4 more days to go

It is somehow weird. We stopped talking much about the trip even though we are leaving in only four days. Everything is planned, every necessary thing is bought, ever topic is discussed....
Today we are just taking care of some things that should be organised before our course starts. Tomorrow we have wind surfing classes and after that finish packing. Wednesday we are busy with moving. So yeah, what is there to say....I think my curve of excitement is on a very normal line right now but as far as I know it will go up Wednesday...higher than ever and I might not even be able to sleep that night. 

Latest Incredible India Commercial

This is the latest Incredible India Commercial. Incredible India is the brand of the Ministry of Tourism of India. 

Preparations in India and thoughts

The time is getting closer. Everyday, Surya is talking to his parents. They seem to make a lot of preparations. Surya said that they gave their flat a whitewash. They colored the room where I`m supposed to stay in pink ( because I`m a girl ;-) )  and bought new furniture for my visit. They installed a European toilet and repaired the air conditioning in their house.  They informed a few family members and neighbors of our visit and some people would like to meet us. When they booked something, they made sure the hotel or transport has good quality.  His mum keeps asking for food that I like. All this effort that his parents take makes me feel very welcome, but on the other site also a bit nervous. I`m worried that they could expect too much of me. I`m just an ordinary European girl. The culture I grew up is very different from this one. I`m worried that my behavior is not appropriate in some situations and that they could be dissapointed.

You should know that I can call me very lucky that I`m officially invited by Indian parents. Surya told me a lot about his culture and how Indian people think about relationships, love, marriage etc. 

When we first considered to go to India, we didn`t even think that there is any chance staying at his parents house. First of all, we didn`t even think of going this year already. If we spoke about a trip to India, we spoke about something in a few years. Even Surya was surprised when his parents showed a positive reaction after he told his parents that he is in a serious relationship with a German girl.  He told me in advance that his parents are open to people from other countries and cultures, but he was not really sure how his parents would react on this message. Apparently, Surya could deliver a good picture of me when he was home in April, so that they even decided that they would like to meet me. Surya said, Indian parents are always worried about their children: they want them to be happy and avoid anything that could hurt them. Apart from some cultural reticence which definitely still exists in some parts of India, this is a big reason why Indian parents are careful with us European people who sometimes seem to have lost the sense of importance for love, family cohesion and so on. Surya is in the age of marriage and his parents would like him to get married soon, but it will be his responsibility to communicate some cultural differences between me and his parents.

There is not much that I can do about these things. I thinkI will try my best and rely on the naturalness of my personality...

Time is getting closer

The time is getting closer. We made a list of things we still have to organise, but time is tight now:


15-17. : Surya: working, me: research
18-19. Surya: working, me: with friend at Bournemouth Air Festival
20.-21. with Surya and friends at Bournemouth Air Festival
22.-23. Surya: working, me: research, preparations, packing
24. both: Windsurfing class
25.-29. Surya: working on his projects at home, me: Volunteering at Volleyball Competition in Boscombe
30. 2nd Windsurfing class, shoppinh, packing, getting organised
31. Moving to other house, basic settlement, last-minute preparations, finalise packing

Visa arrived!

Finally, my visa arrived. I`m so happy. It is valid from the 21.7.2011 (from the day I handed in the application) till the 20.1.2012 and it allows me multiple entries. Now I can officially enter India whenever I want within the next 6 month.

27 days to go!!!

28 days to go!!!