Marmite nation.

I met one of Amanda's work colleagues Jules a couple of nights ago and we had a great night out but something he said really got me thinking. Jules is a top fella who lives in the same part of London as we used to, eats in the same restaurants and drinks in the same bars we used to in fact he is very similar to us in a lot of ways. Yet when I asked him if he likes India I was surprised to hear him say he detests it! He could come up with countless reasons why he disliked it but when he asked us why we liked it so much we struggled to come up with anything remotely tangible. The thing about India is that it is complete Marmite - apologies for the plagiarism Reynolds! - People that have visited this country are always split straight down the middle when asked what they think. It is a country of such extremes and impossible to pigeon hole and that is part of the attraction for me. As the reasons we gave to Jules for our love of India held no sway I decided I am going to try and explain in greater depth why I love it.

I like living in a place where material gain is not the ultimate aim of people, a place where the goal's of most 'working class' families is to get the children a good education and teach them some morals. A place where people have a smile on their face but no money in their pocket's and are thankful for what they have, not bitter about what they don't have.I like all the little idiosyncrasies that would drive me nuts in Blighty like rickshaw drivers claiming to have no change (in the hope you will tell them to keep the difference),people not respecting queues anywhere,getting 'cut up' on the roads constantly and people trying to sell you something wherever you go. I like the fact that car's regularly drive the wrong way up motorways and it doesn't make headline news I like the climate,food,and beer, the city and the countryside. I like the fact that Sir is used to address each other and a smile is always returned.I like the fact that there is no compensation culture, that there is not necessarily a claim where there is blame and health and safety doesn't dictate how people live their lives. I like the fact that if someone arranges to come and do a job for you they come when they said they would with what they need to do it.I like the people,they are a kind, gentle friendly race full of joy and optimism not hate and cynicism.Basically a negative of how I sometimes felt I was becoming slightly in England. I like it most of all though because it seems to bring out the best in me. I feel more calm and patient, relaxed and at peace with myself here than anywhere else in the world and that is reason enough to love it.