I’ve been going to school for a week now. My classmates are very friendly, so I had no trouble, making friends. I have a couple of phone numbers and e-mails for now. I find the Indian school system rather weird and not at all effective. School starts somewhere around 8 o’clock in the morning and ends at 12 o’clock. Most of the learning is done at home or in the after-school coaching (privet lessons, given by our school- and other school’s teachers), so when the Indians come to school, they already know everything, the teachers are about to teach and the teachers are aware of that. Therefore school is just for revision and most of the teachers don’t bother to explain anything. These private lessons have yet another effect: as the kids know that they have to start studying hard after school (usually 4-6 hours), they use their school-time just to relax and have fun. All this means that I (because I’m not taking coaching) have a lot trouble to understand anything in school.
On the on the other hand: I like the chemistry (in witch I have private extra classes), although they have different approach on chemistry (It seems to me as though their chemistry has a strong sense of physics in them). Also, the school has organized after-school Hindi classes for me.
P.S. I know, some of my previous posts are filled with horrible spelling mistakes. I am working on fixing them, but the blog server is making me trouble and for some reason, it doesn’t replace my posts.
Okay, bye, Mihkel Indias
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Friday, July 20, 2007
Today I got the admission to DPS (Delhi public School). The name of the school is actually quite weird because the school is neither in Delhi, or a public school. Instead, it is a private school just outside Jalandhar.I think I had the most trouble, getting the admission, because non of the other students have had to pass an interview. I had to impress the school's principal, a member of the board (therefore one of the owners) and the school director. Anyway, I managed to do that and I'm in.We bought my school uniform today (white trousers, white shirt and really ugly black trainers).One of the school's rules is that no boy should have long hair (the school principal, a very nice lady, told me that they would cut off any pony-tail in their sight. Therefore I went to a hairdresser and had my hair cut. I am now officially a gel- guy and a slick guy in one person- but I really like it !!! :) As soon as I get a camera, I will post some pictures of me with my new haircut. Actually I am very relieved by this, it seems that a certain phase in my life is over and a new one has begun (like getting rid of my old skin and finding a shiny and slick skin underneath) but enough of that.The new school is quite far from my house, so I will have to take the school bus to get there. This will mean some extra expenses every month (fortunately not big expenses).That's all for now, I'll stay in contact
Thursday, July 19, 2007
No Apeejay for me
Finally something certain about the school: Apeejay board needs 10 days to make the decision about my admission. It is rather redicculous, the other schools have made the decision within one day. Anyway, this means that I won't be going to Apeejay because I simply can't afford to wait another 10 days ( I have allready waited 2 weeks). Tomorrow We will look up some other schools. I feel kind of pissed off at the moment, seems like nothing is moving.
Mr. Ian from the YFU office has heard about my big plans about going to one of the Ivy League Universities and recommended me to take the SAT test this autumn to know my level. He even offered me help in finding me a coach who could train me for this. I am quite sure that I will accept his offer and take the test. However, I will set things straight with the school primarily.
Totally off the subject: I am getting more and more proud of my country, our infrastructure and the way things work. I'm writing this because today I saw another episode of "Updating your passport in India"
Prologue
My hostfather Sukhbir wants to update his passport. He prepares a huge pile of documents, buys an application form and we go to the local passport office.
Episode 1
Since it is the monsoon season, it had been raining for a while. There was a huge puddle in front of the passport office's door, actually it was almost a pond. Some kind person had made a road of bricks ( one way traffic only) so that people could get to the office with nearly dry feet.
After making miracles, trying to keep the balance on the bricks, and finally inside the office, the real thing started. We had to get the application form filled by a proffessional (yes there are actually people who make their living with filling other people's forms). The guy was very busy and we had to wait for about 10 minutes to get to him. We found out, that two more documents are needed to fill the application and get the passport. So we got out of the office, walked a couple of blocks away from it and found ourselves from a small shop with a man and a type-writer in it.
Sukhbir talked some Punjabi with the man and the guy typed two documents for him. After that, the documents needed to be approved by a notary. Having that done, we went back to the passport office. There Sukhbir started to argue with the application-filler and the argument ended with us, leaving the office and with Sukhbir muttering something in his beard (something like: "We'll get it done ourselves...etc.").
Again we went to a small shop where a young Sikh man started filling Sukhbir's application.
Now it appears that we still haven't got all of the papers and we need to get Sukhbir's marriage confirmation. Therefore, we call the day successful and go back home to return to this process some other day.
Episode 2
A few days later, when we got the marriage confirmation, we return to the small shop where a guy sits with a type-writer. Now it appears that Sukhbir's wife needs to sign something. We go and pick her up (her name is Harleen, by the way) and again, start waiting in the queue. After half an hour waiting, we finally get the papers signed and typed and approved by the notary, but unfortunetly the time has run late and we need to pick up my little brother from his school.
...oh, well I guess we'll try another day..
Mr. Ian from the YFU office has heard about my big plans about going to one of the Ivy League Universities and recommended me to take the SAT test this autumn to know my level. He even offered me help in finding me a coach who could train me for this. I am quite sure that I will accept his offer and take the test. However, I will set things straight with the school primarily.
Totally off the subject: I am getting more and more proud of my country, our infrastructure and the way things work. I'm writing this because today I saw another episode of "Updating your passport in India"
Prologue
My hostfather Sukhbir wants to update his passport. He prepares a huge pile of documents, buys an application form and we go to the local passport office.
Episode 1
Since it is the monsoon season, it had been raining for a while. There was a huge puddle in front of the passport office's door, actually it was almost a pond. Some kind person had made a road of bricks ( one way traffic only) so that people could get to the office with nearly dry feet.
After making miracles, trying to keep the balance on the bricks, and finally inside the office, the real thing started. We had to get the application form filled by a proffessional (yes there are actually people who make their living with filling other people's forms). The guy was very busy and we had to wait for about 10 minutes to get to him. We found out, that two more documents are needed to fill the application and get the passport. So we got out of the office, walked a couple of blocks away from it and found ourselves from a small shop with a man and a type-writer in it.
Sukhbir talked some Punjabi with the man and the guy typed two documents for him. After that, the documents needed to be approved by a notary. Having that done, we went back to the passport office. There Sukhbir started to argue with the application-filler and the argument ended with us, leaving the office and with Sukhbir muttering something in his beard (something like: "We'll get it done ourselves...etc.").
Again we went to a small shop where a young Sikh man started filling Sukhbir's application.
Now it appears that we still haven't got all of the papers and we need to get Sukhbir's marriage confirmation. Therefore, we call the day successful and go back home to return to this process some other day.
Episode 2
A few days later, when we got the marriage confirmation, we return to the small shop where a guy sits with a type-writer. Now it appears that Sukhbir's wife needs to sign something. We go and pick her up (her name is Harleen, by the way) and again, start waiting in the queue. After half an hour waiting, we finally get the papers signed and typed and approved by the notary, but unfortunetly the time has run late and we need to pick up my little brother from his school.
...oh, well I guess we'll try another day..
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
In my previous post i wrote that I would get my admission on 16 July. Well today is the 18 th and I am HOPING to get it today.
Yesterday I went to Ludhiana with my host parents. Mother had to go to Sacred Heart ( Best school in Ludhiana) and father had to pick up Mr. Ian (the guy who runs YFU India) and a Belgian girl Natalia (hope I spelled it correctly) to get her placed into her new family.
Again, I had the wonderful chance to get to see more of India, and more families. Natalia's family was very warm and welcoming. We were welcomed with a tika party (it was the fourth time for me) and flowers. When we were about to leave, the family daughter came to me and handed me a gift. I was ofcourse very suprised and delighted, but I didn't open it until we got back to the car. Before opening, I said to myself: "hope it's not sweets (because I'm a bit concerned about my weight)". And guess what, it wasn't sweets. Instead, they had given me two parker pens and a key holder. I must say that i was in a deep shock for a while. I couldn't expect anything like this and the weirdest thing is that I had looked for Parker pens in Jalanhar-because they are my favourite- and hadn't found them. This was the best example of Indian hospitality.
That's it for now. I'll write again, when I get any information concerning my school.
Yesterday I went to Ludhiana with my host parents. Mother had to go to Sacred Heart ( Best school in Ludhiana) and father had to pick up Mr. Ian (the guy who runs YFU India) and a Belgian girl Natalia (hope I spelled it correctly) to get her placed into her new family.
Again, I had the wonderful chance to get to see more of India, and more families. Natalia's family was very warm and welcoming. We were welcomed with a tika party (it was the fourth time for me) and flowers. When we were about to leave, the family daughter came to me and handed me a gift. I was ofcourse very suprised and delighted, but I didn't open it until we got back to the car. Before opening, I said to myself: "hope it's not sweets (because I'm a bit concerned about my weight)". And guess what, it wasn't sweets. Instead, they had given me two parker pens and a key holder. I must say that i was in a deep shock for a while. I couldn't expect anything like this and the weirdest thing is that I had looked for Parker pens in Jalanhar-because they are my favourite- and hadn't found them. This was the best example of Indian hospitality.
That's it for now. I'll write again, when I get any information concerning my school.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Finally settled
Hi again! I am finally settled here in Jalandhar. After a week in Delhi I came here, stayed one night and then we were off to Shimla ( a gorgeus City in the Himalayas) to get a German girl Julia to her host-family. I had the wonderful opportunity to see this place thanks to the fact that my host-father Sukhbir is the YFU cordinator in Punjab. The trip lasted for 3 days, because on our way back we (or actually they) decided to spend the night in Chandigarh (I don't know the spelling).
Anyway, as I said I'm settled now. We live in a 3-bedroom house(one of them is mine(y)). The house is lovely,I couldn't possibly want anything better. The best thing is, that I have a wonderful family. I wonder if it is possible to feel homesick with such lovely people surrounding me.
Today I bought a cycle for myself (Rs. 4500 ) and I rode it through the city. I am going to use the bike to go to school. I will be going to the Apeejay, wich is one of the best schools around. Unfortunatly the Headmistress of the school is in USA and I won't get the admission until the 16 th.
Yesterday i had a chance to see Indian way of registrating. It took us 2 days and 1,5 hours of waiting, to get me registered.
Okay, what else...oh, the weather is hot :D
I'll post here again, when I have something to say.
Okay, bye-bye! I would like to say that I miss you all, but I don't (not yet)
Anyway, as I said I'm settled now. We live in a 3-bedroom house(one of them is mine(y)). The house is lovely,I couldn't possibly want anything better. The best thing is, that I have a wonderful family. I wonder if it is possible to feel homesick with such lovely people surrounding me.
Today I bought a cycle for myself (Rs. 4500 ) and I rode it through the city. I am going to use the bike to go to school. I will be going to the Apeejay, wich is one of the best schools around. Unfortunatly the Headmistress of the school is in USA and I won't get the admission until the 16 th.
Yesterday i had a chance to see Indian way of registrating. It took us 2 days and 1,5 hours of waiting, to get me registered.
Okay, what else...oh, the weather is hot :D
I'll post here again, when I have something to say.
Okay, bye-bye! I would like to say that I miss you all, but I don't (not yet)
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