First call back home!

Well ... in between all these interesting battles I have had, trying to make sense of what people around are saying and trying to tell them what I am trying to say ... it is such a nice feeling to be able to hear some Marathi words being spoken from far far away ... reaching my ears directly, crystal clear! Really ... this world has become a small place ... such an amazing feeling to be able to talk with parents and my brother without caring about any money being spent ... and describing them in detail what view I am seeing from my room and what things I did during the day.
This might be something which seems to be attractive only for the first few days after I am here ... and later it might become something routine ... but the fact remains those words which I am able to hear mean much more than what they do, when I am back in Pune or IITB! Amazing what places and situations can do ... and how seemingly trivial things gain so much importance in one's mind!

Why do these people not speak English!

The first few days of our stay here in Swiss land were really difficult, in terms of trying to communicate with people. I haven't really been faced with such problems before and this has been one learning experience which I would have liked to avoid (well, probably not, once I am not settled here!).
General people around do not understand English ... so it is difficult to even ask them directions and get basic groceries. Some times, we are lucky to find maps and directions written in English, but then French pronounciations are so weird, that one cannot ask for directions even after reading a place's name! So, Rennens is pronounced not in the usual way, but as 'Hanoe' or something like that! And if one says Rennens and asks people around, they make expressions as if I am asking them about some addresses on moon! We found it difficult to explain to store-keepers that we want milk, cheese, bread ... everything ... its amazing how one can face difficulties doing these stupid, simple things!
The most important thing to do here seemed to be learning a bit of French and the websites are helping me out in that regard! Now that I have got settled in EPFL though, things are much simpler, because there people luckily understand English and hence life is peaceful. But I can still see a form unfilled on my table, which is supposed to my room checklist and I have not handed it over to the Concierge just because I do not know what is written on that! Phew ... not having a universal language is painful at times :((

First sight of Switzerland

On my flight from Mumbai to Zurich, I could get a glimpse of this place and it seemed to be a really beautiful country. But the flight from Zurich to Geneva was just beyond words ... amazing mountains seen below, with a stunning view of the lake, it was really a very pleasing sight.

One might feel ... upar se sabhi kuch achcha hi dikhta hai yaar ... but I hadn't seen anything remotely as beautiful before. This was just too good! I hope to see some of the places which I saw on that short flight of around 30 mins ... those were locations which I have no intention of missing out on!