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Going to West Bengal

  • 27-09-2010 11:39am
    #1
    El Siglo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,803 ✭✭✭


    Alright folks,
    Just found out that I've to go to India this November for research (starting a PhD and the field work is in India). I'm to go to West Bengal and to be honest I know very little, so I have a few questions;

    -How long does it take to get an Indian student or research visa?

    -What's the story with currency and buying rupees?

    -What kind of stuff should I bring, I'm heading to a real rural part?

    -Is malaria a big problem?

    -What about the language barrier, has anyone here learned Bengali?

    I can't think of anything else right now but it'll come to me later on.


Comments

  • #2
    dory
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 4,574 Mod ✭✭✭✭dory


    I've spent a few summers in India, including doing research so I'll try and answer as best I can.

    1. To get a student visa you have to be unconditionally accepted onto a third level course there. Your best bet is to apply for a tourist visa, takes a few days, have to pay €50 or so, and you can stay for 6 months (have to leave for 2 months thereafter).

    2. You can't buy rupees here. Just pop over, change as little as possible in the airport and then change some downtown. Suddar St is the volunteer hotspot. If you're going to stay there for a few days you'll find lots of places to change money.

    3. What to bring? I've never been in November. I suppose the usual stuff you'd bring if you were going to Asia. Sleeping bag liner is good for sleeping in. Dress respectfully as rural is traditional. No shorts!

    4. It's not really. I've only ever heard of one person getting it. And I think November is out of mosquito season, but I'm no doctor.

    5. I learned a few words. I'd highly recommend it. Everyone I met in urban India who attended university spoke perfect English. Then I went to rural Karnataka and there were people with PhDs who didn't have a word. It made our research very difficult and you're relying on 2nd hand information which for us was frustrating. If your research is something to do with poverty then you won't meet many interviewees who speak English. Pimsleur have a Bengali course I believe to get you started.

    Have fun!


  • #3
    El Siglo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,803 ✭✭✭El Siglo


    dory wrote: »
    I've spent a few summers in India, including doing research so I'll try and answer as best I can.

    1. To get a student visa you have to be unconditionally accepted onto a third level course there. Your best bet is to apply for a tourist visa, takes a few days, have to pay €50 or so, and you can stay for 6 months (have to leave for 2 months thereafter).

    I'm going for three months this time so a tourist visa might be optimal but I'm going with my thesis supervisor so I'll have to see what he says.
    2. You can't buy rupees here. Just pop over, change as little as possible in the airport and then change some downtown. Suddar St is the volunteer hotspot. If you're going to stay there for a few days you'll find lots of places to change money.

    I'll probably change most of them in Calcutta alright, get fecked in the airport.
    I won't be in Calcutta too long (less than a day).
    3. What to bring? I've never been in November. I suppose the usual stuff you'd bring if you were going to Asia. Sleeping bag liner is good for sleeping in. Dress respectfully as rural is traditional. No shorts!

    I've never been to Asia, so I haven't a clue. I'm sort of going to be in a very rural part alright and I wont be wearing shorts.
    4. It's not really. I've only ever heard of one person getting it. And I think November is out of mosquito season, but I'm no doctor.

    Better to go with the prophylaxis as well, not taking any chances.
    5. I learned a few words. I'd highly recommend it. Everyone I met in urban India who attended university spoke perfect English. Then I went to rural Karnataka and there were people with PhDs who didn't have a word. It made our research very difficult and you're relying on 2nd hand information which for us was frustrating. If your research is something to do with poverty then you won't meet many interviewees who speak English. Pimsleur have a Bengali course I believe to get you started.

    Have fun!

    Cheers I really appreciate the advice so I do!


  • #4
    dory
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 4,574 Mod ✭✭✭✭dory


    El Siglo wrote: »



    I've never been to Asia, so I haven't a clue. I'm sort of going to be in a very rural part alright and I wont be wearing shorts.

    Ok then let me think. Bare in mind you can buy just about anything in Calcutta anyway if you don't get them beforehand. But if I was going in the morning I would bring:

    Mosquito net and spray (I've no idea how the mozzies will be in November)
    Baby wipes and that anti-bacterial hand wash that doesn't require water
    Some anti-diarrhea (can make you very sick if you use them for a few days in a row - not that I've typed that it seems obvious by I've seen many a person knocked out by them).
    Light, clothy clothes from Pennys that you can give away before you come home. You can also buy these if you find New Market in Calcutta.

    If I think of anything else I'll reply again.


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