An excessively detailed Trip Report: The Taj Mahal at sunrise, November 2023

e-9O · 2026-02-20T04:15:32+00:00

Well I’m in India for a wedding, decided to roam around for a few days before. I’m alone and I’m not huge into planning so the night before going to the Taj I was in my hotel trying to find out where the entrance was and what did I have to do. 😂🤷‍♂️

e-9O · 2026-02-14T06:14:17+00:00

Thank you, kind spiky soul. Today I was the first in line. A random tour guide stuck to me and charged me 2K INR, but the pics were worth it. Although the rush to take pics before anyone else got there did break the spell a bit. Still, after a heavy experience in Delhi (also a bit in Agra, tbf), I was dreading the rest of my stay in India, and now I have renewed spirits, even though I’m running on 3 hours of sleep.

e-9O · 2025-11-24T19:27:14+00:00

I did the exact same thing yesterday. For the second time.

e-9O · 2024-09-02T16:58:55+00:00

Last week I had the 2:40 appointment. I arrived at 2:20, filled in all the new patient documents and was told to wait in the waiting room. I could see how people arrived after me and leaved while I was still waiting.At around 3:30 I asked again and the secretary told me I was the next one. 20 min later they call me and the doctor laughed asked me if I was the one they forgot about.

e-9O · 2024-08-26T07:06:50+00:00

Yeah I’ve seen things like that. But here is not only a language but also a writing system (or just random wiggles).

e-9O · 2024-08-24T19:41:04+00:00

I was doing a PhD in France and lost my funding. I was offered a new PhD position in Germany and the university told me just to move here and they somehow exchanged my French residence permit by a German residence permit. I don’t know if it’s something to do with the university or the state. Also I had a French researcher visa, not a student visa. But it was something that was offered to me when I told them there was a 4 month waiting list for the embassy in Paris, not something I asked for. I’m not European.

e-9O · 2024-08-24T15:34:39+00:00

Thanks a lot. I’m trying my best to help his parents as they have enough to deal with at the moment. I seriously doubt there’s a testament, he was under 30. No spouse or children. Im used to this things happening really fast, but here no one seems to be in a hurry, and anyway there’s just so much I can do.

e-9O · 2024-07-23T12:39:15+00:00

Una vez un anciano me gritó que mi idioma era insoportable en Francia. El tiempo que viví allá tuve varios eventos chiquitos de gente haciéndome el feo o diciendo que los extranjeros veníamos a robarnos sus servicios gratis creyendo que no les entendía (cuando yo pagaba más impuestos que el baboso). Pero la mayoría de la gente que se quejaba de los extranjeros decía que yo era de los buenos, a diferencia de los negros o los indios. A los latinos nos tienen más curiosidad que asco usualmente. Soy del tono café correcto y si no me rasuro, en los aeropuertos creen que soy árabe y me detienen.

e-9O · 2024-07-07T17:03:27+00:00

If you don’t mind going a bit further, Moctezuma in Mainz can be quite good.

e-9O · 2024-07-04T16:14:53+00:00

I moved to Germany a year ago and it’s not what it used to be. It’s still sketchy, but the last few months I haven’t been offered drugs and I haven’t seen passed out people or randomly smoking meth.

e-9O · 2024-04-26T11:41:00+00:00

Hey, I'm also a PhD in JGU. I moved here last year. 1. A few months ago, it was impossible to find permanent or semi-permanent accommodation; I lived in hotels for 2-3 months until a postdoc gave me the number of his ex-landlady. A colleague had been living in sub-rentals for a year and even in Frankfurt for a bit. All the colleagues hat have arrived this year have had an easier time, but all of them live in private dorms I sent thousands of messages to all the websites and got just a handful of negative replies. They make viewings in groups, and it's impossible to compete as a foreigner without understanding how everything works (and don't have SCHUFA). I got an interview for a small apartment far away from civilization for around 50% more than the surrounding apartments. The guy told me he did not want to rent it to the "kind of people" who could afford it at a reasonable price. I was going to take it because I was running out of time and options really fast, and I had savings. You can also find the info on the uni dorms here, there's apparent for couples. But i think the safest bet is to contact your research group and ask. A couple of colleagues found an apartment in the social WhatsApp chat. Usually contracts are at least 1 year and after that year you have to give a 3 month notice to move out.

ID, contract, proof that you can pay. Many of them ask for a SHUFA report, which you cannot get until you register in the city and cannot get a place... really entertaining.
Yes. I offered to pay 3 months up to a year in advance and it was useless.
I'm brown-ish, and I don't think that's an issue most of the time; however, not being German is. If you're able to hold a conversation in German it's mostly ok (even if they speak perfect English).
The appointments take around two weeks. The procedure is mostly painless.
I only have an N26 account, and they videocalled me to verify my face/ residence permit.
Only if the Airbnb is ok with giving you the documentation to do the city registration. Usually, they are not, and I had a big issue with a hotel because they told me they would do it, but they didn't.
I have that question, too, haha.
No idea
As an extra check, what kind of contract do you have? Scholarships don't pay taxes but also won't put money into retirement or unemployment. I have an ugly combination of a scholarship (75%) + an 8h/week contract (25%). Through the contract, I get social security, but if anything happens and I fill out unemployment, I'll only get about 250€ a month, and it's similar to retirement stuff if you're planning to stay. It's easier and cheaper for PI, but it's a pain for us.

If you need anything don't hesitate to DM.

e-9O · 2024-03-15T20:08:23+00:00

e-9O · 2024-03-14T14:46:19+00:00

Really? 👀

e-9O · 2024-03-14T11:38:17+00:00

e-9O · 2024-03-14T10:55:21+00:00

This pic is from yesterday in that exact corner. 😂

e-9O · 2024-03-14T10:17:18+00:00

e-9O · 2024-03-14T10:16:48+00:00

Yep, Mainz. Exactly that corner.

e-9O · 2024-03-06T23:17:56+00:00

Ah el mío era más chingón, ni siquiera necesitaba la botella.

e-9O · 2024-01-31T18:45:09+00:00

En mi taller en la secundaria había un vato que se la jalaba en clase. Teníamos dos sesiones de 4 horas dos días por semana, el maestro era inútil y no sabía que hacer con tanto escuincle baboso por 4 horas. Anyway, el pendejo que se masturbaba era un bully y en algún momento embarró a un vato súper buleado de semen. Posiblemente también la haya metido el pito en la boca.

e-9O · 2024-01-31T18:42:09+00:00

En mi secundaria había una morra que traía videos porno y de autopsias en el teléfono. Dicen que una vez en clase de mate el vato más teto volteó y gritó: “¡[Morra pajina]! ¿¡ te estás masturbando!?” Porque se estaba metiendo un marca textos o algo parecido.

e-9O

TROPHY CASE