Signing out from Pune
So this is my last entry from Pune. Tomorrow I head up North to see some sights.
The last day of the PHP saw Tuhita and I do our presentation of the work we had prepared the previous night. We were supposed to go to a wedding that evening but we finished quite late so didn’t make it. I spent 3 hours in a call first to Lydia then to Alex, so I didn’t mind too much. We thought we would have been to late for the ceremony so decided not to try to go, it turns out the wedding was an hour late so we would have made it, but anyway what can you do! I had received a parcel from Lydia that day, which contained a book about a guy who took up the French horn after 22 years off, so I started reading that. That night I took Tushita for dinner in East street to see why I liked the place so much, I got my usual table in front of the TV so I could watch the cricket.
Saturday was a normal day in the office. After which Tushita and I decided to go out in Koregon Park. After an hour of walking around trying to find a place we liked, we went back to the first one we tried!! We chilled in high spirits for the night, then had Ice cream before getting in around 2.
On Sunday we chilled, I read lots of my book. Then we went to MG road for dinner and to shop and watch the cricket, we do spend too much time in there, but its worth it, we get such good service! Ankur came to meet us as well. Monday we intended to have a cheap night and eat local, at Tushita’s mess, then have a much welcomed early night. However we went to Deccan to get some new shoes for, we then ended up in McDonalds to watch the cricket, however the match was such a disappointment we left after the first 5 overs! On Tuesday we tried to eat at the mess and go to east street for desert but couldn’t resist the paneer! On Wednesday We went to East street and met Yonat and her friends. The 5 of us had a very cheap dinner, as yonat was owed a free pizza from her previous trip when she left early due to the rude guy. So there were the group of us (two of Yonats friends) and we celebrated my second birthday, with cake from Rahul!! It was really good fun!
Thursday was my last day in the office with the boss. He was leaving for an assessment. So I had to say bye to him. We had a small ceremony in the office in which they gave me some jewellery, a necklace and anklets, all silver of course! And in exchange I gave the office some stuff from Brum and some other UK things as well as a specialised RedR t-shirt for the boss! Though I know we will see more of each other, it marked the end of an era. That night we ended up in East Street after I dropped off my last bits of tailoring, where else would we go, as it is the best place to watch the cricket at my usual table!
Friday, due to having finished all my work I was going to Bombay to stay with Shailjia. So about mid day I headed off on the bus. I forgot to get off in the right place, so took an extra hour and a half to get there as I had to get local transport back. As usual it was a boozy night we had a boring healthy pizza and then headed out in Bombay. We went to the times of India café for our free drink for ladies night, then to zenzing. There we started talking to a guy who turned out to be the head chef for the taj at lands end, and guess what, he was Jewish. This seemed like shailjia’s excuse to set me up with him. At 4.30 (fairly squiffy and in a lot of trouble with the husband) we got home.
Saturday was Anhiti’s Hindi birthday (by the lunar calendar) so about 4 when we could move again, they went to the temple and I went shopping. That night due to being in trouble we went to see Iron man at the cinema. Then home to sleep. Sunday morning we spent preparing for the brats birthday. I went to see someone in the morning then came back to help with the party, which was lavish! Unfortunately due to the party I couldn’t go to the cricket, but I was useful anyway. I helped with general stuff and tried not to get in the way. The party had a clown, face painting, balloon art (that was a bit shoddy) and obviously games with the DJ! Then after there was a mini train, bouncy castle and dahba (street) food. On top of that there was a BIG Dora the explorer cake and pinyada! After the party we were all exhausted so went back and allowed the child to open her presents, even though her birthday was the next day. That child is a lucky one! There was a lot of Dora paraphernalia!
Monday I was due to head back to work. I rung in to find out what needed doing and how the cyclone was going. At this point we still thought it was a small job so I didn’t rush back. We had a leisurely day. We went for breakfast then took the child back from play school, after that we took her to day school, with yet another birthday cake. Then Shailjia and I tried to go for lunch but it was too late for most places so we went shopping instead! My haggling skills we appreciated by all. We bought stuff we didn’t need as well as junk for Anhiti! We headed to the bagel shop near the school, where I had a smoked salmon crème cheese bagel, yummy!! Then we all headed howm fro dinner before I finally head off on the bus. I got home at 2.30 then stayed up talking to Tushita for another hour!
Tuesday morning the full scale of the cyclone was being reported, so we started deciding what to do. I wanted to get out there ASAP, however soon after that the issues with Visa’s became apparent, so we talked it out and found out pries of tickets as that was all we could do. I also developed a few more schedules and some new modules while checking the news everyday. That night a group of us from work went to see a disaster management exhibition, which turned out to be all fire service stuff so we left to the nearby fairground to eat street food that I like. Charu’s wife and daughter met us there and Charu got told off for not taking us home to eat!! After they left Tushita and I went for cold coffee before heading home. I started my packing (there is so much) then went out with Tanmay for a goodbye drink. Guess where we went?... East street! We were there till close, I was home about 1.30. Wednesday I was umming and arhhhing if I should cancel my train tickets and hang around in the office hoping the visas would become available for Burma. That night me and Tushita went back to east street to meet Roni, he is from the Jewish community in Pune and wanted to say bye and ask about planning a trip on his own and how to go about it. It was good fun, though I couldn’t watch the cricket due to the bloody lamp post!
Thursday I talked to they guys about delaying my travel, we couldn’t decide so I emailed the boss for advice. I taught the guys some first aid that they wanted to know more about, with my wonderful casualty Tushita. After I picked up my tailoring I had a brief nap before going to Sonali’s for dinner to say bye to the kids. It was great chilling on the sofa watching a film eating the most amazing Bengali style fish! I sorry to say bye to them and only wish I had chatted to her sooner, but im pleased I did eventually talk to her!
So Friday was D-day for decideing what to do, and we had no internet to check the news nor see if the boss had replied. So I called him. He said go and call every 3rd day, and as the news wasn’t promising that is what I have decided to do. I spent the afternoon packing up the last bits of my stuff and catching up on the last few episodes of neighbours. After a nap and clearing my laptop I got a call from the guys to come to the office to chat. At that moment in time Dr Vivk walked through the door so we chatted for a bit then went fro cold coffee, im gonna miss Durga. After cold coffee I went to the gym to say bye, I had an hour before I needed to leave for Chabad, and hour and a half later I left! I love my gym, they really did help me feel part of the community, and I cannot thank them enough for that, if it went for them I may have packed things in sooner! So I rushed off to Chabad to thank them and say bye. After an hour there I rushed off to East street to meet Ankur and say bye to him and hear about the girl his parents want him to marry! At 2am after drinking with some random brits I got home.
So this morning at 7.30 I headed back to Sonalis for breakfast and a chat. At 10.30 I rushed back to change for work. I have worn my sari for the first time, which they all loved. We are having a farewell lunch, sponsored by me, then I have to take my box to the post office. After work today we are all going to east street for my last goodbye!
On the one hand I am pleased to be leaving as the work has reached a natural stop, on the other I have built a life here. I am sorry to leave that. I have accomplished so much in the last 8 months some work related but the majority about myself. I am comfortable in my own company, I have developed my self confidence and I have decide who I want to be a bit more. I am very proud of myself for sticking it out and it can only benefit me in the future. Most of all I will always have friends and a job here!!
So tomorrow I head to Mumbai to get a train to Jaipur, form there I got to Varanasi, then Agra then Delhi. In Delhi im going to the IPL then off to Amritsa before back to Delhi for my flight out. I cannot believe how quickly everything is going!!
So that’s it from Pune!