returned safe

Hi everyone,

A friend of mine asked me a week ago, will there come "a happy and safe return home" message? Till now I wasn't capable of writing such message because of the adjusting to holland proces. But now all of a sudden I feel like writing the message...

My flight from Hyderabad directly to Amsterdam was great. Only a dutch speaking crew after five weeks of struggling hinglish was a relieve! The flight went ok, and I'm amazed with the aerport in Hyderabad. No lines, no mess, the area is completely designed, and check in and boarding went even faster then in Ams! So this wasn't India till the end... Normally I would have felt sorry I guess, but in these conditions I was really happy with it.

Though I was taken into the hospital I think Hyderabad is a great city. I went to the Charminar and Golconda Fort. I even managed to travel around by local busses. I could not have imagined that a year ago! It means hopping on a bus while it is moving, and wrestling yourself to a place. Most of times they are that crowdy that you don't have to worry about falling ;-). The front side is the woman side. Best part was when there where no places in the bus and men sitting on a woman seat. When I mentioned it then they would immediately move. (and most of time it didn't work that way for Indian woman!) For the rest I got a lot of questions about why I was wearing Salwars and a lot of giggling about my tikka. But always in a positive sense. For my last day in Hyd. I planned to see if I could get to sail a boat on the lake. But unfortunately the night before I went into that hospital.

Reflecting on that experience I have to say that though I would have loved to miss it, it has given me another inside experience in India. How things go in Indian hospital and how it looks from inside. I think I had a good doctor and they gave a special treatement by putting me at the intensive care :-S. What I also will remember always is the sister (Chitra) of an indian friend from Holland (originating from Hyderabad) taking care of me. Her phone number was in pocket for "in case of emergency". I would have never called her myself, but the hotel manager called her and she visited me the next morning. Bringing me some tiffin (food), fruits, magazines, underwear and also questioning a little bit further about my failure. And in the evening she came to take me back to the hotel and even paid my hospital bill in advance. (strange thing that I had to pay, but wasn't allowed to go to the billing department...uhm how am I suppose to pay then??).

The days after I spend with little walks and chats in the neigherberhood, watching some cricket, movies and sleeping a lot. Chitra brought me food every day to my hotel and came to say goodbye when I left. She even brought me a typical Hyderabad gift! That touched me so I had to cry for a while. Why should you bring someone you don't know a gift? In Holland I never experienced such things. Now back in Holland I'm still emailing with her. A nice way to keep in touch with india!

After spending some time at home, struggling with the cold, dutch food (which is tastless, so I continued Indian cooking) and the colourless state of the country, a week after return I went back to work. That is of course another struggle; to get used to waking up early and being in boring meetings all day. Glad all my collegues are interested to hear my stories. And so every break I get the happy smile back on my face when I'm talking about India. It's touching when people point out the fact that I'm really shining when I'm talking about India and then tell me to go back there and stay... Hmm glad I have some friends pointing out that of course travelling is a lot more fun then being in 40h job working on green during these economic crisis in this grey country... And some more questions like that. Same questions I ask myself too. But going back cleared up some things to me. 

Last year I didn't know what the restless feeling was indicating. At least this year I know that I don't have to try to get a new job :-) The culture-shock isn't that heavy this time. Also I think that the way I can behave in India fits me a lot better then the way I'm suppose to behave in Holland. Also I prefer the hot climate over the cold and rain. The food is more tastefull but it can make me really sick.. What I also found out is that I wouldn't be able to spend a year or so working as volunteer in this country, as that wont be not purposeful enough for me. Also travelling around for a year is not what I like I guess. So that's leaving one option: try to find a job there. And that wont be easy, especially being a landscape architect. But on the other hand; India is growing and some areas started urban planning so there might be a way somewhere. But I feel that it's not necassary to do it right now. In my current position I gain experience, money and time to consider and long holidays to discover! And the restless feeling of the past year has been replaced with a "it will come allright" feeling...So the plan for this year is to learn a lot in my job and plan some more travels around India to found out which parts I like the most ;-)...

Then there are some good memories to write down here to keep forever.

In the train from Ballasha to Hyderabad which was running six hours late (and turned into a night train instead of a day train) I met an Indian woman and daugther with relatives in Holland...how small is the world? In that same train also a nice young men borrowed me his blanket, cause I didn't expect to have a sleep in that train I didn't have one. I was whispering, only if you have two, but I was already covered with a nice soap-smelling blanket. I was feeling a connection all the time already to him, but come on...you're the indian, so ask the questions! But unfortunately our roads seperated with only staring at each other...then I found peace in the thought...if there is Karma we'll meet again!

Using the Indian style of angry talking to get the right price for a chocolate bar at the station; as the seller added 5 rs (7 eurocent) to the price, calling it railway charge...ah come on! Getting mad and calling him a bad guy and telling that the gods would not have good things for the future if he's treating me this way...and I managed! (getting angry about 7 cents..uhm... Sorry I learned that from your own people :-S

The rickshaw driver driving me home by meter, indicating 90 rs...and then asking how much and he's replying 200. (though rest of the time he wasn't speaking english!) and the dissappointment in his face when I pointed towards the meter....

The woman at the counter selling me the all day bus ticket at Secunderabad station...she found that I could say " todha todha" to the question do you speak hindi (in hindi). Everyday she wanted to show that to everyone working at the counter...so there I was standing saying Todha Todha and shaking my head ... and they having a good time...

Searching for bangles size 2/10! Getting a 2/8 package and telling me it's 2/10...Indians have to practise lying...really! I'm having a lot of fun on that everytime...(but bangles 2/10 are hard to find..so if anyone can find me some nice ones....)

The nice boy showing me my busstand, telling he's a college student (all boys tell that I guess to make an impression), but why are you not in college then? Returning after 5 minutes to ask for my phonenumber cause he wanted to practise his english. When I explained that my boyfriend would not approve that so that it's impossible, he was appologizing to me for asking and left...

All the compliments I got about looking good in a salwar. I really felt like that! And also about not being scared to travel on my own?? (I haven't been scared for any moment at all...In fact I feel a lot more safe in India then in my hometown) And wouldn't we start the day a lot better if we tell each other every morning in the train how good we look or making a different compliment??

Anyway my heart has been filled with a lot of warmth because of all that special people I got to know during this stay and I hope that it will keep me warm during these winter months here in Holland. And when that feeling is gone I will book a new ticket as I will return for sure!

I also put some new pictures on the site and will try to put the movies too.

Take care!