Conditioner for Shampoo

I'd have to say this is the point when I feel helpless and extremely annoyed. Till now, I have told myself that stuff happens and its part of the deal, but today I'm plain annoyed.

It may sound like a petty issue, but an experience like that makes me think, wonder and question a lot of stuff. So I bought shampoo once, in the hope of some good care for my hair, it turned out that I had bought conditioner. Fair enough, my mistake, I didnt do my homework of word searching and associations. Next time I'll be more careful.

So I went to buy toiletries again earlier last week. Confident that I'll pick up the correct one this time, I headed to the shelf, picked up after some grave study, a nice, 'intensive care' shampoo. Great. Lets pamper the hair soon, I thought.

This morning, I wanted to apply it, only to find it was conditioner. My hair is now a wet mix of conditioner and oil, and its very very ugly. Its giving me a headache. Argh!  I cant even think anymore, Im so annoyed. Im not whining, I'm just expressing my concern for such bad experiences that happen 'once in a while' in a foreign land. This helpless feeling is one of the worst things that could happen. The worst.

Lonliness

Sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure I am where I am. Its great. But , there comes a time, when you feel low and lonely and its one of the worst feelings. I was warned by many that it would happen, I always thought that I would be prepared for it, but I guess you know only when it hits you.

I miss home, family, comforts and small smalle everyday things. But its all part of the deal, I tell myself.

Im hoping its a phase that will pass soon and it shall be fine soon.

Inclusion

At the Global Sustainability Jam, I was part of a Creativity Jam at Hamburg, North Germany. Initially I was skeptical to attend it, due to the fact that it would mainly be in German. But I was told that things would be translated as and when required, and shouldn't pose as a problem. I decided not to skip the opportunity and be part of something so global.

It turned out to be a lot more than I expected. Initially, things were translated exclusively for me, and the instructions I followed without much problem. It worked for me, somehow. But the team I was part of, made the effort and very wonderfully so, of talking only in English, to me and to each other. It was overwhelming, to say the least. The thing that changed and turned everything around was one presentation. The speakers asked what everyone preferred and the first answer was German. But there was someone, who strongly said that it should be done in English, not because he didnt speak German, but because he thought it would be correct to do so. I wanted to clap and scream bravado, but controlled myself. The only word that could define the moment was gratefulness and some sort of 'support'.

The next day, while the instructions were being given, there was a two language approach that was taken, once in English and once in German. To which someone from the participants, again, asked and I quote "Why don't we do a check of many of us actually need German, because we dont follow English" and not one hand went up. Oh, it was beautiful, I wanted to cry, I think. I was blown out of my mind, because it wasn't me who asked for it, wanted it, but one among the group itself. 

From that moment on, there was English and yes, spurts of German, but everyone was comfortable with how it worked.

I dont know how to put it in words, but its a feeling that I felt for the first time in Germany, of inclusion. Something I was yearning for. And it took me one month, away from the 'town I live in', away from aquaintainces and among a bunch of people I met over a weekend.

Inclusion, is a wonderful thing.