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When Dee Bleharski moved to Pune with her husband John, in September 1996, she had a fair idea of what to expect. Says Dee, ``Since the past 12 years, my husband has been on overseas appointments. Unlike my friend, who didn't know that maida was flour, for two whole years, simply because she didn't ask, my experience has taught me - ask, and you shall find.''
When Dee Bleharski moved to Pune with her husband John, in September 1996, she had a fair idea of what to expect. Says Dee, ``Since the past 12 years, my husband has been on overseas appointments. Unlike my friend, who didn't know that maida was flour, for two whole years, simply because she didn't ask, my experience has taught me - ask, and you shall find.''
So what does this veteran traveller (she's been living abroad since 1986) like about Pune? ``What I really like about Pune is the weather. It's so warm, and I simply can't stand the winter back home in USA, so it suits me fine. Also, it lets me pursue golf, my passion.''
Next on her list of `likes' is the women of Pune, who she feels are warm and friendly. Says Dee, ``When my husband had a minor heart problem, my friends here were extremely supportive and caring. When you are without the support system of your own country, it is this help that really sees you through.''
Though most Puneris would not consider providing information about where to buy maida or meat a favour, to Dee, these are invaluable tips that keep the house running.
And like most foreigners, when it comes to the list of dislikes, `spitting' tops the rest. She finds it loathsome. The other thing that ticks Dee off is pet dogs using the streets as their personal toilets. ``I can understand that there is a huge stray animal population here, but how can pet dogs, who are cared for by their owners, be allowed to dirty the place?''
Ever since Dee came to Pune, she has stopped driving. ``That's because the traffic here is so chaotic. People just turn suddenly, out of the blue, you have a two-wheeler before you. I simply cannot put up with the chaos, so I prefer to be driven around.''
But when it comes to Pune, Dee likes to ``focus more on the positive aspects.'' The power of positive thinking!
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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This story was printed from Net Express located at http://www.expressindia.com. Net Express provides a portal to India, with news from The Indian Express and The Financial Express along with sites on travel and tourism, the entertainment industry, the power sector, the environment and much more.
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