Run Lola Run!

How does everyone in London walk so fast? (and in those high heel boots!!!? )

It's a beautiful day, the air is crisp and fresh and it's green all around, why not stroll and enjoy the city? As for me- I'm in no hurry to get anywhere. If I miss a train, I can catch the next one a couple of minutes later.

Coming to think of it, I'm not used to walking at all. In Mumbai I drove my car to work. So it was from the basement of my building to the parking in front of my office. So all put together, I never used to walk for more than five minutes everyday. The first couple of years in Mumbai was even better. I had a driver drop me and pick me up, right at my doorstep.

As far as I remember the last time I ever walked a reasonably long distance was when I was in school. It was a good forty minute walk from school to my home in Bangalore. And this was on days when my dad was busy and couldn't pick me up.

So that was a revelation this week, and it's funny how I never would have thought about these things before. ( ah... the things I took for granted in India) It seems to me that I need to learn to walk! And at a Londoner's normal pace (that's apparently 5x my speed)

It's killing my feet, my toes, and in the train I dream about flying home and kicking those boots and wiggling my free toes in front of the heater. Ram tells me 'no pain no gain'. If you want to wear those good looking boots, and yes... those shapely 'legging legs', you better stop whining and practice walking instead.

'not so happy' feet

I'm a legal alien

An Englishman in New York, an Indian in London, aliens in new lands trying to find their home in unfamiliar lands.

Moving to a new city is mostly exciting, and sometimes daunting. I have lived in India all my life. I have traveled extensively to places all over the world as a tourist, but have always come back to the familiar sights and smells of India, my home.

And here I am today in London, with my husband, starting from scratch. Looking for a job, looking for a home. It's like being 22 all over again, except we are 32.

It would be interesting for me to document our life in London. To see what this great city has in store for us for the next two years. For me personally I would like to make the most of this time. Read, travel, work, and take in everything this city has to offer- museums, markets, libraries, parks, plays and pubs!

So cheers to me, an alien in London.