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Published: January 28th 2008
my room at the guest house
This is before I moved in, set up the mosquito netting, and spread out.This is 11 February and I've just reviewed the entries and realized that this one didn't get published!!! It's "old" but interesting so I'm sending it on now, anyway. Sorry I didn't hit the right button at the time, it appears.
Well, we arrived safe and sound, a few minutes before arrival time, actually. Our exchange partners met us at the airport and brought us to the Guest House at Jadavpur University where we unpacked and were settled in by about 3 a.m.
Sunday morning, we had jam toast and tea as we got up and moving, then went to the Rabindra Sarobar Lake Park. Later, we were able to attend a Hindu wedding ceremony (the bride's reception--the groom's reception will be Tuesday evening). I took the pics of the rr tracks and the neighborhood behind the university from the second floor veranda. The University has hired a car for our time here and the project coordinator has said that they will try and show us the sites in the first few days (a fourth person from VCCS will join us the 31st) and then get down to busienss. Probably a good idea, in case we're time/sleep deprived.
view from veranda1
this is from the back of the building--the train goes by about every hour Monday (today, I think), we drove around Kolkata some more (a rather harrowing experience), took the ferry across the Ganga to Howrah so we could go to the Botanical Gardens, especially to see the 250 year old Great Banyon Tree. On the way, the driver either forgot that we were to be going to the Gardens or lost his way because we went through the toll plaza and were about to head back over the river to Kolkata. so, we had to make a U turn, pay the toll a couple times--that was interesting. We passed Howrah Station, the large train station. Of course, my camera battery died as we got to the Gardens so I'll get a picture from one of my fellows. Then we went back across the Ganga on the second Howrah Bridge (the first was built by the British and is the most trafficked bridge in the world; the second was built by India) and stopped by Millenium Park, a lovely playground and park.
After a bit of rest at the Guest House, we went to the home of my exchange partner for a lovely visit and great eats!
I think we've all hit
a bit of a time/jet lag wall this evening and are looking forward to a full night's sleep.
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Beth Wentworth
non-member comment
I'm jealous!!
Hi Susan, Your blog has stirred up so many delightful memories I have of Jadavpur and Kolkata--the jam toast and tea, the railroad--which I didn't memorialize quite so enthusiastically as you--and the remarkable richness of the culture. The traffic indeed is "remarkable." I think Ajit has it figured out quite well; he employs a driver who has safely transported the family everywhere they have needed to go for years! A great plan for Kolkata. I hope you will capture the rare image of a cow in rush hour traffic. Charge those batteries!! I am particularly envious of your invitation to the bride's reception and your handsome new friend. That must have been a beautiful experience. Please send my greetings and best wishes to Sanjay, Sushil, Sukhen, and Siddhartha--and a special hello to Ajit. I look forward to following your blog in the coming days and vicariously traveling to India with you.