Eurotrip

Apparently, there is a new disease called Cyberchondria and I happen to be an infected person , because for a long time now, and especially during the early parts if each semester, I used to be so lethargic basically all day that I, with the help of uncle google, guru wiki and links to self-tests thereby, believed I was a hypersomniac. But that's not exactly the case, since it's now around 1pm by which time, during those days, I would be fast asleep. A shot of scotch whisky with seasoned drinker Kiran, a good friend I met while in Stuttgart isn't helping either. So here I am, writing this new blog, penning down some thoughts which sortof forcibly occurred as I departed two days ago from Madrid, where I completed the last leg of my MSc studies some two weeks back. But I didn't 'virtualize' the thoughts immediately upon reaching Munich so it's quite diluted. (By the way, it's a pity how, with computers and Internet, we are living a more and more virtual life)

I started two days ago from Madrid on a 29-hour bus journey to Munich where I was received by the other host Rajaram, the another good friend who, in fact, also hosted me when I first came to Europe. This was one of the longest ever journeys I have made and certainly the longest in a bus. As a part of the rather messy life- although not very apparent to others - for past couple of years, I wasn't exactly sure I would be completing my course by the deadline and hadn't ventured to book any flight. So the bus was the only option, but seemed interesting nevertheless when I checked Google Maps which said the route from Madrid to Munich is through Switzerland. Casual as the Spanish generally are, the bus operators could not provide me with details of actual route the bus would take.

As the bus departed from Madrid and started moving straight north, towards Basque 'Country', I realised that the guys were going to take a detour which would not include the Swiss. The bus eventually travelled some 200 kms more than the route through the Swiss, but catered to almost all the other passengers, because we were eventually two passengers when we reached Munich. My own life has also been a detour so far, because I hadn't planned on an MSc and a year of break before doing PhD. The 2200km bus journey was good nevertheless, going as it did through four 'countries', Spain, Basque 'Country', France and Germany. And it's been a good time in Europe all this while. The Erasmus Mundus progrramme of which my MSc is also a part, has a tagline 'Education and Culture'. And whereas I am not sure about the Education part, :P culture-wise Europe has managed to pass some things across to me. I am no more a teetotaller although there is a good chance I might be back again. And there is no more of a simplistic attitude when it comes to dressing and other aspects of life, but I still like the way it was in CMI - caring only for the passion for knowledge and not giving a damn for some of the materialistic aspects of life.

On the whole, though, the passion for a life with nature and concern for environment, the discipline, the honesty, the politeness among the Germans, the considered-pride and concern for their language, even while being well-versed in English among the Flemish (Flemish are the dutch-speaking people of Belgium), the passion for social-life, dance, folk-traditions and the casual approach to life (yet not deviating from nation-building) among the Spanish are what have made a lasting impression for me in these two years. Ironically though, the highest interaction I have had was not with the Europeans (something I would like to catch-up about, if I am back here again), but with fellow Indians and classmates from other countries many of whom have become good friends and from whom I have learnt much. The sad thing meanwhile has been that I have drifted quite far away from many of the relatives and friends back in India, not by way of forgetting those 'small people' (as some of the well-meaning relatives and friends often accused me of!) while 'enjoying' my time here, but due the messy approach to work and life in general.

Language is another major aspect of these past two years (in fact the past five years when I left Karnataka) about which I have much to deliberate about, but will not. Deutsch (German) is one language I have fairly picked up after coming to Europe. Whereas there are people who learn languages with enthusiasm or because of sheer necessity(economical or otherwise) and there are still others who are inherently averse to learning other languages, my own resolve, which has not changed much for a long time, has been to learn the 'language of the land' if I am there for a year or more. I did pick up a bit of Dutch while in Belgium where it was a five-month stay but only because I had to, according to the requirements of my MSc. And since I wasn't required to learn Spanish neither by programme rules nor by my own resolve, I managed to add but only a handful of spanish words to my vocabulary. It did hurt though, when there were occasions in Madrid, (like also sometimes in India) when people asked something and I couldn't help them out in their language (of the land). Enthusiasm, coupled with a heavy dose of, but fun-filled exclusively-german classes for some 5-6 weeks before the beginning of 1st semester classes gave such good grounding that even after being back in Germany after almost a year, I was surprised I could construct a few sentences and speak. Being able to communicate makes life quite comfortable, and feels like at home :) So much different from the awkward and sometimes
painful "Er,er,er what?, no hablo espanyol" "no hablo espanyol?" while in Spain. Spanish is quite complicated and is spoken much too fast, but I know I will some day be able to speak a bit of spanish too.

Adios!