First Six Months in Pune

I left for India at the end of August and started working pretty soon after reaching. To say it’s been a whirlwind would be an understatement. Sunday, September 2nd got me to Bombay and already on Monday I was headed to Pune. I met with my boss Mrs. Rakhi Singh that day itself and I knew I’d be right at home. She speaks really fast like me and is managing a million things at once all the time. I described her after my first phone call as a cool mom and I was going to be just fine in this new city. Off I went to the Kalyani Nagar location and just entering the school put me at instant ease, I found a school I truly believed in and it almost validated my choice to move half way across the world to a new city I had never been to before. The next day I was headed back to Bombay to meet with the CEO and chairman. I got hired for one job, got kinda trained for another, and within a short few months got a promotion to working in the regional and head office. Currently I don’t know what my exact title is, but I am setting up the environments for the new schools and quality assurance. 

So, India definitely does not make it easy for someone who was not born on their land to enter or settle down. I honestly don’t know how I figured it all out on my own. 

Finding an apartment was another challenge. No one would rent to me as a single female from America. My aunt forced me to come visit and we got an airbnb. She ended up finding something within one day and I am absolutely in love with my flat. The warm sunshine wakes me up every morning and that morning glow every single day is gorgeous. It’s a two and a half bedroom flat with two terraces on the eighth floor. The half bedroom I use as my studio and I have one guest bedroom as well. It was really hard for me to accept help at first, but honestly if you don’t want to adapt then you shouldn’t even live in India. I feel as though I am still adjusting to life in India, but I have come a long way. The journey has been one that I think I needed to prove to myself. 

One of the harder aspects of life in India was all the unwanted attention I was receiving and still do. At first it really did bother me, but I guess I did get used to it or just stopped letting it bother me. That intense male gaze is something no one should have to endure every single time one steps foot outside of their house. But you know what? Even females stare. 

Making friends has been another obstacle to overcome. The way I would make friends elsewhere is really really different. I also came to the realization a few months ago that I put up a wall and don’t let people in which is why people may not approach me. Still the friends I have made are quality ones. The kind of friends who will bring you vada pav at work first thing in the morning after needing to soak up the alcohol from the night before. India is one of the warmest most welcoming places you will ever visit. Now, Pune is a little less welcoming to outsiders - that is true. The only people’s houses I have been to here are Gujarati’s, but I guess India as a whole is the kind of place where people will go out of their way to help. 

Work is a combination is spontaneity, stress, crazy, and a whole lot of fun! My job recently has been building and creating things for the environment anyway I want! How cool is that!? I go shopping in old Pune every now and then and come back pretty inspired. India has always been my biggest inspiration. It has evolved into retelling a story through a moment or experience through my travels. But, something about being in India has always been a huge source of inspiration for me. Something about the energy and colors leaves me with endless ideas to create. Now, my job in in India is actually making things and that to WITH help is like a dream come true. I am often counting my blessings and eternally grateful. I have said this in the past, but when you put that good energy out in the universe I believe the universe has got your back. It has been true for me time and time again. 

Barcelona

There are some places you dream about and because you dream about them so much they will never live up to what you imagined in your head. But, both times I visited Spain it beyond exceeded my dreams. The first time I went with my cousin and brother and I think it was a good mix of all our interests. The second time I brought Nihar and that trip ended our time in Europe which turned out to be one my favorite things we have done together. Although it was unbearably hot the ENTIRE time. Even when we would come home at 2am we would be sweating profusely. There were certain things I didn’t want to miss and we had two day trips planned because we were there for eight days. If we get to spend a couple hours in a coffee shop or cafe, I think we have spent enough time in that city. Enough time to just be and really experience the culture by people watching and enjoying each others company. Feeling like a local for a little while. I feel like Nihar and I always have work to get done and it doesn’t stop when we are on vacation. So given some time in a coffee shop is always welcome and makes coming back from vacation easier. 

This post is about highlighting all the spots we went to - coffee shops, food spots, and bars. 

Restaurants:

Sesamo

Flax and Kale

Rasoterra

CatBarCAT

La Fabrica

Veg World India

Teresa Carles

The Green Spot

Coffee Shops:

Sabio Infante

Onna Cafe

Santans Corner

Espai Joliu

SKYE Coffee Co.

Nomad Roaster’s Home

Bars

Chupitos

Bareconleta Sangria Bar

Mortiz

Barcelona Beer Company

Gallery

Maxio

Malta

I don’t think Malta was ever on my radar as a place I wanted to visit. Until, a good friend of ours moved there. We decided that after Germany the next stop would be a few days in Malta. I am so glad we made the trip. Malta stayed one of my favorite parts of our entire vacation. 

We started our first day of exploring by getting locked out of the cabify app. So, instead we had to figure out how the buses worked. That turned out to be not that bad and pretty easy to use. The first bus we took to Mellieha which held the beach Ghajn Tuffieha. We spent half the day relaxing on the beach and in the water. The juxtaposition of blue sky that met at the horizon with clear blue turquoise water was breathtaking and certainly put you at instant relaxation upon being greeted by the landscape.  

You see, the thing is - Nihar didn’t grow up going to the beach or hanging by the pool. He can’t just BE by a body of water. So he kept going in the water in shifts and trying to entertain himself in the water. Me, on the other hand - can spend hours by the water just being at peace in the sun and sweat. I instantly feel much better when I get that first tan of the summer and if on a day off I wake up cranky I just bring myself to the beach with a book and feel much better instantly when I am approached by the sweet salt water. 

So in the nature of true compromise, we left the beach a few hours in when Nihar had sufficiently enough time by the sun and water. We headed to the ancient city of Mdina. 

We started off our time in Mdina by going to the Tea Garden with an amazing view. I felt like the food and drinks were just alright, but you go there just to take in the view. We spent the next few hours just strolling through the ancient streets of Mdina while taking in all the architecture and small intricate lanes. We had dinner at a fancyish Lebanese restaurant called Ali Baba. When we got there, Nihar drops on me that our anniversary was the day before. I had absolutely no idea and couldn’t believe he didn’t say anything. I always get confused if it’s in July or August and somehow this year I had it set in my mind that we were not going to be traveling on the date. I did however know how many years it had been which Nihar wasn’t sure on. I guess after so many years when you start referring to each other as partners it all starts to blend together. After a lovely meal, we met our friend at his company party on the rooftop of the Intercontinental Hotel which was close to Paceville. 

The next day started with doing some touristy things in Old Malta. We visited the church that is known for having paintings done by Caravagio. I always say traveling is my biggest inspiration. I tell myself that these are inspiration trips. Each and every time something from the trip finds its way into my work. The story is known only to me, but left up to interpretation for the viewer. Over the past five or so years, I have really come a long way with how I talk about my work and in return has left me with more success from my viewers. I hate getting the annoying and generic response of “it’s beautiful.” Helping the audience see what I intend helps understand the work better, but still leaves space for one’s own interpretation. I continue to seek the balance between intention and intuition and it has been amazing to see how my process has evolved because of this.

I try to bring my slr along whenever I travel, but i don’t always use it. The moment I saw these columns in the church, I oozed with inspiration! I quickly took out my camera and could not stop taking pictures and admiring what I called in my head “party columns.” I am still uncertain how they will show up in my work, but rest assure they will in a huge way. That moment inspiration hits every trip is a moment I cherish and don’t take for granted ever. It keeps happening, so I shall keep on traveling.

We checked out what is apparently the only good coffee in all of Malta and it hit my quota of finding a hipster coffee shop in every city I visit.

I put my party pants on and we were ready take on an evening of going out. It’s rare that they are on and especially rare to wear them without a huge pep talk from my brother. 

We started the evening at Chalice. Where to even begin with how much I enjoyed this spot? The playlist was absolutely on point with playing all my favorite hip hop throw backs. The interior was well designed with some special touches I so appreciated. Every cocktail we picked out was especially well crafted. It was on the smaller side and was the type of place that lets you sit in nice fancy chairs/couches and provides an atmosphere where one can hold a nice conversation without raising your voice to the person next to you. Dinner was next door at ImPasta. Somehow I had never heard of arrabiata sauce until our trip to Italy a few years ago. Since then I have started making it at home and if it's ever on the menu at a restaurant I always choose to order it. European spicy is usually somewhat of a joke, but Impasta had my lips tingling from the spicy flavors of the sauce.

Our last day in Malta included lounging by a pool called Pearl. Everything was served right to your pool side chair and I think Nihar was loosing his patience by doing nothing for so long. But, I enjoyed every moment of it!

Just like that we were headed to our second to last destination - Barcelona!