Orientation, Culture Shock and Indian time

The network is being very slow over here at the moment but hopefully it will hold out long enough to make this post. So right now it's a little past 5am and I am unfortunately awake due to interesting experiences yesterday. I officially win the First Person to get Sick award yay! Last night my stomach started feeling cranky and by the time we were leaving breakfast to start out on our first lecture I was feeling pretty miserable. I ended up sleeping/ lying in bed for most of the day and sadly missed the first excursion into the outer city. Luckily, they have told us that most information will be repeated many times during the orientation so I don't feel so bad about being pretty out of it. There also is a lot of information in the handbook so I'm not really worried. It would be nice if the sickness I just experienced was the only sickness I will experience here but the information I have been reading from the program says that you may get sick for up to a week, so I guess I shouldn't expect to have escaped so easily ( not that the last 24 hours have been pleasant) .

I do have to say that being here is quite overwhelming, sickness aside. I've wanted to come on this trip for a long time and now that I'm here I keep fluctuating back and forth between being really excited and wondering what I was thinking signing up for four months here. Right now we are in the old CIEE guest house which is located on the main part of campus but they have just built a new house for all the Study in India programs (SIP), which is for anyone from abroad. We are supposedly moving to the new house today, although we went to visit it yesterday for the inauguration and they didn't have beds in it yet. It is really really far away too. Most important buildings on campus are clustered within about 10-15 minutes of each other but the guesthouse is far out on past many of the other dorms. We are being provided with bikes which is good because it over a mile, possibly several to get from our house to the academic buildings.

I suppose I should back track and explain what happened when we arrived. A number of us arrived from Heathrow and met several others arriving at the same time. There was a barrage of people once we got past security and customs and the really long wait for our suitcases. Luckily CIEE had a clearly labeled sign and we were able to all meet up and get on a bus. Driving to the U of H, we passed many signs in English but clearly we were not in America. It was only around 6:00 in the morning so the roads were pretty empty, however the driving was still pretty crazy. Wherever there is an open spot, that is where one drives, regardless of the lines that are supposed to designate lanes. I think NJ drivers would do well here. People don't signal, they just honk. There are dogs everywhere!!! So far I haven't seen many cows but I see and hear dogs always. When trying to sleep over here there are many sounds of exotic birds and dogs barking, and some people have even said monkeys.

Someone on our program described the campus as a wildlife conservation or a national park. It is so radically different from anything I would ever call a university. There are just wild plants growing around and hardly anything is green but rather brown and dried. Buildings are scattered about, though there is a very good signage. The buildings are all open but designed to stay cool, with a lot of concrete. There seem to be little courtyards in almost every one, which is the only place where there is lush greenery.

Before our official campus tour, a number of us were wandering about and as we neared one of the academic buildings, a man approached the only male in our group and was encouraging us to come in. We didn't really know where we were going but we were led upstairs and into a room where a banner proclaimed that this was a Business Data Mining conference. This seems so typical of India to just be pulled in somewhere. We decided to stay for a while and proceeded to witness about 20 straight minutes of introductions by the panel and a small oil lamp lighting ceremony which was quite stunning as it seemed to be a religious ceremony in the middle of an academic conference. We decided to bow out after the first speaker, but it was an interesting experience.

As I've been writing this several other people have woken up and come down stairs. Now there are 3 people around on the computers and it is about 6:00 am. Breakfast runs from 8-9 and at 10 we have another orientation lecture. Time here is very funny though. Nothing really starts on time or goes according to strict schedule, so going with the flow is very important. There also are regular tea breaks which are quite nice too. The tea, or chai, is very very sweet but yummy! Right now I think I will be safe and try and stick with plain foods until I am sure that my stomach can handle spices.

I think I've crammed enough information into here for now. More updates to follow!

Arrived Safely

Just a super-quick hello to say I made it safely over here and I am fine. We are in the old guest house right but we will be moving over to the new one in a few days. At 4pm today we are getting a tour and hopefully more info as we have none right now. We just ate breakfast which was yummy and now we are getting a little settled in. I don't want to take up computer space right now but once I get my own laptop set up I will be able to keep everyone updated.

GOING TO INDIA!

Hooray Hooray the visa has been obtained!!!

Now finally I can relax and know I will be able to get on the plane of Friday! The issue with the paperwork turned out to be very easy to resolve. Apparently the letter which I brought in was not the right one- there was a second letter which was from the actual University itself (not just CIEE) that I didn't realize existed. I hadn't opened the envelope when it originally arrived so I didn't even think that there would be more than one thing in it, since the one letter seemed to have all the necessary information in it.



A simple trip to Staples to fax over the letter took care of the problem and I was all set to pick up the passport with the usual crowd at 5:30 again. This time I knew the drill so I didn't bother rushing to get there super early to stand out in the cold. When I arrived, the line was down the street, away from the restaurant. When we were allowed inside at 5:30 I was expecting the same announcement about another 10 minutes to sort passports, but this time we were told that the couriers from the consulate were running late, so it would take 10 minutes for them to arrive and then another 10 or so to sort the passports. Of course they would be running late when I was trying to get a bus home at a reasonable time!



Standing on that line was about as stressful as finals week, but all compacted into about 20 minutes. As I stood there, I just kept repeating in my head, ' please let it be there, please let it be there'. Not that I couldn't have gotten it a day later, but it would have delayed our Christmas plans and not been very fun to go back again.

As I stepped up to hand Mr. Enforcer my receipt, Ingrid (the lady who had helped me out on Friday) said that she had just seen my file. Mr. Enforcer said I could move ahead to the pick-up window and as he handed back my receipt said ‘Merry Christmas’ with a slight smile. Although my inner Jew wanted to say, ‘And Happy Hanukkah’ , I was far too overwhelmed with relief to do anything but grin my thanks ( besides, at this point I didn’t want to take the chance that sarcasm would keep me from getting my visa when it was just inches away from me).

After that it was smooth sailing. I turned in my receipt, was handed my passport with visa sticker and went on my merry way! Next stop, Hyderabad!!!!

Palak Moong Dal

Palak Moong Dal RecipePalak Moong Dal Ingredients:One cup split green gram lentil(Moong Dal), Three cups chopped spinach(Palak), Half tbsp turmeric powder(Haldi), One tbsp red Chilli powder,One tbsp asafoetida(Hing), Two tbsps butter,One tbsp chopped garlic, One tbsp chopped Ginger,One tbsp fresh Cream andA pinch of sodium bi carbonateHow To Make Palak Moong Dal:Washing,soak the gram(moong dal)

Methi Gaajar/Carrot Dal

Methi Gaajar/Carrot Dal RecipeMethi Gaajar/Carrot Dal Ingredients:One and half cup toor dal, Three cups chopped methi leaves, Two medium sized carrots, Two tbsps green chilly paste, Half cup groundnuts, One pinch asafoetida(Hing), Half tbsp sugar, Two-three dry red chillies,

Chholar Dal

Chholar Dal RecipeChholar Dal Ingredients:One cup soaked chick peas, Quarter tbsp turmeric,Two green chillies,Two tbspsgrounded cumin, Two tbsps raisins,Two tbsps vegetable oil,One bay leaf,One dried red chilly,Five-six cardamom pods,One inch cinnamon stick,Two-three cloves,Quarter tbsp Kalonji,One tbsp seeded & minced green chilly, Two tbsps grated coconut, Half tbsp garam masala,Ghee(if needed

Maash Dal

Maash Dal RecipeIngredients:One cup split urad dal(maash dal), Four cups water,One finely chopped onion,One finely chopped tomato,Four tbsps oil,One tbsp fresh ginger paste, Four-five finely chopped garlic & cloves each,Half tbsp turmeric powder, One tbsp chilli powder,One tbsp coriander powder,One tbsp garam masala,Two tbsps fresh chopped coriander leaves,Two-four chopped green

Dal Maharani

Dal Maharani RecipeIngredients:Quarter cup rajma, Quarter cup whole urad dal, Quarter cup chana dal,Quarter cup cream, Quarter tbsp cumin seeds, Quarter tbsp Mustard seeds, One chopped onion, Two chopped tomatoes, Four sliced green chillies, Half inch grated ginger, One pinch turmeric powder, One tbsp red chilli powder, Chopped corainder leaves(as required), One tbsp butter andSalt to tasteHow

Vegetable Recipes

Vegetable RecipesDrumstick Vegetable

Fried Chicken

Fried Chicken RecipeIngredients: One kg chicken,1/4 cup water,Two tbsps chilly powder,Half tbsp turmeric powder,One tbsp ginger-garlic paste,One tbsp soya sauce,Three-four tbsps oil,One large slices onion,One small lime andSalt to tasteHow To Make Fried Chicken:Put the washed chicken in a presure cooker along with water,chilly powder,turmeric powder,ginger-garlic paste and soya sauce.Cook the

Paneer Recipes

Paneer RecipesPaneer KurmaPaneer Tikka MasalaPaneer KadhaiPaneer MakhaniPaneer MushroomPaneer MethiPaneer ChillyMutter PaneerPalak PaneerShahi Paneer

Paratha Recipes

Paratha RecipesMutter ParathaAloo ParathaPudina ParathaGobi ParathaBeetroot ParathaPalak Paneer Paratha

Pulao Recipes

Pulao RecipesChicken PulaoNavratan PulaoMethi PulaoCabbage Capsicum PulaoGreen Peas PulaoCarrot PulaoKashmiri PulaoZafrani PulaoYakhni PulaoVegetable Pulao

Curry Recipes

Curry RecipesCoconut CurryMutton CurryEgg CurryMixed Veg CurryRajma CurryBasic Sauce CurryCauliflower CurryMixed Vegetable CurrySpicy Chicken CurryManglorean Chicken Stew

Dal Recipes

Dal RecipesDal MakhaniSpicy DalDal MaharaniMaash DalChholar DalMethi Gaajar/Carrot DalPalak Moong DalMasala Moong DalChanaa Moong DalKaali (Black) DalGarlic (Lasoon) Dal Spinach DalDal Fry

Dessert Recipes

Dessert RecipesKhajoor HalwaBread Rasmalai

Cake Recipes

Cake RecipesPlain CakeCoconut CakeCarrot Cake

Chicken Recipes

Chicken RecipesFried ChickenChicken ChillyButter ChickenChicken ShakutiHara ChickenChicken BiryaniHyderabadi Chicken Dum BiryaniSpicy Chicken CurryChicken LollypopManglorean Chicken StewChicken Pulao

Biryani Recipes

Biryani RecipesChicken BiryaniPrawn BiryaniKheema BiryaniKashmiri BiryaniHyderabadi Mutton Dum BiryaniHyderabadi Chicken Dum BiryaniVegetable Dum BiryaniFish BiryaniEgg BiryaniHyderabadi Mutton BiryaniJackfruit Biryani

Chicken Chilly

Chicken Chilly RecipeIngredients:One kg boneless chicken cut into small pieces, One tbsp tomato sauce, One tbsp chilli sauce,Two tbsps soya sauce, Two tbsps vinegar,Six green chillies or capsicum(either of the one), Four chopped onions, One tbsp corn flour, Two eggs, One tbsp ajinamoto, Cooking oil andSalt to tasteHow To Make Chicken Chilly:Washing the chicken pieces,dry them. Marinate the

Butter Chicken

Butter Chicken RecipeIngredients:Half kg chicken cut into small pieces, One big Onion,One tomato cut into small pieces,One tbsp ginger & garlic paste,One tbsp chilli powder,1/4 tbsp turmeric,One tbsp garam masala,One tbsp tandoori powder,Half tbsp cumin ground,Two tbsps lemon juice,50 gms cashew paste and Butter/oil as neededHow To Make Butter Chicken:Marinating the chicken with tandoori powder,

Chicken Shakuti

Chicken Shakuti Recipe(Chicken in Coconut Gravy)Ingredients:One Kg chicken medium sized pieces, Five-six tbsps ghee,Eight-ten onions,Juice of two limes,Thick and thin milk extracted from one coconut andOne coconut-grate and roast with two of the onions(sliced lengthwise) and a little ghee,until coconut turns pale brown. For roasting and grinding: Roasted coconut and onion mixture,Two tbsps

Gosht Palak Curry

Ingredients :

1 kg - Mutton
4 nos - Onions
1 cup - Spinach
2 tsp - Green chillies
6 tsp - Red chillies
2 tbsp - Coriander leaves
1 tsp - Ginger-Garlic paste
3 tbsp - Oil
Salt to taste

Cooking Instructions :

- Fry the onions and green chillies in oil till the onions become brown in color.
- Add mutton, mix ginger-garlic paste, red chillies.
- Put the lid over the pan and allow it to cook.
- Add blanched and chopped spinach and again cook for 2 minutes.
- Mutton Paalak Curry is ready, check salt
- Garnish the curry with coriander leaves.

Nihari

Ingredients :

1/2 kg - Beef
1/2 tsp - Turmeric powder
1 tsp - Coriander powder
1 tsp - Ginger paste
1 tsp - Pepper
1 tsp - Chilli powder
4 tbsp - Oil
3 tbsp - Flour
Salt to taste

Spice mix :

2 tsp - Fennel seeds
2 nos - Green cardamom
2 nos - Black cardamom
2 tsp - Coriander seeds
1/2 tsp - Peppercorns
1/2 tsp - Cumin seeds
10 nos - Cloves
1 no - Cinnamon stick
1 no - Bay leaf
1/4 tsp - Nutmeg
Onion slices, coriander, ginger and green chilies for garnishing

Cooking Instructions :

- Take a heavy based pot and heat oil. Fry the meat a little.
- Mix salt, chili powder, turmeric, coriander powder, pepper and ginger paste. Pour a little water. - Mix flour in half cup of water.
- Add this mixture to the meat and boil it.
- Grind all the spice mix until powdery fine.
- Add this to the meat.
- Add 3-4 cups of water cover and leave it to tenderize over very low heat.
- It will take about 7 hours for beef to get done.
- Fry some onion slices in oil until golden brown.
- Garnish the Nihari with it.
- Fresh coriander, ginger and green chilies can also be used for garnishing.

Mirch ka Salan

Ingredients :

500 gms - Green chillies
1 no - Large onion
1 no - Large tomato
1/2 tsp - Turmeric powder
1 tsp - Ground corriander
2 tbsp - Roasted cumin seeds
2 tbsp - Roasted peanut seeds
2 tbsp - Coconut grated
2 no - Garlic flakes
1 no - Ginger
1/2 Cup - Tamarind juice
3 Cups - Oil
Salt to taste

Cooking Instructions :

- Grind the roasted peanut and cumin seeds to make a powder.
- Chop onions and tomatoes finely.
- Grind garlic and ginger to make a paste.
- Heat the oil and fry chilies and keep it aside.
- Fry chopped onions and tomatoes.
- Add ginger garlic paste and fried chillies, saute for 10 minutes.
- Sprinkle tamarind juice and salt
- Add this mixture to fried green chillies.
- Serve it with rotis.