Girl In Germany

Today we start off towards our weekend getaway, just a short trip.  I told you last time, remember?   Yeah, right.  It will be to a small mountain village close to our place. I, have my own little group of friends, why? uhmm because... <*thinks> I'm more of an ambivert (its like.. Ofcourse I jabber a lot, but close only to a selective few), and together we had booked a holiday villa. Chuma  one of our friends wanted to have her baby shower, so we thought this would be a good idea to have a Girls' day out too  :) You know? When girls meetup, there is a lot of girl talk, chit-chats, laughter, tips, tricks, andd.. gossip. But hey, they are just natural ways of a woman's let out - she just wants to vent out. No hard feelings. As we stood across the wooden hallways choosing, trying and removing all those lip shades - pink, peach, red, orange and nude (they made me put on dark plum - which ended up looking brilliant in pics, thanks to both A s :))...

Hey, Hiii Everyone! It's a New Year already! And with a new year, comes in new hopes, new changes in Life and so do new looks to my diary. Plus there's my Blog's Insta @thegirlingermany is up this year- wohoo!  Uhmm .. its just that I still am figuring out how to link the button here, looking around jibbery HTML scripts :D Until then, do look up for me in Instagram and follow up for my unseen travel pictures with S. Coming back from a hectic and an amazing Trip to India  - with functions, sweets, meet-ups and lots of chaats,  S and I have planned to visit Iceland this year, our most awaited destination so far! I can't wait to luxuriate in its beauty. 

I am back to India, this time after almost a year and a half.  The last time I was here, was for my sister's wedding. With just three weeks of holidays now, time just flies! Immediately after we landed yesterday, we were in for a perfect welcome. His aunt and cousin had arranged a surprise birthday party with piles of gifts for him! Some things don't really change over time, right? :) 

Before I even start writing, I just want to tell you, that the below post is completely my opinion.  Of course you can be different, but that doesn't mean I'm wrong, or that you are right. (No fighting, just make peace :D)

A few days back, I randomly saw through a post update in Facebook  - of a movie called "Kaakha Kaakha" - its a Tamil Cop movie, a super-hit back in those days - that its been 13 years since it was released! Wow 13 years. Makes me feel old already! Zooooshh went my memories back in time - I was in highschool when the movie released.

All of a sudden, you see bird s fly here and there, bugs, butterf lies, veggie-mosquitoes ( Yeah, yeah these are veggies you see ? - they don't bite us, but roam around the garden and are super huge! God knows what they feed on o.O) and bees buzz around ever ywhere . That's when you start seeing people outside. Just like how ants come out back home before the Summer is on, the people begin to come out of their cocoon.. So here comes another sto ry to my 'Firsts'.

Every student who passed out from my school, would for sure not forget the 'Assembly' ( huh? Yeah right - that was our Prayer sessions every morning - what did you think?). Haha tru ly, these Assem blies used to be a blessing at times, especially when you have a History or Physics ( or oh, a Maths test - how did I even forget!) test on the first period. What connection does this have to...uhmm? You'll know too.. go on.

Hallooo everyone!! Happy New Year! I know its been pretty late to wish, but hey its still valid - not that you wish it only on Jan 1 na? :) As always, a new year begins - with an all new look to my page. And oh,I owe you, ( wah wah)  my heartfelt gratitude for the support and overwhelming response over my blog. That is what keeps me going.  So peeps, what's with a New Year? Well, to me  it fills  in with surprises and changes. From seasons to ages. Rewinding of last summer and the one before: and to all other things. The stages of life, the relationships - everything changes: Only to the betterment of you. Speaking of seasons, its Winter here now.

Hey peeps - So finally I found a full time job! :) Of all the things, if there was one thing I always missed was working in a corporate office. And I am ecstatic now! I never thought one single position could bring in so much respect and changes in and out of family. Ofcourse I miss going out with my girls , shopping and eating out all while S was at office - And watching my favorite TV Shows and talking hrs over the phone.

Okay, so finally I find time to hear just the keyboard sounds as I write this post. Huff, what a brilliant May/June this year has been! Really peeps, there was back to back schedules ( ofcourse they are more of a vacation, friends and family - but then, those are the moments everyone treasures, right?) making me scribble tons and tons of memories, now I have to catch-up so much to you!  I was so much on travel, that I didn't take my laptop along too ! Well, in a way I was totally in the moments - off from social media. And it felt good. Here's a quick wrap up before I go out to the supermarket  - The first thing that you need to do especially after you're back from India - will be self-shopping. Huh!

Its now more than a week since I'm back here in Germany. It's colder, greyer and windier than the time I left. Friends here have been excitingly waiting for us to return - so we meetup, party and go on trips together.   Two of my friends are no more preggies - their kids are old enough to smile now: and one other's kid is now rolling on his tummy (s uper cute he looks)   Snow falls just as if the Nature herself is trying to cheer us up,

As months pass by, its time I realize the year spins off so fast as an arrow.  2014 New Year's eve was our first as a couple - and we had an amazing time in Vienna, at their  Volkfest.  I have a picture of me and S with all of our friends - and me wearing a bunny-ears-hairband with lights flickering. Absolute fun. It feels just now that we celebrated our first Love- Anniv, and then our official Anniv, went to Prague , had my in-laws here, drove to  Norway ,  Rügen  - watched leaves spring, bloom, fade and die off -

Ahh.. Finally am back - fresh as a leaf. The weekend started way before Saturday this week. No I was not partying.   This  can lead you to my plight.  It looks much easier than said, I should admit.  It really is tough, though.  I wanted this year to make it bigger, more because I think I grow every day - so its high time I start not-finding excuses.  I was totally drained making the filling, and the next day the outer part and the next day again - for friends. All these dint matter to me, when I saw the look in S's face, when he ate the first of it. He simply loved it!  Its been more than 5 years since he ate it, itseems. Oh yes, it should be hard for you to picturise or understand a word - unless you know what this kandhulo looks like. So, here are my pretty darlings. The white ones are kandulos.  They are meant to be Lord Ganesha's favorite, ours too.  It has an inner filling made of palm sugar, coconut and channa dal. Some like it...

I absolutely have no time this week. It is Vinaay this Friday - Also known as Vinayagar Chathurthi or Pillayar Chathurthi in the place I live in India. I don't know, since when this was celebrated, but history dates back to Emperor Shivaji's reign (1630- 1680). It is a Hindu festival celebrated all over India, in praise of Lord Ganesha - the elephant-headed God worshiped for all beginnings and wisdom.  Hyperactive Me: Last year was my first Vinaay after marriage. By customs, I should have gone to my mom's place with my husband as a newly-wedded couple. It would have been our first festival after marriage. My husband should have had to have got me a gift (Anything - My dad had got mom a mixie for their first Vinaay itseems - those days it was  very expensive and new!) It will be a pride to the girl's family. But yeah, since we were here, it missed off. So whichever year we will be in India for Vinaay next, will be our first..  hehe .

The next morning (Read: One more night for precap) I was all excited. My first day in Germany. I could not believe I will be running a house on my own. Especially not in two weeks after wedding. It maybe weird to you, but that's how it is in India. Or atleast in my place.  We are used to being in joint families ( I mean in the initial stages, and later they move as the families grow; and some others stay in joint families forever ). We, in India, live in a family, where the we are answerable to the mother-in-law, and in her absence the first daughter-in-law and then the second daughter-in-law and so on. We abide by the decisions of the elder bhoundi (daughter-in-law)   and the sasu (mother-in-law) ( I am so used this way. Really ).

After the 9-hour flight, we took a train and another train and finally get down at our destination.   Hoefingen.  ICE, RE - the differences in trains never actually was clear to me then. He had told me our house was on a hill-top and it would be so romantic. I was thrilled to see the house in Germany. Actually MY house. It kind of felt special. Especially the fact that you will be running your own chores, at your own pace.  Women will know how it feels.  After the train left, all I could see was a huge mountain,   a hill maybe  right infront !  But the reality hadn't struck me until I actually was at the moment. It was 11:45 pm. And pitch-dark. Oh yes, our baggage from India. We had total 46+ 46 kg, and  two cabins pushing through the 20 degree inclination. Ah, it made hell a lot of noise - seriously.  With a laptop bag on my back, my passport pouch along my waist, my handbag in my arm and my DSLR hanging ar...

As you read this, I will be on my way to Norway ( Yayyy) . Norway -  Is it not in the Arctic region? Do people even live there? Maybe I will see some Polar Bears . And then I Google searched for its images. Wow. It simple looks spectacular.   The Oslo shopping street, Medieval Fortess, Opera house and ofcourse The Fjords! Norway has always been a must-go place for him. It was one of the few places which never happened, when he was a student in Germany. Sometimes it was the weather and some othertimes the sheer fact that Norway is one of the most expensive countries in the World. Either way, I am lucky enough to have Norway as maiden voyage for both of us. Its a five-day trip - wherein we will be going on a flight, car and in ferry too. I am looking forward for some beautiful clear skies, snow-capped blue mountains, misty waters and a pleasant chill that brushes through us.  After the first Swiss Alps in the first year of our marriage, this year it i...

It was the last weekend of April 2013. My first flight to Germany. My parents and in-laws had both come to send us off at the airport that morning. I was wearing a yellow sleeveless top with a black overcoat, and a blue jean. I wore my wedding thilak on my forehead and metti  in my toe just like the rest of days. I still was in a wedding-bliss-mode.

Aski thengo Namaskar, Vanakkam, Namaste and Welcome ! Okie, so Hey ever yone! I am the twenty-something girl from India, currently living in VW-Town. After my Masters in Nanotechnology, I moved to Germany with my high school-boyfriend-turned-husband.  The reason for this blog is simple - I look back at my life, travel, food, trouble-times and crazy moments that I laughed, indulged, giggled and relished ever since I came to Germany. Here you will find my experiences in getting accustomed to 'Western' Culture, Travel across the world, Guidelines and Must-go places, Insights , Indian delicacies, daily diary and lots more !  I also .. well, am good in photography, henna designing, glass painting, dancing , pencil drawing and writing ( obviously !) . I hope Indian Girl in Germany captures the sense of awe that I have for the European cities and convey my little knowledge to you, the reader.  It's a fresh year every year , and along with it comes a fresh loo...