Travelogue 2

The new house, the new kitchen looked newer today. We had our 1^st break fast then, Tea, Coffee and Toast. (Yes, we had already bought groceries the previous evening. You see, we have a Plus (to be pronounced as “Ploos”) vanyache dukaan just next door) We had also bought some vegetables and I made a potato / Tomato onion rassa bhaji. Now I have to admit that cutting these with a knife was a task for me… No, don’t get wrong ideas… I’m not a witch with a magic wand which I wave to get things done. It’s just that I’m used to cutting vegetables with a FANTASTIC gadget called just that, back home. Also I should confess about something that happened to me at the Ploos vanyache dukaan. When I went there for the 1^st time @ the fruit and vegetable section, I felt like a two year old who was learning to identify fruits and vegetables. What I first thought was a raw papaya turned out to be a raw mango. I couldn’t tell a lemon from a sweet lime, Cherries and tomatoes looked the same and the Cabbage was so huge…I held it in both my hands and turned it around several times and stuck my nose to it to make sure that it was “apli kobi” I didn’t dare buy it for I was sure it would last me for 6 months even if I had every single day…Potatoes and carrots were the most easy to identify. Everything from Yoghurt to Zucker (Sugar) that I bought that day was checked over and over again to ensure it was what I thought it to be. With my trolley full, I went to the Kase (cash counter) where I realised that I also would be charged for the plastic bags in which my groceries were to be stuffed.. Hey, zara atich hote, as if the 1 € for the trolley was not enough. Though I got the 1 € back, after I put back the trolley. To paryant, heart nusta var khali hoth hota..

I must also mention, that when I came back with the Groceries, I checked who our neighbours were. Our immediate neighbour was one Mr. Vogel Bau. I secretly had hoped that he would be Basu. Not that I ever got to see what this Bau Kau looked like. For the next day we changed our apt. Yes !! We changed two apt’s in two days. If you remember I had mentioned earlier, that our apt was tiny for us, and we were very fortunate to have a larger one just next door. So packed up all that we had just unpacked and moved into our new apt to re-unpack. Out of the three of us, Anoushka was most happy, comfortable and “Fresh” always. It was amazing how she had adapted to a new country, new home and lifestyle, and new food habits. She never expressed displeasure or showed any signs of anxiety and edginess. We could all learn a thing or two from her.

Yesterday we had a visit from our re-location agent. She had fixed up an appointment with the Deutsche bank and Pam, Anoushka and I accompanied her. We were greeted at the door of the bank, by an executive named Lars Krauel, who also showed us to a small conference room, where he intended to complete the formalities of opening a bank account. What happened next was something for which Lars will remember “Mr. Iyer” for the rest of his life. He had offered us Coffee and Juice and I was impressed with the Bank’s hospitality. Just as I took the 1^st sip of my “Apfelsaft”, Mr. Iyer with some documents in hand aimed for his large glass of Latte Machiato. There was coffee all over – the table, the documents, files, the Carpet below…..Our passports were saved in nick of time, but still continue to smell of Fresh Italian coffee as must have the Conf room of Mr. Krauel. I don’t think I have ever said “Tut mir Leid” (I’m sorry) so many times to anybody but Lars. However, I’m sure that Pam will give me ample opportunities in future. What I admired the most, was Lars’ courage to ask Pam, if he wanted another Latte !!