Banaras Hindu University November 29, 2009

July 2009 I came across an employment ad on a position of visiting fellow in the German Department of the BHU (Banaras Hindu University) in India. I decided to apply for this position. I received an answer of the Head of the German department that my application came too late but that he would put me on a waiting list. September 2009 when I was in Turkey I received another email from the same guy asking me whether I am still interested in that position. I was surprised and shocked. After informing my mother who became even more shocked (this time rather negatively) I decided to take this job. And only November 2009 my "employment" was confirmed. Only 3 weeks remained and I had to apply for a visa, collect all my savings, buy a ticked, an insurance and confirm my Indian trip to my parents. They were not happy but I decided so I just left Germany November 29. I landed in Varanasi December 1.

Landing in Varanasi

After a very long stay in Dubai airport I took my another flight to New Delhi, arrived there in the night and searched for a hotel. I was asking some one at the information counter where some cheaper hotel is, he looked at me, then at his small room (hotel information counter) and asked me whether I would be satisfied staying one night there on the ground. I was too tired to agree so I just smiled and asked for a "real" place to sleep. :-)

He gave me some options and I tooked the most convenient one and left with a prepaid auto (auto rikshaw). The hotel was situated in a very dark part of Delhi. I left my luggage in the room (with warm water) and went out for a tea. It was about 10pm and everybody I met was quite astonished to see a girl walking down the street without anyone accompanying her. I woke up very early the next morning and left for the domestic airport. I landed in Varanasi 12.30 pm. It was sunny and hot day, two nice students were waiting for me. They took me by a rented cab to the Banaras Hindu University. We walked through the fields, the entire city, entered the BHU through its famous main gate. Immediately after I had met Dr. Natarajan, my boss, my guides took me to the place I was supposed to stay for the next three months with my colleague Nicole Kreuzer from Switzerland who was hired for the same position as I was. I met her later. I just wanted to get rid off my  heavy luggage first and take a bath after that long trip.

The house looked wonderful from outside. My first impression was clouded up by entering the room I shared with my colleague. It was an empty place furnished with two recently bought beds and two chairs. I was not worried though because I knew that I could get used to anything. I was just very surprised because I was told I would be staying in a university guest house. I assumed it was only an interim option :-)

My trip to Turkey September 20 2009

Mr and Ms Basmaz....
Özgün´s mum kept on talking in Turkish... with a big hope that once in the future I will understand it :-) and Özgün helped me to discuss with her daddy at Midnight about the capitalism, religion, rule and order.. she translated all according our mind.. she knows me and she knows her daddy.. but ane.. once I will understand you and baba :-)

This day (the end of Ramadan) has started with a great breakfast prepared by Özgün´s mum. After this you can´t move, you just want to lay down, get up and eat further.. but NO.... after our last Cay in Özgün´s house we started a long chain of paying visit to Özgün´s relatives... imagine: Özgün´s grandmother has 5 or 6 siblings, her husband probably the same, Özgün´s another grandmother has also 5 or 6 siblings and so did her husband. All of them have many children, grandchildren... Thousands of aunts and uncles.. and the stories.. oh my God... The Buddenbrooks are just nothing... if Thomas Mann was alive, he would have gone to Malkara..

This is Özgün´s grandmother mother sides. Her family belongs to a kind of bourgeois in Malkara (sorry Özgün if I misunderstood it, neither my Turkish nor English is perfect) :-). Her children are very funny, they thought me to swear and encouraged me to get married to a Turkish man, as did Özgün´s grandmother father sides. She found my seven Turkish words enough to get married to a Turkish men, because they´re supposed to be the best in the world :-)
you should watch this video! It was the highlight of this day. Özgün´s uncle´s oldest daughter Ilsu was performing us a Turkish dance... I would call this dance: "shake your ass babe and marry me" ;-) It was wonderful. First this young lady showed me how to prepare Turkish mocca and she just danced for us.