It's Antithesis!

It's Anti-thesis: The Foreign Registration Office
In India, because we have a Employment Visa we have to register to let them know we're here. It's actually kind of cool because when I go to most U.S. cities I see a lot more ethnic and racial diversity than I see in Bangalore. I saw people from many different countries in the office. Babies, the elderly, and everything in between. First, you have to fill out paperwork downstairs and that gets approved. Then you have to take more paperwork upstairs. I read this in a book and an Indian told me this as well: the Indian government LOVES bureaucracy. If they can take one step and make it into five, they will. And they will then not label the desks or give instructions. We were at the FRO from 10am-4pm (some had to stay till 5:30p). But this is the moment that I adore the kids in my group. Honestly, we had the best conversations about our lives, goals, beliefs, different governments, etc. It made it all ok. Sadly, 4 of us had our paperwork rejected (of which I was one) which meant we had to come back the next day.

For FRO Day 2: Yoshi and I go to our boss's house to get the correct paper work. Yoshi is my intern partner and he is wonderful and we're rather complementary. So, when our professor tells us we have to go into this strange city by ourselves and find this lady's house our responses were the following: I was soo nervous! Yoshi was thrilled! Yoshi has traveled around Israel by himself and travelling in a gaggle around the city is just not his thing so he was excited. It actually worked out really well. We had the nicest driver I have had since arriving (that statement is still true!) and found her home no problem. Then we took the METRO! The Metro is a VERY big deal. Indians take pictures of it when they get on. It's their subway system and it's air conditioned (I have never appreciated air conditioning as much as I do here!). Interesting note about gender: they are currently using the wand on everyone to make sure no one brings something bad onto the train. When they did to Yoshi they just did it in front of everyone. But as a woman I had to go behind a screen...hmmm.

One of my all-time favorite things about Indians: their very conscious about their energy usage. Example 1: their escalators are motion sensored! Yoshi was really excited about the ticket too. It's just a coin that you tap and they let you through. This is THE most visibly excited I have seen Yoshi all trip.

So back to the FRO (and one of my favorite moments of my trip). We sit in line and Phu and I once again have great discussions. Yoshi unfortunately, gets the run-around. The guy at the desk sends him to the other side of the room who sends him back. Then he is sent downstairs and they send him back. And then he is sent back downstairs after a phone call. Several desk visits later we are all approved. Phu, Yoshi, and I came back at 5pm to get another signature (and here comes one of my favorite moments). A white woman (an rarely seen species in Bangalore) was sitting in the office talking to her baby in French. So I ask her where she was from. PARIS!!! So she and I chatted in French. I was so excited that my French was awful. But she was soo sweet and telling me about her life and helping me with her French. Such a cool moment. She actually came to India while she was pregnant to be with her husband and the baby was born there. I feel this is very brave. If I'm ever pregnant I would imagine I would want to be in familiar city so I admire her.

Yoshi, Phu, and I are finally freed so we go exploring. Our big discussion topic was whether there's a bigger force (God, Universe, etc.) that has a direction for our life. We didn't decide on any answers but it was very thought provoking. It's nice to travel in a group that size and nice to have guys when bargaining with rickshaw drivers.


We went on the little side streets, checked out a homeopathic shop (which is very big in India), and went into an Italian restaurant (we couldn't resist). A very good Indian day :)