Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Chalo Dilli!!!

Arrived in Delhi. What do I say about this place? I am absolutely enthralled. Its an absoutely new experience for me...a new culture, a new language, new friends. I need to ge used to Delhi's shabbiness, dust, traffic and Hindi and I'll be absolutely fine here. All I knew of North India was thru books, films and the few good friends I acquired at USC...otherwise I've known little of India outside Kerala...being here itself feels like an education. Got a decent accomodation,my roomies are Assamese...they are nice guys and really helpful. I have already travelled quite a bit around thanks to my cousin's husband who drove me around quiet a bit of delhi and I walked around too quite a lot. I live near the north campus of Delhi University and its all infested with sudents here. The idea of Delhi being unsafe for women got lost for me as I see gals walking alone even at 11 at night.

Classes started today. My teacher Prof.Jha is just brilliant. I am really looking forward to a year of challenging myself to the extreme limit. He has set for me an 14hrs a day studying schedule...more on that in a later post. A cook comes in and makes us lunch and dinner and he does a good job. The climate here is pleasant for now but everyones warning me of the bitter winter setting in by december. When you guys hav kids and they are in school, shop for their books for a lifetime only in Delhi....y'all cud save a fortune. I am getting 30 and 40% discount...the bloody bookstore guys in tvm have really milked us dry of what wud have been good pocketmoney during those years of need in college. My hindi is improving rapidly. Still a lot of gaffes but I'll get there. My mobile fone still not working...heard i need to reinstall some software coz its US-made...eitherways i really dont need it. It sucks that I am not being able to check out all your blogs...but i'll soon start to make time...after all whats life when your only surviving hobby has also got to be suppressed. Before leaving tvm, got time to talk to fellow blogger, FlaashGordon but cudnt get hold of Neil when I called.

The reason I blog even due to lack of time and a computer at home is not anymore about my love and passion for writing. Its for all you family and friends affectionately following my progress in this endeavor. It will be impossible mailing you all personally again. Besides after reading about the Indus Valley Civilizaion I just wondered how it would feel for a human 3000 years from now to read abt a Jiby Kattakayam, his friends, and his life in places like Trivandrum, Los Angeles and Delhi....well that is if Blogspot survives...ooh dont think I have already cracked up!!! So consider this as me writing personally to you all. I realized this is the first time in life that since internet arrived I have not had it at my fingertips. This is a post I wrote in two shifts of 20 mins each when i came to browse at this cybercafe. India rocks guys...India rocks...I was always meant to be here. I love my India.

17 comments:

silverine said...

Delhi is the cheapest city in India. I went berserk shopping when I was there, Truly a consumers paradise.
Best of luck with your studies.

Thanu said...

So U in Delhi. Even I haven't been anywhere further than Bombay in India. People here ask me abt Taj Mahal and I'm like yeha I've seen it in pictures.

All that aside, good luck in everything and hope this winter is not that bad.

-thanu

Unknown said...

Gr8 to hear ur courses started. I will be in Delhi on 25th midnight(on my way to Jaipur) and on 30th evening. If Possible we ll meet. Let me know ur contact number

Arun said...

Nice to hear that you've closed into the capital. When are your exams btw? I really have no clue about the process...I believe there are exams and then rounds of interviews..?
Wanted to call you, but my return from dubai got delayed (Read my blog and you'll know the whole story)...and heard from Shan that you had left for Delhi. Pls do get a number and pass it along.
All the best for your preparations and keep the momentum going in full steam ahead.

Anonymous said...

Good to hear that you have settled in, and studying righto! Good Luck with everything, and the Hindi learning part too!

Geo said...

Going thru your posts is a pleasant experience....
Keep up the good work.... both online and in real-er life...

Jina said...

i am amazed at ur passion..seriously..n good post man..i hav been a silent reader..but i cudnt resist commentin this one...all d best...

Anonymous said...

good luck with the prep jiby. We miss you for sure. I could see the latest in kerala through you, when you were in LA.

Leon said...

Hey.. I think of blogging the same way.. though not 3000 years ahead!! I just think it would be wonderful to read what I am writing twenty years hence and laugh about it.. :-)

Have fun in Delhi..

Anonymous said...

Good Luck Jiby!!

Praveen said...

Last went to Delhi some 4 years back, enjoyed the short stay there.

HAve fun there, dont work too hard that you dont have time to blog :)

Anonymous said...

Thought I will inform you, of my first venture into hollywood....
www.moviecheckers.com

Just Launched!!

Loads of marketing and advertising to do and it's a one man army right now!!

Jiby said...

thanks guys...its soon becoming the most hetic time of my life... the keyboards in the cafe i am in sucks...doesnt help my cause with speedy typing up a quick post...

mathew, hey i need commission for driving traffic to ur site...hehe...just kidding...all the very best with this venture man...am sad i wont be around to help in some way or the other.

Matter of Choice said...

hey jiby

goodluck with the studies

Riot said...

Good luck with your studies. 14 hr schedule sounds a little too punishing !

Heidi said...

U either love it or hate it, even those who hate it grow to love hating it.The place is an addiction, enjoy...and as for shopping for those woolens SN is great.

Anonymous said...

Hey i was looking for my long lost friend whose house name is kattakkayam and i found ur blog...its pretty intresting, u are a good writer ...and by the way do u by any chance know some one named arun joseph kattakayam..he is frm kottayam..i think his house is in kumarakom...just post ur reply here..i will chk it..thanks...and good luck with everything...man i want to g oback to kerala one dasy too...texas is fine but there is no place like home..