Kolkata

Today was the first day that we got to see Kolkata during the daytime. Wow what a different site it is. It is even more crazy than it is at night. One difference is that the traffic is a little worse at night than it is during the day. It is unreal to see the sea of humanity that is a major city in India. Most people have a driver which is nice because they are good at what they do (they have to be) and they are not distracted. I have seen maybe 5 street signs. I have seen no GPSs in peoples’ car, so I have no idea how people get around. The most amazing thing about the traffic is that everyone is going bonkers on their horns and no one gets mad. I started to get mad yesterday and I am not even driving. I was about to give people bad finger but I choose not to. The other astonishing part about Kolkata is the amount of diversity that is there. There are a lot of homeless people, even more poor people that do not have a complete domicile, middle class, rich and then stupid rich. It is pretty awesome to see how all of these people interact. Everywhere you go there are thousands of stands selling things. They are just small huts and but that is where I think most of India gets stuff done. Here is just a short list of things that are sold. Phone cards, veggies, chickens, thrashed sugar cane drink, mints, gum, and meals just to name a few. My guess is that if I ate the food from one of the street vendors, things would not turn out well for anyone.

I think this might be just an Indian phenomenon, but I could be wrong. India has this deal that when the first city gets to big and full, they just make a new one and call it “new whatever.” There is Deli and New Deli. Well Kolkata is the last major town to get this “new” town and the marketing wizards over here in India have decided to call it…New Town. Wow just amazing. I wonder where they came up with the name. Why would they do that? If they picked up all of the litter and all of the rubble there would be plenty of room in Kolkata to expand. They could take all of the rubble and make more city. It is just crazy. I cannot think of any other place that does that. Also when the new town is introduced, does the old town get jealous?

On our way to the meeting today, we drove into the New Town section and our local knowledge guy said that this is where a lot of the call centers are. I have seen a few billboards that advertize call center training but I had not see it in action. Well today I did. We drove past a bunch of the buildings and they look like any call center in the world. There are a lot of these call centers. I can’t wait until I get to call one of these and I can say to “Brian from Indianapolis,” “Come on Brian, I know you are in New Town Kolkata, why, because I have been there and seen where you work” Do you think he will come clean then?




Now that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, here is what I have been thinking about since I left. I have gone through a couple of cravings that I want, so here is the list:
A haircut – I knew that if I got one before I left it was not time but if I waited it would be too late. I choose too late.
Pizza – I really wanted some good slices of Pizza early but that has cooled down.
Ribs – Something you do not see or get here and I have been wanting them for a few days now. I want the kind of ribs where you eat all of them before you pick up your napkin because wiping your mouth would be a waste.
Seared Rib-eye Steak with Caesar Salad and good veggies – Why, because it is so good and I have not found too many steaks on the menu here. Plus would you eat a steak that was cooked by someone who did not eat meat? I would not.
Not having to pack and carry my things everyday.


Now you can see that cows are everywhere. This one was standing outside of a major office building in a new section of Kolkata.