So here I am in my 3D glasses back in LA and it's nearly a year since I departed for India. I really have no idea where that year has gone so I thought maybe a good time for a new blog entry. Maybe a little bit of a test to see what I can remember!
Leaving India I felt relieved and on reflection I just think when I was there I had a massive culture shock! Cows, stray dogs, so many smells from spices and flowers to rotting rubbish, cars, motorbikes, so many noises, just so eclectic that it was almost too much to absorb. The funny thing is that now that I have had some time away I would almost like to go back.
A friend, well I think I can call him a friend as he said it would be okay for me to FB him, just bought me back 3 duppatas, blue, yellow and orange. He works with MT and comes from a province nearby to Bangalore, not sure province is the right word but anyway the point is that I was very excited to receive these and I kind of realized that I should have delighted in India more when I was there. But then is this the whole hindsight thing taking place?!
If I was to go back or the opportunity was given again at least this time I would know what I would be letting myself in for and I think I would handle things much differently. I know that I would expect to be starred at and i would know where to go and buy food and clothes and I think I would travel around some more. I think that's maybe a big difference. Living in one place was intense and that it is not to say I do not appreciate my time in Bangalore its just maybe I should have been braver and explored some more. I honestly think now though that I was just overwhelmed by it all. And I also think I perhaps resented going to India when we were just becoming settled here.
When I first returned to LA I encountered a few problems which I am not going into but if you know me you perhaps have a little insight into this and what I am talking about. I think I am nearly over it all and its nothing life threatening so fear not!!! While I like to be honest I also feel it would not be fair to discuss this on a public forum.
So now back in LA for 8 months, I finally have my work visa and am working as part of Special Education team. I have just started another job in fundraising which I shall not discuss in case it does not work out. I have still not passed my behind the wheel driving test. I think I partly scared that I will fail and look like a real Muppet but I cannot look like any more of Muppet than when I fell down the stairs today.
Luckily I did not go into the fish pond! And no it was not the gin again as one friend suggested. In fact, I had not been on the gin again since Saturday night when we also decided to go bowling!! Just because we drank too much gin when she was here to visit and relived our clubbing days, perhaps sadly at home and not in a Hollywood club, does not mean I am now on the gin at 9am!!!
We have moved apartments too and I feel very happy here up in the Hills, yes the Hollywood Hills which is really rather odd because you can see the Hollywood sign. The other evening we walked up to the canyon and it was so neat to see LA by night. Never in a million years did I think I/we would be living here. I am in no way LA or Hollywood and the chance of me ever keeping up with the Kardashians is light years away!!!
We have even considered getting a rescue dog but not quite made the move! I like the idea well I think I do but something is stopping me/us!! It was clearly dog walking time when we were out and I almost felt out of place not having one to walk!!!
I think we have a good set of friends here now and I would say I am really rather fond of them. My friend Rose tells me that saying I am fond of someone is as affectionate as I am going to get with words as a Brit! And she also finds it amusing that I am not hugger. Everyone seems to hug here and I am not so keen. Its kind of letting someone right into your personal space. There are some people I am happy to hug and some people I am looking forward to hug soon.
There have been a few tough times emotionally over the last month with illness and deaths back in the UK and I do miss my family and friends very much. I wish we were a little closer. Maybe not right next door but just a little closer than 10 hours on a plane!! My sister will be here in a week or two, hooray and I cannot wait to see her. Hellos and even hello hugs are awesome but the goodbye bit not so awesome!
Having just scanned over this it is rather I orientated so my apologies. I will try harder next time to make the blog more than all about me!!!!
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