Minimum training requirements for visa application for foreigners in India
Today morning which going to work, I saw near Avichi (a school near my place) was the Matha Amrithanantha Mayi's Trust (or Centre) and it seems she has come Chennai for two days. There were some vans parked on the road and some crowd near the place. Sitting in the front seat of the bus, I could see two foreigners trying to cross the road. Infact they were jaywalkng and one girl was afraid to even stand near the median. The other girl was brave and was pulling her away from the safe haven towards the side of the road.
All of this happened with a car and auto trying to have a race of "who would hit the girls first". I was amazed how the girls crossed the road as they probably wouldn't have experienced such random traffic in their country. I also pity the other girl who hesitated as she wouldn't stand a day alone without another local person helping her out with auto fares. That was when I thought that perhaps the embassy of their country should have some sort of training or simulation which the person must pass in order to get a visa.
The training should include things like:
- basic knowledge of the seating arrangement in buses in various cities
- rigourous training in crossing/walking on the streets and roads
- training (and special license) to drive indian roads - especially during/after rain and flood, with buffaloes, cattle and other living human beings, etc
- boarding a bus - like knowing to stand about 15 feet away from the bus stop so that you don't have to run behind the bus when the driver decides apply brakes a little later than needed
- and most of all learning to catch an auto and getting away with a reasonable amount as fare.
Of course this is only a beginner course, but this should be enough for a brief trip of a week or two. Anyway the real fun is to learn from experience. So, once you come here maybe you can ask some friends for some more tips about living (surviving and not going broke) in India.
Please leave comments if you think I have left out any training or tips.
