India

I lived in India for 3 years. 
For years I had felt this calling to go to India. I guess Gandhi had a lot to do with that, but there was more. India seemed to know me. India felt like coming home, like “the place to be”. 
The dusty streets, the impressive cows walking around freely and temples on every corner of the street, it all felt like “home”.

In India I was suddenly “among the rich” because I lived in a descent house and had no concerns on having something to eat. There are many beggars and some people really work for close to nothing. During my 3 years there I would for example always have a “maid”. She would keep the house clean and wash my dishes and clothes. She would not speak English and look up to me as “the madam”. I always felt a need to be on the same level with everyone I meet, but foreigners are been put on a pedestal. 
Most Indians would love to “go abroad” and live in Europe or America. The fact that someone who lived there, now decides to prefer India amazes them. I have always felt greatly welcome, wherever I would go.

On the streets the majority is male. Sometimes, for game, I would start counting people till I would see a woman and I could easily reach 25 or more. Because of this, every woman attracts by default a lot of attention. When the woman is of a marry-able age she gets even more attention.
Me-myself was on top of that a foreigner. . . . . . . I had to learn to not look around me to much when walking on the street. In every direction there would always be a guy trying to catch my eyes, beggars would come running and Riksja-drivers calling to give me a ride. Never the less, I enjoyed the attention :p

Since I am a foreigner, I am expected to be rich. So usually the traders on the street would ask me a high price. The truth however was, that in the first 2 years I hardly had the money to buy myself even a pen. 
When buying something on the street you are supposed to negotiate. I have never gotten used to that. I really prefer to just hear the price and then decide to buy or not.

I started in India doing a study in 3d animation and soon found a job as a 3d interior designer. My bigger breakthrough, moneywise, was when I started working at a helpdesk as a multilingual language support (Dutch and English). Amazing, the amount of money they offer for someone who simply knows Dutch. Much money for Indian standards though. For Dutch standards welfare would pay better. After living on very low income for 2 years it was quite a turn around again.

I left India as I was offered the chance to take care of my daughter in Belgium. Also I had started to miss the nice weather  in Europe, certain luxuries and the ability to have a nice walk in nature. India is usually to hot to have a pleasant walk.

Elisa

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