The blue sky

All my earlier trips to Germany were either during autumn or during winter. Autumn is a very beautiful season here, colourful leaves all strewn across the paths and it is not very hot and not very cold. It is pleasant and windy and cool. Winters here are harsh. I have experienced minus 25 degrees and heavy snowfall when the life is thrown out of gear. It is good to watch the snow sitting inside the house, which is not possible now as I will have to go out for work. This year, it will also be Tanay who would be wading his way through the snow to his crèche and back. This year he would enjoy the snow because he will understand it this time. Let's see how the winter treats us later this year. Summer - was the season, which I was eagerly waiting for. I wanted to see the beautiful colourful landscapes around. I wanted to see and hear the people enjoy out in the sun. I wanted to see the sun setting late at about 9:30 pm, which was so unique and different for an Asian...

Contemplating on where to head for the week-end, I was in a fix and was not willing to travel by train for 2-3 hours with Tanay and my mom. My dear friend and colleague, Suniti, also badly wanted to go out badly and not stay at home during the weekend. She wanted to visit some water spot and I did not wanted the travel time to stretch beyond an hour. Bad Urach - The name seemed little strange, but we decided to go for it. "Bad" in the German language is Spa/health resort/public baths. So it was obvious that this place had lots of spas and water bodies. And yes! When we landed there, we got to know that there is a waterfall nearby and we all got excited to see it. Tanay had his food just when we landed and then he slept off in the pram. Suniti, myself and mom started heading towards the waterfall which was 2 kms away from the railway station. The path was very beautiful!!On one side, there were mountains, wearing green tufts and caps and on the other side, there was...

You can't drive You can't ride a bicycle You do not drink beer You drink tea with milk and sugar and not black You do not eat non-vegetarian food You do not use paper in the toilet You do not open a communication with the Germans here You cannot be integrated in the German culture I am fed of listening to these diktats of becoming one like "them" in a western country, where I have come on an official assignment and on temporary basis. I think to myself, why should I become one like "them"? What's wrong with me being what I am? Why should I change my food habits and behavioral patterns? Am I causing harm to anyone by being my natural self? Am I hurting someone by not eating the non-vegetarian food, available in plenty here? I do not think so.  We met for our regular coffee meet on Sunday and this was a very serious topic that we discussed. Two of my friends are here for around 10 years and they still feel lonely here. They are here...

After coming to Germany, in 3 months, we did about 2-3 trips in and around Germany.  Tanay and my mother-in-law and my husband carried it off well. They had the zeal and enthusiasm and the energy to explore new places and try out new things. But I played a spoilsport there. I lack the energy to walk miles and miles without having food. I am a lazy person when it comes to doing some physical activity. It is also the problem of hypo-thyroidism, due to which I hardly have any stamina. I get tired easily when I walk for half an hour at a stretch. Thanks to the post-pregnancy lethargy and my activity-less life-style, I have completely thrown my life to the dogs. But I got up a wake up call when my hubby declared that he will not go for any trip with me henceforth as he doesn't enjoy my sulking and tired demeanour and I can't enjoy his active planning. I felt very bad, but I had to get over it. But he had a point. Why would he spoil his week ends with a dull and tired and unen...