Our day started off with with yet more waiting, this was not for a taxi but a driver from the NIILM University. We were to meet with S today and our projects were officially going to be launched. Or so we thought.
The drive, was once again long – nowhere in India seems next-door or nearby. As we veered off the main road, we realised we were driving on the wrong side of the road and there was
oncoming traffic!! Then the car veered off onto a dirt road and we became aware that the only buildings around seemed to be unfinished. As we pulled up to NIILM we realised nor was the University. It was being used but it was not finished. The extent of the unfinished state only became apparent after out meeting with S when we went downstairs for lunch. The canteen was like a worksite, there were huge holes in the wall, supposedly where doors would eventually go, workmen were coming in and out and dust was everywhere. Along the far wall was the canteen where hotplates were warming the various dishes on offer. It was an experience and we have lived to tell the tale, so dust is not life-threatening, luckily!
After another stilted discussion following lunch we explored the University facilities. The library was sparse, the computers were from the 90s and old school rang out everywhere, there was not even an Internet connection. Once again doubts about how we would complete the project in these surroundings entered our thoughts.
We met some more academics and waited for the evening bus to bring us back to the hostel. Even the process of finding the right bus was made into a complicated saga. It is difficult to tell if this is because people do not understand us, they want to purposefully confuse us or they don’t know but want to try and help so answer anyway. The third bus w climbed into was apparently the correct one and after a lengthy, bumpy ride we were back at the hostel.
We wanted to go to a shopping mall as we still felt isolated at the hostel so we got a auto-rickshaw to bring us there. RelianceMart had a few shops, none were very useful but the supermarket section was great, we stocked up on snacks and drinks to keep us going whilst we would be working on our proposals for S. Riding back to the hostel that night, facing backwards, holding onto Chs knee with one had and the other gripping the side of the rickshaw, with all the lights speeding past and music blaring it was the first time since I had gotten to Delhi that I felt the experience might be ok, that I was totally and utterly happy to be there, with the guys, all my worries evaporated.
The drive, was once again long – nowhere in India seems next-door or nearby. As we veered off the main road, we realised we were driving on the wrong side of the road and there was
oncoming traffic!! Then the car veered off onto a dirt road and we became aware that the only buildings around seemed to be unfinished. As we pulled up to NIILM we realised nor was the University. It was being used but it was not finished. The extent of the unfinished state only became apparent after out meeting with S when we went downstairs for lunch. The canteen was like a worksite, there were huge holes in the wall, supposedly where doors would eventually go, workmen were coming in and out and dust was everywhere. Along the far wall was the canteen where hotplates were warming the various dishes on offer. It was an experience and we have lived to tell the tale, so dust is not life-threatening, luckily!After another stilted discussion following lunch we explored the University facilities. The library was sparse, the computers were from the 90s and old school rang out everywhere, there was not even an Internet connection. Once again doubts about how we would complete the project in these surroundings entered our thoughts.
We met some more academics and waited for the evening bus to bring us back to the hostel. Even the process of finding the right bus was made into a complicated saga. It is difficult to tell if this is because people do not understand us, they want to purposefully confuse us or they don’t know but want to try and help so answer anyway. The third bus w climbed into was apparently the correct one and after a lengthy, bumpy ride we were back at the hostel.
We wanted to go to a shopping mall as we still felt isolated at the hostel so we got a auto-rickshaw to bring us there. RelianceMart had a few shops, none were very useful but the supermarket section was great, we stocked up on snacks and drinks to keep us going whilst we would be working on our proposals for S. Riding back to the hostel that night, facing backwards, holding onto Chs knee with one had and the other gripping the side of the rickshaw, with all the lights speeding past and music blaring it was the first time since I had gotten to Delhi that I felt the experience might be ok, that I was totally and utterly happy to be there, with the guys, all my worries evaporated.
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