From sauerkraut to shrikhand

It took her almost three days to get adjusted to our lifestyle. Since I was her partner, I had more responsibility than my parents. I was worried whether she would like Indian food. But to our surprise, she relished Indian delicacies, especially the piping hot chapatis along with cauliflower, potato and cabbage vegetables. She also loved Chitale8217;s burfi, butter chicken and tandoor chicken. Shrikhand was her favourite Indian sweet. When we celebrated German Day in college, she draped a sari and wore Indian ornaments with a gajra embedded in her hair.

She often went on a shopping spree to M G Road and Hong Kong lane. In Mumbai, Kornelia bought various articles like bindis, payal, sari, some CDs, a statue of Buddha and various posters.

Indian culture is incomplete without rangoli and mehendi. She took special interest in applying mehendi on both her hands. In fact, she even took several cones with her to Germany. When we took her for a bharatnatyam performance, she was amazed by the dancers8217; flexible body movements.

By the time she started getting adjusted to the Indian lifestyle, it was time for her to say goodbye as her study tour had come to an end. During her stay with us, I learnt of many new things about Germany like their festivals, eating habits and social life. A student exchange programme does not mean visiting a particular country, but it is an exchange of views and customs. It brings people from different countries closer and develops better relations.

Now as a second part of the programme, I am anxiously waiting to meet Kornelia in Germany.