Rewinding in time & etc...
April 28, 2014
With all that is going around, I am being pulled from so many directions, it can get very demanding. I would have liked the last few days here to be peaceful but I realise they are going to be totally the opposite. I delay putting the kids to bed to about 9 because they take at least a half hour to sleep and most days I am not able to get up myself after that.
You know, there was one more time we'd gone back home before, here. Destiny had us back. I want to desist from saying was it a good decision or not for us. Retrospective analysis is pointless, you see. I've always felt that with two of us working back home vs. single salary subsistence here, we would have been almost at par. Opportunity cost. That point of time, leaving seemed like an unfinished chapter of a book I was writing. Today, I do not even feel the need for any re-edits. Done and dusted, with all the proof-reading errors and minor reworks. Wow, that really talks about my state of mind.
April 29, 2014
Yesterday, we had some work at the Brussels commune where my daughter was born. My husband went there and they would speak to him only in French. He called me and even I was at a loss to understand the rapid-fire French the lady at the other end unleashed. I had to make multiple requests 'plus lentement sil-vous-plait' to understand her, managed just about. Languages are such an important factor in life here, and all immigrants/expats and those planning a long-term stay must make an attempt to be proficient in them. Otherwise one simply does not know what is going on. Can you imagine living a lifetime like that? Once we'd been invited to the house of a colleague of my huband's - a French speaking Belgian married to a Phillipino. They've been married for close to 15 years. The lady told me she can talk French but she still prefers to watch movies or songs or read in English only. She just can't understand the nuances of the same in French. And I would've considered her to have an 'immersion experience'. So imagine the attempt that others have to put in.
Today, I managed to fill a carton of clothes to give away, also repacked my suitcase and one carton. WHich has made me a bit content. That said, the bedroom and study room is in such a mess. That will upset my older one a lot. So I will make a dash of writing this post and get to it soon. I also have grocery shopping to do, and many other things, too many to write. It's just better I go ahead and do them. I took a small break to savour the quietness and emptiness around me - the cooing doves and the spring birds, and almost no other sound except for the keyboard. On that note, most of the spring flowers are gone.
They took the dining table yesterday, and the area looks so empty, when we stand and speak there it echoes. Did not progress with any Hindi with Big G yesterday, but it's ok, must give her time to forget. It is going to be a big change for kids. Like always I am the one with them for the first few months. Hopefully it makes me self-reliant.
I think I have a problem - that of wanting to know all the answers beforehand. But I know, I am going to have to be very strong, in the face of getting limited help. But my priority is going to be the kids, as always, so that will help me in ignoring the rest of the noise and having focus.
****************************************************************************
Reposted from the drafts.
With all that is going around, I am being pulled from so many directions, it can get very demanding. I would have liked the last few days here to be peaceful but I realise they are going to be totally the opposite. I delay putting the kids to bed to about 9 because they take at least a half hour to sleep and most days I am not able to get up myself after that.
You know, there was one more time we'd gone back home before, here. Destiny had us back. I want to desist from saying was it a good decision or not for us. Retrospective analysis is pointless, you see. I've always felt that with two of us working back home vs. single salary subsistence here, we would have been almost at par. Opportunity cost. That point of time, leaving seemed like an unfinished chapter of a book I was writing. Today, I do not even feel the need for any re-edits. Done and dusted, with all the proof-reading errors and minor reworks. Wow, that really talks about my state of mind.
April 29, 2014
Yesterday, we had some work at the Brussels commune where my daughter was born. My husband went there and they would speak to him only in French. He called me and even I was at a loss to understand the rapid-fire French the lady at the other end unleashed. I had to make multiple requests 'plus lentement sil-vous-plait' to understand her, managed just about. Languages are such an important factor in life here, and all immigrants/expats and those planning a long-term stay must make an attempt to be proficient in them. Otherwise one simply does not know what is going on. Can you imagine living a lifetime like that? Once we'd been invited to the house of a colleague of my huband's - a French speaking Belgian married to a Phillipino. They've been married for close to 15 years. The lady told me she can talk French but she still prefers to watch movies or songs or read in English only. She just can't understand the nuances of the same in French. And I would've considered her to have an 'immersion experience'. So imagine the attempt that others have to put in.
Today, I managed to fill a carton of clothes to give away, also repacked my suitcase and one carton. WHich has made me a bit content. That said, the bedroom and study room is in such a mess. That will upset my older one a lot. So I will make a dash of writing this post and get to it soon. I also have grocery shopping to do, and many other things, too many to write. It's just better I go ahead and do them. I took a small break to savour the quietness and emptiness around me - the cooing doves and the spring birds, and almost no other sound except for the keyboard. On that note, most of the spring flowers are gone.
They took the dining table yesterday, and the area looks so empty, when we stand and speak there it echoes. Did not progress with any Hindi with Big G yesterday, but it's ok, must give her time to forget. It is going to be a big change for kids. Like always I am the one with them for the first few months. Hopefully it makes me self-reliant.
I think I have a problem - that of wanting to know all the answers beforehand. But I know, I am going to have to be very strong, in the face of getting limited help. But my priority is going to be the kids, as always, so that will help me in ignoring the rest of the noise and having focus.
****************************************************************************
Reposted from the drafts.
.JPG)
language is so important in life...i feel very happy where I can converse in Hindi..
ReplyDeleteSO true, Renuji, language is very important in communication! Not knowing to speak a language well can be stressful in some situations.
Delete