My little angel

There's a woman I work with, Vanajakshi, who's adorable. She's probably in here 50's or 60's, I can't really tell, but she's so incredible sweet. She's basically an assistant, but not in the sense answering phone calls and keeping the boss's schedule. She runs errands for admin, and things of that nature. For example, she'll shred paper, she'll run out and grab a document from some place, things like that.

Now the reason I think she's incredible, is because she has such an amazing heart. She speaks Kannada and I speak Tamil, and somehow we understand each other, not always, but sometimes. She'll ask someone else in the office to translate, if I don't understand something. Awhile back, she was talking to one of my coworkers and expressing her concern for me since I'm living alone, and my family is so far away. She was worried. She also stated that she really loved that me and another coworker(from the U.S.), are so tall and broad and we liked our skin. CUTE.

Yesterday, when i arrived at work, she asked me what I had eaten for breakfast, also called tiffin. I told her I had myself a bowl of oatmeal and it was delicious. She said she had chapatis in her bag and I should eat some, the minute we got into the office, she pulled out the chapatis and chutney. I told her I'd eat it later and about 2 hours later, when i was in the kitchen, she pulled them out, put it into a plate and made me eat. It was cute. I know she's concerned about me eating, and that's why she fed me. I love her. Later on in the day, I felt a fever coming on (i felt kinda weird all day, clammy, and feverish, it sucked), and when she heard she asked me if i wanted tea or coffee. She felt my throat and confirmed that I was a bit feverish. It was really cute and it made me feel so good that someone was genuinely concerned about me. My coworker from the U.S., Surabhi, was the same and told me to call if I needed anything. The great thing is, I knew I could call her and she would help out in any way possible. I've been here less than two months, and I already have people like that in my life. It's Indians. Although many of them piss me off, there are many of them that are just so genuine and caring. As much as I miss home, and I still do, it's comforting to know that there are people here looking out for me. And for that, I'm grateful.

So this little angel of mine was able to do something else amazing. I went to the bank last week to open an account. I spoke with the assistant manager and she was being a total b**ch. She was making things more difficult than they had to be. She basically said that I had no proof of residence, even though I had my lease agreement, and that I couldn't open an account. I kept asking her, what exactly she needed. This is all the proof of residence I had, my company told me I needed to start an account here so they could directly deposit money into my account, what should I do. She said I needed to start an account at a different bank and my company should write checks for me. I don't know what her deal was, she was giving me really shitty answers. Nothing very direct. I was arguing with her for sometime. I tried to stay calm, and I did a decent job, be she wasn't helpful AT ALL. When I went to work that day, they were surprised that I couldn't open the account. So the next day, they sent Vanajakshi to the bank with all my papers, as well as my gas bill (for extra proof of residence) and she was able to open the account!! WHA!?!?!??! I was amazed and pissed. They're such jerks to foreigners here. But now i need to go back and get my passbook, and I'm a bit nervous about that. I'm nervous about seeing that lady again and her giving me a difficult time. Plus, my aunt sent me money that I'm in NEED of right now, and I need to be able to cash it, something I can't do without an account. So these are the many reasons of why I hate India. And I thought maybe being an Indian myself would be helpful, but it's not.

When I sign up for stuff, even though it's none of their concern and they know I"m only here for 6 months, they ask, "where are you working?" EVERYone asks that. It's weird, coz we won't have any conversation, at all, and they'll ask me that. For example, when the guy came to set up the internet, he set it all up, asked me if this was for work or personal reason and that's pretty much it. Then, when he was putting his shoes on, he asked me where I'm working. He didn't say much the whole time he was here, (though he was quick and efficient which is a godsend coz nothing here it), and then he asks me that. I thought I understood Indian culture, but I only know so much. I'm starting to get it, even though I don't like it.

So as I said before and will continue to say, everything is a process here. They makes things so difficult when they shouldn't be and it sucks. I hate that bank lady, I do. And although I'm worried she'll make it difficult to get my passbook, I know Vanajakshi will come to the rescue and make things all better.....she's so awesome!!

Bangalore is not all that bad

I seem to complain a lot about this place and I really shouldn't. It's like moving anywhere in the world and having to start all over. It's especially rough because the way things work around here is completely different from the way things work back home. It doesn't make much sense to me and I doubt it ever will. I'm pretty organized and hate to waste time. I'm going to have to get over that if I'm going to survive here. I don't love the place, but I don't hate it. Today I walked to Commercial street, which has tons of shopping and it took me about 30 minutes. Made me happy to know I won't have to take an auto rickshaw everytime I go there. So much easier for me to walk. I've gotten used to taking the metro and walking everywhere in DC, that I like to be in control of where I'm going. I didn't really like taking taxis in DC, I enjoyed walking. The only thing I have to be careful of, are the tons of vehicles, two-wheelers, etc. Other than that, I'm fine.

I went a bought a few things for my apartment. Some curtains and some pillow cases. I was also able to get the gas cylinder so now I can start cooking...well soon. I still need to buy a couple of pots and pans. I wanted to share a few photos of my place..it's tiny and needs some photos up, but it's slowly starting to feel like home. Enjoy.

Check out my photos on my flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/91922558@N00/

ISD

Indian Standard Time. Indians are know to not understand the meaning of punctuality. So, I call the internet guy, he says he'll be at my place in 30 minutes. I wait and he's not here. So I call again, "yes madam, so sorry, I'll be there by 7:30." Ok, fine. Seven forty five rolls around, the jerk isn't here yet. I finally let it go (I think I may have called about 4 times total). At 9pm, he calls and says he's on my street, which house am I at. I tell him, he comes in, doesn't apologize for being late and is a total jerk. He sighs when I tell him I don't have proof of residence, or passport size photos. I tell him, "you should have told me these things." He's a total jerk. I end up hopping on his scooter and we venture out at 9pm to get copies of my passport as well as passport size pictures. One of the worst experiences. I HATE being on back of scooter, especially in India. i hate this guy, should have known then this was worth nothing.
The following week (last friday), i call the Reliance guys (the internet company) to ask when they'll come to set up the internet. They say we don't know, I tech guy will call you soon. I ask, "you don't have any numbers of these tech guys." Nope, apparently there's no such thing as communication between each sector in this company. the guy said he had no way of giving me information to contact the tech guys.

Finally they call and say they'll come Friday. They come, work on it for about a hour and a half and say that they're not getting good reception, so he'll have to come tomorrow. Alright, no problem. It's dark out, sure come during the day on saturday. i tell him to come earlier so I can run errands and stuff.

The next day, at 3pm I call him and ask him when he will be coming. He say he must eat lunch and then he'll come. I call him at 4 pm, and can't get a hold of him. I call his partner who says they'll call back in 15 minutes. Twenty minutes pass (So many of them say they'll call in 10 mins and call 2 hours later), so I call again. They guy says, he'll check it out and call back in 5 mins. This is when I proceed to bitch him out. I just started telling him that they've made me wait all day, this is bullshit, blah blah blah. I told him he better call in 5 mins and they do.
Sooooooo, they finally come at about 5:30 or so, work on it for 2 hours and tell me...GET THIS....tell me that they can't set up the internet here coz the reception is bad, blah blah. I WASTED A DAY, for them to tell me this. I wanted to punch someone.

SO this is what I deal with here in India. I hate it. This country is so weirdly organized and I hate it. The sales people suck. You're on their terms. There's no such thing as the customer is right. You're on they're terms and it sucks. I've wasted so much time waiting for people. Constantly waiting, and calling people for answers and no one being able to help. It's tough. I had a little break down at work with a co worker today and I needed it. I've been trying to be mature and strong about all of this, telling myself this is India and this is how it works. But when you're 28 years old, it's hard to adapt. It really is. And I will finish my stay here for this project because I really believe in it, but I hate Indian people. not all, but many.

It's a constant fight. You fight with these internet guys coz no one will give you a straight answer, I fight with the auto rickshaw guys coz they continually try and screw you....I feel like all I'm doing here is fighting so I can get stuff done, and it's wearing me out. now, I understand people deal with this on a daily basis here in India and all over the world, but I don't. And I haven't for 28 years. Yes, I've fought for things here and there, but it's never been daily, and I've never been alone having to deal with this. The hardest part of it all is I don't have anyone to go to, to vent, or for help, or to take some of the slack. I can't process any of my feelings because I don't have ANYone here, and it's tough. I lived an extremely comfortable life in the U.S. and though i know this experience will do great things for me, I never want to go through it again. I can't wait until August when I go back home, get a big hug from my dad, talk constantly to my best buds and watch some football. (ok September for football, but still). I can't wait.

I'll get through this, but I can't say I'm going to enjoy it. I've become a homebody and I really enjoy coming home, after work, and chillin'. I have no desire to make friends, a couple here and there will do, but that's it.

It's a struggle everyday, for such little things. And I know how petty I sound about my complaints. I do feel bad, and I try to put things into perspective, but sometimes I just can't. It's just tough, and I know people out there have it worse than me, but I'll still complain, because I'm a snobby American with everything back home and nothing much here. I am grateful for everything and not a day goes by without me thinking that, it's just things are much harder here than anything I've ever experienced. And it's really wearing me out. I'm worried my head may blow up soon. Let's hope not.
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I can't think of a title

So, everything in India is a freaking process. It takes so much longer to get things done here, even little things. It's frustrating. My 1st week i n my new home was stressful. But once I came to terms with this slow process, I've been better with adapting and my stress levels have gone down. WAY down. It's so different from the U.S. because this stuff would still piss me off. There is this value of customer satisfaction in the U.S. and if you don't like something, you can call a manager and get a discount (or something to that effect). Here, there's no such thing and people just accept it.
For example, the internet guy was supposed to come out last thursday at 6:30pm. I called him at 6:45 when he still hadn't shown and he said he'd be here by 7:30. ok. So 7:45 rolls around and still no show. I call him again and he texts me saying he'll be here in 5 minutes. 9 pm rolls around and the douche says he's here. I was SO ANNOYED. But when he came, we got is all done including me riding on his scooter to get copies of my PIO card and small passport size photos because they need those for EVERYTHING here. I was scared shitless being on that scooter. I thought another car was going to drive too close and take my legs. And if I left my legs hanging, they slid on the ground and then my shoes would have been busted. sigh. BUT, I got it done. It was not fun and extremely stressful, but it's done. I called the guy and he said I should have my internet by saturday. We'll see about that. The other bad thing is, they can say this, but if it doesn't happen there really isn't a place for me to go and demand it. I just have to keep calling this guy. not sure what I'll do if the internet doesn't come by then. Life is pretty miserable without the net at home. I'm able to catch someone else's wireless right now, but it's extremely choppy.
Work is getting better. I'm starting to feel comfortable with the place and my work. Nothing exciting on that front yet. We're working on our men's program, basically working on getting funding to work with young men on preventing gender based violence. So it should be interesting. I won't be working on that project as much, but am doing a little work on it right now.
My friend Beth was in town this weekend, which was a nice change of pace. I miss having my buds from the U.S. around. It's fun to have visitors and to be able to show them my new city. I miss her tons, but she had to get back to school and her life.
I'm starting to have a better feel of this place, but still not 100% confident. I know by the time I leave, I'll get this place and when I come back to visit, Bangalore will be a completely different city. So all this knowledge I'll gain of the city will be useless. But let me tell you, the life experiences I gain here will be ridiculous. Surprisingly, I'm already a calmer person. I'm just trying to let things slide and not get to stressed out about things. Other that my freak out to the auto rickshaw drivers saturday night. They were trying to cheat us out of so much money and I just had to give it to them. I'm not going to lie, it felt good. They're jerks. They really are.