Hannelore was leaving - we couldn't believe the news. She and her husband had been in Gujarat for 4 years - he had come over from Germany as CEO and Managing Director of a German start-up company in India. They were doing well and expanding fast and so we assumed that they'd always be here, for some reason. Hannelore was a key member of the expat club - tall, vibrant, positive and athletic - always beautifully dressed, whether in Indian clothes or western dress, she had embraced the colour and exotic dash of the Indian culture and combined it with German cut and polish to create an immaculate image. For company events she wore wonderful saris with flare and was often out and about in shalwar kameez.
Although so many European economies are in the doldrums, the German economy is growing, fast, largely due to their expansion in developing markets, like India. They are combining and blending what India has to offer with German precision and organisation.
But now they were going back to Germany and we were saying goodbye at a specially arranged lunch. We felt a little sad - an image of Gericault's 'The Raft of Medusa', crept into my mind, as I thought of the small expat group, with their common ground, in the midst of a huge foreign culture.
Hannelore arrived with a flourish - the 4 x 4 pulled up outside - instructions called to the driver to unload the van - two enormous industrial size packages were offloaded and dragged into the hall - "they are for you" she told us dramatically ! "Siempre 10 x 160 blatt - Federweich und flauschig" - could it be toilet paper ? It certainly was - imported from Germany ! Ten rolls for each of us ! Now that was some farewell present. The indigenous toilet arrangements in India are very particular - no paper - instead a small hose or tap and water jug, is most common and so this was a luxury beyond one's wildest expectations ! "160 blatt" is of a softness and refinement unimaginable !
She left a month ago, but we think of her...... every day.
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