and the work begins
Well today was my second day of work at the Foreign Commercial Service. So many topics from my Public Management class arise daily—performance evaluations, monitoring, measuring outputs/outcomes. It is kind of refreshing to know that something we studied actually exists in the real world, even though in class it seemed very pointless.
I hesitate in calling the Embassy environment here the “real world.” There is this weird subculture here of Americans who rarely spend a moment outside of the American compound or their AC cars. Hopefully I will get some exposure to Embassy events as they happen—I’m very curious to see how people can be in India without really being in India.
My housing situation is very good. I share a small building (the size of a house) with two other American interns, Shakti (male) and Kelley. I really don’t think I could have eneded up with better housemates—both are laid back and we are all very eager to help eachother out.
The house itself is quite nice—an American kitchen and AC in the bedrooms. We also have a 24 hour guard. We have no TV, but we are planning to take the 2nd TV that is with Santosh to use for the summer (Does Ghaziabad really need TWO tvs?).
The transportation system is also working out well. Apparently, the embassy provides an AC car free of charge to and from our house in Anand Niketan to the Embassy. Shakti and Kelley can arrange for this car, but I am not sure if I am able to, so for now I just ride along with them. The arrangement works quite well because we arrive at the Embassy in time for me to catch the Embassy shuttle to Connaught Place. I work at the American Center—the same place with the AC library and cool, green, liquid soap. I am SO glad I work in Connaught Place because at least at lunch I can escape outside and sit in a café or shop.
The only real problem that needs to be sorted out is the food issue. Luckily, I have a solution and all it will take is a little time to fall into a routine. My plan is to go to the Mother Dairy in the morning and get vegetables, milk and fruit. Eat breakfast and go to work. After work, use the gym at the embassy, then catch a rickshaw or a ride home. Get home and either cook or reheat leftovers or go out with people. On the weekends I am planning to shop for staples—soap, spices, etc. I will get them when I visit Ghaziabad—they’ll be cheaper there, plus I don’t have to worry about the price if someone else is buying.
It is really weird to keep jumping from India to America. When you step into the office, embassy, or our house the atmosphere totally changes. It’s a bit baffling to go through the transition with a 24--hour plane trip to allow you to debrief.
It rained last night. Stormed with very heavy winds. Not the monsoon, but just a warning. Today is Tuesday, and I am going to Ghaziabad tonight to visit with Anand and his parents. Natalie has totally redone Santosh’s flat with a Turkish/Mughal/Rajput style lowered seating area.
I hesitate in calling the Embassy environment here the “real world.” There is this weird subculture here of Americans who rarely spend a moment outside of the American compound or their AC cars. Hopefully I will get some exposure to Embassy events as they happen—I’m very curious to see how people can be in India without really being in India.
My housing situation is very good. I share a small building (the size of a house) with two other American interns, Shakti (male) and Kelley. I really don’t think I could have eneded up with better housemates—both are laid back and we are all very eager to help eachother out.
The house itself is quite nice—an American kitchen and AC in the bedrooms. We also have a 24 hour guard. We have no TV, but we are planning to take the 2nd TV that is with Santosh to use for the summer (Does Ghaziabad really need TWO tvs?).
The transportation system is also working out well. Apparently, the embassy provides an AC car free of charge to and from our house in Anand Niketan to the Embassy. Shakti and Kelley can arrange for this car, but I am not sure if I am able to, so for now I just ride along with them. The arrangement works quite well because we arrive at the Embassy in time for me to catch the Embassy shuttle to Connaught Place. I work at the American Center—the same place with the AC library and cool, green, liquid soap. I am SO glad I work in Connaught Place because at least at lunch I can escape outside and sit in a café or shop.
The only real problem that needs to be sorted out is the food issue. Luckily, I have a solution and all it will take is a little time to fall into a routine. My plan is to go to the Mother Dairy in the morning and get vegetables, milk and fruit. Eat breakfast and go to work. After work, use the gym at the embassy, then catch a rickshaw or a ride home. Get home and either cook or reheat leftovers or go out with people. On the weekends I am planning to shop for staples—soap, spices, etc. I will get them when I visit Ghaziabad—they’ll be cheaper there, plus I don’t have to worry about the price if someone else is buying.
It is really weird to keep jumping from India to America. When you step into the office, embassy, or our house the atmosphere totally changes. It’s a bit baffling to go through the transition with a 24--hour plane trip to allow you to debrief.
It rained last night. Stormed with very heavy winds. Not the monsoon, but just a warning. Today is Tuesday, and I am going to Ghaziabad tonight to visit with Anand and his parents. Natalie has totally redone Santosh’s flat with a Turkish/Mughal/Rajput style lowered seating area.
posted by skibak8 at 2:29 pm
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