When I reached Paris Air port in the last week of October 2009, it was raining/ drizzling mildly outside. While stepping out of the plane without any protective winter cloth, not even sweater, I could enjoy that whether and devour fully and forcefully the chill breeze with ease and comfort. That was the first sign that I was going to be alright with Paris weather and co-exist with it without much bother. As it turned out later in the subsequent weeks, the divine helped me with more sunshine and unusually the whether was more benevolent and moderate this year. Friends were there, waiting and watching for all the customs clearance. My former student, Shanmugham and quite a few other friends related to my colleagues in pond cherry university were also there. For remembrance, landing at Paris airport was captured by camera. . While traveling by car from the airport, I was virtually swept away by the enchanting beauty and brilliance of Paris city. Believe me, it was a kind of love at first sight. In less than forty minutes we reached the home of Shanmugham.
He and his wife showered love. Who would have the privilege and pleasure of basmati rice along with carrot beans sambar on the very first day of landing at Paris? I felt as if I was at my home town, Pondicherry. I had my own sense of thrill and happiness of being in a foreign soil. During the first twenty four hours of my stay after landing, the inspiration and the sense of exhilaration I felt , the environment of affection under which I was floating, the entire home ambiance ,the chill weather outside and warmth of love inside , I can’t forget those beautiful moments in life.
Nearly three weeks stay at Paris, which included three days brief sojourn to a few German cities showed me the express way towards love and friendship which I abundantly received. With each passing day, I was beginning to like the place and people; All my initial apprehensions and fears about my first overseas trip appeared to be more naïve and misplaced. By divine grace my health co-operated and my strong parental genes provided the necessary protective guard.
I could also see the benevolent destiny at work through my official coordinator of the university, who was known to me for a long time. There was some element of anguished anger, a sort of a strange relationship. But, after seeing her at work at he crucial stage of vading through the post doctoral thesis work submission stage and all the trials and tribulations associated with it, every thing dissolved into thin air. She took care with all the burdens on her shoulder.
In a distant place, separated from your people through space and time, you need somebody as an anchor. Besides my co-coordinator, people like Shanmugham, Patrick, and quite a few others took care on a continual basis and placed me on a secure foundation.
Human relations, where ever they are, basically rest on love and hand of warm friendship. Without the combined and co-operative efforts of likeminded souls, it is absolutely impossible to carry out some task. At least in the initial stages where ever I went, I came across people who were good, loving, caring and having an innate tendency to help fellow human. Even in an exceptional case of some, not able to lend a helping hand, I could understand their sense of predicament. Every one has his or her own life to live, privacy to take care of, and enjoy some private space to taste loneliness. Long ago, a Delhi university professor in a casual chat told me, “Never form any extreme opinions about anybody.” It is more like a statement of revelation and I could enjoy all the uncertainties and absurdities of life in a more pleasant way. In a matter of few days, thanks to my coordinator’s help I could settle down in a star hotel belonging to European chain network I could have more freedom. But, the food and ambiance that I had enjoyed in my student’s house was entirely different from this sophisticated environment. Every place has its own enduring impact of charm, convenience and elegance, which cannot be captured by words.
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