Truly one life is not enough to enjoy the vast beauty of the world. How small are we compared to this infinite Mother Nature that can shock you and make you realize your human status, isn’t it?
Living in a foreign country is a truly a journey of living out of your comfort zone.
The trouble starts from getting the visa itself. Even though I traveled to some 17 countries in Asia and Europe by now, I must honestly admit that it clearly gives me an adrenalin rush every time I have to pass through customs. Some of the immigration officers make you feel like you are a Third World Citizen. I might call it a negative nature of human beings which restrict the boundaries and simply promotes self interest of first world countries. On one occasion in Italy I was asked a question like 'How can you afford a trip to Italy, if you are an Indian? Sadly an average person here does not know anything about India even though it is destined to be the world’s 3rd largest economy by 2010.
Living in a foreign country is a truly a journey of living out of your comfort zone.
The trouble starts from getting the visa itself. Even though I traveled to some 17 countries in Asia and Europe by now, I must honestly admit that it clearly gives me an adrenalin rush every time I have to pass through customs. Some of the immigration officers make you feel like you are a Third World Citizen. I might call it a negative nature of human beings which restrict the boundaries and simply promotes self interest of first world countries. On one occasion in Italy I was asked a question like 'How can you afford a trip to Italy, if you are an Indian? Sadly an average person here does not know anything about India even though it is destined to be the world’s 3rd largest economy by 2010.
But, I think such experiences teach you to stretch the time in a foreign environment - a forced necessity to pass your time wandering around the super markets while your future is being decided by someone else. I agree that all the consulates around the world are just the same.
I was in Lyon which is the second biggest city in France after Paris.
Lyon Tram (Costs 1 euro per journey)I had to renew my Switzerland visa and I was told to come back at 4 o'clock without any questions. I just bought a tram pass and kept on going from one place to another with every second having the thought of what is happening to my visa. It is really nerve breaking but Indian embassies are not far behind in this bureaucratic race, at times I have seen my American friends being denied their traveling visa to India.
Beautiful Geneva - Truly a Financial Hub
Swizz MountainsI lived in Switzerland in Geneva for almost 6 months and every day I wondered about reasons for poverty in third world economies. I think it is overdependence on religion and inward psyche of the leaders that hinders a poor country’s growth. I think what we need now is not another religion (which in any case does not help you to realize your potential) but a true realization of religiousness and that is what I recall from some of my visits to other Museums in France and Rome.
The Louver Museum, Paris, FranceEvery time I visited or lived in any country in Europe may it be France, Switzerland, Luxembourg or the UK – I was truly enthralled by the technological and social systems advancements. The more I traveled, the more I felt a never ending desire to explore and experience.
Neydens - A French town near Geneva where I lived during my post graduation days in International ManagementI literally could not stop tears while I was in Bruges - a small town in Belgium.
Bruges - A small town in BelgiumIt was so much unbounded beauty and I was riding on a bicycle totally alone on a 30 Km tour of Belgium farms, on the left side all you see is never ending greenery and on the right there was a river flowing, with the Sun about to set the whole sky turns into a dark orange bubble around you with some 7-8 C of perfect temperature to keep you going, and I think then comes that feeling of fulfillment.
And isn't it the feeling of knowledge gained not from reading something but seeing it, experiencing it and I think that is what this journey called Life is about, what do you think?...
And isn't it the feeling of knowledge gained not from reading something but seeing it, experiencing it and I think that is what this journey called Life is about, what do you think?...
