Saturday, December 31, 2005

Christmas

I was invited by Al's family to their home near Berlin for Christmas. The family was so very affectionate that when I was returning I suddenly started missing my own home. For the first time I ever went to Church on a Christmas day. One of Al's brothers married a mexican girl and people visiting the church thought I was her brother :). When all of us returned home after the mass everyone played musical instruments. Father on the piano, mother singing the carols, the children playing clarinets and flutes made the evening one of the most wonderful evenings of my stay here in Germany. We then exchanged christmas gifts ;-)! After having the dinner, we went to a church at which Al's grandfather was a pastor for 30 years. The musical concert at the Church got over at 12 midnight. The next day, we went on a sight seeing tour. Al's father was my guide and explained the historical significance of many places that we visited (a shiplift, a monastry, a kind of hill top from where you could see sever lakes, an Ostrich farm ..).

During my stay, I told them many stories about India and Indian Culture. I told them about the Indian marriage system and the life long dedication of Indians to their spouses. Their bewildered ears didnt believe that this could be true, their curious minds had many questions and incessantly sought answers.. The experience of staying with them was very educative and relaxing. I was getting the first hand experience of the life of germans and i should confess i really enjoyed my christmas.

This being the last post of this year, I thank all the people who crossed my way and enriched the experience of living on this earth.

Wish you A very very happy and prosperous new year!

Thursday, December 01, 2005

On Freedom

The Freedom to BE
To live and love
The DREAM

The Freedom to SEE
To feel and judge
The EXPERIENCE

The Freedom to THINK
To inquire and question
Conventional WISDOM

The Freedom to EXPRESS
To imbibe and profess
One's BELIEF

The Freedom to ACT
To succeed and win
Someone's HEART

The Freedom to GROW
To pursue and realise
An AMBITION

The Freedom to BE
A HUMAN BEING

Musings of Jagannadha Tamvada