KIBI Information From old students for new students

A few extra recommendations for the first arrival

It’s a good idea to change a small amount of money at the Bank of India counter in the baggage claim area at the airport. You’ll need this for a taxi and your first day or two at KIBI. See to it that you always keep all bank change receipts.

From the airport, take a "pre-paid taxi" from the "Delhi-Traffic-Police-Counter". You’ll find this on the left side of the hall after you leave Customs and Immigration. The approximate price is 160 rupees, if you arrive in the middle of the night there is an additional surcharge. Tell the man at the counter and the taxi driver "Qutab Hotel backside". KIBI is one km behind the Qutab Hotel.

If you arrive during the day, please go to the office which is on the first floor of the main building. You will then be given a room. If you get to KIBI in the middle of the night, the gatekeeper will escort you to a room to sleep in for that night. The next day, you must register at the office.

Before the semester starts, you might need to take a day or two to set up your room, change money, overcome jet-lag or go shopping.

Please do not drink or brush your teeth with tap water, do not eat salad, uncooked foods, unpeeled fruits, or ice-cream. If you have any chronic or acute medical problems or illnesses, please advise your local physician so that you will be well prepared for any medical physical eventuality.

The program entails rather intensive academic studies. There is a nice park across the road from KIBI and many cultural programs in Delhi as well as interesting sites to see.

You can basically buy everything you need in Delhi inexpensively and therefore it is not necessary to bring many extra articles with you.

What to bring?

Financial - CitiBank checking account

Probably the best deal concerning your financial security while being in India, is the ordinary CitiBank checking account. There are 3 ATMs in Delhi where you can access your account directly free of any charge for one of the best exchange rates. In the event that you run out of money, your sponsors at home can easily deposit money on to your account which you will be able to access immediately; also free of charge. Recently more and more automatic tellers have sprung up around Delhi, at most of these you can also take money from accounts at home by using a VISA or MasterCard.

Computer and other technology: MD, APS

As all students take a turn at transcribing the lectures, it is convenient when you have a laptop or notebook computer for private use. It is not required, as KIBI has its own computer-room for student’s use, but, there is often a queue to use the computers.

If you want to tape the classes with a mini disc player, keep in mind that at least last year this technology had not reached India yet, so bring your supply of MDs for the whole term. The same might hold true for APS films.

Mobile phones: GMS without SIM-lock

In case you own a GMS mobile phone (all the world’s standard except for North America) without SIM-lock, you can bring it to India and buy a local "Magic Card" locally. The Magic Card will give you a calling value of around 1000,- Rs. Which will remain active for two months.

Cleaning - Plastic gloves

Indian detergents are very strong. People with sensitive skin might react allergically. In order to prevent this, bring your own rubber gloves for cleaning. These have been difficult to find in Delhi.

Women’s hygiene

Every day "panty-protection" is absolutely unavailable. Bring your own supply. Western style, thin sanitary napkins are also extremely hard to find.

Once you are there

Riding a taxi - Pre-paid

Perhaps one of the biggest "daily-life challenges" facing foreigners visiting and living in India is learning to successfully negotiate with taxi and rickshaw drivers. The tricks of some drivers are many and various. Estimated prices will be written behind most of the places. At some of the most popular shopping areas and tourist spots there are "pre-paid taxi" booths. At these places you state your destination, pay and receive a receipt. This receipt is the same as cash and should be given to the driver only after arriving at your destination.

Shopping locations

Vasant Lok / Priya Cinema (20,- R rickshaw, 50,- R taxi)

Priya Cinema (showing primarily american movies in English), Mc Donalds, Pizza Hut, TGI Friday’s, Benetton, Levi’s, Modern Bazaar (imported food), Nirula’s (ice-cream and fast food), Barista Café, Lifespring (western-style drug store), Mobile Phone company (INA Airtel), three ATM’s, two internet cafes and a travel agency

Vasant Bihar, C-Block market (25,- R rickshaw, 60,- taxi)

Post office, electrical supply (extension cables, stabilizers), liquour and beer shop

Saket / Anupam (20,- rickshaw, 50,- taxi)

Anupam Cinema (largest multiplex), Domino’s Pizza, Mc Donalds, Music store

Sarogini market (30,- rickshaw)

Lots of non-brand clothes and household supplies (and everything cheap, bargain hard!), fresh fruit and vegetables

INA market (bus 505, 35,- rickshaw)

Largest variety of imported food and non-food, fresh vegetables and fruit, cloth and tailors

Dilli Haat (opposite INA)

Traditional Indian handicrafts, and very fair prices. Good for carpets, bed covers, saris, pottery, furniture etc., henna paintings

Greater Kailash I (GK1), N-Block market

Hot Breads (the best bread in town, real baguettes, etc.), FabIndia (true export quality fabrics, like towels, bed covers, carpets, table cloths, etc. for a fixed price)

GK1, M-Block market

Mc Donalds, Pizza Hut, Domino’s Pizza, supermarket with imported food in stock, real and fake designer jeans, cosmetics, henna paintings

Between M- and N-Block there is a CitiBank ATM and a "real" supermarket on the second floor above the bank.

South Extention (rickshaw 35,-)

Large shopping area featuring stores selling many brands of western clothes as well as some of the best Indian department stores (with approx. 250 m² each), it’s especially worth going for the sales, no food, but a CitiBank ATM

How to enjoy using your room ?

Cleaning the bathroom

Bathrooms at KIBI have white marble floors which, due to dust and excessive humidity, often turn black during the summer. There is a locally sold cleanser called "elephant brand acid" popular with shopkeepers which will dissolve the dirt within seconds, it will also, unfortunately, dissolve the waste water tubes and the sealing of the floor, so that the stone becomes rough and will soak in the dirt forever after. Please, in order to preserve Kibi, don’t use the elephant brand acid. A very satisfactory alternative is using the blue laundry detergent, or a floor cleaning product called, "Brisk" together with a brush and a little "elbow grease".

Short beds

The Indian-sized beds may present a minor problem for those taller than 1 meter 70 , but you can easily extend the bed an extra 5-10 centimeters by turning the bed around so that the foot-end faces the wall and leave a couple of centimeters of space in-between that you cover with your pillow.

Stabilizers

For all electrical appliances sensitive to unstable voltage, e.g. computers, you will need a stabilizer which can be bought for as little as 600,- Rupees locally. But, be careful: connecting any device with more than 50 watt will blow up the stabilizer! The wattage of most appliances is normally written on a sticker underneath. Water cookers for example have 1200 watts.

Plugs/Powerpoints

You will find two plugs in your room and if your room has an attached bath, one more in the bathroom. Probably this won’t be enough for your electrical needs. There are extension cords with extra plugs available locally. However, if you are coming from continental Europe (the plugs and current are the same as in India) it is advisable to bring along cords and plugs from home. The quality is better and will last much longer. Another small point is where to plug in the heavy-duty appliances like a water cooker or a small room heater. It is recommended to use the plug in the bathroom for these items.

Life in India

Clothing is a topic of special interest for women students. The cultural norms of appropriate women’s attire in India differs widely from those of most western countries. It makes life much easier when outside of KIBI if a few tips are followed. Dress relatively modestly; bare shoulders are considered a sign of "loose" women. Short skirts and revealing tops will undoubtedly make the wearer the recipient of unwanted comments and advances from men on the street. Always appropriate however are trousers, jeans and tops with some sort of sleeve, long dresses or skirts. Within KIBI please keep in mind that we live together with monks, and try to respect their presence.

Who is who?

Teachers:

Senior Khenpo: Khenpo Chödrak Tenphel Rinpoche

Junior Khenpos: Khenpo Ngedön, Khenpo Tsering

Translators:

Kiki Ekselius
Tina Draszczyk
Hannah Nydahl

Administration :

Pasang
Wangyal

Staff :

Nakul (repairs everything)
Nir (head of the kitchen crew)
Rajesh (gate keeper)