to chennai, with love

I am home. I am in heaven: I can walk on carpets, take hottt showers and use good hair products and brushes. I can rejoice in roast dinners, marvel at my Christmas tree, and sleep on a wondrously thick mattress. I can feel the peace and quiet, turn up my bass speakers, and hear the sweet laughter of my family.

Yes, I am home. But India has not left me. She ravaged me with sickness yesterday and made me throw up 13 times – perhaps it was her final send off! Thank goodness, I feel stronger today. Strong enough to be able to reflect on the last five months of my life, and put some of it into words.

I learnt so much. I can now tie a beautifully neat sari in 20 minutes flat, and squatting into Indian loos is second nature (a must have skill for every world wanderer). I learnt to stop shaking when faced with bigwigs in the Taj lobby – enough to give a first class check-in to the president of Uruguay!

I took lessons in selflessness from handicraft shop owners, who followed me around the city to return a credit card I had left behind; from dedicated rickshaw drivers, who had stickers with my name on their windscreens. From warm and friendly strangers, anxious to do what they could to keep me safe.

I learnt to have fun. I realised how much I am attached to vodka, and I might even have started to like beer. I fell in love with the sand and the sea, and the crash of the waves on the Indian shore. I realised that I want to own a house with a rooftop, because rooftop parties simply rock.

There is so much that I will miss, too. Breakfast on banana leaves: poori and coconut chutney, and hot chai. The joy of indulging in fresh fruit on roadside stalls. Long (and bumpy) bus journeys, where friends and time become your own. The magical sounds of the monsoon rains beating India’s dirt paths clean.

Rhiannon, for being an awesome buffet and Mocha buddy! For giving me the courage to reach to South America. Tessa, for your neverending good humour, your love of shopping, and your straight laced attitude towards life’s woes. Leevin, for the best parties ever, and for being a rock of strength.

Pasha, for your ceaseless compliments, your giant bear hugs, and for being there from the start. For your absolute selflessness, and for making our flat a family! Filip, for your love of good times, your brilliant mind, and for teaching me to chill out. For your sweet romance, and for being my bad boy convict. 😉

To Chennai, with love: I will miss you.

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ready to fly

So, this is it.

 I am packed and checked in – the wonders of the world wide web. I could even print my boarding pass. On the top is the British Airways logo, and to the right, a few choice words: they read “ready to fly”.

 I ponder over this. I am writing bleary eyed, tired after a hectic day. But I know there is much more, really: a world of ends, before beginnings can come forth. The end of Oxford, and a world with my two best friends. (You know who you are.) The end of my few months at the bank, and that very special colleague who sat next to me. (Again, you know.)

 I am thankful that I can spin these memories over a hundred times, and still find more to reminisce with. But I feel bruised, from leaving certain someones who will likely stay with me forever. You will all be missed, sorely.

 Here’s to the beginnings. I am ready.

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