Unforgettable Dinner at Manel's Home : 28th Feb 2009

After arriving from Dortmund to Porto I didnt spend time with any family. Since I am living alone I always prefer to spend time with the family. I feel great.... So here I got an invitaion for the dinner with Manel's family. So I am honored...

I was in his home once but that time he came to my residence and took me to his home. That was in 2006. I almost forgot the way.. so I asked for the address to reach his home. I took metro and I was in his flat at around 7.30 pm. He was with his guests from Hong Kong.. It was nice to see them there.

Migu (Manel's wife) was preparing dinner for us. Manel was pretending to help her in cooking with his apron on (ha ha ha) ..... He looked amazing with Apron..


It was the main dish prepared by Migu -Before going to oven.. (She is a great cook for an information)

Here is Migu, chinese guests and Manel.

Manels sons with their mother (Diogo: elder and Miguel: younger)

So sweettttttttttttttttttttttt of them.. ...

around 11 pm we finished the dinner. Migu packed some cakes for me to take it home. When we were in the car almost came out from the flat to street, I remembered that i forgot to take the cake that she packed for me. i said I forgot to take that. She immediately asked Manel to stop the car and she went back home and took it for me.. So nice of her.. its still in my mind.. I thank god that how fortunate I am to meet and spend time with them....

Thanks Manel for inviting me for the unforgettable dinner with your family!!!!!!!!!!!!

My life turning point -New year celebration at Namur, Belgium

As I said in the title it was the turning point in my life. I have been under deep depression becasue of so many issues. I used to discuss my problems with Manel. He was all the time comfort me by his kind words and I will be feeling good after reading his mail. I should here thank him for his support in all means.

In that big stress in dec .2008 I got a invitaion from my friend Isabelle (french speaking Belgium girl) for the New Year celebration. I was in Dortmund and I had the ticket from the university (in that I can travel one state for free) and reached the Aachen, border of belgium and germany. I wished to divert my mind from all these issues, I decided to visit her also i wanted to spend good time with her.. So I went to Liège-Guillemins in belgium , its like 30 mins by train from Aachen . Isabelle and Jerome (Isabelle's boyfriend) were there to take me to her home.
We were meeting after an year so we were so much excited and talking so many things.. I should say here abt our realtion how its started. When i came to first time Porto for my one year research programme she was starting her 6 months work for her Ph.D. We were new to Porto and it was really good to spend time in the lab with her. She is very good person and very pretty girl (sema kattai)....

(Here she is with me)..

I reached Namur on 30th dec. night. We went out for dinner and after we come back home Isabelle asked me to use the internet to check my mails. You cant beleive that it was a big surprise waiting for ... that I received a mail from FCT for my Ph.D (Which I was trying to get for several years). I got mail from FCT informing that they will transfer money to my account for the study from Jan.2009. I was so much excited (you imagine it was my dream to do my Ph.D in Porto under the guidance of Manel ). I informed Isabelle that i got the fellowship and immediately I forwarded th email to Manel. He sent me message in my mobile wishing me the new year also congratulated for the fellowship. we only know how much we suffered to get this offer. I could not sleep all the night. I was so relaxed and enjoying the hapiness .. I thank god at this moment.

Next day that is 31st december we decided to celebrate New year with Isablle's cousin home (Indian Party). We bought things to prepare chicken curry (Indian style) and Jerome bought things for him to prepare some dishes.. So we went to her cousin (Galy) home and myself and Jerome started cooking ..and we were ready to eat... Meanwhile I had spent good time with Galys son, Yahhel.. He was kissing me more than 100 times while I was cooking.. it was a great feeling to receive so many kisses .. here he is.... He called me all the time by my name correctly.. it was a big surprise for me..

(Isabelle, Galy's friend and Yahhel)

(They are all dancing for the music: i was drunken- believe me and I slept in the sofa itself)

I celebrated my happeist New Year 2009 (honestly speaking that was the happiest New year I ever celebrated) with good friends.. it was a great feeling.. I enjoyed with Champagne..

On New Year day We went to Isablle's parents home. Its in a village.. so silent place and it remembers all the time my village.. so beautiful with green..

and her home is sooooo big.... look at the kitchen..

(She is helping her aunty- its really a very big family : she has so many cousins ..... I could see so many people there in her home)

(Isabelle's father)

(Isabelle's grrand mother)

(I am with her Mother- she is really sweet and calm like Isabelle)

Had a great lunch with big family... After spending time with all the cousins and their babies we started back to Isabelle's home. We slept good and next day we went to see some places in Namur. Here are some photos.. the weather was very very cold and raining. I could not take good pictures..

(Namur- its the place where Isabelle lives- Very beautiful city...)

(Castle : near by her home)

(ts the university where she is currently studying)

(Me, Isabelle, Jerome and Yahhel: He gave me great company : Sweet boy: really sooooo sweet)

I should thank Isabelle here for a invitaion to visit her and family for the new year. Also Isabelle and Jerome were taking care of very well .. Thanks Isabelle and Jerome.

I went home back with good dreams of my future.. Its nothing but about my Ph.D grant from FCT... I felt i achieved something great...

I miss her so much in my lab... (I always laugh when I think abt her. it happened in our lab once that when we were working. Manel was asking us whether we are in need of something for the lab. She said him she needs boys.. unfortunately all the time we are girls working in his lab : believe me still now there is no boys in our lab : Manel'ku niraya macham.. enna sollareenga? ?? ? I am laughing now too : she is dare enough to ask for boys.. ha ha ha)

I am really waiting to visit her again.. I will for sure..

Porkodi at Solingen - Germany

As I informed in one of my posts that i had a student ticket in Dortmund, using that I can travel the whole state for free as well I can take some one with me during weekend for free .. that is the important thing to mention.. So I always will go some places during the weekend.. one of those weekends I was invited by the Srilankan family at Solingen. I went there and it was good to see Priya and Prabha... Priya was pretty interactive girl with lot of dreams.. but Prabha is shy girl .... good thing is I can communicate with them in my own language..

I had a good lunch prepared by her mother.. After the lunch and coffee Priya, myself and Prabha went to see the some place around.. its really a good palce to be visited.. most interesting part was the bridge between two cities.. so huge.. unimaginable huge......
Müngstener Brücke, a railroad bridge between Solingen and Remscheid.

We had lot of problems to cover the bridge..

with bad weather....very cold and was raining...

(myself and Priya)

After spending some with them I went back home travelled over the bridge in a train.. that was really a great experience with great view from bridge...

Weekend dinners with Laura and Jai

March 20th and 21st- It was a good weekend. I spent good time with laura (Romanian soft girl) and Indian guy (my neighbour in my residence - good friend too). I enjoyed eating food (dinners ) prepared by Jai .I am surprised by the taste- It was really good. The problem I have now with him is he is a pure vegetarian. so I cant disturb him to make some good chicken or fish (my favorite items).....

(He prepared tasty Dhal- It was good with rice and Rasam- of course I prepared rice and Rasam- I used the rasam powder which my mother made it )

(Be careful Girls- He is alcoholic- confirmed from the photos- waht do u think? -

Important note to Indian girls: be aware .... pls contact me beofre confirming him...

Sunday 22nd March- Jai prepared delicious pasta ( reason why it was good- he was in Italy before coming to Porto)- so it should be delicious.. he does it too..

Thanks Jai for serving us a good dinner..

Manel's Birthday - March 3rd

March 3rd : It was Manel's birthday. Myself and Mariana decided to bring a cake for him. We decided to get our favorite cake so that we can enjoy.. Isnt a good idea?.

(Manel said he liked him in this picture- its dedicated for him- a birthday gift- wish to be fulfilled)

(I liked him the way he cuts the cake. We were waiting eagerly to eat that cake.. It was with so mcuh strawberries......It looked great......)

(here we go with cake)

Party finished with eating lot of cakes.. really had a very good time.. I wish him to celebrate 100 more birthdays...

Flowers- catchy chrisantemus

(Saturday 21st march- Galiza,Porto)