Heartache in Manila

Living in a foreign country is fun only when one makes becomes a part of a circle of people of similar interests and leaning.

Making friends and loosing them becomes a part of life when we live in a foreign city we learn to call home for sometimes.

One cannt be too tough in deciding whom to be friends with anymore.

We become close for reasons like having children of similar age, having likeing for movies or travel. Its really a search for a single common thread that can bind us together rather than that search for something beggier, more meaningful and lasting.

a common mistake some people make given that these relations are allmost invariably not lasting and ends with a move from the city is that they forget to honour it with essential human dignity like courtsey, makeing sure the gift being given is worthwhile.

Thus, some one makes a comment like give whatever suits your budget, she is anyway going, how does it matter if she like it or not. Thats about giving a farewell gift.

Thus we also hear take whatever you want to a potluck party, how does it matter what people thinks, anyways, who is going be your friends for the life.

These are fatal mistakes.

No one know the future and all we have is this moment to live and find glory in our act of living. a moment wasted is thus very costly. The impressions we make , the joys we give, the lives we touch even for shortwhile all goes on the enrich the world, however in their small ways it may be.

We give what we get. If we give miserly to others, they will also give miserly, thus creating a chain. So, give in abundance to enrich our earth.

A month or so back one family with whom we have spent lot of times, left manila to go back to Kolkata. Our son was friends with their son and used to call him potty master since whenever we have gone out for lunch or dinner, he would need to go for potty!

They were hugh mouthed people, A & B. whatever, they talk would be costly and demonstrate or hint at their oppulance. They would ask for favours without any shame. They would also take care of us when we go to their home. They will always provide something to talk behind their back and fodder for snigger and gossip. Yet, they belonged. We hated them and loved them, happy that they are gone and sad that they are gone.

Such is life as expats.