I don't miss Home..

or maaayyybeeeee I do...

I'm going through these phases of home-sickness..It mostly happens: 1. on Saturdays, which (for some reason) are 2. also the days when my dear trainee-friends leave for their home-countries, and 3. are also majorly-boring days especially when you have fallen sick and can't drink Rs50 beer at night on account of that.

It sucks to be sick in a foreign country mainly 'cos it reaaallyy turns you home-sick. I was in the clinic last Wednesday, and was waiting for 30mins for my turn to see the doc. Ok, 30mins ain't THAT bad..it could get worse in India..but when u're in this daggy clinic, that uses a manually operated lift, that has crappy flourescent lighting, and NO posters, nothing, and a receptionist who seems to be perpetually pissed (off), you REALLY wish you were back home at Lagoon View's Liew Clinic to see Dr Liew (the (sometimes) nice doctor who has been ur doc since 1990)

AND, you reeeeeaalllyyy wish you were back home in your nice big bed, with warm water at the push of a convenient microwave button, plus Mommie to yell at you for having chocolate even when you are ill..

The best thing to do when you're homesick in a foreign city, I realized, is to: GET OUT OF THE CITY U'RE IN..even if it means going to a random place called Shravanabelagola (i'm not kidding) to climb up six-hundred-and-freaking-four-teen steps to see a huge monolithic (and naked, mind you) statue being covered by scaffolding 'cos of some renovation deal. Yup, so that's how I spent my Sunday (yesterday).

In more detail: Joanna (who's perpetually sick of B'lore on weekends) and I woke up at 6am to take the 7am bus to Shrava-bla-bla. After paying Rs68 and sleeping on a rickety bus for 3.5hrs, we got off, had Special (Rs6) coffee and Masala Dosa (Rs 14) at Hotel Raghu, and started climbing the mountain (barefeet, price to store ur slippers: Rs0.50). Saw the statue, appreciated the view, and talked and CHILLED for 3hrs, got down again and walked around the town for 0.75hr, and went back to Hotel Raghu for TWO Special Rs 6 coffees, before boarding the bus back to Bangalore. We slept for another 4hrs, and got back home VERY well-rested. Hit the sack at 10.30pm on account of 'being tired'..woke up at 1am for a phonecall, 5am 'cos it got too hot, and finally at 8am, was at work by 9.15am.

Came to work and read Fida's email on meeting Triin at Tanjong Pagar and then heading to Lau Pa Sat for dinner....and felt homesick all over again.

Drats..