And things start looking up...

and she wants to write about that too!
The sun is out in all its glory, basmati rice, daal, aloo and capsicum sabjee have been made and I have the house to myself after a very hectic week.
It is late evening and as twilight sets in and the wooden floors creak under my steps, it is unnaturally quiet outside.
It is still light, with a soft breeze that has not blown hard all day. Windows open to let in the sun. A cool mango juice in hand, sitting on the balcony and soaking it all in - just peaceful, just resting, just I in this foreign land - that is starting to seem like it could be home someday.

Something about Belgium just does not agree with me! While I won't claim to be the healthiest person around, barring minor (constant!) ailments I'm mostly OK. Ever since landing in this country I have been stricken!!
- Day two: Minor cold and cough
- Day four: Major cold and cough
- Day eight: Stomach virus
- Day ten: Allergic inflamation of the eye
- Day twelve: Stomach virus seems gone, severe allergy begun, constant sneezing

New day new ailment!! I couldn't help but laugh when the allergy came on in all its glory! Just when I started feeling better
dammit dammit dammit is the anthem!

I have had several 'opening lines' over the last few weeks. I began writing and then changed my mind, hit delete and the words were lost forever.
I'm half way through my stay in Brussels, half way through work and half way through the introduction to what my life will be like for the next three years.
It is interesting, to say the least. Things that I thought I could take for granted, I cannot. Things that I thought I would never want to do, turns out I do!
It is a different way of life here, one that is far removed from Australia or New Zealand, the only two places I have lived in. It is so different , the European vacation, from trying to make a life here. One has to overcome the language barrier, the right-handed traffic, the food. Yes the food. While fries dipped in chocolate are alright for a week, they can have a rather unpleasant effect on the stomach! The history and 'culture' also takes getting used to. The transition is not easy, is not going to be easy.
There are of course the positives, work and well its Europe for Godsakes! A 'whole new world' at my feet waiting to be explored and the like. And while I am looking forward to it, every once in a while, late and night when I'm in that semi-conscious state between sleep and wakefulness I feel a weak longing. A tugging, a feeling - that says 'I dont want change, I dont want to change' . I dont want to leave family and friends so far behind.
'Tis unfortunate and downright unfair that one cannot have everything ! Because that is what I want, not a whole new world - but the best of both worlds - together - at once!!
God - are you listening? It's Amrita.