Work
Start new experiment, monitor reaction progress, work up, isolation and purification, send for analysis and confirm results. That’s the routine at work. Depending on the type of reaction and purification process, each routine can take from three to five days. Then the cycle repeat itself. Sometimes they overlap, sometimes they lapse, it all depends on the outcome of the experiments.
Carried out 3 experiments this week. One to make more starting materials. One trial reaction did not give any desirable results. One reaction following the literature seemed to be quite positive so far. I’m still waiting for the results of an analysis to confirm if we had indeed got the compound we wanted. It’s been 4 days already…
Time passed quickly when there is work to be done. Unconsciously, I have been working past 7.00pm almost everyday. I stayed til 9.00pm one night to complete one experiment, just in time for ‘Sir’ to call me to his office for a discussion at 8.45pm! I hope he did not treat me as one of his students!!
A Student's Life
Students seemed to belong to the lowest class in the institute. They have no status, no rights, and are expected to work 24/7, even on holidays. Age ranged from early twenties for the Masters students and late twenties for the PhD students. These are highly educated people, the brains of the country and yet to when I talk to them, I get the feeling that they have been made to think that they do not matter at all. To them, getting a PhD is like attaining a primary school leaving certificate.
Majority of them stay in hostels which comes with meals for a monthly fee. Hostel rooms are tiny, with just enough space for a bed, cupboard and writing table. Food is mass produced in the mess and there are fixed timing for meals. It reminds me of life in the army, only that here, they get their own rooms instead of dormitories and time is spent in the laboratories instead of out in the training fields.
Once, I tried to bring three of my chemistry folks to lunch in the guest house. They were stopped at the entrance and were bluntly refused entry, simply because they are students. Not even when I clarified that they were my guests and I had invited them to lunch. If you are a student, you are out.
The sad thing is, they seemed to have accepted all these as the norm. I felt really bad when they give me a lift back on their bicycles and will only drop me off at the gate, they would tell me that they should not step onto the premises.
Friends
Three weeks have passed since I arrived in Bangalore. I’m really glad to have found friends here and they take good care of me. They are ever concerned about where I will get my food, whether I have got a place to stay and even suggested me to talk to the hostel office for my food and lodging. I really do not have the heart to tell them that the accommodation arranged for me is much better than what they would get at the hostels, and I need not have to eat at the mess.
However, I still join them at the mess for lunch and tea for the camaraderie. On weekends, we will go out for dinners and check out new eating places. It was Chinese food at Chung Wah, followed by ice-cream at Flavours in Malleswaram this Sunday.
More Adjustments
One more week and I’ll be moving out of the guest house to a new place, about 15 minutes by car from campus. It will be another period of adjustments with the new environment, having to commute to work, finding new routes for my runs, etc.
More exciting times to come…
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Food-ly Satisfied!!
Before I came, many people were concerned about my diet, whether I can get used to the food here. I used to tell them, so far, food has not been a problem for me when I travel. In fact, I always head straight for the street foods whenever I go to a new place, against all good advice by my mum. Of course, being a kiasu Singaporean, I did bring along my “rations” of comfort food, to stand by for the rainy days here.
South Indian vegetarian food is served at ‘A’ mess, where I had my lunch everyday. Rasam, curry, cooked vegetables, dhal, rice and chappatti is the typical menu. Variation lies in the spiciness of the rasam, type of curry and vegetables used. Sometimes, there is paratha, but I prefer chapatti to both rice and paratha. I have also learnt to eat using my right hand, which takes a little getting used to as I’m inclined to handle food with my left hand. My fingernails have all turned yellow from all the curry…
Since it’s a Saturday, I decided to pamper myself a little and go to Nesara, the only restaurant in the institute, where I had a garden salad, chicken tikka, naan and sweet lassi. It was a refreshing break from south Indian food. I love the naan and sweet lassi. It’s pretty affordable too at Rs116. In fact, I could afford to have all my three meals at Nesara everyday!
Dinner was at the Gym Cafe, a tiny kiosk tucked under one end of the overhead bridge that links the institute to the sports and recreation centre where the sports hall, gymnasium, basketball court, tennis courts and cricket field are located.
A thin wall separates the ‘alfresco’ cafe from the main road. Seated at a plastic table under dim lightings from the street lamps, with the accompaniment of the traffic on the other side and dusty air, I had a plate of egg noodles and garlic chicken. Simple pleasures, where people sat around on the steps of the overhead bridge, chatting over bottled soft drinks or tea.
A leisurely walk back across to the institute took me in search of ice-cream which I found at the faculty club cafe in the form of stick ice-cream in bite-size. That completed the gastronomical adventures of the day.
Full satisfaction!
South Indian vegetarian food is served at ‘A’ mess, where I had my lunch everyday. Rasam, curry, cooked vegetables, dhal, rice and chappatti is the typical menu. Variation lies in the spiciness of the rasam, type of curry and vegetables used. Sometimes, there is paratha, but I prefer chapatti to both rice and paratha. I have also learnt to eat using my right hand, which takes a little getting used to as I’m inclined to handle food with my left hand. My fingernails have all turned yellow from all the curry…
Since it’s a Saturday, I decided to pamper myself a little and go to Nesara, the only restaurant in the institute, where I had a garden salad, chicken tikka, naan and sweet lassi. It was a refreshing break from south Indian food. I love the naan and sweet lassi. It’s pretty affordable too at Rs116. In fact, I could afford to have all my three meals at Nesara everyday!
Dinner was at the Gym Cafe, a tiny kiosk tucked under one end of the overhead bridge that links the institute to the sports and recreation centre where the sports hall, gymnasium, basketball court, tennis courts and cricket field are located.
A thin wall separates the ‘alfresco’ cafe from the main road. Seated at a plastic table under dim lightings from the street lamps, with the accompaniment of the traffic on the other side and dusty air, I had a plate of egg noodles and garlic chicken. Simple pleasures, where people sat around on the steps of the overhead bridge, chatting over bottled soft drinks or tea.
A leisurely walk back across to the institute took me in search of ice-cream which I found at the faculty club cafe in the form of stick ice-cream in bite-size. That completed the gastronomical adventures of the day.
Full satisfaction!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Downtown Bangalore Adventures
Holy Trinity Church
The day started with a visit to the Holy Trinity Church, located at the end of MG Road. The 150 years old church is “a redolent of the early garrison town days of Bangalore” as quoted in the city guide aka street directory. A faded pink facade on the outside, whitewashed walls on the inside, pinned on a noticeboard near the entrance to the church were newspaper cuttings, divulging more information about the history of the church.
The centerpiece of the church is a small brass cross standing in front of the only stained glass window in the otherwise simply-furnished church, against a painted wall in sky-blue and a white peace-dove. Rows of sugarcanes lined the aisle while bags of fruits hang from the center of the arches between the pillars. Memorial plagues of brass and marble adorned the walls and pillars of the church. Engraved on them were names of British soldiers, generals and colonels who died in some of the wars fought in India.
A service was in progress as I entered the church, packed with people dressed in their Sunday’s best, singing hymns in Tamil. Women in sarees glittering with gold threads, men in neatly pressed shirts and pants, young ladies in salwars and churidas of all colours, as well as trendy modern fashion, and children in fancy traditional costumes.
A gentleman asked if it was my first time to the church and invited me to take part in the Sunday fair held by the church. “Join us, breakfast is there. We’re all children of GOD.” he said. I thanked him for his kind invitation and took a little stroll around the compound before I carried on with my journey.
MG Road – Brigade Road – Church Street
Next stop, Mahatma Gandhi Road or MG Road as it is fondly called. Brigade Road meets MG Road in the middle and together they formed one of the popular shopping belts in Bangalore. Church Street runs parallel to MG Road up to Brigade Road and is where the restaurants are.
I walked down the whole stretch of MG Road, Brigade Road and Church Street, taking in the sights and bustling of activities in the area. Autos formed up along the main road, waiting to pick up passengers. “Where you going, Ma’am?” they would asked and I would smile and reply, “Here, only.”
Browsed a couple of bookstores, a wide selection of books they have, checked out the restaurants and finally stopped to rest at the Indian Coffee House. A nice cosy little place, a wall-to-wall full length window looked out to the main road. Posters of coffee advertisements hung from the walls, as well as photos of Mahatma Gandhi himself. The waiters are dressed in white traditional Sikh costume with a red sash and wore turbans. As I sipped my coffee, I took out my city guide and planned my next stop.
Commercial Street
Commercial Street is another shopping street. It seems to me that there is much more crowd and buzz here than over at MG Road. I popped into a few stores selling traditional Indian wear, tried out a couple of kurtas, there’s one which I liked, but they do not have my size. The clothes here come only in one piece per colour and design, and usually in larger sizes. Although they do alteration for free, they would only alter the width and length of the top, and not the shoulders. Maybe I’ll be luckier next time.
There are many smaller lanes that criss-crossed Commercial Street. I decided to check it out. I kept the city guide in my bag and from Commercial Street, I turned into one of the lanes. At the end of the lane stood Hotel Asoka and a roundabout that branched off into many other lanes. There, I was brought into another world…
No more were the English-speaking, young pretty people wearing trendy clothes or modern buildings with billboards screaming names like Reebok, Nokia, KFC, or air-conditioned stores selling imported goods. It looked more like a market place, on both sides of the streets were small and dark provision shops, folks peddling foodstuffs, dried goods, household ware, clothes and such.
I counted at least 3 different mosques since I turned off from Commercial Street. Men wore long kurtas and a white head dress while a high proportion of women were dressed in black and some even wore veils over their head. There was a strong feeling that I had ventured into an Muslim area unknowingly. Suddenly, I realized I’m the only foreigner on the street and I stood out among the crowd. It did not help that I was wearing jeans with a bright pink T-shirt and carrying a haversack. In the sea of people, similar to what we get in Chinatown during Chinese New Year, there’s hardly any free space around me. I was surrounded by people and could only move with the flow.
Feeling overwhelmed from all the hustle, I yearn for a cup of tea at the tea board. I had no idea where I was, as I had allowed myself to roam freely in the area. There’s no way I could back track as that would be going against the massive flow of people and I had walked a long way. With my very limited sense of direction, I took chance and turned into an adjoining less crowded lane. From there, I followed my instinct. Nothing seemed familiar, not the buildings, not the shops, not the street names. I could only keep my fingers crossed and keep walking. Finally, I saw it. Hotel Asoka! It must have been my lucky day.
Autos
I had initially wanted to try out one of the restaurants but I had a sudden craving for Zinger burger. After a satisfying dinner at KFC, I went out to the main road to hail an auto. Autos are a convenient and not too expensive way to get around, but they are a nightmare after sunset.
The first auto I approached asked for Rs10 extra on top of meter fare. The subsequent ones asked for Rs100 flat. Finally, one auto agreed to charge by meter but requested that I visit his shop for a visit so that he could get some commission. I agreed and he dropped me off at the shop selling pashmina shawls and art crafts. After we left the shop, he requested me to go to another shop which is “along the way”. He even offered not to charge me for the auto fare and switched off the meter. I gave him two options, to bring me back to the institute and I’ll pay him the fare by the meter as agreed or I would get off immediately. I got off the auto.
Another auto came by and asked for Rs70. We bargained a little and eventually settled for Rs60. It was already dark and I do not know where I was then. I was feeling tired and as long as he bring me back to the institute directly, Rs60 so be it. I should have taken the first offer of Rs10 extra…
After a long day out, I’m glad to be finally back in the safe enclave of the institute and it’s tranquility…
The day started with a visit to the Holy Trinity Church, located at the end of MG Road. The 150 years old church is “a redolent of the early garrison town days of Bangalore” as quoted in the city guide aka street directory. A faded pink facade on the outside, whitewashed walls on the inside, pinned on a noticeboard near the entrance to the church were newspaper cuttings, divulging more information about the history of the church.
The centerpiece of the church is a small brass cross standing in front of the only stained glass window in the otherwise simply-furnished church, against a painted wall in sky-blue and a white peace-dove. Rows of sugarcanes lined the aisle while bags of fruits hang from the center of the arches between the pillars. Memorial plagues of brass and marble adorned the walls and pillars of the church. Engraved on them were names of British soldiers, generals and colonels who died in some of the wars fought in India.
A service was in progress as I entered the church, packed with people dressed in their Sunday’s best, singing hymns in Tamil. Women in sarees glittering with gold threads, men in neatly pressed shirts and pants, young ladies in salwars and churidas of all colours, as well as trendy modern fashion, and children in fancy traditional costumes.
A gentleman asked if it was my first time to the church and invited me to take part in the Sunday fair held by the church. “Join us, breakfast is there. We’re all children of GOD.” he said. I thanked him for his kind invitation and took a little stroll around the compound before I carried on with my journey.
MG Road – Brigade Road – Church Street
Next stop, Mahatma Gandhi Road or MG Road as it is fondly called. Brigade Road meets MG Road in the middle and together they formed one of the popular shopping belts in Bangalore. Church Street runs parallel to MG Road up to Brigade Road and is where the restaurants are.
I walked down the whole stretch of MG Road, Brigade Road and Church Street, taking in the sights and bustling of activities in the area. Autos formed up along the main road, waiting to pick up passengers. “Where you going, Ma’am?” they would asked and I would smile and reply, “Here, only.”
Browsed a couple of bookstores, a wide selection of books they have, checked out the restaurants and finally stopped to rest at the Indian Coffee House. A nice cosy little place, a wall-to-wall full length window looked out to the main road. Posters of coffee advertisements hung from the walls, as well as photos of Mahatma Gandhi himself. The waiters are dressed in white traditional Sikh costume with a red sash and wore turbans. As I sipped my coffee, I took out my city guide and planned my next stop.
Commercial Street
Commercial Street is another shopping street. It seems to me that there is much more crowd and buzz here than over at MG Road. I popped into a few stores selling traditional Indian wear, tried out a couple of kurtas, there’s one which I liked, but they do not have my size. The clothes here come only in one piece per colour and design, and usually in larger sizes. Although they do alteration for free, they would only alter the width and length of the top, and not the shoulders. Maybe I’ll be luckier next time.
There are many smaller lanes that criss-crossed Commercial Street. I decided to check it out. I kept the city guide in my bag and from Commercial Street, I turned into one of the lanes. At the end of the lane stood Hotel Asoka and a roundabout that branched off into many other lanes. There, I was brought into another world…
No more were the English-speaking, young pretty people wearing trendy clothes or modern buildings with billboards screaming names like Reebok, Nokia, KFC, or air-conditioned stores selling imported goods. It looked more like a market place, on both sides of the streets were small and dark provision shops, folks peddling foodstuffs, dried goods, household ware, clothes and such.
I counted at least 3 different mosques since I turned off from Commercial Street. Men wore long kurtas and a white head dress while a high proportion of women were dressed in black and some even wore veils over their head. There was a strong feeling that I had ventured into an Muslim area unknowingly. Suddenly, I realized I’m the only foreigner on the street and I stood out among the crowd. It did not help that I was wearing jeans with a bright pink T-shirt and carrying a haversack. In the sea of people, similar to what we get in Chinatown during Chinese New Year, there’s hardly any free space around me. I was surrounded by people and could only move with the flow.
Feeling overwhelmed from all the hustle, I yearn for a cup of tea at the tea board. I had no idea where I was, as I had allowed myself to roam freely in the area. There’s no way I could back track as that would be going against the massive flow of people and I had walked a long way. With my very limited sense of direction, I took chance and turned into an adjoining less crowded lane. From there, I followed my instinct. Nothing seemed familiar, not the buildings, not the shops, not the street names. I could only keep my fingers crossed and keep walking. Finally, I saw it. Hotel Asoka! It must have been my lucky day.
Autos
I had initially wanted to try out one of the restaurants but I had a sudden craving for Zinger burger. After a satisfying dinner at KFC, I went out to the main road to hail an auto. Autos are a convenient and not too expensive way to get around, but they are a nightmare after sunset.
The first auto I approached asked for Rs10 extra on top of meter fare. The subsequent ones asked for Rs100 flat. Finally, one auto agreed to charge by meter but requested that I visit his shop for a visit so that he could get some commission. I agreed and he dropped me off at the shop selling pashmina shawls and art crafts. After we left the shop, he requested me to go to another shop which is “along the way”. He even offered not to charge me for the auto fare and switched off the meter. I gave him two options, to bring me back to the institute and I’ll pay him the fare by the meter as agreed or I would get off immediately. I got off the auto.
Another auto came by and asked for Rs70. We bargained a little and eventually settled for Rs60. It was already dark and I do not know where I was then. I was feeling tired and as long as he bring me back to the institute directly, Rs60 so be it. I should have taken the first offer of Rs10 extra…
After a long day out, I’m glad to be finally back in the safe enclave of the institute and it’s tranquility…
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Cultural Shock!
Greetings
The first three questions asked after being introduced are, in the order:
– What is your background?
– Where did you do your MSc/PhD/Post-doctorate?
– What field did you do your MSc/PhD/Post-doctorate?
To me, that is very unusual. These will definitely not be the questions I will ask someone whom I’ve just been introduced.
Direct & Top-Down
When it comes to speech, my encounters so far had been "direct".
When we would say, “ Will you fill up this form, please? You could sit here and write.”, they say, “You sit and write this.”
When ending a conversation, they say, “Is there anything else?”
When asking you to do something, they say, “You do this…”
I was taken aback many times and it took me a little while, before I came to terms with their directness and not to take it personally.
And if only I had realized the top-down system earlier, I would have saved myself a lot of bumpy rides. Other than having to refer everything to ‘Sir’, frustrations from unable to get what I wanted or get help for things, after working together in the same laboratory sharing the same bench for more than a week, my benchmate finally asked me what my name is and how he should address me, and that’s because his ‘Sir’ told him to work with ‘Dr Tan’.
Seniority
I learnt that seniority is a status and privilege.
When seniors talk to their juniors, the tone tend to be harsh and the approach hostile. However, in front of someone more ‘senior’ than them, for example, their ‘Sir’, suddenly, like the coachman and the horse-carriage when the clock struck twelve, the high and mighty air dissolved into a tiny squeak…
I was invited to one of the freshers’ welcome and was told it will be really fun. There will be songs and dances, snacks and dinner will also be provided. What they did not tell me was, it were the new students who will be made to put on a mask, sing and dance, perform acts which many of them did not appear comfortable with, and on top of that, they had to be subjected to the ridicule and putting down by the seniors.
I’m not sure if the new students feel welcomed, I definitely do not feel so. I talked to one of the organizers after that and shared how our orientation programs were carried out. He told me that is the privilege of the seniors and this is their tradition, so they had to follow.
History will repeat itself the following year, when these juniors become “seniors” and their time has come…
The first three questions asked after being introduced are, in the order:
– What is your background?
– Where did you do your MSc/PhD/Post-doctorate?
– What field did you do your MSc/PhD/Post-doctorate?
To me, that is very unusual. These will definitely not be the questions I will ask someone whom I’ve just been introduced.
Direct & Top-Down
When it comes to speech, my encounters so far had been "direct".
When we would say, “ Will you fill up this form, please? You could sit here and write.”, they say, “You sit and write this.”
When ending a conversation, they say, “Is there anything else?”
When asking you to do something, they say, “You do this…”
I was taken aback many times and it took me a little while, before I came to terms with their directness and not to take it personally.
And if only I had realized the top-down system earlier, I would have saved myself a lot of bumpy rides. Other than having to refer everything to ‘Sir’, frustrations from unable to get what I wanted or get help for things, after working together in the same laboratory sharing the same bench for more than a week, my benchmate finally asked me what my name is and how he should address me, and that’s because his ‘Sir’ told him to work with ‘Dr Tan’.
Seniority
I learnt that seniority is a status and privilege.
When seniors talk to their juniors, the tone tend to be harsh and the approach hostile. However, in front of someone more ‘senior’ than them, for example, their ‘Sir’, suddenly, like the coachman and the horse-carriage when the clock struck twelve, the high and mighty air dissolved into a tiny squeak…
I was invited to one of the freshers’ welcome and was told it will be really fun. There will be songs and dances, snacks and dinner will also be provided. What they did not tell me was, it were the new students who will be made to put on a mask, sing and dance, perform acts which many of them did not appear comfortable with, and on top of that, they had to be subjected to the ridicule and putting down by the seniors.
I’m not sure if the new students feel welcomed, I definitely do not feel so. I talked to one of the organizers after that and shared how our orientation programs were carried out. He told me that is the privilege of the seniors and this is their tradition, so they had to follow.
History will repeat itself the following year, when these juniors become “seniors” and their time has come…
Cultural Exchange
Feel Your Food
Folks here are still very conservative when it comes to food. They seldom eat out and when they do, they usually stick to their curry and chapatti. Last Sunday, the MBU folks brought me to a cosy little restaurant serving continental food. Guess they were feeling adventurous. I was pretty curious how western food will turn out in India.
We ordered some starters to share followed by the main course. The food turned out pretty well. I ordered fish on a bed of spinach with mashed potatoes. It came as it was described in the menu, though I would have preferred that they did not add on the layer of cheese on the dish.
We had a great time. They had a lot of fun exploring the different types of food and experimenting with their cutlery. They watched in amazement with the way I cut and handled the fish fillet. I taught them how to use their fork and knife, and also how to eat spaghetti in style by twirling it around the fork.
We shared and discussed the eating practices of different cultures. They could not fathom how one could eat rice with chopsticks! They told me, one should smell, taste and feel their food, only then will the eating experience be wholesome…
Dessert was the star of the dinner. The tiramisu was pleasantly beyond expectations. It had the correct texture and consistency, it would be perfect if they had used better quality cocoa, coffee and liquor.
We went in search for some paan after dinner. Paan is something usually eaten after food to help digestion. It’s sweet, with a mixture of herbs, spices and nuts, wrapped in a leaf. One is supposed to put the whole thing into the mouth and slowly chew. My teeth were unable to take the sweetness, but what’s left was a nice minty freshness in my mouth.
Om Shanti Om
My first Hindi movie!! The show started at 9.30pm and ended at 1.30am, with 5 intervals in between. And I thought LOTR was long. Though I could not understand Hindi and there were no English subtitles, I managed to follow the storyline with the help of two friends. Other than the duration, I actually enjoyed the show. The songs were nice, dances were energizing, the actors were good-looking and actresses beautiful…
Movies are screened at the gym every Friday night. It’s quite like the real thing, with a wide screen, seats, ticketing booth, ushers and even the bell. For Rs9.00, I think I’ll go back for more.
Folks here are still very conservative when it comes to food. They seldom eat out and when they do, they usually stick to their curry and chapatti. Last Sunday, the MBU folks brought me to a cosy little restaurant serving continental food. Guess they were feeling adventurous. I was pretty curious how western food will turn out in India.
We ordered some starters to share followed by the main course. The food turned out pretty well. I ordered fish on a bed of spinach with mashed potatoes. It came as it was described in the menu, though I would have preferred that they did not add on the layer of cheese on the dish.
We had a great time. They had a lot of fun exploring the different types of food and experimenting with their cutlery. They watched in amazement with the way I cut and handled the fish fillet. I taught them how to use their fork and knife, and also how to eat spaghetti in style by twirling it around the fork.
We shared and discussed the eating practices of different cultures. They could not fathom how one could eat rice with chopsticks! They told me, one should smell, taste and feel their food, only then will the eating experience be wholesome…
Dessert was the star of the dinner. The tiramisu was pleasantly beyond expectations. It had the correct texture and consistency, it would be perfect if they had used better quality cocoa, coffee and liquor.
We went in search for some paan after dinner. Paan is something usually eaten after food to help digestion. It’s sweet, with a mixture of herbs, spices and nuts, wrapped in a leaf. One is supposed to put the whole thing into the mouth and slowly chew. My teeth were unable to take the sweetness, but what’s left was a nice minty freshness in my mouth.
Om Shanti Om
My first Hindi movie!! The show started at 9.30pm and ended at 1.30am, with 5 intervals in between. And I thought LOTR was long. Though I could not understand Hindi and there were no English subtitles, I managed to follow the storyline with the help of two friends. Other than the duration, I actually enjoyed the show. The songs were nice, dances were energizing, the actors were good-looking and actresses beautiful…
Movies are screened at the gym every Friday night. It’s quite like the real thing, with a wide screen, seats, ticketing booth, ushers and even the bell. For Rs9.00, I think I’ll go back for more.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Little Pleasures
1. Sipping tea at the tea board, enjoying the serenity of the campus while watching traffic on the other side of wall blast by...
2. Learning the names of the guest house staff and pronouncing them correctly, and seeing the joy in their eyes when I greet them by their names...
3. Coming back to my room to find Mr Gumby in a different posture and placed at different parts of my bed everyday. Apparently, Mr Gumby has made new friends too and is having alot of fun in the day while I'm at work...
2. Learning the names of the guest house staff and pronouncing them correctly, and seeing the joy in their eyes when I greet them by their names...
3. Coming back to my room to find Mr Gumby in a different posture and placed at different parts of my bed everyday. Apparently, Mr Gumby has made new friends too and is having alot of fun in the day while I'm at work...
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Red, Amber, Green
Red: Experiment did not seem to proceed as intended based on initial assessment…
Amber: Slight tummy upset, probably from lunch which I find a little more spicy today…
Green: The folks in DOC are much friendlier to me and more cooperative this week. I even managed to borrow stuffs from them! Could it be the mooncakes?
Amber: Slight tummy upset, probably from lunch which I find a little more spicy today…
Green: The folks in DOC are much friendlier to me and more cooperative this week. I even managed to borrow stuffs from them! Could it be the mooncakes?
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
My First Experiment
Flashbacks of times in the research laboratory back in NUS and memories came flooding back when I was washing the glassware yesterday, watching over the rotary evaporator this morning and spotting TLC plates earlier... That was so many years ago and those were the days... My first experiment, my first distillation, my first column chromatography, and not forgetting my first broken flask…
One thing is for sure, Now I truly appreciate the environment, facilities and resources we had back then. Chemicals, glassware, solvents, laboratory supplies, etc, they are readily available. Well, the supervisor will sometimes nag and pass some comments if we spend a little too much that month, but it was never an issue. It is a totally different story over here.
I had a lot of difficulty getting started. Chemicals was one factor, the other major factor is that glassware is very limited and many items considered “daily necessities” to us are not available. I had to re-learn the way of doing things, right down to the most basic ones like filtration. I felt like an undergraduate stepping into a research laboratory for the very first time…
Setting up an experiment is thus a challenge. I had to improvise using what is available. After much efforts and of course with a lot of help from BR, I finally started my first experiment today! :)
PS
The institute had the honour to host the visit of the Nepalese Prime Minister today. It was a grand sight. Bus loads of policemen and security guards were deployed around the campus. It’s a pity I did not manage to catch a glimpse of the PM…
One thing is for sure, Now I truly appreciate the environment, facilities and resources we had back then. Chemicals, glassware, solvents, laboratory supplies, etc, they are readily available. Well, the supervisor will sometimes nag and pass some comments if we spend a little too much that month, but it was never an issue. It is a totally different story over here.
I had a lot of difficulty getting started. Chemicals was one factor, the other major factor is that glassware is very limited and many items considered “daily necessities” to us are not available. I had to re-learn the way of doing things, right down to the most basic ones like filtration. I felt like an undergraduate stepping into a research laboratory for the very first time…
Setting up an experiment is thus a challenge. I had to improvise using what is available. After much efforts and of course with a lot of help from BR, I finally started my first experiment today! :)
PS
The institute had the honour to host the visit of the Nepalese Prime Minister today. It was a grand sight. Bus loads of policemen and security guards were deployed around the campus. It’s a pity I did not manage to catch a glimpse of the PM…
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Surprises Pleasant & Not-So-Pleasant
Surprise #1
Wrong compound given!
Supposed to start the experiment today after getting the starting material. Good thing we decided to perform an infrared test to confirm the functionality before using it for the experiment and found that the starting material given was not the compound that it was supposed to be! As a result we had to set up the experiment to perform the conversion of the compound to the correct functionality.
Surprise #2
BR asked what time I had to go and if 6.00pm is fine with me. I said ok until I realized he had meant to start the experiment at 6.00pm! As it was only 4.00pm, I asked if we could start earlier. He obliged and so we went about setting up the experiment and started it by 6.00pm.
However, I found out later that as a result, he had missed afternoon snack. Oops…
Surprise #3
A visitor from Singapore! Brought me mooncakes too!!! :)
Wrong compound given!
Supposed to start the experiment today after getting the starting material. Good thing we decided to perform an infrared test to confirm the functionality before using it for the experiment and found that the starting material given was not the compound that it was supposed to be! As a result we had to set up the experiment to perform the conversion of the compound to the correct functionality.
Surprise #2
BR asked what time I had to go and if 6.00pm is fine with me. I said ok until I realized he had meant to start the experiment at 6.00pm! As it was only 4.00pm, I asked if we could start earlier. He obliged and so we went about setting up the experiment and started it by 6.00pm.
However, I found out later that as a result, he had missed afternoon snack. Oops…
Surprise #3
A visitor from Singapore! Brought me mooncakes too!!! :)
Monday, September 15, 2008
Cleaning
All things start with cleaning. I managed to put together some glassware from all corners and nooks and the first work I did in the laboratory was to clean them.
I was handling cleaning validation for reaction vessels with capacity of 20,000L back in Singapore. Now in India, I’m still doing cleaning, only that the reaction flasks I handle now are not more than 100mL in size…
As I was scrubbing along, my thoughts went to the folks on the CNDE project. They were having cleaning issues with the equipment before I left. Have those been resolved already? How’s the project progressing now? Are the wet runs going smoothly? Have the operational qualification protocols been approved yet?
I could only wish them all the best silently in my heart. Here, I have a separate set of challenges to face and battles to fight...
I was handling cleaning validation for reaction vessels with capacity of 20,000L back in Singapore. Now in India, I’m still doing cleaning, only that the reaction flasks I handle now are not more than 100mL in size…
As I was scrubbing along, my thoughts went to the folks on the CNDE project. They were having cleaning issues with the equipment before I left. Have those been resolved already? How’s the project progressing now? Are the wet runs going smoothly? Have the operational qualification protocols been approved yet?
I could only wish them all the best silently in my heart. Here, I have a separate set of challenges to face and battles to fight...
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Reflections: Week 1, 09-Sep-08 to 13-Sep-08
GETTING STARTED
One week. Getting started is always the hardest. The compass needle is spinning and yet it is unable to point out where the true north is. The chef is all set to whip up a big meal only to find that the larder is empty. The engine is raring to go but the car is stuck in a massive jam…
Looking back at the past 10 days, I had rammed into walls, encountered road blocks, was overloaded with information, fell into a valley and climbed out of it.
I had settled down quickly and fine, like how one chemistry graduate described it, I have “precipitated”. That had probably made me complacent. What I need now is a “recrystallization” to get that big solid crystal…
ROAD HUMPS
Road humps are a pain when one is going at high speed. Big ones, gentle ones, they are there for a purpose. Located strategically, they force one to slow down and re-assess the situation. Until one learnt to moderate one’s speed, the ride will be rough. I went over many road humps and bumpy ones too. I have come to realize that I need to adjust my pace and expectations, and to take things one step at a time. Next time I see a road hump, I will appreciate its presence and promptly step on my brakes.
PRECIOUS MOMENTS
Transitions were never easy, regardless of how much preparations were done before hand. Words of wisdom and encouragement gave me strength to ride over stormy seas. Heart warming emails and smses saw me through loneliness and brought me sunshine when the skies are grey.
To put it simply, be it emails or messages, phone calls or smses, long or short, each and every one is precious… So, please do keep them coming! :)
One week. Getting started is always the hardest. The compass needle is spinning and yet it is unable to point out where the true north is. The chef is all set to whip up a big meal only to find that the larder is empty. The engine is raring to go but the car is stuck in a massive jam…
Looking back at the past 10 days, I had rammed into walls, encountered road blocks, was overloaded with information, fell into a valley and climbed out of it.
I had settled down quickly and fine, like how one chemistry graduate described it, I have “precipitated”. That had probably made me complacent. What I need now is a “recrystallization” to get that big solid crystal…
ROAD HUMPS
Road humps are a pain when one is going at high speed. Big ones, gentle ones, they are there for a purpose. Located strategically, they force one to slow down and re-assess the situation. Until one learnt to moderate one’s speed, the ride will be rough. I went over many road humps and bumpy ones too. I have come to realize that I need to adjust my pace and expectations, and to take things one step at a time. Next time I see a road hump, I will appreciate its presence and promptly step on my brakes.
PRECIOUS MOMENTS
Transitions were never easy, regardless of how much preparations were done before hand. Words of wisdom and encouragement gave me strength to ride over stormy seas. Heart warming emails and smses saw me through loneliness and brought me sunshine when the skies are grey.
To put it simply, be it emails or messages, phone calls or smses, long or short, each and every one is precious… So, please do keep them coming! :)
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Working Saturdays: 13-Sep-08
It felt weird to have to go to work on a Saturday. It’s a 6-day work week here and that I’ll have to follow.
In research and the academia, there’s no definite start or end time. Time is determined by one’s experiments and there’s total freedom in how much time one wants to spend in the laboratory. With freedom, comes responsibility. One needs to be really disciplined as it’s very easy to get complacent when there's no 'big brother' around.
I make it a point to be in the laboratory by 9.00am everyday. As much as I dislike routines, I need some kind of routine for me to function efficiently. One needs routine to settle down into a comfort zone, yet unrest kicks in when one gets too comfortable doing similar things over and over again. Life is full of such contradictions…
Called it a day about 5.30pm and went for a run, since there’s nothing much that I can do in the laboratory for now and it’s a Saturday anyway. One of the folks told me about Jubilee Gardens behind where I stayed, there I found some nice trails and an extension to my current route. The plan is 30min route on weekdays and 1hr route for weekends.
Morning is a better time to run. I get too much attention in the evenings, from mozzies & the other beings…
In research and the academia, there’s no definite start or end time. Time is determined by one’s experiments and there’s total freedom in how much time one wants to spend in the laboratory. With freedom, comes responsibility. One needs to be really disciplined as it’s very easy to get complacent when there's no 'big brother' around.
I make it a point to be in the laboratory by 9.00am everyday. As much as I dislike routines, I need some kind of routine for me to function efficiently. One needs routine to settle down into a comfort zone, yet unrest kicks in when one gets too comfortable doing similar things over and over again. Life is full of such contradictions…
Called it a day about 5.30pm and went for a run, since there’s nothing much that I can do in the laboratory for now and it’s a Saturday anyway. One of the folks told me about Jubilee Gardens behind where I stayed, there I found some nice trails and an extension to my current route. The plan is 30min route on weekdays and 1hr route for weekends.
Morning is a better time to run. I get too much attention in the evenings, from mozzies & the other beings…
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Patience: 11-Sep-08
It’s another unproductive day at work. Talked to Prof RV on the progress of things and we decided we could work on the other compound while waiting for the chemicals to come in. Feeling excited, I went over to chemistry department only to find out that the person whom I’m supposed to share the bench top and glassware with, has been sick. All his stuffs were locked up in the drawers… Sigh… When can I finally get started?
As I dwelled on the all the things that I wanted to do but had my hands bounded, I’m reminded of the following verse:
“For everything there is a season,
And a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate,
A time for war, and a time for peace.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Patience… The time will come.
Quote of the day:
“现在能闲着就好好珍惜，感受一下周围，听一下分子的震动，吸收来自太阳光子的冲击。”
As I dwelled on the all the things that I wanted to do but had my hands bounded, I’m reminded of the following verse:
“For everything there is a season,
And a time for every matter under heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
A time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, and a time to dance;
A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
A time to keep, and a time to throw away;
A time to tear, and a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
A time to love, and a time to hate,
A time for war, and a time for peace.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Patience… The time will come.
Quote of the day:
“现在能闲着就好好珍惜，感受一下周围，听一下分子的震动，吸收来自太阳光子的冲击。”
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Valley Point: 10-Sep-08
Morning Run
Have been waking up against my will at 4am everyday since Sunday, that’s 6.30am Singapore time, the time I get up to go to work in Tuas. Perhaps my body is still adjusting to the time zone and number of hours of sleep here. Or maybe it’s just me getting old, as they say older people need less sleep and wake up early…
Instead of lying awake feeling frustrated, I decided to go for a run. The institute is much peaceful in the early morning though the traffic outside was already roaring away at 6.30am. I ran past one runner and 3 other joggers, security guards formed up for their morning briefing, Indian ladies taking up their places to sweep away the leaves from the ground. At one point, I reached what seemed like a dead end, when a student on a bicycle rode by me and into the woods. Could there be a trail? Where does it lead to?
It was a good 45 minutes run, with enough time to stretch, shower, have breakfast and be in the laboratory by 9.00am.
Road Blocks
There were road blocks everywhere today. Every turn I make, it’s a road block. At every junction, it had to be a red light.
As much as I try to keep positive, situations defied all my efforts and my engine was worn down by the constant re-ignition and idling. It’s tough to get things done over at the Other department, for everything “Please ask Sir, only if Sir say so.” Even when ‘Sir’ had told me I could use anywhere I like and order anything I want.
After 2 days, I’m still trying hard to get a bench space allocated. My heart sank when I saw the few scattered flasks in the drawers that “I can use”. I’ll probably need at least a few days to sort out the glassware and clean them up, and the bench of course, before any proper work can be done. The chemicals I needed were not available in the laboratory and had to be ordered. Getting help to get quotations for the chemicals was painfully difficult. All the time, I was tossed around like an unwanted ball, for even the tiniest matter, I was told to refer to ‘Sir’. I lost count of the number of times I went in and out of his office.
I found out there is a second laboratory dedicated for synthesis of the molecule that I’m supposed to work on. Familiar setups and apparatus, it looked like the chemistry laboratory I’m used to. I requested to work in that laboratory instead because of its conducive environment. Again, “Please ask Sir, only if Sir say so.” came the reply.
With no chemicals available, I could not start any experiments. Spent the rest of the afternoon looking through past experiments for the synthesis, trying to understand the various steps and procedures. I’ve got a strong urge to synthesize the molecule myself rather than to depend on others…
Lost in Transition
Another day of no achievements. It’s already Wednesday and everything is still at where we started off. Drained by the day’s events, my morale went downhill. Everyday, I look forward to emails at the end of the day but no emails for me this evening. Sadly, I packed up and made my way back.
Down the long, straight road that leads to the guest house, rustling sound of the leaves on overhanging branches, the air cool and moist from the earlier downpour, I slowly walked, counting the number of days amidst the shadows on the ground and thinking of things back home. Suddenly my vision blurred... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa2I7IefI1Y
It’s only my 6th day here in Bangalore. I wondered… How will I survive 6 months?
Have been waking up against my will at 4am everyday since Sunday, that’s 6.30am Singapore time, the time I get up to go to work in Tuas. Perhaps my body is still adjusting to the time zone and number of hours of sleep here. Or maybe it’s just me getting old, as they say older people need less sleep and wake up early…
Instead of lying awake feeling frustrated, I decided to go for a run. The institute is much peaceful in the early morning though the traffic outside was already roaring away at 6.30am. I ran past one runner and 3 other joggers, security guards formed up for their morning briefing, Indian ladies taking up their places to sweep away the leaves from the ground. At one point, I reached what seemed like a dead end, when a student on a bicycle rode by me and into the woods. Could there be a trail? Where does it lead to?
It was a good 45 minutes run, with enough time to stretch, shower, have breakfast and be in the laboratory by 9.00am.
Road Blocks
There were road blocks everywhere today. Every turn I make, it’s a road block. At every junction, it had to be a red light.
As much as I try to keep positive, situations defied all my efforts and my engine was worn down by the constant re-ignition and idling. It’s tough to get things done over at the Other department, for everything “Please ask Sir, only if Sir say so.” Even when ‘Sir’ had told me I could use anywhere I like and order anything I want.
After 2 days, I’m still trying hard to get a bench space allocated. My heart sank when I saw the few scattered flasks in the drawers that “I can use”. I’ll probably need at least a few days to sort out the glassware and clean them up, and the bench of course, before any proper work can be done. The chemicals I needed were not available in the laboratory and had to be ordered. Getting help to get quotations for the chemicals was painfully difficult. All the time, I was tossed around like an unwanted ball, for even the tiniest matter, I was told to refer to ‘Sir’. I lost count of the number of times I went in and out of his office.
I found out there is a second laboratory dedicated for synthesis of the molecule that I’m supposed to work on. Familiar setups and apparatus, it looked like the chemistry laboratory I’m used to. I requested to work in that laboratory instead because of its conducive environment. Again, “Please ask Sir, only if Sir say so.” came the reply.
With no chemicals available, I could not start any experiments. Spent the rest of the afternoon looking through past experiments for the synthesis, trying to understand the various steps and procedures. I’ve got a strong urge to synthesize the molecule myself rather than to depend on others…
Lost in Transition
Another day of no achievements. It’s already Wednesday and everything is still at where we started off. Drained by the day’s events, my morale went downhill. Everyday, I look forward to emails at the end of the day but no emails for me this evening. Sadly, I packed up and made my way back.
Down the long, straight road that leads to the guest house, rustling sound of the leaves on overhanging branches, the air cool and moist from the earlier downpour, I slowly walked, counting the number of days amidst the shadows on the ground and thinking of things back home. Suddenly my vision blurred... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa2I7IefI1Y
It’s only my 6th day here in Bangalore. I wondered… How will I survive 6 months?
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Day 02 at Work: 09-Sep-08
Ran between MBU and Organic Chemistry department umpteen times today, searching for literature, trying to identify chemical reagents and their availability, source for bench space and glassware, confirm experimental procedures… Nothing seems to be ready for the project. No chemicals, no procedures, no bench space allocated… Everything has to start from scratch. Managed to find 2 literature papers that seemed useful. Spent quite some time finalizing the procedure today.
Professor RV is very enthusiastic in getting the project started. He’s understanding though, that we need to get things set up, order the chemicals, make arrangements with Organic Chemistry department on bench space and stuffs. After all, it’s not our laboratory and we need their cooperation. Hopefully we can sort out the logistical issues and get some experiments going by this week.
Ujjwal treated all the folks in Professor RV’s group to tea today. Reason: he won the Mr Freshie award during the welcome party last Friday. During tea, they joked that this is a good tradition and since I’m also considered a freshie and I should give them a treat as well.
My laundry finally came back after 2 days and many reminders, and WET. I feedback to the guest house staff, “Tomorrow, Ma’am”, he said. Earlier on, I asked another staff about setting up internet connections on my laptop as til today, I have not been successful despite many attempts. “Tomorrow”, again was the reply. It seems that “Tomorrow” is always the solution...
I’m having marbles in my head. Culprit is probably the air in the chemistry laboratory today. That familiar smell and the good old days…
Professor RV is very enthusiastic in getting the project started. He’s understanding though, that we need to get things set up, order the chemicals, make arrangements with Organic Chemistry department on bench space and stuffs. After all, it’s not our laboratory and we need their cooperation. Hopefully we can sort out the logistical issues and get some experiments going by this week.
Ujjwal treated all the folks in Professor RV’s group to tea today. Reason: he won the Mr Freshie award during the welcome party last Friday. During tea, they joked that this is a good tradition and since I’m also considered a freshie and I should give them a treat as well.
My laundry finally came back after 2 days and many reminders, and WET. I feedback to the guest house staff, “Tomorrow, Ma’am”, he said. Earlier on, I asked another staff about setting up internet connections on my laptop as til today, I have not been successful despite many attempts. “Tomorrow”, again was the reply. It seems that “Tomorrow” is always the solution...
I’m having marbles in my head. Culprit is probably the air in the chemistry laboratory today. That familiar smell and the good old days…
Monday, September 8, 2008
Day 01 at Work: 08-Sep-08
First day at work, met up with Professor NJ from the Organic Chemistry Department. We’ll be using the molecules synthesized in his laboratory to couple with the HIV protein isolated in Professor RV laboratory.
Spent the day searching the internet looking up references and reading up on literature pertaining to the coupling reaction. Will need to check if the necessary chemicals are available in the laboratory.
Joined the folks for lunch at the mess. Most of them stayed in the hostels and pay a monthly charge for food. Guests need to be signed in and the amount will be charged to the host. I did not know about that, until I asked about payment, then I realized lunch is on Bharat, as he’s the one who signed me in.
The sky opened up just when I was about to go back. I waited a little while and the rain simmered down to a light drizzle. Feeling saturated from all the new information, I decided to take a slow walk back. The fresh crisp air in the coolness of the night is welcoming while I pass between the raindrops. A cold shower followed by a cup of hot chamomile tea awaits.
A sudden loud crashing sound broke through the gentle melody of the night. Startled, I looked out of the window only to see darkness. I got back to my writing. Worried, I called the office. 5 minutes passed, a sudden burst of door bell shook me out of my thoughts. It’s the guest house staff. With a smile, he assured me it’s only the rain and falling branches and there are people patrolling outside. Should there be anything, I could call him again.
I hope I get to sleep well tonight. Tomorrow will be another long day…
Quote of the day:
“屋外雨落狂，屋内茶香静。丝丝音律飘，静思一日勤。"
Spent the day searching the internet looking up references and reading up on literature pertaining to the coupling reaction. Will need to check if the necessary chemicals are available in the laboratory.
Joined the folks for lunch at the mess. Most of them stayed in the hostels and pay a monthly charge for food. Guests need to be signed in and the amount will be charged to the host. I did not know about that, until I asked about payment, then I realized lunch is on Bharat, as he’s the one who signed me in.
The sky opened up just when I was about to go back. I waited a little while and the rain simmered down to a light drizzle. Feeling saturated from all the new information, I decided to take a slow walk back. The fresh crisp air in the coolness of the night is welcoming while I pass between the raindrops. A cold shower followed by a cup of hot chamomile tea awaits.
A sudden loud crashing sound broke through the gentle melody of the night. Startled, I looked out of the window only to see darkness. I got back to my writing. Worried, I called the office. 5 minutes passed, a sudden burst of door bell shook me out of my thoughts. It’s the guest house staff. With a smile, he assured me it’s only the rain and falling branches and there are people patrolling outside. Should there be anything, I could call him again.
I hope I get to sleep well tonight. Tomorrow will be another long day…
Quote of the day:
“屋外雨落狂，屋内茶香静。丝丝音律飘，静思一日勤。"
Sunday, September 7, 2008
First Days in Bangalore: 07-Sep-08
Sunday
I woke up to the pattering of raindrops on the leaves in the trees outside my room. Another rainy day. I stayed in bed for a little while, listening to the rhythm of the rain and soaking in the serenity.
Breakfast is hot Milo with bread and peanut butter jam. Yummy... I boiled water to fill up my 1L Nalgene bottle. I decided to attempt porridge with baby anchovies for dinner again. I boiled more water and put the rice and anchovies into the slow cooker.
Had planned to go to town today to get some fruits. However, I looked at the sky outside and took out Lonely Planet India to read and studied the city map book instead. Spent the afternoon writing, the rain and a good night’s rest somehow got my inspirations coming.
Finally by evening, the sun was out! Went for a short run around the institute, my first workout in 3 months. My fitness has since dropped to zero, I was already panting hard on flat ground just 10 minutes into the run. I had initially intended to do a 30min run, however, as I explored the surroundings, the run slowly stretched to an hour. It felt good to be running again. Most importantly, my feet seems fine after the run. No arch pain!
Dinner has been stewing since 11.30am this morning. The sweet smell of anchovies tantalizing my senses, feeling relaxed after a nice cold shower, I sat down to enjoy my dinner with the accompaniment of soft music from my laptop. Porridge never tasted this good…
I’m feeling excited to be working in the laboratory again. I’ve got my safety shoes, safety glasses and laboratory coat ready. Work will officially start tomorrow.
I received 4 smses today. Happyness!
I woke up to the pattering of raindrops on the leaves in the trees outside my room. Another rainy day. I stayed in bed for a little while, listening to the rhythm of the rain and soaking in the serenity.
Breakfast is hot Milo with bread and peanut butter jam. Yummy... I boiled water to fill up my 1L Nalgene bottle. I decided to attempt porridge with baby anchovies for dinner again. I boiled more water and put the rice and anchovies into the slow cooker.
Had planned to go to town today to get some fruits. However, I looked at the sky outside and took out Lonely Planet India to read and studied the city map book instead. Spent the afternoon writing, the rain and a good night’s rest somehow got my inspirations coming.
Finally by evening, the sun was out! Went for a short run around the institute, my first workout in 3 months. My fitness has since dropped to zero, I was already panting hard on flat ground just 10 minutes into the run. I had initially intended to do a 30min run, however, as I explored the surroundings, the run slowly stretched to an hour. It felt good to be running again. Most importantly, my feet seems fine after the run. No arch pain!
Dinner has been stewing since 11.30am this morning. The sweet smell of anchovies tantalizing my senses, feeling relaxed after a nice cold shower, I sat down to enjoy my dinner with the accompaniment of soft music from my laptop. Porridge never tasted this good…
I’m feeling excited to be working in the laboratory again. I’ve got my safety shoes, safety glasses and laboratory coat ready. Work will officially start tomorrow.
I received 4 smses today. Happyness!
First Days in Bangalore: 06-Sep-08
Settling In
Time seems to come to a standstill in this place, or perhaps it’s me, unconsciously trying to shut out the noisy traffic and never ending sounding of horns in the busy streets. I walked to town, checked out the bank, mobile plans, found out that the price of apples increases with proximity to town, bought an adapter, a pair of slippers, some bread and peanut butter. I lost count of the number of times I crossed the same street. It felt like ages that I have spent in town but when I decided to head back for dinner, I realized it has only been less than 2 hours…
I had fallen in love with the tea served at the tea & coffee board. Heavenly is the fragrance of the tea coupled with the richness of the milk. I have not tasted tea as lovely as this and all for only 4.50 rupees… I stopped at the tea & coffee board again on my way back. I had tea and an egg puff this time. Another satisfying treat.
I realized that I can cope with harsh living conditions much better than technical glitches. Spent the whole afternoon trying to set up internet connections on my laptop. It worked for a couple of minutes and then the connection was lost, despite excellent Wi-Fi signal. Frustrated, tired and drained, I decided I will try again another time, only to come back to my room to find out that the slow cooker wasn’t heating up at all. I had used that power point with my kettle and it boils my water well. So why isn’t it heating up my slow cooker? Sigh… Dinner will be late…
A refreshing cold shower always helps at such times. At least I got that sorted out. The shower head comes with 3 taps. I had the wrong combination the day before and I had to make do with pails on the first day.
Dinner is porridge with baby anchovies, I got to add less water and more baby anchovies next time. Yes, I got my slow cooker working! Haha.. I did nothing, just tried my luck and plug it to another power point and it works!
It’s now raining heavily outside. That should keep the mozzies away for tonight. Someone told me that there are no mosquitoes in Bangalore because it’s at 2000m above sea level. The ones here are at least 3 times the size of those back home. The bites counter has been ticking away...
Time seems to come to a standstill in this place, or perhaps it’s me, unconsciously trying to shut out the noisy traffic and never ending sounding of horns in the busy streets. I walked to town, checked out the bank, mobile plans, found out that the price of apples increases with proximity to town, bought an adapter, a pair of slippers, some bread and peanut butter. I lost count of the number of times I crossed the same street. It felt like ages that I have spent in town but when I decided to head back for dinner, I realized it has only been less than 2 hours…
I had fallen in love with the tea served at the tea & coffee board. Heavenly is the fragrance of the tea coupled with the richness of the milk. I have not tasted tea as lovely as this and all for only 4.50 rupees… I stopped at the tea & coffee board again on my way back. I had tea and an egg puff this time. Another satisfying treat.
I realized that I can cope with harsh living conditions much better than technical glitches. Spent the whole afternoon trying to set up internet connections on my laptop. It worked for a couple of minutes and then the connection was lost, despite excellent Wi-Fi signal. Frustrated, tired and drained, I decided I will try again another time, only to come back to my room to find out that the slow cooker wasn’t heating up at all. I had used that power point with my kettle and it boils my water well. So why isn’t it heating up my slow cooker? Sigh… Dinner will be late…
A refreshing cold shower always helps at such times. At least I got that sorted out. The shower head comes with 3 taps. I had the wrong combination the day before and I had to make do with pails on the first day.
Dinner is porridge with baby anchovies, I got to add less water and more baby anchovies next time. Yes, I got my slow cooker working! Haha.. I did nothing, just tried my luck and plug it to another power point and it works!
It’s now raining heavily outside. That should keep the mozzies away for tonight. Someone told me that there are no mosquitoes in Bangalore because it’s at 2000m above sea level. The ones here are at least 3 times the size of those back home. The bites counter has been ticking away...
First Days in Bangalore: 05-Sep-08
My New Home
Home is room number 39 at the guest house in the Indian Institute of Science. Quiet little place hidden away at one end of the institute, surrounded by greenery and serenaded by the songs of the birds. A single bed, a wardrobe and a writing desk furnished the room, which comes with an attached bathroom with hot shower. A 6-panel window looks out into a forested area. There is even a television and an air-conditioning unit!
So here I am, alone in my room with little Gumby by the side, sitting at the corner of my bed, penning this journal entry. Everything seems so surreal…
First Impressions
I was greeted by the spanking new and spacious Bangalore International Airport on arrival. Navigating it was easy and coming out of the airport, a row of men in white holding placards were looking earnestly at each and every arriving passenger. It was not til the end of the row that I found Kumar, holding a sign, on it written, “Dr Kee Leng”.
It was a cool and breezy day. Pockets of blue sky peeped through the thick clouds, paving way for the warm sun rays. Kumar signaled me to wait at the pick-up point while he gets the car. A friendly young lad 22 years of age with a sweet and shy smile, he has been assigned by the travel agency where he had worked for 2 years, to fetch me to the institute. “No problem, Ma’am”, those were his favorite words.
The car ride to the institute was smooth, no massive jams or free-roaming cows crossing the streets as what others had pre-empted me, though the traffic is heavy and horns blasted into the dusty air intermittently. I noticed our car is short of the left wing mirror. Kumar skillfully steered our little car through the trucks, cars, autos and two-wheelers coming from all directions, and before long, we turned right to a sign with blue words on a white background “Indian Institute of Science”.
MBU Family
MBU stands for Molecular Biophysics Unit. That’s where I’ll be working for the many weeks to come. Professor Raghavan brought me on a quick tour to the laboratory and introduced me to the members of the research group, made up mostly of ladies. The open air laboratory has a nostalgic feel to it, especially the wooden benches and drawers. Overflowing shelves, notices on the walls yellow with age, there is an orderliness in the disarray of things and activities, as I quietly observed the folks get about with their work.
Likhesh, an integrated PhD student, took time to show me around the campus and the various facilities available. The institute, also known as the Tata Institute, has a rustic environment and a 100-year old building which housed the administration. We stopped by the Tata Book House to get a copy of the city map and he treated me to tea at the tea & coffee board. Afternoon snack and tea is an important part of the life in the institute, I learnt.
The MBU is a homely and closely knit family. There was a welcome party for the fresh PhD students, post-doctorate fellows and research project assistants that evening. I was promptly invited on the spot. At the party, tribute was first paid to all the professors followed by a formal introduction of all the new members of the family. I was also introduced as a “freshie”.
The highlight of the program was a musical-skit which drew lots of laughter from the highly entertained crowd. The evening of poetry, song and dance ended with the crowning of Mr and Miss Freshie, followed by a sumptuous buffet dinner.
A New Beginning
It has been a long but pleasant day for me. Tired and exhausted from the day’s travels and happenings, while enriched by the sights and sounds of this new place.
This is the beginning of my 6-month stay in Bangalore.
Home is room number 39 at the guest house in the Indian Institute of Science. Quiet little place hidden away at one end of the institute, surrounded by greenery and serenaded by the songs of the birds. A single bed, a wardrobe and a writing desk furnished the room, which comes with an attached bathroom with hot shower. A 6-panel window looks out into a forested area. There is even a television and an air-conditioning unit!
So here I am, alone in my room with little Gumby by the side, sitting at the corner of my bed, penning this journal entry. Everything seems so surreal…
First Impressions
I was greeted by the spanking new and spacious Bangalore International Airport on arrival. Navigating it was easy and coming out of the airport, a row of men in white holding placards were looking earnestly at each and every arriving passenger. It was not til the end of the row that I found Kumar, holding a sign, on it written, “Dr Kee Leng”.
It was a cool and breezy day. Pockets of blue sky peeped through the thick clouds, paving way for the warm sun rays. Kumar signaled me to wait at the pick-up point while he gets the car. A friendly young lad 22 years of age with a sweet and shy smile, he has been assigned by the travel agency where he had worked for 2 years, to fetch me to the institute. “No problem, Ma’am”, those were his favorite words.
The car ride to the institute was smooth, no massive jams or free-roaming cows crossing the streets as what others had pre-empted me, though the traffic is heavy and horns blasted into the dusty air intermittently. I noticed our car is short of the left wing mirror. Kumar skillfully steered our little car through the trucks, cars, autos and two-wheelers coming from all directions, and before long, we turned right to a sign with blue words on a white background “Indian Institute of Science”.
MBU Family
MBU stands for Molecular Biophysics Unit. That’s where I’ll be working for the many weeks to come. Professor Raghavan brought me on a quick tour to the laboratory and introduced me to the members of the research group, made up mostly of ladies. The open air laboratory has a nostalgic feel to it, especially the wooden benches and drawers. Overflowing shelves, notices on the walls yellow with age, there is an orderliness in the disarray of things and activities, as I quietly observed the folks get about with their work.
Likhesh, an integrated PhD student, took time to show me around the campus and the various facilities available. The institute, also known as the Tata Institute, has a rustic environment and a 100-year old building which housed the administration. We stopped by the Tata Book House to get a copy of the city map and he treated me to tea at the tea & coffee board. Afternoon snack and tea is an important part of the life in the institute, I learnt.
The MBU is a homely and closely knit family. There was a welcome party for the fresh PhD students, post-doctorate fellows and research project assistants that evening. I was promptly invited on the spot. At the party, tribute was first paid to all the professors followed by a formal introduction of all the new members of the family. I was also introduced as a “freshie”.
The highlight of the program was a musical-skit which drew lots of laughter from the highly entertained crowd. The evening of poetry, song and dance ended with the crowning of Mr and Miss Freshie, followed by a sumptuous buffet dinner.
A New Beginning
It has been a long but pleasant day for me. Tired and exhausted from the day’s travels and happenings, while enriched by the sights and sounds of this new place.
This is the beginning of my 6-month stay in Bangalore.
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