First day with Nehru and Friends

First day back in India. At JNU (Jawaharlal Nehru University) in Delhi. The photo is me... with JN watching my back.

Been an active day. JNU being a school, I've learned a lot.

Just in case you were on the fence...

1. If you are concerned about finances, then go get yourself a PhD.
2. GM crops are not all that bad.
3. There IS a North Korean Embassy in India. That's good to know. You know. Just in case, last minute, I need to go there... via Delhi.

To put things in context, my first morning appointment in Delhi was with a professor of science policy. I wanted to meet with him because our similar research interests and I am considering going to grad school where he did a post-doc in California.

He gave me the advice about finances and doing a PhD, of course this is my over simplified version of it. For some, getting a PhD may not be worthwhile, but I see where he's coming from. The sciences are pretty solid, but let's see where this year's fiscal cliff gets us. In any case, a very encouraging and helpful talk.

The proclamation about GM food came from a seminar I found myself at here in JNU. Did you know that today (Feb 28) is national science day?

Again, I over simplify Dr. G. Padmanaban's argument  but what I get out of it is that (1) research on GM risk is moot since the field is so dynamic such results are immediately outdated and (2) the debate on GM, particularly Bt cotton and corn, is preventing the next needed "Green Revolution" in India.

I don't have time to elaborate. Just take the info about N. Korea as a freebie.

I think it was Mark Tully who said that in India there are no full sto...

India via China: Breaking through the Great Wall at the airport

Early morning. Still dark. At the airport. Waiting to get my ticket to go to India. I am surrounded by Chinese people.

A group of "the Chinese" descended around me like a gaggle of pelicans, shielding me in with their rolling carry on bags and talking over, around and through me like socialistic radio waves. A once relatively silent morning, tumbles into continuous jabber, unsolicited advice giving and laughter at jokes I don't necessarily catch but don't mind being a part of. Ah. A prequel to India.

My flight to Delhi has a long layover in China. As with India, I am no newbie to China either. My dad happened to be born there. But that:s another long, convoluted story I'll skip for now.

What I've experienced so far in my trips to/from India via China are that:

1. At least one leg of the trip is usually late. My last one, almost a year ago, was 3 hours late. That's why this time I opted for a 6 hour layover in China as a buffer. Yes, I am crazy like that.

2. They usually don't have a vegetarian meal choice. And I never can order it in advance because (1) they don't have the option in online check in and (2) I'm usually out of country when ordering the ticket so they either don't speak English or don't care to be in their office. I remember on one trip a person trying to explain to the flight attendant what vegetarian food is. I couldn't decide who was more ignorant: the attendant, the vegetarian or me for being so smug.

Oh. The Chinese are hovering over me, shouting out commands to each other. Think I better get to the ticket counter before it becomes a great wall of Chinese people!

Just one last thought...

How in the world is the check in baggage limit only 5 kg (11 lbs)???? Communists! One child rule and now this!!

Update: After years of travelling, I forgot a bottle of juice in my carry on bag. They confiscated it at security check! Who do I shamelessly blame for this?? Ah. American paranoia, I shake my angry fist at you!!! Now I am going to India juice-less and deficient in vitamin C!! This is not an auspicious restart.

To be born again... again, again

In a few short hours, I will be flying back to India.

It's not like I've never been there before, but this is the first time in over a decade that I've been away from India for so long. Almost a year away. To be honest, if you know India, then to be away for so long changes your language, culture, social mores and intestines in a way that shocks you when you return.

I am going to write about that shock. I am going to write about it despite getting too busy to write about it three days from now when making excuses as to why I will not be writing about it, because we aspiring bloggers habitually start and stop blogs mid-thought. But the thing is... I have started.

And the thing is... in two days I will be in the middle of the Ganges, in the middle where three rivers meet at one of the largest gatherings of humanity, the kumbh mela.

Will that be a shock?

As my friend says to me, "Leave it. Arrive and then it will all be clear."

As I said, I've been living in India for over a decade. I'm no newbie. I know that once I arrive that everything that made sense before will forever have a nonsensical edge to it. And when I enter that water, a part of me dies in the dipping.

And that is a good thing.