Our First Day of Class

 Class started today.  It was supposed to be an easy day, like an introduction to the course.  The agenda was to eat breakfast, go to the university, and have class. Class today was to be an introduction "getting to know you" class and a brief lecture on the problems and prospects of the Indian economy.  Welllll things never run on time here. Breakfast was about half an hour late and our class session went over about an hour (dinner was also an  hour later than we were told today!).  I don't think anyone minds going later, we just never follow the schedule.

Our lecturer today was the Vice Chancellor of the institute and pretty much told us how Indians are willing to work harder and longer hours and that is why we are afraid of them - competition.  He also said that we think we are getting richer but we are not and we are going to get into trouble by spending so much.  He said a lot of other things as well and a lot about China.  After class our professor told us that we needed to speak up when these guys are talking - we are Americans and Chinese (one of our classmates is from China) and we should not take Sh*t (in the words of our professor). He said don't let them tell us things we don't think or know are not true - argue back.  We'll see where the rest of the classes go.

We were supposed to go to a museum after class but when we got there it was closed because a foreign diplomat or other important person was supposed to be visiting so we went to another market.  It had food and vendors from various regions and states of India.  You also had to pay a small fee to get in so there were not beggars there.  I was walking around with Goswami and he was with us at one of the stands he had bought scarves at a few days ago.  After talking to Goswami the vendor said he would give us the same price he had given Goswami the other day.  Goswami said the vendor had told him that they usually double the price and the vendor and tour guide split the profits.

From the market a few of us went to the suit place in another location.  We got measured for custom made suits and got to pick the fabric, color and style that we wanted. Then we grabbed a drink before heading home and bargaining for another rickshaw to take us to the hotel. 

Dinner was vegetarian tonight followed by Kishore giving us a lecture after our debrief, which included him getting a map of India so it could further contribute to our lesson.