrod. No exclamation point there though; he's in the hospital. I know, already, right? The docs say it's food poisoning, but Jarrod claims that he hasn't eaten anything he's been told to stay away from. Anyway, it's nothing too serious. He checked in at noon on Wednesday (the day he was supposed to fly to Kolkata), and if all goes well he'll be released tomorrow morning (Friday). It's been quite a task to coordinate with insurance though. Since we're Tricare Overseas, we were told not to apply for insurance until we were in-country, "and if any kind of emergency should happen before then," the lady on the phone told me two weeks ago, "we'll certainly work with the hospital to get you covered."
Ha. Who expects a hospital stay two days into the country? I seriously blew her off, thinking it would never happen. Poor Jarrod. He's doing a lot better though--solid food, drinking, etc.
Other than that, all is fairly well. I booked my flight at 6:30 this morning, after waking up from a dream that Jarrod gave me a hot tub and a point-and-shoot camera for my birthday. Really, I thought, I don't need a hot tub. But thanks anyway. Man, I miss Jarrod. It will be nice to see him again.
But back to what I was saying! I'll be flying...let me see here...American Airlines/Jet Airways Konnect (yes, spelled with a "K", my favorite), taking off at 7:20 PM and landing in New Delhi at 8:30 PM after 15 hours of airtime. (Woo hoo. Not.) Then I've got an approximately 10-hour layover in Delhi, during which I'm hoping to meet up with Jarrod so we can fly to Kolkata together. But again, this all depends on when he's released, when he wants to fly out, etc. I mean, I'm going to be on that plane to Kolkata at 6:15 AM, but whether he is or not, I don't know yet.
Okay, dang. It's way cheap to fly around India, I guess. That last leg of the flight I just talked about? $53 smackaroos. Which is, I suppose, almost Rs 2500. Nothing to laugh about if you're Indian. Well, I'll figure all that currency/buying power stuff out when I get there.
So yeah. I'm getting nervous and stuff. Started my Malarone. I don't think it will really hit me that I'm going to India until I'm...in India. And for a year. The full extent of that hasn't really sunk in yet either. I mean, a year ago Shawna had just gotten hired on at work, but it doesn't seem that long ago! Time flies, I guess.
Tonight is my Last Supper (like I'm a death row prisoner, I guess!) Becc's coming home on the South Shore and we're having spaghetti (please pronounce that like 'es-pa-get-ti!', like you're singing). And tomorrow I'm off! I guess it really did happen as planned, a departure to India on Friday.
Monday, August 16, 2010
I Should Go to Bed
Hi friends. Just testing this out before I head under the sheetz. Yes, that's sheetz with a Z, just because.
Anyway, so I guess this will be my blog while Jarrod and I are in Kolkata, India. I'm not there yet--actually, neither of us are. But Jarrod is at least in the country (New Delhi to be exact), while I'm still awaiting my visa. Well, it will come eventually. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for tomorrow so that I can pick it up on Wednesday and be out of here on Friday, but no guarantees.
I really just want to book the flight before prices go up. As it is, I'm looking at about $1,000 to get there. I actually could get a cheaper fare if I wanted, but Jarrod has advised me not to have any layovers in India, as the domestic terminal is where people get mugged. Yay.
To be honest, I'm pretty apprehensive about traveling to Kolkata by myself. The plane ride is really no big deal to me, and neither is handeling O'Hare. It's once I step off the plane in India that worries me. Where do I go? Are people going to try to scam me or rob me, or will everyone be staring at me? Jarrod mentioned that I'm not supposed to change money from anyone but the official guys in the moneychanging booths, because the other guys just running around the airport change for counterfeit money. Joy. What else has he not mentioned to me?
What if I get there, get through, and Jarrod isn't there? Then what do I do? Or what if I can only get through with Jarrod, since I'm going as a dependent?
So these are the kinds of mental qualms I'm facing these days. Oh well, it will work itself out.
Hey, a word on the url. All the titles I wanted, like "emilyinindia.blogspot.com", were taken. Now, a few years ago, Jarrod and I decided that one day we would open the Panda Express of Indian fast-food chains, basically serving Americanized versions of Indian food. The name we came up with? Bombay to Goa. Which of course was taken when I tried to register this site. So I decided that since we were going to be in Kolkata, I'd try Calcutta To Goa, but that was also taken. So I landed on kolkatatogoa.blogspot.com. (Kolkata is the new way of spelling Calcutta, since the British left).
Anyway, enjoy. I don't want to spend my days blogging and missing out on, well, India, so you can expect a post most likely every Tuesday and Thursday (but maybe that will change...we'll see).
Peace out people. Hopefully the next time I write I'll have a visa in hand and a plane ticket booked.
--Em
Oh, PS. Goshen News's article about Jarrod came out today. Check it out: http://goshennews.com/local/x1316177195/Fulbright-scholar-Jarrod-Huffman-is-headed-to-India
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