Aishwarya Aiyer
From silent and clean streets to hustling and bustling streets, from traffic rules to mild chaos, from well- maintained greenery to rising concrete jungles, there lay a journey not only for the eyes but also for the soul. A journey I was opportune enough to embark upon. From the moment we landed at Charles de Gaulle in Paris, I understood the significance of the word ‘foreign’ for we could do nothing but stay astonished by their discipline, their cleanliness, their respect for monuments, their culture, their society, something very commonplace for them.
It was a study tour indeed for we saw things we’d always heard about. We’d learnt what we were always preached about, but this time, by practice. The school and family visits were obviously the main peaks in our learning curve but all the subtle lessons of cleanliness, discipline and respecting nature and culture that made up the gentle slopes are very important too.
So many misconceptions were cleared during the tour, for example, the false notion that Germans are very strict and aloof. This is not true at all. If anything, it’s the exact opposite. Germans are very warm and friendly. The principal of the school we visited, Herr Plapputa, is one of the nicest people I have ever met. The family I visited was also very sweet. The family members bore with our broken German and very patiently spoke slowly allowing us to understand. They made their language extremely simple so that we could follow and translated in English whenever we were lost in the conversation. Herr Heuger also fixed my broken bag which was a great help. Thank Herr Heuger.
I absolutely loved the experience of getting to know these people and their lifestyle. I honestly hope we remain in touch.
I would like to thank Miss Rucha and Valwade Sir for the most enlightening journey I have ever had. I would also like to promise them and myself to share these experiences and these lessons with as many people as I can so that someday some European will write something like this after visiting India.