Language is something essential in commucation.
Here, the language conversed in daily activities is Bengali, as Kolkata is located in the state of West Bengal (India has 35 states)
In the workplace, English is not a problem as people there are well educated. However, back at home, it's really a challenge to talk to the caretaker, cook, maid etc. We used to communicate in body language + pieces of English (like talking to a baby!) Imagine the situation: it is funny! haha!
Our driver, Prevez-da (dada means abang in bengali) is a friendly person and he knows quite a lot of Bengali-English. He used to taught me simple Bengali. On the way to workplace, in the never-on-aircon little car, my learning materials is the scene outside. Everything i am interested with, i will ask him in Bengali translation. Since i am a slow learner, cannot really pick up of what he is saying in such a short time, yet i believe i will catch up few simple phrases to use whenever converse with people here. I do really wish to understand more about their lives, especially the grassroots.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Traffic in Kolkata
The road is never quiet...HONK! HONK!
The are quite a variety of transportation in the road : rickshaw, auto-rickshaw, bus, taxi, cars and trams. In the morning, the road is flooded by all kinds of this wheels. Then people tend to honk, the frequency is just so high until we Malaysians could hardly imagine.
Honking, to notify the passers-by, get a way out for the car. Often, honking is like shouting: I am coming, give me a way! Is it a way in showing the status? As owning a car is something which can be shouted around?
Anyway, honking, perhaps, is a way to prevent road accident over here. lol.
The are quite a variety of transportation in the road : rickshaw, auto-rickshaw, bus, taxi, cars and trams. In the morning, the road is flooded by all kinds of this wheels. Then people tend to honk, the frequency is just so high until we Malaysians could hardly imagine.Honking, to notify the passers-by, get a way out for the car. Often, honking is like shouting: I am coming, give me a way! Is it a way in showing the status? As owning a car is something which can be shouted around?
Anyway, honking, perhaps, is a way to prevent road accident over here. lol.
Living like a VIP
First time in my life, i have been serviced like this:
In the plane, the stewardess served us as the most prestigious guests, with nice arranged and designed food. The entertainment in the plane just never get me bored (perhaps i am still new to being a flyer) haha!
I was telling myself, this kind of enjoyment would be ended soon as i was reaching my destination, I am going to WORK!
Upon arriving Chennai, the crowd and mess just made me feel uneasy! The airport gave me a feeling of Pudu Bus Station! There is as if heaven and earth between airports of Changi and Chennai.
The city of Chennai.
The Chennai Airport.
The weather is so...HOT! We still need to take the mini bus because there is quite a distance from the plane to the gate of airport.
Arriving Kolkata, there was a different feeling from Chennai. The weather turned better. The land is spotted by cows and there is a beautiful sight around Kolkata.
Aiesecer Ritwick has been there to pick us up for quite some time. He warmly took us to his place. Then glamourous Raj was coming to bring us to the working place and where we stay.
We have been explained briefly of what we are going to do in the coming 7 weeks. Basically it is about HIV issue. India has put such a huge effort in running this kind of campaign and movement. Elaine and I are working for an NGO which is Bangalnatak Dot Com. This organization has done a great job in spreading the awareness to the grass roots. Besides, they create linkages between the community and other organizations.
Back home, Elaine and I, and one more Malaysian who is coming in the coming week, stay together in a flat unit. We have our cook, driver, maid, caretaker...I feel quite uneasy in asking them to do some favours for me! This is totally different from what i thought! In Malaysia, nobody can be ordered around like THIS! We are just being served as VIP.
Then i realized, there is distinct status difference among people here. There are groups of people who are still doing jobs in providing service to higher status nobility. These groups of people are willing to be the ones who are always bending their bodies, nodding yes sir/mdm...
We may feel there must be an equality created. Somehow, this is the way of their living. Yet, we can make a difference. Towards equality...achieving human respect in all levels.
In the plane, the stewardess served us as the most prestigious guests, with nice arranged and designed food. The entertainment in the plane just never get me bored (perhaps i am still new to being a flyer) haha!
I was telling myself, this kind of enjoyment would be ended soon as i was reaching my destination, I am going to WORK!
Upon arriving Chennai, the crowd and mess just made me feel uneasy! The airport gave me a feeling of Pudu Bus Station! There is as if heaven and earth between airports of Changi and Chennai.
The city of Chennai.
The Chennai Airport.The weather is so...HOT! We still need to take the mini bus because there is quite a distance from the plane to the gate of airport.
Arriving Kolkata, there was a different feeling from Chennai. The weather turned better. The land is spotted by cows and there is a beautiful sight around Kolkata.
Aiesecer Ritwick has been there to pick us up for quite some time. He warmly took us to his place. Then glamourous Raj was coming to bring us to the working place and where we stay.
We have been explained briefly of what we are going to do in the coming 7 weeks. Basically it is about HIV issue. India has put such a huge effort in running this kind of campaign and movement. Elaine and I are working for an NGO which is Bangalnatak Dot Com. This organization has done a great job in spreading the awareness to the grass roots. Besides, they create linkages between the community and other organizations.
Back home, Elaine and I, and one more Malaysian who is coming in the coming week, stay together in a flat unit. We have our cook, driver, maid, caretaker...I feel quite uneasy in asking them to do some favours for me! This is totally different from what i thought! In Malaysia, nobody can be ordered around like THIS! We are just being served as VIP.
Then i realized, there is distinct status difference among people here. There are groups of people who are still doing jobs in providing service to higher status nobility. These groups of people are willing to be the ones who are always bending their bodies, nodding yes sir/mdm...
We may feel there must be an equality created. Somehow, this is the way of their living. Yet, we can make a difference. Towards equality...achieving human respect in all levels.
Departing
There was a very strange feeling before departing...I was at the house warming party of cousin at JB the previous night. Having such a warm gathering with dear cousins. I learnt to play mahjong, magic cube from them! haha!
Then the feeling of sticking together with them started to get intensive. I've had the reluctance to leave. Leave to the unknown...
The night, spending a lot of hours in re-packing my luggage. 5th aunt has a lots of traveling experience, has been giving me lots of advice in packing luggage...then i realized, it is such a big challenge!
The early morning, taking the first bus to Changi Airport with dad.
There i fly...
Elaine and i - posing in the plane.
Breakfast in the plane.
Lunch in plane
There i go...See u in 2 months later!
Then the feeling of sticking together with them started to get intensive. I've had the reluctance to leave. Leave to the unknown...
The night, spending a lot of hours in re-packing my luggage. 5th aunt has a lots of traveling experience, has been giving me lots of advice in packing luggage...then i realized, it is such a big challenge!
The early morning, taking the first bus to Changi Airport with dad.
There i fly...
Elaine and i - posing in the plane.
Breakfast in the plane.
Lunch in planeThere i go...See u in 2 months later!
House at Shamtoshpur
Okay, first of all...let me introduce u guys about my living place - Shamtoshpur. (pur = area)
Bedroom (sharing based for elaine and me)
our care-taker: babu.
this is where the people getting water. but fortunately, there is water supply to our current staying place.
Bedroom (sharing based for elaine and me)
our care-taker: babu.
this is where the people getting water. but fortunately, there is water supply to our current staying place.
Living in India
2 days passed...
A lot of pictures are taken...just want to find an opportunity to upload, so just be patient, guys!
Anyway, it was fun and fullfilling...everything is being taken good care. The people here are amazingly kind and warm!
A lot of pictures are taken...just want to find an opportunity to upload, so just be patient, guys!
Anyway, it was fun and fullfilling...everything is being taken good care. The people here are amazingly kind and warm!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Reaching
Different atmosphere...Different culture...
A unique, hard-to-describe surrounding is just so enchanting!
I am already falling in love in this place...Kolkata.
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