Register II

got the 19(!) pieces of paper required to register, we (my Indian guide in the bureaucratic maze and I) handed over my file to the appointed person for my country (see my previous post). Unfortunately the file had not been "checked". This means that the employee at the front desk needs to check all pieces of paper handed in as well as make sure that the passport information is correctly filled in. This involves, in between regular yaws, the counting of sheets, and then a large black tick next to each passport detail entry with a sleepy scan of my passport. Next I had to present myself in front of the FRO (foreign registry officer) who's task was to sign the first page of my file confirming that the photo on the front was me. Now we were ready to hand it over to the concerned person who then told us to move to counter number 4 where we were to hand it in for processing. We paid our contact a 100 Rs, not so much for his work which was minimal in this case, but rather to make sure we get his attention next time we come. Counter 4 is inhabited by 3 Indians with generous pot bellies. Two of them sitting at a desk and processing your request, i.e. one receiving the file while the other enters the data in their computer system (remember my file contains triplicate or even quadruple documents, and now the information is also entered into a computer). The third employee stands at the back supervising the other two.

I got to come back next week at 4 to get my registration number.

Registration

Little memo on my employment visa says: "must register within 14 days". Been to the FRO (foreign registration office) this morning. Turns out that there is one guy who deals with my nationality, he will process my papers along with my countrymen. Seems he'll do a better job for an extra 300 Rs slipped in my passport. A useful hint given to me by one of the locals. Still not sure about this kind of tipping. Tipping the car park attendant is one thing, bribing a govt. employee just doesn't seem quite right.

Anyhow, I still have to fill in the various forms and submit photocopies of my passport and passport sized pictures in order to register.... that is one dozen forms (one in quadruplet, another in triplicate) to fill in. "Welcome to India" they forgot to say. I have been told that if I want to apply for an extension to my visa next year, I can do it 3 months before this one runs out.... along with the same forms as the ones I have filled in and the grand sum of 65 dollars. OK. What they don't tell you is that it can take up to 9 months for you to get your extension.

Hello

my first blog my first message.

A little background info first. Born france; chidlhood, schooling in south India (pondy, ooty); university in london (9 yrs); first job in london, second job in madrid, third job in southern france... and now my fourth in Bangalore India. French by birth, Indian by heart. Speak french, english, spanish, a little tamil... Hindi is next.

So here we are in bangalore, or rather the happening Big-bang Galore city. My idea here is to post tit bits of info on the city, its bars and restaurants, comment on the news as well as give some info on my doings. Hence the name, Bang galore massala.

I hope to post some pikies as well. Got to try the mobile photo upload... should be fun.