Home sweet home!

I am back home!

l have kept contacts with the other artists.

What blissful experiences we all had at the Sanskriti!

Wait, I will definitely keep up with the posting!

Cheers!

31th March 2009 (THE DEPARTURE)

I came out earlier this morning. I wanted to join them for the breakfast. Since today is my last day at the residence. I enjoyed the discussion we had over the meal. I went on to collect my ironed clothes and paid for job.

When I got back to the studio, I edited some video clips and posted them unto my blogs. It was really interesting with all the response that followed this video from my friends on Facebook. To view this video, click on this link;

I went through filling the Sanskriti comment form. Devena and I stayed together until she left home with her son. Mr. Mullinar was busy rounding up the financial account for last year 2008. In India, the 31st of March is the day everybody round up the last year financial account.

There were lot of problems with this account today as some of the artists still owe especially one artist who hasn’t paid for her residency and she’d been here for the past six weeks.

Oh God, I wonder how some people can be so inconsiderate with their dealings with other people. Mr. Mullinar was disturbed about this. Without the respected dues and payment, his job is on the life-line. I hope he will get out of it, amen.

Immediately after lunch meal; I went back to my room and started packing. Jane came and we went to take some pictures of the art-work inside the residence. We stayed together for a while then I went back to complete the packing.

I had a surprise send-off party tonight. I had not expected it. The staff had prepared the table as such that one would think there will be a party tonight. Everything was set just the four of us, Katherine, Jane, Ingvild and me. Heather hasn’t return from her trip. A table was set for her but she did not turn up. She was expected back tonight according to Mr. Mullinar.

I thanked the staff for their hospitality. There were happy to be sending off this way and in their personal arrangement. Jane was impressed about this. She stated the staff organised this evening for me because I have been good to them throughout my stay at the residence. That got me thinking, you know. She is right. It is good to be nice to others.

Yes, I deserve this nice treat tonight.

We all moved and sat in front of Jane’s door. We had a short drink for my send-off. Katherine and Ingvild opted for lemon juice while Jane and I took the wine. We shared our contacts.
It was touching to go away after all these weeks. We hugged, we promised and we laughed. Katherine and Ingvild went to bed. I stayed with Jane for a while. It is nice getting to know Jane. She is lovely! At 71 years old, Jane is a gem!

We parted with lots of promises to keep contact. Jane, I would like to say that I’m grateful for advises you gave me tonight.

Thank you so much Jane. May God bless you and fulfil your dreams of completing your autobiography.

13th March 2009

My Jet lag, if that’s what truly, was getting worse. Throughout the night, I read the novel titled ‘She’s come undone’ by Wally Lamb. I went to sleep at 4:00 in the morning. At 9:00hrs, I was out of the studio to join the others at the main gate. Ingvild was not there. She left a note she won’t be joining us. I don’t know why, truly.

We had just one Taxi to convey the seven of us to the Belgium embassy. I looked at the size of the Taxi and I knew at that instant that there is no use struggling to decide who should go first or who should stay.

Kris explained that he went as early as 8:00 and instructed the security men. They mistook his order for something else or they don’t understand his western accent. Jane was asked to work on her Hindi language. She went to them.

It seemed she had her way with them because I watched as one of them left her and hurried into the office to book a second Taxi via the phone.

Anyway, we came to a suggestion that few of us stay behind and wait for the second Taxi. We are expected at 10:00. There is no point getting there late. Personally I consider that as a sign of dishonour.

I stayed back with Heather and Leoni. Kris, Corina, Katherine and Jane went for the Taxi. The three of us sat on the stone-bench outside the gate, waiting for the second Taxi.

Fifteen minutes passed, there was no Taxi. Leoni announced she wasn’t interested initially about this invitation. I talked about my intention of going to consult a doctor regarding my sleeping problem. Heather decided not to go anymore since Leoni and I won’t go again.

Heather went back to her studio. Shortly, went to hers. I sat there. For the next two hours, I waited.
At 11:17hrs, the Taxi came. I asked him to take me to the Fortis Hospital at Vasant Kunj. There I met a jovial doctor, in person of Dr. Hemant Tewari. The clinical diagnosis confirmed what I earlier thought was the problem; INSOMNIA.

I was given a prescription for RESTYL 0.25mg, and for 5 days. I explained I need more of the pills for the remaining days I will be in India

‘My dear Princess, I am sorry I will decline your request. I don’t want the French Police to come and put me in prison.’ We laughed ‘If the insomnia continues, you call me and we will check it again.’
I went to the pharmacy at the basement of the hospital and bought the pills.

I called Mr. Singh (The taxi driver) to come and pick me. He came. We went straight to Fabindia in same town of Vasant Kunj. In case you need more information about Fabindia when you are planning to go to New Delhi, I can help you out with this link;
www.fabindia.com
The store is well-stocked with fine fabrics. I couldn’t resist getting some summer blouse. At least, I am saving money by buying here in India than going to purchase them in any India stores in France.

Believe me; you are likely to purchase the same product, which is in France, here in India and at cheaper price than in France.
I believe in economising my cash.

28Th February, 2009 (A VICTIM OF RACISM)

I have never been to India before in my life until I got this greatest opportunity to participate at the Artist-in-Residence under Sanskriti Kendra foundation, New Delhi, India.

When I was a child, I developed so passionate fantasies about this country through watching India films produced then on VHS cassettes. My parents bought whole lots of them for us. Each time, and after watching any of these films, my dreams for India and her lifestyle grew so within me.
I carried on this mentality until I began to discover through TV News coverage about India, and my whole world of established fantasies and fairy tales gradually diminished. Today, and as an adult, I have not gotten through it. Despite this, I realized that India is much more than what I saw in these films.

Few days to my trip to Delhi, I found no excitement anymore within me. It was rather replaced with fear. The thought of what will happened there, the imagination of how the people I am going to really looked like and so many personal factors that I can barely describe here.

My flight was Emirate airline. It was at 21:05 at the Paris Charles de Gaulle airport. The boarding time was scheduled for 20:20. That did not happen. We waited for about ten minutes before we were checked in. On board the craft, two women among a group of tourist were supposed to sit next to me. I was fortunate to have my seat by the window. I watched these women were eager to stay closer to their group. When it was time for takeoff, these women got their desired seats as there were hardly passengers on board.

I was happy to stay alone. I stretched my legs across on the other two seats. At that moment, I had created the mental picture of me sleeping like as if on my home-bed while on these seats. And it happened.
Among the air crew was a dark-skinned man. His composure coupled with his action showed he commanded certain position. He was very warm and exhibited respect for others. He was away somewhere on duty when the menu was served. The hostess came to the passengers right in front of me. She served them with full smile. She left them, pulling the food trolley along with her unto the next passengers opposite me. After she was through with them, I expected her to come to me.

I could not believe it when I saw that she went straight to the couple sitting behind me. I stretched myself upward in an attempt thinking that she must have forgotten me. Her movement showed she knew I was there but she was doing this deliberately. I turned and looked at the passengers in front of me. I looked that the ones opposite me and finally to the one behind me that this hostess served.

One particular thought came immediately to my mind; they are all white. There I realised that even on Emirate airline, I was already a victim of racism. I sat back and decided that I‘d rather stayed without the meal until we reach Dubai. I wanted to lie by and sleep when this lady appeared.

She had no look of apology on her face when she said; ‘I thought you are sleeping’ I thought I saw a faint flash of smile, which came up on her long face before it disappeared.
‘It’s no problem’ I replied. I did not want to get straight with her otherwise I could have done that and that could create trouble for her.

Instead I said; ‘Please can you call your dark-skinned colleague over there for me?’ her colleague was coming out from the crew cabin.

‘…..but ma, I can serve you’ she tried to persuade me.

‘No, I don’t want. Please kindly call the man for me’

She went off. She saw that I was disappointed with her. On my side, I have no desire to settle the score that night. I have heard about several cases of racism on board airlines; I have never taken these so serious until I became a victim.

The man came. I explained to him. ‘Please ma, I am sorry this happened. I will talk to her’ he pleaded
‘I don’t want her to serve me. You can do that for me, can’t you?’
‘Yes ma’ he ran off. He got me what I requested for. During drink time, I ensured I avoided this lady because she was the one serving on my line. The moment she was closer enough, I relaxed my back against the seat and closed my eyes. We both knew she dare not interrupted my sleep (if any at all).