This is my year – I was one of those partners who could travel to Laussane frequently as I lived and worked in UK. I think it was a great experience for me to be away for 10 months and think how life has changed over last 4 years. The day I received my citizenship and OCI status for India I flew to Lausanne. Here is a snapshot of my 12 months.
January - Begin of new life where your partner is not around you and the auto pilot of your life is missing.
February – Begin to make new friends and realise I need to add value to myself while he is studying. Started with my salsa classes and got enrolled for CIMA master’s gateway course.
March – Looking forward to see hubby after a long gap of 2 months and you find hubby pressed with loads of assignments – you think I am here for few days and he doesn’t have time to spend with m L
April – 1st holiday for Easter. You want to do things but he wants to relax and chill. You want to have conversation with him but it seems very difficult with circumstances … u think why????
May – the month of ICP and travel. But thankfully I get to see him for a day. You want to plan and do things that one day but excitement missing at the other end as for him he is home and wants to chill out on his sofa watching tele.
June – A week of holiday booked to spend time with him. He is physically around me but mentally mind is occupied with school. I am given a book to read to keep myself busy. Hostage at the table – a leadership book. Book which makes you think if you choose to.
July – Summer holiday. Hey ho – finally he is at home. You just want to catch up with as much as you can. Go for long walks, cook yum dishes (we are lacto vegetarian) and most importantly have conversations. Few things happen and few don’t. Again expectations not realised. You finally confront and express yourself.
August – I receive my UK passport and time to apply for my OCI. Students busy under pressure for applying jobs. But communication improves marginally as classes’ pressure decreases.
September – Another week holiday in Lausanne from work. This time I was prepared to be busy and was constantly studying for my CIMA. As I had no expectations I would say it was my best holiday. I had few good days with him going for long vineyard walks, montreux and rochers-de-naye.
October – Receive my OCI, resign the job and join him in Lausanne for few days. Proud of him doing the Lausanne 10K marathon in snow. I realised the importance of not having any expectations and kept myself busy with CIMA preparations.
November – Option to do the electives – thanks to Martha (Program Director). Doing electives was an eye-opener. Not only personally it made me think of what I want in my life but also made me realise how much work load they have with class preparation, case study, group discussions, presentations and assignments.
December - The final month and here comes graduation. Everybody passing out in flying colours and embarking on a new journey of life.
All I can say is 2012 has been eventful and challenging. As I sit and look from my window at the snow I am thinking as to what kept us going? I feel its communication and a strong desire to understand and be understood.
And this needs to continue as the new phase of life begins….
