Meet the Watsons
Here comes my surprise christmas gift, a visit to an english family’s house. Hannah invited me to come over and visit her family in Milton Keynes. I was all excited about the trip because their family wanted me to cook chicken curry in Indian style for them. Given the fact that this is the first time I am cooking for an English family, I had done trails of it at home. I reached MK at 11am by coach, they call it the grid aptly. Being a very new city, its planned very well and ahead of its time I guess. City centre is mainly shops and MK is known for it. I even heard that people in and around come over to MK just to shop.
I met Hannah and her sister Rebecca in a local mall there. The sight was extremely funny at the mall. Being the 27th of Dec in UK, people are still not out of the madness of boxing day. We saw a lady so tired sitting down with a grumpy face unable to drink her coffee….. It was a laugh riot for us in the shopping complex itself.
Next up I went to their home, had nice noodles immediately and went shopping for a few things again. We came back after a couple of hours and I did have a go at the chicken curry and it came out awesome. I myself loved it and their family appreciated it too. We had generally discussions at the dinner table, a few things about english a few about India. A very frank family and they were disappointed that I did not go with a head bob to their home. Well, I sort of still feel that’s a false claim 
. Being aware that I am not English, they were very careful to ensure that there isn’t any culture shock situtations. A few moments when Howie was eyeing Hannah (letting her know that she musn’t say a few things), were very admirable . It just showed that they cared a lot for me just to make me feel at home.
Post dinner we wanted to go watch a movie but ended up going to the pub because it was houseful. We had a few drinks and then headed back home. Its the middle of the night and the Indian kid (me) wanted tropical climate in Britain. I rang up Hannah asking her to switch on the heater, well probably shouldn’t have done it. But then Hannah would get it, so I did ring her. Probably my body has still not got adapted to brit climate…
Woke up the next day and well had breakfast for toast (Again culture clash strikes a bit). I made a sandwitch from the toast given, which might sound absolutely funny if you are from the west. But unfortunately I guess I have always eaten bread sandwiched . Well, Hannah did tell me how its done… that helps and wouldn’t embarrass myself next time around.. Ta luv …
A started back from theirs by mid day and met another friend Stuart Scott in MK, watched Mission Impossible with him before heading back to cambridge.
Overall, I was absolutely glad that I met their family. Its gonna be in my sweet memories for a long time for sure.
Bala
