So I've been out of hospital for 2 weeks now. I'm still on antibiotics, and still a little fragile, but I have been able to eat more normal food, so for anyone who knows me well enough, you will know that I can't be too bad. Eating Jenny - Happy Jenny!
Since I came out of hospital, I keep on looking at the streets, Delhi, and India more... avidly. Knowing I only have a few weeks left here now, I'm trying to soak it all in, and enjoy the feel of it as much as I can.
I'm stuck between two minds really... On the one hand, I'm still a little ill, not able to do much, no long bike rides, no market shopping, no sightseeing, also because it's still about 45 out there everyday, and it's just killing me! So yes, on the one hand, I really look forward to going home, embracing the mild weather and the normality of life... On the other hand, I know that 2 weeks of European weather and I'll be complaining about the cold, the wind, the rain etc... I can only hope that I'm coming back to a nice summer... My plans are quite exciting too, as well as very much unplanned... I'll be flying back to London on the 9th of July, landing round 7pm - then I have to organise my things, papers, changes of address etc... Get the bike out of storage, get it MOTed and re-insured etc... I expect I'll be in the UK for about 2 weeks to sort all this out, and see everyone I can. I look forward to a few pints at the pub, maybe a few bbqs if anyone is so inclined as to invite me for a few burgers and... oh my, some nice sausages on the grill! (There we go, back to food...)
Then I'm heading to my mountains, France, and more catching up with family and friends, and more bbqs and, well, no pints, but possibly a few glasses of wine! I'm thinking of doing two trips, one in a van with all my London belongings, and one, alone like a big girl, on the dragon. I'm really keen on that little solo journey, it should be fun and a nice way to clear my head a bit after all that's happened...
So yes, quite a bit to enjoy when I get back, but then there's the job issue, what am I going to do with myself?? Well, the "plan" is to keep money coming in somehow, and to make sure that I can finance regular or long trips back to India every so often. Therefore it's not goodbye, it's just a different beginning.
I've had an interesting time here. It hasn't been all easy, far from. The 1st 2 months were a kind of adaptation time. Adapting to work, to the flat, to the surroundings, getting my bearings, realising that I had sent myself to a very foreign country by myself - And I did feel very much alone those first couple of months.
Then it was pushing myself to go out and get to meet a few people, and I met the NZ girls, the expat community, and then it somehow lead me to meeting the Delhi bikers, and I guess that's when the real life here started. When I started meeting "locals". Not people in transit, but people who let me into their routine, their Delhi life. I realised that eventhough I had visited India twice before, I had never really understood that much about the place. I had only scratched the surface, making assumptions about the culture rather than really getting it. I can't say I know everything now, but I have got a little further, and that is why the ending of my contract just feels so untimely. I'm just starting, and I'm heading home.
I guess what I've started seeing by meeting Roman, and through him, his friends, is that India is very much an exciting place to be at the moment. You can feel the buzz, the energy in people, they have ideas, and they go with them. There are so many self employed people, all quite young, and doing well! Not having it easy of course, they're all working hard, but very dedicated to what they're into, it's really inspiring to see.
And there's also a strong sense of family, community, strong holds between people, old and young, everyone counts on each other, and helps each other...
I was asked a very "tourist question" last week - "What has shocked you the most in India?" I wasn't able to answer on the spot. I guess there are so many things!! From the poverty right in your face on the street, children begging or selling stuff at traffic lights, to the whole servant thing - bosses not lifting their fingers to get the spoon that's lying 20cms away from them, but calling the boy who's in the next room to get it for them... That made me cringe. 3 boys at the school, all serving the same one or two people and in between tasks, sleeping in their little desk corner. Then I guess the one I had, and still have a problem with the most, is linked to this. It seems that people from different backgrounds don't see eachother as on the same level of humanity. There is no please or thank you - I know both the words, some of the first I wanted to learn obviously, and I've also learned not to expect them too much to pop up in conversation or exchanges. They're just not really used! And at the start I thought it was because people were rude, like people who don't acknowledge that you're waiting for them to cross the road to move on, and who take all their time doing so, never looking in your direction. But I think now that it's a culture thing. They just don't need it. It's not in the rules of social behaviour!
Well it's a week or so later now, the 2nd of July, I didn't finish this post.
Next week at this time I'll be in the plane, and at this time - GMT - I'll have been back in London for an hour already. Why is it that 7 days seems like the time to start the countdown?
Thinking of the actual landing, stepping out of the plane and into Heathrow's awful carpets just seems out of this world for now, I'm struggling to picture it. Here I am, sitting in my flat in Delhi (or my guest house room as some now call it), it's about 40 degrees out there, Roman is just gone to get the car, and will be picking me up for dinner in 30 minutes - stepping out of the AC room into the AC car, into an AC restaurant somewhere... Anyway. And there goes, next week I'll probably be in uncle Dave's non AC car heading for a coldish house in Clapham, and fish & chips? I can't picture it... It feels like it shouldn't be happening...
Oops, had to stop my writing again on the 2nd as my chauffeur had arrived...
It's now Thursday the 5th, time is flying. I've finished work, last day yesterday - thank god. I think a couple more days would have truly sent me over the edge. My relationship with the boss just went downhill from the moment I... I don't know actually - there were water problems, insurance problems, work problems, and, well, to end the contract, Sumati yesterday left the school without saying goodbye. I mean, what kind of behaviour is this? Childish? Unprofessional? Stupid? Take your pick. Anyway, so not getting this contract renewed was kind of a blessing in disguise. I'm not happy to leave, but I'm ecstatic about leaving this "institute" - terrible terrible atmosphere.
Unfortunately, I started feeling ill again yesterday morning, stomach having another strop, and so the dinner I had planned with my colleagues that I was getting to know recently was cancelled. Shame as we were heading for Big Chill - a restaurant with the most extensive dessert menu ever... Damn it!
Today I've been relaxing at home, eating boiled eggs (2 so far today, I'm coming back a skeleton, seriously!) and having a little look at how much stuff I've got to take home. The bed is covered with stuff, and I've only got one big bag... Not sure how it's all gonna work!? And what should I wear on the day?? How cold is it gonna be? BBC says 13 degrees on Monday night.. really?
So anyway, I think this will be my last post of this blog, but... the future may just bring me to this amazing country again, so who knows, there might be a number three one day.
For now I'm gonna say bye bye to this one, I hope it's been fairly entertaining to those who read it (don't really know how many of you did!). It's quite tricky writing a blog actually, trying to pass on my views without sounding too much of an expert, cause I'm far from that. I just wanted to share what I was doing here and discovering..
This trip reminded me of my moving to the UK in 2004. Knowing no-one and wanting to get my teeth into it. It took a long time, and I'm still not a full Brit, for sure, but I get it now. And with India, it's the same thing. I'm starting to get it, and I want to know more. It's kind of realizing that visiting a few countries on holiday is just not enough, and that everywhere has so much to offer... India is enormous, and so varied and colorful and you just want to know more about it... so I'll be back for more.
One more little note on the people I met here..
The ones I knew before arriving turned to be, unfortunately, the least helpful, and / or kind. I had to do my own little work on the social circle, and that wasn't especially easy cause I'm not the most sociable person!
The girls I met, Emily and Kim, from New Zealand, allowed for me to have a bit of Western outings, girlie chats, sharing opinions on the place as foreigners, and that was cool. Shame I didn't see them more, I thought I had more time..
The bikers, Bobby and Abi, introduced me to the cool side of Delhi, Haus Khas and its vibe, and the world of the Royal Enfield Bullet - What a great bike!
Deepika, well I didn't get to know so well, but, first, thanks for the free beauty treatments - I do hope I can get to repay that one day! From her however I caught a glimpse of the Indian extended family, and how important this is here, all part of my learning..
Ashish, a fun easy going guy with a sense of humour that withstood the Frenchies' visit, well done!
Varun, the film producer with some really good ideas about how to use his work to raise awareness in his country, I hope I get to see some of them! I'll see you again for more Dominos pizzas and Teachers Sunday nights.
Finally, well, Roman, the guy who picked me up at 5am off the street one cool morning to take me on a breakfast biking trip and who never actually let me go. Through good and bad, making me experience India like I'd never had, showing me personal qualities I'd given up on thinking existed... Not perfect cause no-one is, but like India, incredible and in need of more time and exploring. I'll be back for you too.
Til next time x
Since I came out of hospital, I keep on looking at the streets, Delhi, and India more... avidly. Knowing I only have a few weeks left here now, I'm trying to soak it all in, and enjoy the feel of it as much as I can.
I'm stuck between two minds really... On the one hand, I'm still a little ill, not able to do much, no long bike rides, no market shopping, no sightseeing, also because it's still about 45 out there everyday, and it's just killing me! So yes, on the one hand, I really look forward to going home, embracing the mild weather and the normality of life... On the other hand, I know that 2 weeks of European weather and I'll be complaining about the cold, the wind, the rain etc... I can only hope that I'm coming back to a nice summer... My plans are quite exciting too, as well as very much unplanned... I'll be flying back to London on the 9th of July, landing round 7pm - then I have to organise my things, papers, changes of address etc... Get the bike out of storage, get it MOTed and re-insured etc... I expect I'll be in the UK for about 2 weeks to sort all this out, and see everyone I can. I look forward to a few pints at the pub, maybe a few bbqs if anyone is so inclined as to invite me for a few burgers and... oh my, some nice sausages on the grill! (There we go, back to food...)
Then I'm heading to my mountains, France, and more catching up with family and friends, and more bbqs and, well, no pints, but possibly a few glasses of wine! I'm thinking of doing two trips, one in a van with all my London belongings, and one, alone like a big girl, on the dragon. I'm really keen on that little solo journey, it should be fun and a nice way to clear my head a bit after all that's happened...
So yes, quite a bit to enjoy when I get back, but then there's the job issue, what am I going to do with myself?? Well, the "plan" is to keep money coming in somehow, and to make sure that I can finance regular or long trips back to India every so often. Therefore it's not goodbye, it's just a different beginning.
I've had an interesting time here. It hasn't been all easy, far from. The 1st 2 months were a kind of adaptation time. Adapting to work, to the flat, to the surroundings, getting my bearings, realising that I had sent myself to a very foreign country by myself - And I did feel very much alone those first couple of months.
Then it was pushing myself to go out and get to meet a few people, and I met the NZ girls, the expat community, and then it somehow lead me to meeting the Delhi bikers, and I guess that's when the real life here started. When I started meeting "locals". Not people in transit, but people who let me into their routine, their Delhi life. I realised that eventhough I had visited India twice before, I had never really understood that much about the place. I had only scratched the surface, making assumptions about the culture rather than really getting it. I can't say I know everything now, but I have got a little further, and that is why the ending of my contract just feels so untimely. I'm just starting, and I'm heading home.
I guess what I've started seeing by meeting Roman, and through him, his friends, is that India is very much an exciting place to be at the moment. You can feel the buzz, the energy in people, they have ideas, and they go with them. There are so many self employed people, all quite young, and doing well! Not having it easy of course, they're all working hard, but very dedicated to what they're into, it's really inspiring to see.
And there's also a strong sense of family, community, strong holds between people, old and young, everyone counts on each other, and helps each other...
I was asked a very "tourist question" last week - "What has shocked you the most in India?" I wasn't able to answer on the spot. I guess there are so many things!! From the poverty right in your face on the street, children begging or selling stuff at traffic lights, to the whole servant thing - bosses not lifting their fingers to get the spoon that's lying 20cms away from them, but calling the boy who's in the next room to get it for them... That made me cringe. 3 boys at the school, all serving the same one or two people and in between tasks, sleeping in their little desk corner. Then I guess the one I had, and still have a problem with the most, is linked to this. It seems that people from different backgrounds don't see eachother as on the same level of humanity. There is no please or thank you - I know both the words, some of the first I wanted to learn obviously, and I've also learned not to expect them too much to pop up in conversation or exchanges. They're just not really used! And at the start I thought it was because people were rude, like people who don't acknowledge that you're waiting for them to cross the road to move on, and who take all their time doing so, never looking in your direction. But I think now that it's a culture thing. They just don't need it. It's not in the rules of social behaviour!
Well it's a week or so later now, the 2nd of July, I didn't finish this post.
Next week at this time I'll be in the plane, and at this time - GMT - I'll have been back in London for an hour already. Why is it that 7 days seems like the time to start the countdown?
Thinking of the actual landing, stepping out of the plane and into Heathrow's awful carpets just seems out of this world for now, I'm struggling to picture it. Here I am, sitting in my flat in Delhi (or my guest house room as some now call it), it's about 40 degrees out there, Roman is just gone to get the car, and will be picking me up for dinner in 30 minutes - stepping out of the AC room into the AC car, into an AC restaurant somewhere... Anyway. And there goes, next week I'll probably be in uncle Dave's non AC car heading for a coldish house in Clapham, and fish & chips? I can't picture it... It feels like it shouldn't be happening...
Oops, had to stop my writing again on the 2nd as my chauffeur had arrived...
It's now Thursday the 5th, time is flying. I've finished work, last day yesterday - thank god. I think a couple more days would have truly sent me over the edge. My relationship with the boss just went downhill from the moment I... I don't know actually - there were water problems, insurance problems, work problems, and, well, to end the contract, Sumati yesterday left the school without saying goodbye. I mean, what kind of behaviour is this? Childish? Unprofessional? Stupid? Take your pick. Anyway, so not getting this contract renewed was kind of a blessing in disguise. I'm not happy to leave, but I'm ecstatic about leaving this "institute" - terrible terrible atmosphere.
Unfortunately, I started feeling ill again yesterday morning, stomach having another strop, and so the dinner I had planned with my colleagues that I was getting to know recently was cancelled. Shame as we were heading for Big Chill - a restaurant with the most extensive dessert menu ever... Damn it!
Today I've been relaxing at home, eating boiled eggs (2 so far today, I'm coming back a skeleton, seriously!) and having a little look at how much stuff I've got to take home. The bed is covered with stuff, and I've only got one big bag... Not sure how it's all gonna work!? And what should I wear on the day?? How cold is it gonna be? BBC says 13 degrees on Monday night.. really?
So anyway, I think this will be my last post of this blog, but... the future may just bring me to this amazing country again, so who knows, there might be a number three one day.
For now I'm gonna say bye bye to this one, I hope it's been fairly entertaining to those who read it (don't really know how many of you did!). It's quite tricky writing a blog actually, trying to pass on my views without sounding too much of an expert, cause I'm far from that. I just wanted to share what I was doing here and discovering..
This trip reminded me of my moving to the UK in 2004. Knowing no-one and wanting to get my teeth into it. It took a long time, and I'm still not a full Brit, for sure, but I get it now. And with India, it's the same thing. I'm starting to get it, and I want to know more. It's kind of realizing that visiting a few countries on holiday is just not enough, and that everywhere has so much to offer... India is enormous, and so varied and colorful and you just want to know more about it... so I'll be back for more.
One more little note on the people I met here..
The ones I knew before arriving turned to be, unfortunately, the least helpful, and / or kind. I had to do my own little work on the social circle, and that wasn't especially easy cause I'm not the most sociable person!
The girls I met, Emily and Kim, from New Zealand, allowed for me to have a bit of Western outings, girlie chats, sharing opinions on the place as foreigners, and that was cool. Shame I didn't see them more, I thought I had more time..
The bikers, Bobby and Abi, introduced me to the cool side of Delhi, Haus Khas and its vibe, and the world of the Royal Enfield Bullet - What a great bike!
Deepika, well I didn't get to know so well, but, first, thanks for the free beauty treatments - I do hope I can get to repay that one day! From her however I caught a glimpse of the Indian extended family, and how important this is here, all part of my learning..
Ashish, a fun easy going guy with a sense of humour that withstood the Frenchies' visit, well done!
Varun, the film producer with some really good ideas about how to use his work to raise awareness in his country, I hope I get to see some of them! I'll see you again for more Dominos pizzas and Teachers Sunday nights.
Finally, well, Roman, the guy who picked me up at 5am off the street one cool morning to take me on a breakfast biking trip and who never actually let me go. Through good and bad, making me experience India like I'd never had, showing me personal qualities I'd given up on thinking existed... Not perfect cause no-one is, but like India, incredible and in need of more time and exploring. I'll be back for you too.
Til next time x
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