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Vellore will provide valuable help in understanding some
of the differences which will confront you in this amazing
country.
CMC is located in a conservative, South Indian community.
Students are not allowed to use alcoholic beverages. Western
dancing and rowdy behaviour is discouraged. Visitors are
asked to observe the general social ambience of the community
and the College. The institution is also openly Christian
in its approach to doing business, and visitors are encouraged
to participate wholeheartedly in the worship and spiritual
life of the community.
While local people are hospitable and courteous, some may
prefer the traditional Indian greeting of folded hands (‘NAMASTHE’)
rather than the Western handshake.
It is customary to eat Indian food with your right hand,
although your host usually will offer cutlery, and you can
request it in restaurants. It is customary, too, to remove
shoes before entering Indian homes and temples. Your campus
colleagues will provide guidance about similar matters,
if you need assistance.
Basketball, volleyball, tennis, table tennis and badminton
are available on the College campus. There is also a gymnasium
at the Medical Students Recreation Centre, near Second Gate
(the main college entrance gate), which you may use, for
a small fee, and another one at the private swimming pool
located near the college, for which a fee is also charged.
At the private swimming pool near the College, you can subscribe
to membership on a weekly or monthly basis, or pay a daily
admission fee.
Bicycles are available for rent from shops on Gandhi Road
(near Hospital) and on Arni Road (Bagayam, near College).
There are several movie theatres in town, which screen mostly
the regional language films. Generally, however , although
the streets are full of people until late at night, there
is little of what Westerners are accustomed to refer to
as “night life” (hence the suggestion that you
consider bringing reading material, and also a radio/music
system to keep yourself entertained).
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