Leaving everything behind and moving to India is the hardest thing I have ever done. It might sound like an adventure to some – moving to India. Country of sunshine, spicy and fragrant food, yoga and the Kama Sutra.

It’s no adventure, not for me. Settling and fitting in is hard work and there are times that I feel lonely and homesick. Days that I wish that the Transporter from Star Trek is reality and I can “beam” myself to my mum’s kitchen for some of her nice home-cooked roast – with a glass of wine of course! Belgium chocolates as desert. Watching a football match with my dad. Listening to classical music with friends while enjoying dinner and afterwards painting town red.

What does one do to fight homesickness? I don’t know what other people would do, but we got a dog!

Via a friend we found a dog shelter – Pets Force– on the outskirts of the city. The volunteers rescue dogs and puppies from Pune and take loving care of them till someone adopts one. It was the hardest decision ever. How to choose from all these cute balls of fur. I wanted to take them all home, but Deepak put his foot down and said NO.

After having endless discussion, we decided on the cutest puppy. Vinod – the founder of the shelter – told us she was called Monkey. The only logical name because of her black nose.

I absolutely loved the name. One look at Deepak told me that he liked the name as well. No need to mention – we never changed the name.

After living in India for a decent year, we have become a family of three with the addition of a little pup called Monkey.

Photocredits to: Michaela (the gem who volunteers at the dog shelter) and Manoj (my precious friend and webpage developer)