Burscheid, life in Deutschland August 20, 2007
Posted by Ken in life, opinion, travel log.Tags: information, life, opinion, Review, travel log, View
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It is being while I posted anything. Friends have asked and some have actually pushed me to update paradox. But honestly there is nothing much to write and talk about. I can still try. 
Last two weeks spent in Burscheid were strange and a learning experience. Strange because this is first time I am in non-English speaking country. Burscheid is small village near city of Cologne and Frankfurt in Germany or Deutschland. Before I can introduce you to Burscheid I must tell you something about Cologne. Ofcourse Frankfurt and Germany do need any introduction. Information on Cologne will help you to locate Burscheid on Google Map faster.
Cologne is one of the oldest cities of Germany. If I am not wrong; or from what I understood; it was established as Roman colony on the banks of Rhine river. The name Cologne or Köln is derived from it. It houses Europe’s or probably world’s largest Cathedral known as Dom. Apart from this Dom; Cologne is famous for it scented or perfumed water made from flowers with roman recipe which we all know today as Eau De Cologne.
Burscheid is approximately at 30 minutes drive from Cologne. You can also travel via Die Bahn (DB) using train and bus. DB is Germany’s public transport. Per what we have heard so far there are around thirteen thousand people living in this village. Yes, it is a village, a typically European habitat. With couple of churches, shops, food joints, small and narrow streets, quite and peaceful place to live life after retirement.
The first impression of the place was really horrible. It seems to us as one of the most depressing place on planet. We were extraterrestrial here and the language was alien to us. We landed here on Sunday; and on Sunday most people here observe strict holiday. Markets were closed, there was nobody on the roads and it seemed like whole village has just been robbed or evacuated. There was complete silence all around. It was sea change for all of us; coming from Mumbai leaving behind heard of humans.
The apartment where all of us are put up is probably center of depressing waves in the village. It looked worse than any other house in the village. It is owned by native lady who lives with her mother. It is two story house with couple of rooms which she rents on daily and weekly basis. The house is old and it is in the center of Burscheid village with main bus stop, market and other necessities at few strides. I am sure that every piece of furniture ever bought in the house was never scrapped. In each room there is more furniture than the space for air to breath.
Slowly we started getting used of the place. It was kind of shock for all of us for to live in that place. Out of five, three of us had been to US metros like Chicago and New York, or London in UK and Sydney in Australia. All are English speaking and with considerable Indian and Asian population. Two had come straight from Pune and Chennai with dreams of much talked about western world. I am sure their dreams were thrashed in first couple of hours. 
Thankfully everybody in office speaks English. Other day I was wondering. Back in school I was scared English; I used to get jitters on the day of English paper in school. Today I crave for people around me to speak and understand English. It was strange feeling. One thing which we as Indian can learn from Germany or for that matter from Japan, France or Brazil is that you need not compulsorily have to speak English for growth of your country. English has given great advantage to Indians around the world; but definitely at the cost of our native languages.
Now we are accustomed to the pace of the Burscheid and scarcity of space in the house. We have started using DB and have learned to find our way around. Thankfully someone or the other manages to understand us. The funniest conversations we are having with out landlady. While we try to explain her about laundry, payment of rent, getting extra towels, plates, mattresses or toaster. I started recalling my experience in Hyderabad, India when we were struggling with our Telugu speaking landlord and watchman. It used to be hilarious. We would talk abrupt and laugh, and our poor watchman would laugh with us. One of our Gult room mate will then ask him in Telugu, why did he laugh? Did he understand anything? He used to get embarrassed and then laugh again.
hi ken
gr8 to c something after long…..
commin to the post
WOW…….new land new experiences …i am sure its fun n interesting…..about the language…….i never understand the importance we give to english or for that matter any language……….i think ppl communicate best when they don’t understand one n others language cause then there is no manupulation of words…….we all knw actions speak louder than wrds………and thats the purity of communication.
best wishes
darshana
Hallo Herr Ken,
Haben Sie Deutscj sprache gelernt?
Hhehe…. Yes, new land and new experieneces… I agree with Darshana…
Recently, while hiking in the Shivapuri National Parkin, in the purlieus of the Kathmandu Valley, I met a Russian couple that could not speak English and understand only a few English words. I dont know Russian. I wont say it PERFECTLY, but we communicated!
Full marks to Darshana’s claim, actions speak louder than words. Let me repeat what she said:That’s (action is) the purity of communication!
Und, wo sind Sie jetzt? Im Deutschland oder…?
Danke
Auf Wiedersehen bis Ihre naechste Blog!
Keshav,
I agree with both of you. Actions speaks louder than words. Purity of communication is I see everday I spend with my nephew. He does not speak and still he manages to convey the message in most cases.
One more thing, Keshav, I can only understand Danke in Deutsch. Other few words I can understand are ‘und’, ‘mit’, ‘null’, and ‘thri’.
I translate everything with the help of Google. I have not learnt the language. Yes, I am still in Germany.
Thx,
Ken
What is “thri” by the way?
hey Ken,
Normally when you hear about foreign travel experiences it’s mostly people who go on travel tours, with travel guides who buzz them around one place to another, reading through their scripts and itineraries, so things like language differences or local way of life don’t really come up. Since you have had to actually live there, this tidbit from your travel memoirs is a very interesting read.
And though I can understand you’re your crave for co-English speaking ppl… believe me sometimes even that is not enough. 10 months in the US has already made me a regular at a local temple here. Not so much because of increase in my devoutness to God but more so just to be amidst fellow Desis, catch a word of hindi, marathi or even telugu and hog yummy home style upmas and idli!
Njoy your travels!
Kau
Kau,
I am assuming that you are friend of dreamer. I was confused when I saw the comment with name Kay, let us have one more assumption; it was typo.
I must agree that after period of time even the co-English does not really help. You actually crave to listen Hindi, Marathi, and all other Indian native languages. But I did not stay long enough to be in that position. My longest stint away was 4 months with two Marathi room mates. Also I had very good Gujarati friend; which made life lot easier. Where do you leave in US?
Coming to the local tidbit, there are many more things which I did not have on mind. In first week five of us use to roam around on the streets of the village, and everybody had millions of observations. Unfortunately I do not remember it; some were really funny to be posted here.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Ken
Ken,
yup, its Kau, a friend of the dreamer..and this is another thing i had to adjust to..blessed with a Sanskrit name that nobody out here can even pronounce, i have to use the nearest easily pronounceable shortform, ( i didnt really relish being called ‘cow’) hence Kay..
my hubby worked for a multi national in India and was transfered to the parent company here in Atlanta last year ..so v r his surrounded by his local American colleagues who are extremely friendly and inviting..but that dosnt do anything to lesson the ‘fellow desi’ craving
anyways i luv traveling ..especially the on your own kind..which is y i felt like commenting on ur blog..
Kau
hmmm…you seem to be getting bored there
((
:P
better find some gals hostel nearby….mann laga rahega
and you can experience how mankind communicated during the neanderthal age….try using hands, expressions, drawings
:D:D
Navin,
I wish there was girls hostel near by, where we can go and do some fielding. Btw, my stay is approaching end date soon. I was to go back by Sept 8, but PD extended it by week.
Anyway, I’ll manage for another week. I will miss the Paryushan this year as well.
Thx,
Ken
ken..
long time. no see..
wat happened?
BS
Hi Ken,
Did you work with JC while staying in Burscheid?
Thanks
Noni
Hi Noni,
Yes, I was working with JC as consultant.
Rgds,
Ken