Hope you are all fine - completed 1month here, successfully.
Its a mixture of France and Kerala - the laws, the town planning and the look of a European town (not city); and the beauty -hills, trees, fruits, birds like of Kerala (but Kerala is more beautiful)
The people are fine here, very friendly -at times a bit more friendly; there is a lot more of co-operation here than back home like in traffic.
The work, as of now, is good - there is much to learn - and I am gaining much confidence. At this rate, I can be a sort of an expert by year end.
I am always able to get the Zuhr prayer, since the mosque is always less than 10mins from here; here its like go to office for work; and go to mosque fro prayer - so there are always a good number of people in the mosques.
The place we stay is quite accessible: bus stand, bank, market nearby. There are mango trees, even butter fruit in the locality. The owners are an old couple - I try to be friendly and helpful to them. .
The expense for food last month came around just above 1200 - food from outside is costly -
and I have started eating the BREAD - the most imp meal here. My colleagues here say its pratical - but I say that they may be a bit lazy. We take lunch to office every day in carrier; cooking rice in the morning.. There is no much expense for me. We have food early by 9 pm; sleep and get up early.
Life has become much more planned, and regulated - I keep a diary up to date every day.
I do have more amount of sleep - around 6 hrs. Office time is from 830 to 5 - I reach home by 5.30, some times earlier - sometimes by Company bus, sometimes dropped by the Manager or any colleague.
I have started learning French - around two words a day; have to increase the rate of learning. There are female colleagues in the canteen and at the reception who take special interest in teaching me French. Yes, one very good thing here is the concept of importance of job role - i.e people here - may it be managers or drivers or peons, all mingle with each other shaking hands-very good amount of equality - some thing borrowed from the West. There are people of Chinese Indian African and European origin as citizens here.
But what I can say is that - I like the place, but I dont like being in the place. - ya, I do miss home.
Ok, IA, I will update you all from time to time; take care of yourself.
Keep in touch.
See you in around 11 months…
With Salaam/Peace,
