In each blog post, we discuss the highlights of each new day in India! But this misses some of the more average, day-to-day activity involved in staying and getting around Bangalore. We are staying at the Indian Social Institute (ISI) in Benson Town. Our home for these three weeks is where we’ve slept, had classes, and eaten a lot of our meals. While different from our much colder dorms and apartments in Minneapolis, ISI has begun to feel like a home away from home!
Most days at ISI proceed something like this:
- 7 a.m.—Wake up and get ready (or 6 AM if we’re doing something really exciting/far away!)
- 7:45 a.m.—Breakfast
- 7:45:01 a.m.—Get excited when breakfast is idli
- 8:30-10:30 a.m.—Sometimes class time and reflections, sometimes head to a site visit!
- 10:30 a.m.—Tea time if we are at ISI!
- 11 a.m.—If you’re Erin, go to the market and buy American-style sour cream and onion chips before realizing lunch is soon
- 12:30 p.m.—Lunch time if we are at ISI!
- 3:30 p.m.—Second tea time at ISI! (Hobbits, anyone?)
- 6 p.m.—Try to figure out what time it is for family members, but realize it’s too early to call
- 7:30 p.m.—Dinner at ISI / Out on the town for dinner
- 8:30 p.m.—Write reflections, blogs, or project work
- 9:30 p.m.—Fun, new card games
- 11 p.m.—Sleep to get the full 8 hours!
There are many differences in our day-to-day activities in Bangalore. Even with our amazing drivers or Uber/auto-rickshaw drivers, it still takes half an hour to go three kilometers in the city! Due to the way Bangalore was built out not up, it feels like everything is far away from wherever we happen to be. Auto-rickshaws are my vehicle of choice! There’s nothing like feeling the wind on my face and also like I’m go-karting!
Another difference is the recognition of tea time! In my family, a Persian tea time is sometimes observed, and it is nice to be in a country where that break time is respected. Last, but surely not least, in Bangalore, I get to hang out with all my new friends every day!
-Danica M-J
-Danica M-J
