Indian Expat In Europe

Just as I begin to plan my next big adventure, I was reminded of my sweet and noble blog which will serve as a memoir for my son of our time in Europe. I can't help but smile at the fact that I can imagine me and my son (hopefully he will be empathic enough to amuse me by reading this when he grows up) reading our blogs and trying to recollect the minute and larger details of our trips to different places in Europe. This August, we got the opportunity to travel to Croatia, a country that is persevering to make a deeper mark on the tourism industry and get all the praises it deserves. Just like India, Croatia has much to offer- the unique natural sites like Plitvice Lakes National Park to its pebble beaches; there are vineyards and inland pastures and culture-rich with historic stories. The food is the cherry on the cake and if you love seafood; well you definitely should plan to visit Croatia. Our trip was in the making right from the time we met this beautiful Croatian family here...

Slowly but surely you start to compare. Compare the place you have been all your life which is your "home"; to the place you are now which is already termed "foreign" in your head. There are both saints and devils at play when comparison begins in your little head during the vacant hours of night. Of course, you won't like the new smooth road if you get a speed breaker before you were able to anticipate it. I bet, everything seeming so lovely for months will suddenly seem fake to you when the beauty stares at you routinely. The classic imposter feeling is definitely going to creep in when everyone else talks in German and you are left in the corner feeling small for not being able to fully participate in the conversation which seems the only way to be social. For all these little moments that I witness, I want to tell myself to breathe and remember the good stuff - fresh healthy air, clean water, good roads, and above all the amazing opportunity to learn. Breath...

 If you have culture, natural beauty, and good food all in one place what more could you ask for. Vienna as many would identify is an artist's paradise. Finding art students sitting and drawing buildings is as common as people eating and drinking at restaurants. Many Austrians we met say, there is Austria and then there is Wien. It is a country on its own and very different from other parts of Austria. The city is welcoming to all nationalities. The fact that we heard almost 6 different languages been spoken in a short metro ride was proof enough of the cultural cohabitants. It is well planned for tourism and convenience. So like many tourists who want to commute by public transport or walk on foot to truly enjoy Vienna, we ventured out for 4 days from Salzburg to make up our mind whether the hype is truly worth the mention. Covid restrictions slowly being lifted helped in planning a trip within the country and yet with such a stark difference. It was early June, the onset of summe...

Celebrating birthdays can be tough especially when you haven't just yet made a circle of friends who also have kids. There are many moments when you miss family and friends and celebrations are one of them. Though the last year has taught us that digital birthdays or celebrations are possible; the real ones have their own old-world charm (can't believe hosting parties the normal way has changed to the old world way in just a years time).  Although birthdays can get stressful; I planned to use this opportunity to invite 4-5 kids to my house (considering the Covid guidelines) and throwing Ivaan a fun-filled birthday party. My son is still new to a birthday party concept simply because all his birthdays have been a vacation with his grandparents (baring last year where we were home-bound and managed a just zoom call). With all the planning and reading up on blogs to ensure kids enjoy the party, I think I overstressed. The result was good with a few mishaps which I will not detail ...

 Most of you may know, Austria is a German speaking country. With a population of approximately 1.5 lakh people in Salzburg, I thought I will find some English speakers and live my life without learning german peacefully. Little did I know that even if people know English (which is a language taught in most schools now) they are not comfortable to speak in English. This is similar to India where almost 90% of the population ould prefer to speak in their mother tongue. No surprises there, why would anybody want to embarrass themselves in front of a stranger by speaking in a foreign language when they can simply avoid it.  What is surprising is that language cannot divide the people who wish to communicate. Yes, it is such a beautiful experience to try and communicate without knowing what would be the right word for it. The emotions and feelings are conveyed in a seamless manner without being grammatically correct. I've had my fair share of talking with old folks who speak to me...

April introduces us to so many new beginnings and spring fills the air with hope and freshness. The cherry blossom and yellow flowers all over the town add to the bounce in your feet while walking. It really really does feel good to see so much beauty right outside when you step out of your house. I do thank the great efforts the gardeners put in making sure there is a lovely floral pattern in each roundabout and dividers between the roads. I have never experienced such a drastic change. It's like every day you step out you notice a new bunch of flowers white, yellow, pink, and red; one can swear they all bloomed at night. Even the grass below your feet will not quit to surprise you with these tiny white and yellow flowers. It seems like New Year's resolutions are back in fashion and people want to try all sorts of outdoor activities. I recently picked up jogging (everybody jogs here) primarily to lose the extra 10 pounds I have gained eating delicious desserts over the extende...