TIFR

The driver dropped me off at the TIFR (Tata Institute for Fundamental Research) Housing Complex Tuesday afternoon.  Without much trouble I got my keys and was shown to my quarters.  I then made two little videos for you to watch right now:

As you can see it's furnished.  I believe these rooms also function as hotel rooms for temporary guests.  As with most new apartments, there turned out to be a couple problems:  there were some leaks, the water heater for the shower wasn't working, and the (large) TV didn't have a signal.  Soon, my host Dipendra Prasad ( http://www.math.tifr.res.in/~dprasad/ ) met me at my apartment.  He led me past the security guards to the TIFR complex and I met my friend Raghuram.  Dipendra handed me his cell phone so I could call my parents at some weird hour, and we went to tea.  I met Dipendra's student Arnab, had dinner with him at the canteen, and then crashed soon after.

Okay, so wow.  The campus grounds are like nothing I've ever seen.  There are huge beautiful trees, including a Banyan tree and many palm trees with clusters of ripening coconuts.  From most places you have a nice view of the ocean.  Dogs and cats roam around freely, and the whole place is constantly patrolled by security guards.  Indoors the hallways are filled with valuable pieces of art: murals, paintings, statues, that I'm afraid I don't properly appreciate.  There are often little groups of people crowding around these artworks, as if there are regularly tours going on.  Much of the office furniture and computers has a nostalgic 80's quality.  

You may never be able to judge TIFR for yourself, because  the security is intense.  I can't take any pictures.  Only people registered with TIFR ID cards can pass freely through the troop of guards at the gate.   So we're pretty isolated.  It's not unlike living on some eccentric billionaire's island, a billionaire who is paying yours truly to do mathematics all day on his island for a year.  There should be more of these.

After this I had a large number of errands to do.  I needed an ID card.   I spent about three days being escorted around showing documents to people in different offices (what, another administrator has the copy of your PhD?), talking about my medical history (what, you don't know your eyeglass lens prescription?), getting photographed (what, you didn't bring an ID card photo?), getting bloodwork done (what, you ate breakfast first?), filling out lots of forms (what, you don't know your bloodtype? what, you don't have an Indian cellphone number?), et cetera.  I had to repeat myself a lot, and ask others to do the same, because our accents are very different.  I met lots of people, didn't really understand their names, but then was later asked to go to their offices and give them paperworks.  But wan't so hard:  at one point I asked a maintenance worker for a direction, and he walked with me almost the whole way.  As I write this entry on Saturday, I sadly still do not have a ID card, although I finally got some salary on Friday.  (Amri and Dipendra lent me some money in the meanwhile, which was much more than what I needed.)

The jetlag wasn't bad at all really.  I've been going to sleep around 9pm and waking up inexplicably around 1am.  At this time I get up and either read a little, do a little DAI blogging, or reflect on the past day.  I may nap a bit more and then wake up for the day around 7am or so.

I've been eating all my meals at the TIFR canteens (what you might call cafeterias), which are subsidized by the Institute.  They are extremely cheap, especially for vegetarians, and presumably suitably hygenic for foreigners.  It's not particularly spicy, but it is Indian food.  During the week I ate large volumes of it, since I really like it.  However since yesterday evening my body has started to...complain.  So today I'm focusing on the little cakes they have during tea, and fasting a little.  (This does not violate Intention #1, since it's for health reasons.)

Alright, so it is...interesting being one of few non-Indians at TIFR.  On my first few trips to the canteen, I felt like everyone there processed the fact that a new white person was among them.  I have a slight background in performance, so I can handle being watched, but it has certainly made me more "present" during mealtimes.  Unfortunately due to TIFR restrictions I haven't produced a "training montage"-type video in which I learn the customs for eating at the canteens.

Since I've moved around so much, I have some understanding of how to make friends in new places.  Patience is key; real friendships take time to develop, and so you have to lower your expectations when you move somewhere new.  I've had a lot of "me" time, and I'm okay with that.  I try to present myself as friendly and approachable, for example I prop my office door open (with a rolling chair!) when I wouldn't mind company.  There are other basic strategies, but for now I'd like to secure things like that Photo ID before messing around socially.

Oh, regarding the apartment:  I complained about the above problems.  They came and fixed the heater right away, and the leak is now quite manageable.  Still waiting on the TV.  It would also be nice to have internet at home...
Anyway that's my report for now.  I'm meeting with an old friend soon to explore a little outside the compound, and next week I plan to register my visa, and interview in Pune.

Next: अकुशला.