Dijon, France.... The dream is still on..

Its been 4 months since i have got back but it seems like mentally i am still there, where it all began... 1000s of away in a small town in central France, Dijon...

It seems like its been ages, somewhere in my last lifetime....or more so like a dream... or more so like its just my imagination but then i see my screensaver on my laptop and i know it was true....
It feels that those 4 months never existed but those months were the turning point of my life...

Just an hour back i was sitting with friends downstairs and what was i talking about, France... Eshan, Mayank, Sunil or Ashok whomever i catch up with what do i talk about... France... Someday people here at IMT may get mad at me for talking only and only about one thing in life... Please guys never mistake it as arrogance or so...its just that i havent been able to cut away from those 4 months...
Met my international relations professor that day and he commented on me, " Sampark still hasnt come out of that mode." Yes guys i havent.... i still live those moments over and over again, every minute.

Some of you may ask me....Sampark why are u so mad over this whole thing... I have only one answer to you.... Kuch kuch hota hai, tum nahi samjhoge (its something, you will never understand)

In another few days, 2 french students are coming to campus... and in another few days my junior batch will know whose gonna go to the experience the world. Today given an opportunity i would pay double the amount, i am ready to put my placements at stake, i would do anything... Just if someone could get those days back for me...

As far as juniors who are going.... Just one thing will sum it up for you,

"GO.... LIVE A LIFETIME"

28, Rue Gambetta.... A Vendre....

I just came back from dinner and switched on my laptop. Google Talk connected and the new mail pop up popped out. 1/1 Sunil Agrawal..... See pics of 28 Rue Gambetta

I excitedly connected to Gmail to see the pics of my house, the house where i spend the best days of my life. I signed in and clicked open the mail and pressed the download option. Within seconds "downloading complete" and "open" clicked.

The pic appeared and there from the top window hung a board "a vendre".
And seemed like the whole world collapsed.
Shit man.... its not possible.... my house couldnt be on sale.... and out of nowhere i noticed something i had never expected.... A Tear.....And it slowly rolled out... and down my cheek

I cant be crying i said to myself, but, yes i was.... and then another, followed by another...

Never expected myself to be crying over a house and that also rented one but when i look back i get so many memories of that one house, more than any other house i have ever been a part off

That dining table on which we spend long hours eating and discussing. That blue sofa and its springs which gave away by the time we left. The brown coloured couch whose cushions were used to beat Aishwarya. That window on which i loved standing and taking pics. That dreadful cellar which freaked you out if you went down there at night. That mattress bed of mine in the drawing room. That green staircase. That frealing photograph in the loo on the 1st floor. Ashoks always messed up room and Aishwarya's always not a spot of dirt room. The lamp which i broke just before we left and that huge mirror in the drawing room in which Self-Obsessed Ashok Kumar could not get enough off.

So many memories surround that house. So much the 6 of us have shared in that house. So many things i have learnt in that house. So many lives i have lived in that house. So many things i will miss about that house....

It so much that today i cant even see someone else staying in that house....

The tears roll down, and then i realise, even my tears are not precious enough to enable me to buy my house, my 28, Rue Gambetta.....

THOSE WERE THE BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE

Here I sit at Paris Airport waiting for my flight back home. Another few hours the 4 month dream is gonna come to an end. The memories, the times , the people all gonna stay by me forever.

And as I am about to leave I would like to thank the beautiful country, France, for all that it has given me. Few hours back as we left Dijon we saw what all we had gained in these 4 months and also saw the great friendships that we were leaving behind. Kassy, Kwstas, Karolina, Gulcin, Yagmur, Alp, Astrid, all were there at the Gare (station) to see us off. There was no greater honour than that.

4.40 pm...Platform... the train is all set to leave. All of us stand at the door and emotions let loose. Kassy, Karolina and even Kwstas shed a tear or two. With the hugs and kisses and goodbyes the time ticks away.

4.52 pm...the door closes...and all these friends get left behind. I take my seat by the window and as the train starts moving. The name on the platform says, “Ville de Dijon” and it finally struck me. Maybe and most probably we will never walk these lanes again. The tears start rolling and the 4 months flash right in front of me. Every moment, every laugh, all those fights.....i will miss them all.

5.15am...Present day...Airport Charles de Gaulle terminal 2F...
Aishwarya asks me why I have that blank look on my face and I don’t have any reply for her. Its a feeling of getting left behind. Its a feeling of losing out on so many things. As we walked from ESC Dijon to Rue Gambetta there were so many things that I always came across. Waving HI to my friend at Le Bocadillo, I will miss doing that. Wishing “Bonsoir” to my sandwich friend at Rue la Liberte, Place de la Liberation, Chabot Charny, Wilson, the Avenue.
I still feel like going back to that house and fight with the others. “Who’s turn is it to cook today.” “it’s not my turn to go to Carrefour.” “Again you have cooked Rice, cant we have something else to eat.” “Why isn’t Ashok there to cook lunch.” Those were times yaar.

THE HOUSEMATES
Aishwarya, Miss Accent, and her favourite statement “ I choose not to”.... MISS HS..... when we came here we expected a girl would eat less as compared to us but surprisingly she eats more than me. Reason.... “She doesn’t eat more than she pays” but neither does she eat less than what she pays.

Ashok and his favourite line... “Why am I being outcasted” “ I am not opposed to any rule.” The greatest thing used to be that every time he needed to be ready at a particular time Ashok would say, “ Nobody needs to wake me up. You want me to be ready at 10. I will be here at 9.58” but alas leaving him everyone knew that Ashok will never appear before 11. Someone who can spend 50 euros on roller blades just to use it twice.

Sunil.... Kantaal aa raha hai.... “you guys should only buy brown bread bcoz its healthy. Every morning dot at 9.15am Sunil Bhaiya would be at the dining table having a kings breakfast. Yaar if you cant sleep doesn’t mean that making so much noise in the kitchen and spoiling our sleep. “Why is that plate not washed. Why are u making so much noise. The rule is made, no more discussions on this.”

Mayank Tandon... he hasn’t changed at all... that birthday party, those pre birthday surprises... somethings should be left unsaid... From all those double meanings statements, he went on to become the silent assassin. Just observing and taking it all.

Eshan, the angry young man. Can u even imagine someone with the personality of him would lose cool so easily. He was the rule maker and the rule follower. It was us, the others who broke the rules.

The great jokes that we shared... “Aaaaaaah” “The man, his ducati and his glacier” and “the small red fruits”. The great plans of Sunil and mine to kill Aishwarya everyday but sadly she survived all of them. Sunil does plan to throw her off the plane mid-air. Hope so finally he does succeed before entering India.

I was also a butt of so many jokes but guys, thanx for those times as well. “Grogi” “Loveguru” “Bimar premi” “Consultancy” “Tharki”.

Those linking up each other with all those firangees. Sunil and his love for..... Ashok and his Takiya.... Mayank and Aaaaah..... Aishwarya and her Ghosla Baal waala firangee and “da man”( aishwarya asked me to change “the” to “da” right accent and Miss HS).... we didn’t even leave Eshan out... My story...Guys I don’t think I need to even mention where you linked me...

All 5 of you, Mayank, Eshan, Aishwarya, Sunil and Ashok... Thanx a million... It was the greatest honour and greatest pleasure staying with you. May not be ever able to thank you for all that you have taught me in this period. I couldn’t have ever asked for a better set of people and thanx to IMT and Mazumdar Sir I have found friends for a lifetime

THE FRIENDS

Thanx a ton to all the people we met here who made every moment of this eternity worth dying for.

The Greeks....Kassy and Kwstas... you were just fabulous and incredible

The American....Kamilah... will always regret not saying a proper bye to you... you are The BEST....

The Czechs....Karolina....you are a SWEETHEART. Proud to have a friend like you...Jan n Barbora... It was a great time that I spent with you

The Turkish... Gulcin... Seriously the enthusiasm and excitement that I saw in you... will miss Miss Spontaneous Photographer... Yagmur... you were Great... Alp... Regret getting to know you so late....

The Slovenians...Tjasa n Lea.... Will miss the Beautiful Ladies a lot...

The Polish... Wiki... Miss Wierd Expression... but lovely to have around for a smile...

The Indians...Agraj, Ankur, Priya, Shivam, Dipin, Jennifer... Hope to meet you some day back in India...

Did I forget mentioning any French.... yes a loads of them to thank for.... Quentin, Sabrina and Barbora for the wonderful tourism team. Kamelia and Floriane for the great Management and Business Creativity work respectively. Yikka, will try meeting you some day in Hong Kong.

THE PEOPLE

Bob and Elisabeth.. You were wonderful neighbours. Someday if God permits we will have another wonderful discussion like the one we had. You have great kids in Pierre and Mira and just wish all of you the very best in life

Our landlords... Could have never asked for anything better from them... Anybody reading this always pray that you have landlords like them... someone who would go out of their way to make their tenants feel at home.. Being it calling back home or be it taking us to the market and even the phone and the weighing scale we demanded

One of the best persons I met and some of the best memories that I had were in the French class with Mrs Fredrique Terrand.. Someone who took all our jokes so sportingly and will never forget the moment where in the final exam she told me, “Sampark I cant take this paper of yours.” I was submitting a disastrous attempt and this statement just showed how much expectations she had from me. She would scold us when we spoke Hindi in class and just loved it when she said, “Sampark, no tension, its like sleeping on the beach” “In France, teacher is the Boss” “Work, work hard” Shut up” Undoubtedly the best classroom memories I have ever had. At this point of French class how can i miss the wonderful times when Haajesh was in class. From the point where he told maam, " chalti hai kya coffee peene" to " where he kept saying," i missed only 3 classes " where he would have attented not more than that no. And the best of all pronounce Bonjour Monsieur they way u pronounce in English and not how u do it in French

Just a mention to all the other teachers that I spent some great classroom hours with. Be it Sabine Mueller(just no words to describe her), JP Bernard (one of the very few practical classes that I have had ever), Claude Chappui( love his knowledge on everything), A. Djoehana( loved the way he used to say, “lets ask our Indian friends.” Siobhan Alderson (a very short but impactful interaction with her. Maam, will miss your classes a lot” Christian Khulmann and who is at the 3 corners of the Marketing Triangle.

Will miss the Patisserie and Boulangerie opposite the school.... Pain au Chocolat and the Jambon Sandwich ( Sunil, How many dukkars, Pigs, have I eaten in France??




THE PLACES

The beauty of France is just uncomparable.

Be it the lovely Eiffel ( visiting which was a dream come true) or Moulin Rouge. Finally in 4 months I did break my bad luck with Paris and did visit it twice. The 1st one on 14th Feb.. It was just the greatest thing that could have ever happened, “me in the world’s most romantic city on the year’s most romantic day.

Be it Besancon, it’s citadelle and, how can I forget, Pascal

Be it Beaune and its wine world with Mr Claude Chappui

Be it Lyon and its wonderful Roman Remains, the 2 rivers running side by side or be it the double decker Notre Dame Church. I couldn’t believe seeing 2 churches one above another.

Be it Nice and Cannes. Agreed the rain tried playing spoiltsport but the red carpet and the wonderful ride to the island, the secluded sea side on the island at Cannes and be it the rocky beaches of Nice

And finally be it the Marsanney Forest. The best hike that anyone can ever ask for. That climbing up the hillside and then losing our way to finally sliding down the hill. It was just fabulous

Or be it the wonderful city of Dijon....i can go on and on about it

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

In another few hours I will leave France but that doesn’t mean that I have fulfilled all my wishes. Amidst all these great memories a few things were left undone which would force to come back.
Missed a chance to have coffee at Place de la Liberation. Would have loved to have one under the wonderful summer sun with a slow breeze blowing across. As far as meals are concerned will come back to eat at JP Billoux, our very own JP Billu.

Would have loved to be here to watch the Tour de France or the French F1 grand prix but as of now am taking the Tour de France T-shirt back with me to remind me that I gotta come back for it. French Open also was missed.

Can even come during Christmas time for it has always been my dream to spend Christmas in another country. Alas not any grand Christmas celebrations in India

SIGNING OFF

So guys it is 7.10 am....10th May 2009 and my time in France is finally about to end. I would soon be leaving for Terminal 1 for my check in so I gotta end

Miss you all, miss you France, Miss you Dijon, Miss you ESC, Miss you 28 Rue Gambetta, Miss my friends...

Will love you forever and always...whichever is earlier

Will write to all of you soon for the first time from India (Blogging was also a gift that France gave me). This is Sampark Sachdeva signing off from Airport Charles de Gaulle for the very last time from French Soil.

Love in France

I had written this article last evening on my way home but I wasn’t able to post it due to no access to net.

It’s 7.50 pm, I am on my way home but as I cross Place Wilson I decide to sit on one of the benches there. I take a seat under a pink cherry blossom tree. There in the distance behind the building the sun is getting ready to pack up for the day. On my left, leaving a few benches, sits a couple discussing something from a sheet of paper. On my right, sit another couple, too engrossed in their kissing to even notice that I am putting them on my sheet of paper. Across the fountain an elder couple walks home, hand in hand. Seems like the whole city of Dijon is in love. As I write this 2 pigeons appear out of nowhere and land in front of me. Don’t tell me these 2 are also in love....

The weather around, the calm chilly breeze, the setting sun, the trees with their new, bright green leaves, the cherry blossom trees all seem to blend with the environment as everything seems to be giving vibes of love.

In the next 15 minutes that I sit there, loads of love filled couple cross my existence. Some just hold hands and walk along. This guy keeps troubling his girl who just seems to love it. Some just cycle away into time.

Man y am I the only one not in love? I also wanna love somebody and spend time with someone? And then out of nowhere it dawn cracks, lightning strikes and my eyes open to a completely different world. I too was in love. YES guys I am in love too. Love all around me had finally gripped me.

Now the next valid question would be. In love with whom?

Thats simple. Love with the beauty of life, with this love filled country, love with beauty of nature, with the setting sun, with the miracle of life, with every creation that God so beautifully designed, with the breeze that races thru my hair, with everyone else who is also in Love.

Finally I found love too......

People say “ Live n let live”.

I say, “ LOVE n Let LOVE”

Last 24 days in heaven

Here i sit in the library at ESC Dijon, France, 1000's of miles away from home. The date is 16th of April. 24 days from now i.e. 10th May i would be back on the Qatar Airways flight to New Delhi.

I will be back to my world, my India but would life ever be the same. Numerous questions are running through my mind. On one hand i wanna go back home, to mom, to my friends, to my India but on the other hand its like, once i go back will i ever come back here, to Dijon, where i spent some of the best days of my life. That house, 28 Rue Gambetta, that road, Place Wilson, Rue de liberte, ESC dijon all have become such an integral part of life.

The people that i have met?? Hardcore discussions with Ashok?? Pulling Aish's leg,?? Fighting who has to do the cooking?? Who has to do the dishes?? Fighting to save every Euro?? Admiring the babes on the road with Mayank?? Deciding and planning with Eshan n Sunil??

Man i gonna miss this all..... There are 100's of faces in ESC which recognise me at least by face.... will i ever see them again... how many of these friendships will i take back home.... how many of these people will even remember 1 yr down the line that i even existed... Is there even one who would??? Hope so...

6 months earlier had never thought that would get a chance to go abroad so soon.... let alone live for 4 mths... now as these 4 months are about to end i am in a dilemma... One side of me misses home and wanna go back desperately and the other side says," Sampark dont go back.... What abt those wonderful memories, what about those wonderful times, will u let go of them so easily."

So today guys i promise, whatever happens in life, at least once, i will come back to France, to Dijon, to ESC, to 28, rue gambetta, to the world that taught me life, to the world that gave me the best memories of my life

and today i say " WINTER N SPRING OF 09, THOSE WERE THE BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE" and a tear rolls down my cheek......

And one thing is sure, " The Sampark that flew out of India on 16th January 2009 wont be the same as the Sampark who flies in on the 11th of May"

Friends of the world Part 2

Now i wont talk about people very individually but as and when they come to mind.

Lets talk about the other Indian friends that i have made here. The maximum time if spent would be the guys from IMT Ghaziabad. Agraj, Ankur, Shivam, Dipin n Priya. Had the most wonderful Holi party with them. Agreed the first time i met them didn't find them very friendly enough but as time passed they turned out to be great friends. The time that we spent with Ankur in Paris was gr8 and then Ankur n Agraj in Cannes and then the last day at the Parc. Agraj, i will never forget the name u gave me "Bimar Premi". Now that u guys are no more in Dijon, we all miss ur presence.

Kamilah, the best person that i have met here. She is from the USA but still remember the first day i had seen her. So extrovert and so confident of herself she was the one who went out to each and every person making friends. Doubt that anyone in the world wouldnt love her. Karolina was another great friend that i made here. She is from the Czech Republic. First time had seen her sitting in the row in front of me during the orientation. An introvert by nature, but a great person once u get to know her. Had shared great moments with her chatting and working on Business Creativity. Yagmur and Gulcin from Turkey, Tjasa and Lea from Slovenia, Weronica from Poland. Never got a great chance to know them but the party that we had and the moments that we have shared will stay forever.

Met two wonderful couples here who potray the true meaning of love. Kassy n Kwstas from Greece and Jan n Barbora from the Czech. Amongst the French havent found too many great friends but one i would surely like to mention is Kamelia. Was there in my Management group but have had wonderful discussions with her on wine , France n India

Friends of the world

3 months have passed in this beautiful country and have met many 100's of people here. So today let me introduce u to the friends that i have made in this wonderful life changing trip.

First of all let me introduce u to the 5 people i live with. Have shared wonderful moments with them, chatting, cooking, travelling or just as simple as pulling each others legs.

ESHAN- a very simple guy who gets angry sometimes but a great person at heart. Somebody who can skip his plan to go to Paris just to stay with me when i was ill would surely be a wonderful guy. From him have learnt loads of things about simple living. Plus meri tarah he doesn't run after every girl.

MAYANK- Doesnt like me talk about love at all. You should see his expression when i utter the word love. Have rarely seen him get angry. Understands all my double meaning PJ's and a great confidant. He's gonna be my future roomie next yr.

ASHOK- We call him the walking encyclopedia. Any topic, any statistic, any information, he knows. We dont look eye to eye on many topics but have learnt loads from him. Seeing him i have started reading about various things i never even thought of. Be it Area 51 or be it Indian Politics he's the man. And for your information seems like gonna jump into politics soon.

AISHWARYA- The lone girl amongst us 6 and the one whose leg we pull the most. Is totally HS but still has taught me how to be a complete sport. No matter how much we pull her leg, she takes it all so sportingly without feeling bad any time. Hats off girl.

SUNIL- The health freak, the one who troubles Aishwarya the most. We love pulling his legs when he posts comments on facebook or orkut. The foodie amongst us who doesnt eat anything unhealthy. Man i personally cant live without Junk food, coke n fries.

Learnings from France

This is a very important topic which i would have to review once i head back to India. Since have been free the whole day today thought y not think over this right now itself. Always knew that if i see bookish knowledge wise this trip would be a waste but in the practical sense this trip has taught me loads...

• The most important thing that i have learnt is how to live with 5 other people in the same house. Man, it is difficult. 6 people, 6 different views of looking at things, 6 different ways of doing things. But it has taught me loads about adjustment, compromising and understanding

• Another great benefit of this trip has been that i have, finally, learnt cooking. At least survive karne ke liye toh i can make now. Be it all from roti to chawal to sabzi, i can manage.

• How to manage a house. The dustbin is overflowing, the dishes are dirty, the clothes need to be put out for drying, there is dirt everywhere. Things which i never, ever thought abt earlier. But now... I know my future wife is gonna be really happy to know all this

• Now moving out of the house. Seeing the people here in Europe has opened my eyes to a completely new way of looking at life. The amount of time that parents spend here with the kids is just fantastic. Be it cycling, roller skating or playing soccer, Parents here give quality time to their kids. Work is important but more important than family, never.

• The educational system here emphasis more on practical training rather than theoritical knowledge. For us, we have just a summer training for 2 months, these guys have to do 6-8 months throughout their masters. For us exams are the ultimate test where u just eat n vomit the book. Here grades are on basis of practical work u do.

• French are very open to others and their freedom of expression. Be it living in with ur boyfriend/girlfriend or kissing openly. If you love someone whats wrong if u stay together. As mature adults you have the right to live the way u want. No organisation or political party has the right to teach u the way to live. For Indians since these things are restricted they put too much importance to it. Here its as normal as any other factor of life

• Before coming to France loads of people told, "French are really hostile towards foreigners. They would talk in French even though they know English". But all this stereotyping ended once i came here. The most helpful people i have come across have been in France. Be it Pascal, whom i met in Besancon (he was out for a walk but ended up showing us the whole city for over 5 hours) or the sales woman at the SFR showroom (not knowing english she called up her friend who acted as interpreter on the phone) or our own landlady (the freedon that we got plus the first trip to the supermarket with her plus the dinner that she hosted). Hats off to all the wonderful people that i have met in this wonderful country.