I close my eyes and think of all the things i do not want. And visualize them rolling by, vacuum cleaners, 3D TVs, new phones and cars and handbags, a neat house in the suburbs. I think of how unhappy these things would make me and then I am free. If you don’t want these things they can never truly have you. Then I think of wood and I think of my bones as wood, something slow and put here a long time ago.
Author Unknown
It has been nice having people visit me in Geneva ever since I got back from India…literally, one day after. Faridoun from Croatia, or is it London or actually is it Kenya?! came on the Sunday and hung out here until Thursday. We went to the fete, rode bikes, ate a ton of food, sheesha-d, drank lots of coffee, and had interesting chats with other ‘out there’ people. Faridoun, I hope the talk on Ted X goes amazingly – human trafficking.
Next, came Nafisa from Nairobi. Well, she is really from Tajikistan, lived many years in Afghanistan and now has moved to Kenya and works in the same field as me. We did not indulge in Russian vodka as she loves to do, but instead we went to the fete with some others from here and there – nice to meet you Andwele and Scott from Afghanistan, well not really from there…and see you in Toronto Andwele. We went to an outdoor concert and had some interesting concotions and on the way home we wandered into a giant trampoline, leaving me with a few cuts and bruises. The haunted house was not scary at all but Nafisa kept screaming just for the sake of it. False advertising. She left for a wedding in Montreux. Not her wedding but some friends of hers who are not from here either but decided to have their wedding at one of the most expensive places that you can have a wedding…Switzerland. I wonder if they served Swiss food – racelette and fondue?
Then Farrah re-entered my life 4 days later. This was a much more chilled visit together, as my Farrah is almost 8 months pregnant. We met up with Laili and had chais and went baby shopping. So I think in the 4 days of hanging out with them I must have got sympathy pregnancy (even if i am not the partner of either of them) or what is it called…or hysterical pregnancy? Because I was feeling tired and needed afternoon naps like them. I also felt stomach pains and then today, my tummy was out to wazoo! Maybe it is just bloating. Yes, I have eaten horribly the last few months, that it is probably just catching up now. I guess the bottle of Prosecco did not help either. Prosecco, not proscuitto as a dear friend keeps calling it.
Farrah and I of course could not go 4 days without shopping together and I ended up purchasing a wallet which was very much not needed. It is getting personalized with my initials right now…well not right now exactly to be specific. We ate a lot too. I mean she was preggers and I was beginning to think I was, so can’t blame us. We watched an hour show of fireworks which is supposed to be second best to China. It was crazy. It was like all of Geneva was out that night. I am impressed with Farrah’s ambitious nature while she is preggers – we watched it all, except for when we took a break at Starbucks for chai lattes and chocolate chunk cookies. We enjoyed the fete and went on rides and played games. Didn’t win anything but that is okay. I wore red lipstick. She wore flat shoes! She went on the swings. I went in a ball in the water. It was peaceful and I would like one myself. Then I can float in the sea, not in Geneva as there is the lake and not the sea. But I can take it to a sea and blow it up and get in. But how will I get back to shore? Maybe I will float to the Maldives. I must remember then to take a picnic in case I get hungry. And a good book. Oh and yes, my docking station with plenty of batteries. It would be nice to see a rainbow from my ball and perhaps I will see fish that sing.
We watched a dumb movie, the name I cannot remember. We watched a funny but disturbing movie called Project X. We wondered if teenagers today are really like that?? Some of it must be true. Farrah worried about the future of Bug (the thing inside of her). But Bug will not turn out like those wild ones. For he has Kuku Masi to keep him on track. The only things I will teach him are how to draw on his bedroom walls, and eat off the kitchen floor. Yes, I will teach Bug wonders. Yesterday, we watched 16 Candles. I watch it at least twice a year for the last 6 years. I think that only North Americans can really relate to that movie and it is very culturally contexted (i do not think that is a word, but neither is confuzzled and i like that one). Whenever I would get non North Americans to watch that movie over the past 6 years, they would get bored and not relate to some of the quirkiness in it. The Brat Pack. What a cool era.
Well, now, there is just me again. Until Thursday that is, then I am off on another adventure. Goodnight.
Being back in Geneva has been alright. I was somewhat worried as to how I would feel after being in India for 3 months, surrounded by madness. This is a calm and quiet place. I guess a good one after 3 months in chaos. The Fete is on, which is the Geneva festival in the summer, so whenever I have the need for craziness, I just go there. It is 2 mins away from my place. The Middle Eastern folk are no longer here, as it is Ramadhan. Last year, the city was full of bhurkas and fabulous cars, which they fly down to Geneva for the summer. Strolling along the water, roller blading and biking have been somewhat tougher with all the people around, but still doable.
I have been getting more sleep than usual, which is good. Perhaps the days of insomnia are over? The energy is still there and it is difficult to find things to do at all hours. I work 9 to 14 hours a day, depending on where I am. I sleep for 4 to 5, which gives me 6 to 9 hours to play with! I read. I write stories. I blog. I facebook and now instagram! I watch movies. Go for walks. I meet with friends. I sometimes do scrapbooking. Tried knitting. Looking at online courses. I think the next step might be meditation.
I had friends come into town the following day after I landed, and they continue to come. I went on a trampoline with visitors and fell many times. Farrah arrives this evening. My pregnant Farrah. More strolls along the lake and picnics at the waterfront. Cannot forget shopping and eating good food.
I am having many chai lattes again from Starbucks. Why do they call it chai tea latte? Isn’t chai and tea the same thing? Yesterday, a man was talking so loud on his phone and walking around, as though we all wanted to hear what he had to say. And then he complained about his drink twice about how watery it was, while he was still on the phone. Be nice. And get off the phone and explain to the person what the problem with the drink is. I felt like pouring it on his head. Did I say that out loud? I remember when my brother was about 6 years old. I was reading the famous Superfudge, by Judy Blume, which still happens to be one of my favourites. Fudge was being a pain in the butt and not eating. So his brother said…’eat it or wear it.’ I recall wanting to try that myself so I pushed my little brothers buttons and ended up creating a scenario where I could use that line too. Poor thing, he ended up with milk and cereal all over his head and lap. He pays me back now with carpet burns whenever I go home for a visit. He is much bigger than me now.
Dima left for Sri Lanka today. She was my noisy neighbour. She used to have parties through the night on weekdays too. One day before I met her, I banged on her wall with a broom very loudly. But I do not think she got the point. Then one day, I was watching a movie at 11pm at night and the girl had the audicity to knock on my door and ask me if I could keep it down…that she was trying to sleep! I did. Then some time later, I needed a bottle opener. I knocked on her door because I could not find mine. We became friends from that day onwards. I think we saw each other at least once a day ever since that day. I will miss that girl.
Time to go.
Two years ago, life took a different course for me. It was not easy, but today I see how it all made sense. I have had the most amazing experiences and met some of the most fabulous people on this journey. It has been a truly remarkable ride!
I must thank my family and friends for all their support in the past 2 years. From the bbms to skype chats, thanks for the laughs and encouragement. The trips here and there with old friends and new ones, added to the adventure. I must thank all the special souls that have walked into my life. Every individual has left their mark on me in some form or another. I am whom I have become based on these encounters…bits and pieces of many of you.
I know I’ve said this before, but there is always a reason for everything, even if we have no bloody clue what it’s all about.
The world is an amazing place; complex, yet so simple.
We all have the strength to choose better for ourselves.
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