Planning vacations is stressful

I never imagined i would be stressed and tired planning endless holidays, but yes, i am. The last 5 months, all i have been doing is one after the other racking my brains for holiday places, cheap train tickets and hostel bookings. And no, it still hasn't ended. I have one more vacation coming up and i need to start planning again.
The places sound so tempting, but sometimes there is a problem about money and at times with company. Why can't i have someone plan everything for me and just tell me where i need to be?
Sigh, yet another long one let out, as i go back to my hunting cities and places to see.

From Autumn to Winter to Spring

The pleasures of seeing colors change, winds swing in is absolutely heavenly and awesome. I landed here in autumn, when the leaves were turning yellow and there was a slight chill in the breeze. I watched the garden from my window, where the trees were slowly shedding leaves. Everything turned from yellow to brown to barren branches all grey and cold. As the days passed by, the sun decided to hide itself more and more, the air was bitter and everything was cold. Even the birds decided to hide themselves, the two cats in the house refused to go out and play. It was winter time and everything had changed. People wore less colors, and their faces were always hidden by scarfs and hoods. Thick coats were on, boots were out and overall, coming from a warm country, it was an experience i wanted to fade out.
But the rare winter mornings when the sun would come out had its own joys and pleasures spread out. I would long for such mornings and jump with joy to see a nearly cloudless sky.
Now the winter is passing and giving way to Spring, and everything in the air has a summer-y swing. The birds are out, the sky is blue, the sun is shining and my eyes are too. I stood in my window for a long time today, just soaking up the sunlight that came my way. I watched the small leaves sprouting up on trees, and the pretty white flowers and the grass that is green. It is beautiful, this experience to see the changing seasons, the different aspects to nature and people. With the Spring coming in, i see all people out. Sitting in cafe's and chilling out. I am happy my stay will end in this joyful way, where once again everything will be happy and gay !

Somewhere, over the rainbow

Somewhere over the rainbow, my dreams are taking shape
Somewhere over the rainbow, my life is catching pace

Right now, my life has no up and down, no right or left, i am just having what you may call a vacation or a party. Work is not much, nor is the stress. I just lie around my room at times and stare into space. It has been 2 days since i got back home, and i haven't left the house since. If you ask me what i have been up to, well, i have absolutely no clue. Yet time is rushing past and before i know it, its evening and its dark. I just sit here with my music and my things, i sleep, i read, i eat, i sing. Many may say, how lucky i am to be living this way, with no work and no deadlines to try and keep at bay. But if you ask me, its driving me insane, this just doing nothing and being lost in a daze. So many useless thoughts come to my mind and i sit and dwell on useless things, simply wasting my time.
But i know, somewhere my dreams are taking shape and soon i am going to hit upon the perfect potion to make me sane. Till then, i continue to sit and gaze, gaze at some empty spot in an endless daze.

Shopping

So i collect bags, shoes, clothes, accessories, cosmetics, perfumes, watches and a whole lot of things that i absolutely don't need. But i believe it is only because of people like me that the economy is benefiting and growing. It is only because of selfless people like me, who don't keep money to themselves, but give it off for good causes (like adding collectors items to their wardrobes and houses). You may not agree with me on this one, but i do honestly believe they are a good cause. What better cause can there be, than one that makes you happy, right ?
I am good at convincing people into buying things for themselves. My motto, if u like it, buy it. Who knows what is in store tomorrow for us ? So enjoy today and pamper yourself, believe me, it's a must ! Tomorrow we might not have anything, or we might have something better than this, but the fact is, right now, today, if we really like something, we should pamper ourselves and buy it.
I have thought about different career options, like jewelry making and cooking, but i think i would do good as a shopping assistant. I can easily convince people to buy things. Even if at the start they have only a 10% feeling that they would like to have something, by the end of my convincing session, they will be feeling like they absolutely need it and its not a big spend, its just a necessity. Now of course a new bag is an absolute necessity ! Imagine, how nice it will look with that new shirt ( which u don't have right now, but keep walking into shops with me, and you will realize how your life was incomplete and how the expensive bag u just bought is so not complete without this new shirt to bring out the look of it !) and there, you will be pulling out your wallet and walking up to the counter with the new bag, by now thoroughly convinced about how nice it will look with your new ensemble, which we still have to get down to picking !
I love shopping, be it for myself or for someone else. It just makes me so happy and energetic, like fresh air after a stuffy train ride in Mumbai local trains ! Now not many people will understand what i am saying, so next time you want to shop, take me along, and you will totally see things from my point of view, while i convince you into joining the elite group of us few !

My sandals

I bought a pair of lovely leather sandals last month sometime, in a sale. I bought them, admired them and carefully wrapped them up and put them away in my suitcase to take back home with me when i leave. I got busy with my life and things i had been doing and completely forgot about this lovely new addition to my shoe collection. Today, i was alone at home all day, so to amuse myself, i opened up my suitcase to just see all the things i had bought till now, things i hadn't needed till now, that were lying there in my case, ready to be taken back. I pulled out clothes and things i had bought over the last few months, admired them and folded and put them back. Suddenly my hand touched something at the bottom of my suitcase, i pulled out the bag that was lying there. I opened it and saw my wonderful sandals sitting there silently, looking up at me with shining eyes and waiting for me to try them on again.
I was happy once again, just like i was the day i saw them in the shop window and i decided to buy them. I slid them out of their bag, i sat and i put them on. I walked to the other room and admired them in the mirror. I was grinning by now and i could see that my sandals were thrilled too. We were a funny lot, my sandals and me, standing there in front of the mirror and grinning like idiots. I did a silly little dance in them, just to show i was really happy to have them in my life. Then, i took them off, and with love and care wrapped them back in their bag and put them in my suitcase where they will stay till i reach back home. I know they are as happy to be a part of my life as i am to be a part of theirs. I know i love them a lot and i cant wait to get back to India and flaunt them off !!

Is it racism?

I have always felt that in Europe, wherever i go, people give me this look, like i am some untouchable creature or just some filth. I used to think maybe it was in my head and i was imagining things, but as time passes, i have started believing that its not just me, but it is true, we Asians are not considered equal to them white skinned people. It saddens me and at times makes me angry too.
What makes me get my anger out right now, is an incident that happened to me yesterday. I was coming back from my holiday and i got off the train at my destination. As i got off, i saw 2 cops standing there. As thoughts passed through my mind, i said to myself, its funny how we Asians are always looked at with suspicion, but i just walked on towards the exit lost in my thoughts. I walked all along the platform, out the exit, crossed the road and was walking towards my bus stop. It is my normal route and i have walked down it plenty of times, to know that at the street corner, there will always be some or the other drunk guy waiting to start a conversation. Just as expected and as a welcome back home routine, there were 2 drunk men sitting there. Paranoid as i am, i increased my speed and walked faster to put as much distance as possible between the drunk guys and me, when from behind i heard a man's voice call out to me. I ignored and walked on faster, assuming it was these same men, who harass women asking for a lighter or a cigarette. But then i heard footsteps running behind me and before i knew it, someone tapped on my arm. I turned around holding my breath and fear in my heart, to see the same 2 police men i had crossed a few minutes back on the platform. They had followed me all the way and the minute i stopped they stood on either side of me and asked me for my identification papers. I pulled out my passport and my residence permit with my heart beating fast and my hands ice cold. I am not a fan of being stopped in the middle of the road like a convict or someone who has done something wrong. I showed them my papers which were all in place, and i apologized for walking fast when they called and told them, i had been bothered before on the same road by drunk men and i was scared. They said that is ok, they saw all my papers, asked me how long i was to stay in this place, returned my passport and said, have a good day and just walked off. Leaving me standing there in the middle of the street with a few people staring at the scene that had just happened. I was red in my face with shame for being stopped by the cops in this manner. I was scared, i was angry, i was upset and i was shaken. Why is it that only we darker skinned people are treated like this? Why can we not be treated as humans equal to the people here? Back in India, we do not stop fair skinned people and look at them with suspicion. They are human just like us. Then why this inferiority feeling is doled out on us in a foreign land? Am i not here because they need me to come and teach their children in school? Isn't it their government who has given me a scholarship to come teach here? When will the world become equal ? When will humans be given the respect they all deserve?
At times like this i feel, no matter how much more money i earn here, i will still prefer to work back in my country where i am given the respect i deserve.

25 random things about me

Recently this tag is going around and i have been tagged way too many times now, so thought i will get down to finally writing it....
Here are 25 random things about me :

1. I am a coffee and chocolate addict.
2. I am very lazy.
3. I love crawling into bed, staying warm and cuddled in my own thoughts.
4. I am addicted to the internet and feel the need to be in touch with family and friends.
5. I like having/ owning nice expensive things.
6. I love my family more than i love myself (which is a big thing in my life!).
7. I am a shopaholic and can guess looking at an outfit, where it was bought from (most of the times).
8. I have realized i enjoy cooking.
9. I love making jewelry and creating stuff.
10. I always feel the need to be appreciated and liked by all.
11. I love and hate in extremes. It is always black or white for me. Never grey.
12. I like giving and receiving gifts. I love to see the smiles on people's faces when they get something unexpected.
13. Money is something i earn to spend. Saving is not in my dictionary.
14. I believe, if u have it, flaunt it.
15. I have realized i love writing.
16. More and more as time is passing, i miss my guitar lessons and the joy music used to bring to me.
17. I love my puddle and to swim in it. I am scared of adventures and venturing out.
18. I am insecure about things and people that are very important to me.
19. I love the two cats in this house and i am going to miss them the most when i go back.
20. I have realized i hate wearing shoes and socks and that i am a very chappals person.
21. I miss Bangalore more than i had thought i would.
22. I wish i could sing well.
23. I hate criticism and i am not good at accepting it.
24. I love pink color even if everyone makes fun of me for it.
25. I can't wait to get back to India and eat my first breakfast of kanda poha and chai !

My puddle

I have always been the kind to be happy in my puddle. I don't like too many adventures and taking risks, and i am always happy mastering the skills required to survive in my puddle and being the queen of it. There have been moments in my life where i have had to move to bigger puddles, where i have had to fight harder for survival and needed to spend more time and energy mastering the art of survival. But all the same, every time i have come up triumphant.
My latest puddle or comfort zone, as you may call it is my new home in here. It is my safe place. My bed, my room, my coffee mug and my laptop. I may go anywhere on holidays and have the best of everything, but after a while i crave to come back and feel at home in my little world.
Not too many months back, this same puddle seemed so new and i was lost in it. I wanted to run away from it and every moment spent in it was not too far from torture. But soon, this same space became home for me and now every few days i want to run back to it, and no longer run away from it. The new family i have met here is now my family, and its been 2 weeks i haven't seen them and i realize now how much i miss them. I am waiting for them to get back home, share my stories and adventures with them and listen to all theirs. In such a short time, this has become my home, my comfort zone. These people have become my family and me a part of theirs. If i was asked to change anything in my stay here, i would change nothing at all. I love every inch of this puddle of mine and its a life i am lucky to be living and calling mine.
I miss my students in school, with their bubbly nature and life full of energy and i realize all the little things that are such a big part of my life now. I am starting to realize how much i love my new world and i know i wouldn't change it with anyone for anything in this world.

The sun

Back home, where it never gets very cold, there are so many things i took for granted, simple things like the sun. Back home i would run far away from the sun, and crib and cry the minute the weather got hot. Sun was an enemy, a bad thing that always made me dizzy. But it took me to come to France to realize its importance. Oh the beautiful sun, how i miss it all at once. Last four months here have been grey and cold with barely any sunlight. And even if the sun does decide to come out, the rays don't have any warmth in them. I have always wondered why everything here is so cold. Maybe its because the people don't get the warmth they require from the natural source. But i didn't realize how much i missed it, until last week i was on an island and i soaked myself in its light. The sheer beauty in its warmth, its shine. It lifted up my spirits and made me reach heights of joy i had forgotten existed. I just sat there soaking up the heat, i just lay down on the ground hungry to take in as much of the heat as i could. No artificial heating can come in comparison with the warmth of the sun. I lay there for a long time with the sun in my eyes and a slight breeze from the sea blowing on my face. it was the perfect moment and i wished i could stay there like that forever. With no worry in my mind, with no thoughts to crowd my mind. All at once i was at peace and i felt happier than i had ever been. All i needed was the sun to lift my spirits and soar them high, the same sun i used to run away from not too long back.

A beautiful city

I went to this unknown little city called Nimes a few days back. A not so known touristy city, but we went there because it was the only one where the youth hostel had beds free. So a few friends and me went there one Saturday evening. We reached late evening and not a bus was in sight, so we waited at the station for a taxi to come into sight. Finally one lone taxi came trudging along the road and we waved it down and were finally off to a warm bed and dinner. A few minutes into the ride and we were sure we had made a great decision to come to this little unknown city. We just knew it was the right choice and the place to be. After a while we rolled into the hostel and it was one of the most beautiful places i have stayed in. Little cottages everywhere and trees and a nice feeling to the place. We were welcomed by a member of the friendly staff, and were shown to our room which was one of a sort. It was so perfect with its bunk beds and sparkling clean floors, that i couldn't stop grinning at the gold we had hit upon under the name of this place !
We unpacked a little and then went to the cafeteria to eat, to be welcomed by a lovely atmosphere and a steaming hot dinner. Chatted late into the night and stuffed ourselves with fries and tartefletts. It was a yum dinner and finally we crawled into bed tired and happy and dazed.
The next morning we left to see the city and what sights ! The roman architectures and the stories behind. We visited the roman arena, one of the most well maintained ones and walked ourselves through history and time. What an experience that morning was, full of knowledge and awe. We moved on to some other churches and places to see, and had an over all perfect day sight seeing. The next day was great too, visiting a beautiful garden and climbing up the tower to see the entire city. A breath taking view and an absolute must see !
I felt bad to leave the city, but i have decided to go there again, this time with definitely more days in hand to give the city the proper time it deserves :)

The cook in me

I have always enjoyed cooking, right from when i was a little girl. It has fascinated me and i loved to experiment with little things. But somewhere over the years, laziness took over and i gave up cooking and experimenting. But 2 weeks back, i finally decided it was high time i shed off this lazy feeling and i cooked something. So i meekly tried to make some lentil curry and rice, and when it was appreciated by everyone who ate it, i was encouraged and pushed towards cooking some more. SO the next day i tried my hand at some french cooking. I pulled out my new cook book which was a gift tucked away somewhere under my clothes, pretending not to exist. I wasn't too confident about this french stuff making, so i hunted out for what seemed like the simplest recipe in the list of things. My friend very encouragingly said, she would help out too and it would be fun to try out a dish or two. So we made our shopping list, off to the market we went. Bought all the necessary stuff, got back home, washed up and went down to the kitchen to try out this new stuff !
We laughed and we joked and we made it into a fun evening, reading into the recipe book, using our personal cooking touches here and there and coming up with a super awesome quiche and chocolate cake. It was lip smacking-ly yum if i can say so myself and everyone in the house appreciated it and enjoyed its taste. Wow, we succeeded, my friend and me, into making a proper french dish and then polishing it clean ! Kudos to cooking and i hope i don't stop, because i have re-kindled my old passion for cooking and i hope it never dies down again.

I missed writing

So i am back after a long break in writing. I went off on a holiday with a couple of friends, and i left behind my computer and my notebook and pen. I went off just to be with my friends and have a nice time. But i missed writing little posts here and there, every time i wanted to pen down a beautiful moment or simply crib about some pain. I realized how much a part of me this blog has become and how much i longed to get back on it and write down my thoughts.

Those childhood days

Today's post is written with memories in my heart, because i just spent the last half hour watching ad's from my childhood times. Cadbury ad's and hamara bajaj, such sweet innocent times ! I traced down almost all the cadbury ad's till date and i watched them all with a grin on my face. I went back to the times as a kid, when getting a cadbury was such a treat. You had to do something good, like get good marks on a test or help like a good child around the house and then you had a chocolate as a special reward. Such lovely days they used to be, when life was so simple and so were we.
My family would go shopping to fashion street once every few months and that used to be a big highlight in our lives. Dad would drive us all there and it would be our day out. We would get so many new clothes that most of the time we lost count, and then once back in the car on our drive home, my sister and i would excitedly open the bags and count. Count how many clothes each of us had finally got. Getting home would then be the last round, trying all the clothes out and parading around the house. Ok with ME mostly parading all about the house. One of my passing fads as a kid were to become a model you see, so everything had to be tried and worn and then i had to pose and ask " How's this?" ! Those were the good old days i so miss.
Sunday breakfast on some treat days would be "Gupta kaka's bread" which was a term coined by my family i guess. My parents would start preparing it long before my sister and me woke up and then we all would sit at the table and enjoy it and my dad would in the end polish off the remaining milk and sugars bits ! Such awesome days they would be. I miss the "pehelam pyara", "doodh mogra" and the "kachan keeda" rituals with my dad after every single meal.
We would often take holidays or simply go out on weekends with our family friends. So much fun it used to be and such a learning experience it used to be. Running around on the beaches or climbing up trees, balancing on water pipes and what not monkey acts that we all did on these trips !
Now every thing has to be planned, availability has to be seen and even then most of the time there is someone who is not free. The simple pleasures of life seem to have long disappeared and now what remains is just us human beings. No more shopping on fashion street is it, now i mostly walk into air conditioned malls and buy whatever i want. Eating a cadbury is no longer a great deal, as i just walk across to the store and buy it as and when i feel. It is no longer something special for me and i really feel bad about all these childhood joys that i have left behind in the last few years. I don't know how and when i changed, but it did happen and i became one of the snooty people i used to see. Where i like to have expensive and branded stuff too and i prefer a day spent in a mall rather than walking and haggling with vendors on a street. I hope this realization will change my mind and take me at least a little into my past life. I hope to make me a simple person again, with small joys and shining eyes and all the excitement.

Wish there was no school tomorrow

Sang sang sang bhoola naath, paaus padel kai ? Shale bahuti tale sathoon sutti milel kai ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmUkBSHQ_MQ

I never thought i would wish this after i was done with school as a student in it. Never liked it as a kid, don't like it even now. School is for nerds and teachers is what i thought as a kid, and now as a teacher i re frame it saying, school is for nerds, that is it !
I have school 3 times a week, but still the night before school i hope and i hope that classes will be canceled the next day ! I yawn with the thought of lessons and kids, i yawn and i keep looking at my watch hoping to hear the bell ring. Sigh, why do we have schools is what i ask, not just now, but since forever.
No school for me is what i wished it to be. I always hoped i could fake a tummy ache and skip it for a week. Tummy ache was the only way no one could verify if it was real or fake ! I still every night before going to sleep think and think if i can come up with an excuse that cannot be cross checked and caught to be fake !
Today there is a storm predicted and iv been continually looking at the sky hoping to see the signs of it. The storm will come and then tomorrow will be a holiday is what i have been wishing all day ! Keep your fingers crossed for me all, that tomorrow it will be a holiday and a ball !

Madness thats me

So people say i am a shopaholic. I just say no, i would rather call myself someone who likes to have nice things, that is all . Ok, i have 7 watches to decide between depending on my mood for that day, i have a lot of bags to choose from depending on my work for the day and the mood and all. I have lots of clothes i agree, but then aren't they all necessities?
Shoes and bags and watches and clothes are just the basic things required by all. Those who don't have as many as me are just not aware of the importance they hold in our lives ! There are days when i feel chirpy and there are days when i feel i need to look chirpy simply because its the drabbest day. SO out come my colorful clothes, shoes and bags and earrings to match. Some days are just blue or black or other color days, so i need to be prepared for them with a set of all of them ready to wear ! It may sound weird to most people, but then, who cares. It makes me feel happy or sad or just get into the mood to go to work and do the same old job as always.
So finally i say, the madness that is me, is something that makes me the person that is me. I wouldn't see myself any different than this, and i am sure the people who know me cannot imagine me any different either you see :)
So here is cheers to my collection of things, and may i always have the means to buy them continually !

Why does my heart feel so bad

Why does my heart feel so bad ? Why does my heart feel so sad ? I haven't slept in a long time i feel, i tried to be cheery as i had promised myself to be. I kept myself busy all day, i smiled through it like a well behaved girl. I smiled at the right moments, i said thank you at every place that was necessary, i helped out in the kitchen and even did the laundry.
But at the end of the day, sitting up in my room, i feel the feelings creeping back to me. Why does my heart feel so bad ?
I made plans for tomorrow, will be spending the day with a friend making jewelry. I should be excited, shouldn't i, but no, i have no excitement or feelings in my heart at all.
Where did my positivity disappear ? Not even shopping these days can win my heart. I try to do brainless things just to humor myself, but no, nothing helps to get the stars back in my eyes.
I have a holiday planned soon, tickets are in hand. I should be excited shouldn't i ? But no, suddenly i feel i am not. yet i am sure to smile trough it, like an artificial doll, and make sure i pretend to have a ball. This is what i feel my life has become, a pretending little plastic doll.
I sway dangerously between emotions like a roller coaster ride and sometimes the swings it takes gives me frights. One minute i am happy, or at least pretending to be, and then the next minute i am down in the dumps, as down as down can be.
I wish this feeling and the heavy heart go away soon, because i really have no reason to feel so blue. Did i not just promise myself a few days back that this is my time to enjoy as much as i can ? Please help me in at least understanding this feeling, because i do not myself, no matter how hard i try.

A wish i wish could come true

I miss saying aiiyooo every time there is a goof up, or simply when something is not going right. I miss adding the random da's to the conversation and i also miss the idli's , rice and rassam.
Home has been a complicated word for me, since i have been away for now almost 5 years. I like going back to Thane to be with my parents, but i realize, apart from them, there is nothing else that holds me there. I want to go spend a weekend or two at Pune every now and then, simply to be with my friends there and live back the memories of my college days.
But for the last 2 years i have been in Bangalore and there is where i have found the perfect bunch of friends, a job that i love and the kind of life i see myself living. I have grown up a lot living there, become more independent, stronger and an adult. So, now for me, when i think of India, it is Bangalore that comes to my mind before all. My house, my bus routes, my eating joints and my food. My friends, the things i love doing and everything that is "me". Maybe growing up there and finally living on my own is what has gotten me attached to this city. The fact that i have found good friends finally in my life, friends who truly care and are there.
Home of course is where my parents are and i need to go back and touch base every few months. But still, Bangalore is where i see myself to be, where i have finally fit in comfortably. For the first time i have found friends who let me be myself. I don't need to pretend and be someone else. My job is just the way i saw myself working, meeting new people and enjoying what i am doing. My only wish if i could have it will be, to get my parents to move to Bangalore city. Then i will have my cake and i will be able to eat it too. The perfect life that will truly be !

My forthcoming Ski trip

One morning after the first vacation in France, i was talking to some teachers in school and i told them that i saw snow during the vacations and i was so excited to be out there and play with it. They all had a nice laugh and were amazed to know that where i live in India, it never snows ! So they all grouped together and suggested i go along with the kids on their ski trip in winter. They didn't even wait for a yes from me, they were too excited to put forth the idea to the principal of the school. So up the ladder went my demand to be part of the ski trip and the principal a couple of days later came to me and asked, would you really like to come with us and take part? Yes yes ! I was almost jumping up and down like a little kid and my face glowed with all the excitement ! So she said she would talk to the authorities in charge and see if it was possible to take me along. So some more days of waiting and then one day she came and gave me the good news, all has been set, and you can start preparing for the "classe de neige" !
So i ran back home and shared the good news with my family here in France and the lady here immediately took charge of getting me set with my ski wear and all. A new "Anorak" was pulled out from somewhere in the house, to see if the size fit me or not. Luckily it fit and i felt snug like a bug inside. Then came borrowing the ski pants and buying the gloves and the polars and what not. Today i bought the last piece of equipment required, a pair of sun glasses for the snow and now finally im all set to go !
Though im still a little scared of how its going to be, since i have never ever gone skiing before in my life. But im taking it all as one great experience of my life and i am sure the two weeks with the kids and teachers will be fun no doubt. All the trekking and skiing and the visits that are planned, i really can't wait to get on and try my hand !

Busy people

Everyone around me seems so busy. Doing what, someday i would really like to know. They think it is cool to say they have no time, to pretend to be occupied with the world on their mind. Call them for a coffee and they look up their schedules, invite them for a weekend out and they are sure to come up with an excuse. What is it they want from life, do they really have time for anything at all? Or maybe they are so useless that they pretend to be busy so that they feel more important before all.
I never understand these people and nor will i ever do. But good luck to their pretending because its high time they understand that people can see right through them and how farce they sound . They should hear themselves and listen to how dumb they sound, trying to be someone with not even one foot on the ground ! It is so fake and laughable this attitude of most of the people around, i wish someone drills some brains into them, simply for the good of mankind all around !

A holiday alone

Why is it an Indian mentality that we can't holiday alone? Or is it not a common thinking but just mine invented? I don't know. But i do know that the thought of holidaying alone has always been a little weird for me. I crave for company, or sometimes its simply the fear of doing something alone. But if i try to think of it practically, isn't it the best way to travel sometimes? All alone, one with yourself ?
Somehow, i have never traveled alone on holiday. Yes i have taken trains and flights alone, and i have also been living alone for a long time now, but it is different from going to an unknown place and finding my way around. I have missed out on so many places i have wanted to see and so many holiday plans, just because i had no one to come with me. I am not so keen on going with unknown people, so common tours has never been my cup of tea.
But now i have decided, i want to at least give it a try. Start with a day trip somewhere alone. With music and a book as my company lone. No one to turn to, no one to talk to all day, just me and my thoughts all to myself. It will be an experience i am sure. Good or bad, we will watch and learn.

Sugar and spice and all that's nice

Well, i am more than 4 months into this trip, got next vacation tickets in hand and all planned for the next 1 month. A trip to Spain and a ski trip too ! Already plans brewing for the final vacation too and suddenly i realize, there is so little time and so much to do !
Looking back and reading my earlier blogs, i realize i might have come across rather harsh on this stay and experience here, but the truth is, even with the up's and down's, i have had a ball and enjoyed my time here. There were good times and bad, but then, aren't they there back home as well? So, i decided to write more positive stuff form now on, because in my heart i know, this trip is definitely for me, sugar and spice and all that's nice !
So here is a bit of all the nice things i have learnt here. I tried all kinds of new food, oysters and raw prawns and couscous, different kinds of fish and what not. I liked some things on the first try, with some others, i developed a taste. But i am happy that i had the guts to try them in the first place !
I met people from different countries and we shared our stories and lives from back home. In the process i learnt so much about cultures i never knew existed before. That is a nice feather in my cap of knowledge i must say, for i feel i am smarter now than i had been before. I speak a lot of french all the time, and so i feel, i have improved my language skills big time. I am no more scared to express what i want to say and i think that is the biggest achievement i have gotten from my stay.
I learnt what is influenza and flu and i saw snow and i realized the difference in temperatures of 0 and below 0 ! I learnt to wake up and go to school, even if the temperatures were crazy and i was in absolute no mood. I learnt to handle little kids and fights, i learnt to teach and have a lot more patience than i used to have before. I learnt so much about schools here, the teaching, the methods and everything new. I met teachers so full of life, and wow, it made me change a lot of thoughts towards my attitude in life. I got so many cards made by kids, so many tit bits, all full of their love and affection and simple acknowledgment of my presence. Each kid, in their own way has made me feel special.
I have so much more to learn and pen down before i go back, but i promise to see it more in positive light. Smile through it all and laugh and enjoy, because this time will never come back and nor will the joys.

A beautiful morning

I woke up this morning, late as usual, with nothing but vacation bookings on my mind and an otherwise lazy Monday. I rolled around in bed for a while, turned on music and listened to my favorite songs while still curled in my warm blanket. The room was dark with the curtains drawn, the house was silent. The only sound i could hear was the soft music and my own calm and relaxed breathing. My normal breathing without a strain of cough. How beautiful such normal, simple sounds are.
Then after a lot of lazying i decided i wanted a mug of coffee, so i put on my sweater and my flip flop chappals and went down to get myself a steaming cup. The smell of coffee, a slight sun outside and calm in the house. the perfect way to wake up ! Now im sitting here with my mug, music still on and a huge smile on my face as i am back in my blanket and just looking forward to a nice day like this. I am suddenly in love with my life :)

A nice Saturday !

Yesterday was a nice day. I went to this little town called Angouleme, about an hour by train from Bordeaux. It was their 4 days of hyper activity, their yearly festival of comic strips. Now, i am not very big into comics. I read Calvin n Hobbs, Archies as a kid, have read Tintin and Asterix, but i wouldn't call myself a great follower of comics.
But comics in France are an integral part of their culture and lives. To many, almost as sacred as their cheese and wine. So, everyone told me, oh this festival is a must see since you are around at this time. So i decided, fine, lets go and see what is the big deal people make out of it. Well, i saw a sight like i have never seen before. So many people out on the roads. The minute i walked out of the station, it was easy to realize, there was something big happening in this usually small town. There were signs and comics painted everywhere i saw. There were hoardings and fliers all around. From free buses all around the city to their signs and directions, we could see that the organizers really deserved a bow down.
We ( two friends and me ) hopped onto the already over crowded bus and off we went on this adventure or culture discovery or whatever it was we were there to do. A little lost at first, we just sat quiet in the bus. Watched people hop on and off at places, but didn't know if this was where we were to hop off too, or go on ahead and see the start. Finally, at one point, many people got off, so we just acted like we knew what we were doing and hopped off too. We saw a line and ticket counters, so got in there, bought out tickets which were paper bracelets to be worn all the time we were there. In we went with the rest of the crowd to see artists sitting and talking to people about their comics, their lives or simply just signing autographs for the crowds. People were out there in hundred's maybe even thousand's from all around the neighboring towns. All excited, full of energy and understanding what was going on around.
We were all 3 of us lost, so we just walked around, with our mouths wide open in wonder and amazement with what we saw all around. We walked and we walked, from one stall to the next. We saw people making comics just sitting right there. Painting and filling in the bubbles with words and noises, it was like entering a world of cartoons and un-reality. There were competitions that were happening and some that had already happened. We saw comics drawn and created by kids form ages 8 to 10 ! It was a wonderful experience to see this new culture, which is so unheard of back in my country.
Finally after a day of walking and taking in all we could, we got back onto the train and came home feeling more lost about comics, but good all the same to have experienced this cultural difference.