Day 52

     It’s been a while since I’ve written here – half because I’ve been super busy with work and half because I haven’t had anything monumental to report that wasn’t confidential to Biocon. Since the Kaveri trip, I’ve become a creature of habit. Weekdays are strictly for work, eating, exercising and sleeping. It’s not like I really have a choice on the matter since I get about four hours from the time I get home to when I have to sleep so I can wake up the next day and repeat. If this is what the real world is like, I don’t know if I can last in the long haul. I might be able to pull off a life consumed by work for a couple of years but I’ve realized I need change to refresh my mind and keep myself from being defined by my work.     
      Nevertheless, I got a break from the monotony last weekend when I successfully went to the movies and watched Inception. I’m not sure if my success was due to my own proficiency or the lesser demand for English movies here. Either way, Inception was awesome. It had the right blend of entertainment and intellectualism to keep me involved while watching buildings crumble while people floated through passageways and chased each other through rain-drenched streets. (I know this is a blog about Bangalore but bear with me as I talk about Inception). The basic plot involves Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio), a special kind of thief who can invade a person’s mind, attempting one last job in order to get back to his family. At first it sounds trite but Chris Nolan’s writing is superb – he apparently worked on the script over the course of ten years and it shows. There’s not a plot hole to be found even though I tried hard to find one. Even if you just want a summer blockbuster with explosions, Inception will deliver. Its visuals are superb and will leave you spellbound even as the gripping plot unfolds.    
    The dream within a dream within a dream structure of the movie had me a bit puzzled at first but paying close attention yields its rewards. Even then, I had a few unanswered questions at the end of the movie (some because I need to watch it again and some because Nolan chose not to give us the answer). The cast is superb – DiCaprio acts as well as is expected of him; Ellen Page is still an intelligent young adult but not as wordy as her Juno; and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who I’ve always felt is an outstanding actor in need of a big break,  gets that break here where he plays his role to perfection. Inception is well worth the trip to the theaters – it takes you on a spectacular journey through the corridors of your mind which at the finish will remain echoing in your own mind. 

As I said earlier I’ve been working a lot. Along with continuing my exciting project here it’s allowed me to interact more with my colleagues. Unfortunately four of the seven other interns in my lab finished their internship periods recently but it’s brought the rest of us closer together. Last week we got into a discussion regarding the Indian mentality of career safety. It’s something I’ve discussed with my own parents many a time – the paradox of letting your kid aspire to their dreams but still ensuring a stable future for them. Unless you’re aspiring to reach middle-class suburbia, most Indian kids don’t seem to be allowed to take the risks that need to be taken in order to be something different. There are a whole host of painters, singers, dancers, and athletes in the Indian community – both in India and America. These passions are fine as hobbies but once you want to take it to the next level, my fellow interns agree that you are met with a resounding “No.”   
     My take on it is that it makes sense from the parents’ perspective because their main concern is securing their child a bright future. And it is hard to secure anything in careers which are not dependent on a college degree and a solid resume. It’s hard to be a sports star or a rock god or the next Picasso and  it requires a whole lot of luck. However, it also makes sense from the kids’ point of view. They haven’t had their visions marred by years of trying to pay the bills and provide for a family so chasing a dream seems completely logical. Although I argue that both sides have merit, I do believe that Indian communities take it a bit far. That’s why India exists today as a society comprised mostly of engineers, doctors and aspiring engineers/doctors. Safe careers. Engineers and doctors are never going to become obsolete in this world. 
     On the other hand, the shame felt by every Indian I’ve talked to about not having a team in this year’s World Cup is palpable. 1/6 of the world’s population live in India and not being able to produce a world-class team is actually shameful. There are other factors at work of course, such as cricket’s immense popularity to the point where no other sport is funded – but Indian parents have to be willing to allow their kids to take risks if India wants to provide the world with as many athletes and artists as it has the potential to.

Day 30

I haven't updated in a while but  it's because things have been so busy. I've finally made some friends who I can spend time with after work - my life as a hermit in Bangalore has officially come to a close. I met these new people because I finally found a shuttle from Biocon that takes me straight back to Woodstock. They immediately invited me to go on a trip to a place called Kaveri fishing camp on Saturday and I immediately said yes. I'm happy to say that the trip was a success. We got to the place late because the driver got lost but for Rs. 1300 ($29.50) I spent a day ziplining, crossing a bridge made of Burma Loops and kayaking. Afterwards we came back and ate at Forum Mall's food court where I ordered a Royal burger and got a chicken patty between two buns - beef is non-existent here so it was definitely wishful thinking on my part.

The next day I went to the ATM for the first time to withdraw cash after my splurge the day before. It was a fifteen minute walk along the highway but it went without a hitch. I also 'recharged' my phone which involves either finding a shop that has recharge cards for your carrier or doing it online somehow. I figured out a way to do the latter and felt quite accomplished at having completed two tasks in a day when the normal Indian doesn't even consider doing more than one thing over the course of a day. Lists are nonexistent here.

Later I went to visit my friend Tushar who I had been trying to meet since I got to Bangalore. We decided to meet up at a Chili's (American food after a long time) and then go to watch a Hindi movie.  Three hours later I stood outside the Chili's having actually reached a destination successfully. However, Tushar's cab didn't show up and I ended up watching the Portugal vs. North Korea match at the bar for an hour until he showed up. We ate quickly and left for the movie. We arrived at 5:15 for a 6:30 movie and found that the 500-person cinema hall had been sold out (for a movie that had been out for three weeks). We badgered the guy at the ticket counter asking if anyone had cancelled for a half hour at which point he said two seats had opened up. We immediately said we'd buy it. At that exact moment, my cousin walked by and yelled my name, surprised to see me in the same theater for the same movie. I turned and waved hi then turned back to the ticket counter to buy my ticket. Tushar looked at me disappointed - apparently in the span of my turning to wave to my cousin, the cashier had already sold one of the tickets. We left defeated by Indian crowds but ended up having a much more fun night watching both the Germany vs. England and Mexico vs. Argentina soccer games as well as jamming with some of Tushar's friends.