Inquiries about Kolkata

Hello Everybody!

I need your help. I've been in Kolkata in the Lake town area since May 17. I feel extremely lonely, as I stay inside all day long. I don't know the language, and some friends from back home have said that walking around without knowing proper Bengali is a recipe for disaster. So, I stay in all day long, which is driving me mad. I'm originally from Puerto Rico, I really love India and want to feel part of the community. Can you help me with the following:

1. Christians churches (Non-Catholic) location that offers English services.

2. Can I find organic products in Kolkata? where are the whole-foods store at?

3. I need friends, What's the best way to approach someone here in Kolkata for friendship.

4. I want to learn Bengali, what's the best a private tutor or going to school? anyone here have had experience with any of these two methods?

I will appreciate any help you guys can provide. Thanks a lot in advance.

1. Christians churches (Non-Catholic) location that offers English services.
St pauls cathedral. They are in central kolkata near rabindra sadan. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Pau...edral,_Kolkata
They may be able to tell you if there is any church nearer to your place.

2. Can I find organic products in Kolkata? where are the whole-foods store at?
Most big supermarkets have some organic products. Spencers supermarkets(at least the bigger ones) have organic spices, cereals and some organic vegetables.

3. I need friends, What's the best way to approach someone here in Kolkata for friendship.
Best way to aproach some one is through common friends. Who are your hosts?
You may attend IM kolkata meetups which happen about once in 2 months. You will make friends there.

Sorry but did not understand why moving around without knowing Bengali is a recipe for disaster? From your post it seems you know English, so do most of the people in Kolkata. I mean staying indoors since May 17 will of course make you go crazy! Try moving around, take in the taste, sight and smell of the place...I am sure you will fall in love with the city. Do buy a map, though.

Call the Holy Family Church in Kestopur (which is near to Lake Town).
Ph : 25710532.
You can ask them whether they hold english masses!
You can even visit for a prayer if you want.
Churches in Kolkata hold masses from 6 am in the morning! English masses may be held before bengali masses or the other way round.
As far as the market is concerned please visit New Market - you will find loads of foreigners there buying goods - but you need to bargain. You can find masalas, vegetables (fresh mushrooms, bell peppers, baby corns, strawberries, celery, ............. a long list). You can even buy clothes there. While shopping avoid touts and brokers.
As far as Lake town is concerned you can buy goodies from the store called 'More'. They sell very decent stuffs.
You will learn bengali once you muster the courage to get out of your house! its a very sweet language and very easy to learn.
Stage 1 : buy yourself an english to bengali dictionary.
It will help - or rather try google translate - its better than a dictionary!
Take care!

Hi linda19pr!

Oh my God, why on earth you have chosen to stay alone whole day? Is it by choice or by compulsion? And more importantly, what made you think that walking around without knowing proper Bengali is a recipe for disaster? Whoever had briefed you, he/she is surely not well informed about Kolkata. Make no mistake Kolkata is a friendly, civilized city and contrary to your briefing the people in general understands simple English and can converse with. The area where you are putting up now viz. Lake Town, is one of the prestigious locality of Kolkata and I am of the opinion that most of its residents, may be your own neighbors, can speak fluent English. Please have courage, come out of your (self imposed) shelter and try to meet people. You will see it will work as magic and you will get wonderful help in locating Church, bio food et all with ease.

Hi - please get out and explore the fabulous city! I'd suggest contacting the expats groups - try http://www.internations.org/calcutta-expats - or google "kolkata expats" for other groups. If you are apprehensive, maybe going out with someone else will ease your mind. The expats may also recommend a language teacher. For supermarkets try Hypercity, Big Bazaar, etc. You should be able to find what you are looking for. Good luck!

I want to thank you all for your suggestions and advice. You are all so right, I must not let what my friends said influence my decision to leave the house. I have an overactive imagination that likes to create these scenarios of what could happen, this sometimes prevents me from enjoying most of my trips, plus I'm a bit on the introverted side. I will leave my pessimism to one side and go and explore the city, the worst that can happen is me getting lost. Today I am going out to buy some groceries and eat lunch by myself; Back home I would never dreamed of going out alone, but it is time to learn to enjoy my own company. Once again thank you all very much for your help

Happy exploring!

Hi linda

I have been to San Juan, PR - almost got a job there at the UPR as a Professor. That would have been great - loved the city.

Cheers

Nattusbs

Yeah, indeed! San Juan is a wonderful city. Where are you residing now?

Hi Linda

In addition to St Paul's Cathedral which Nayan mentioned, you also might like to try Union Chapel on Lenin Sarani. When I went to a service there it was partly in English and partly Bengali.

http://unionchapelcni.org/default.asp

Linda

i live in Kharagpur which is about 150 km (100 miles) from Kolkata. Work as a Prof at the IIT.

Cheers

Nattusbs

Great! Thanks, this weekend I'm going to check them out and write their schedule, so that I can go every Sunday or Saturday or whenever they offer services. Thanks again

Hola Linda, welcome to IndiaMike. Kolkata is a really friendly city in my experience and not very scary at all.

If you need even more addresses for churches, I can recommend the Wesleyan Church at 15, Sudder Street, opposite the India Museum. I have attended services there in English. Many Anglo Indians frequent the place. The organist, John, is very friendly; he remembers us from one visit to the next and comes to talk to us. They also host tea parties after the services (to which we were invited, though we did not attend due to a more pressing engagement).

For food shopping, try the Spencers supermarket at the South City Mall, for imported goods and unusual items not available elsewhere. Otherwise, as already mentioned, the New Market is a cornucopia of produce.

To learn Bengali, if you are going to be in Kolkata for some time, you might try attending classes at the Ramakrishna Mission Institute in Golpark. It is of very high repute. I have not personally done so. I have taught myself through books and with friends' help. If I were to spend a long time in Kolkata, I would go to class there.

http://belurmath.org/centres/display...?centre_id=GLP

Hi Linda,

Please don't be afraid to go out in Kolkota, its a fabulous city and I wandered around for days on my own and found everyone to be very friendly and most speak English. In fact I thought it was so lovely I went there twice and I don't usually like cities!!!!

I do hope you find some friends soon and with the advise already given here I am sure you will soon.

Best of luck !!