Indian Expat In Europe

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...