Dubai airport is very shiny.
Kolkata is not.
I arrived having got half an hour's sleep and was driven from the airport to the head's house by a member of staff. Driving in India is genuinely as bad as it looks or you have heard. There are no lanes and anything (cyclists with bags of okra on the back, rickshaws, cars, cows) could be coming the other way.
They have a genius system in Kolkata where all the one way streets change direction at 1pm. Some two ways become one way. Some one ways become two ways. A good idea for dealing with rush hour in an underbuilt overpopulated city, but absolute chaos to navigate.
I had breakfast (pancakes and local mango) and was shown to my flat (pictures coming soon). Aircon! Bought some bread and some butter. Had a shower but half an hour later I may as well not have. Very very humid. Genuinely like having poured a cup of water over your head after about forty minutes in it.
I then visited the older boys house (17-18 yr olds) and had some lunch. I broke many food hygeine rules in about a ten minute period of time - hadn't washed my hands, ate with my hands, drank tea...it was paneer in some green stuff with rice and pakoras. Everything was nice except the green stuff. I talked to the boys but struggle with their accents.
Next it was on to the school and met the younger ones who are very excitable - they run up to you straight away, hold your hand, try to jump and hold on to you. Then I had a quick chat with the head about what I would do when I was there - working with a business studies teacher as a kind of shadow but with the intention being to help him as he is not doing very well. Lots of diplomacy needed.
Done for the day now. There is an internet cafe opposite my building. 15 r an hour which is 7p.
Kolkata is not.
I arrived having got half an hour's sleep and was driven from the airport to the head's house by a member of staff. Driving in India is genuinely as bad as it looks or you have heard. There are no lanes and anything (cyclists with bags of okra on the back, rickshaws, cars, cows) could be coming the other way.
They have a genius system in Kolkata where all the one way streets change direction at 1pm. Some two ways become one way. Some one ways become two ways. A good idea for dealing with rush hour in an underbuilt overpopulated city, but absolute chaos to navigate.
I had breakfast (pancakes and local mango) and was shown to my flat (pictures coming soon). Aircon! Bought some bread and some butter. Had a shower but half an hour later I may as well not have. Very very humid. Genuinely like having poured a cup of water over your head after about forty minutes in it.
I then visited the older boys house (17-18 yr olds) and had some lunch. I broke many food hygeine rules in about a ten minute period of time - hadn't washed my hands, ate with my hands, drank tea...it was paneer in some green stuff with rice and pakoras. Everything was nice except the green stuff. I talked to the boys but struggle with their accents.
Next it was on to the school and met the younger ones who are very excitable - they run up to you straight away, hold your hand, try to jump and hold on to you. Then I had a quick chat with the head about what I would do when I was there - working with a business studies teacher as a kind of shadow but with the intention being to help him as he is not doing very well. Lots of diplomacy needed.
Done for the day now. There is an internet cafe opposite my building. 15 r an hour which is 7p.
You seem to have missed the blog entry about Birmingham airport?
ReplyDeleteSounds like your off to a interesting start, looking forward to the pics of the accommodation and view from the window!
ReplyDeleteGreat work paul, love the blog already. Maybe enjoy the red hot chili pepper tonight? X
ReplyDelete