Completely Bhoomified

I bonded with India’s soil in 2007 for the very first time. Location: India’s New York called Bombay. Time: 7:13 PM. For your information I am reluctant to use Mumbai. Call me old fashioned but I feel Bombay is a much better reflection of the city.
I flew with a Boeing 747 of the Royal Dutch Airlines. Just like any princess would do. I felt the necessity to start my Indian journey in some kind of a safe and familiar environment hence the choice for my national airlines. Upon arrival, the airplane door was unlocked by a tall air hostess in blue followed by a brutal welcome of the scorching sun and a peculiar sweet scent in the air leaving me mesmerized.
A sweet, mildly spicy scent which reminded me of chai with cloves (elaichi) causing complete nasal confusion. I decided to follow my nose and to lean as forward as possible crossing my fellow-passenger’s personal space. Surprisingly he didn’t react while both our aura’s merged. I didn’t bother, closed my eyes and for a second I found myself on some far away Bounty Island. It was freaking delicious and exceptionally pleasant. In fact it was the opposite of ‘smelly hair syndrome’. After a minute or so I realized disappointingly it was the smell of mere coconut oil. It didn’t matter. I opened my eyes again, had a thorough look at my fellow-passenger and his deliciously smelling hair and started collecting my bags.
The passengers queue started moving and the caramel cookie (you know those typical Dutch stroopwafels) started melting in my hand. It was time to leave the Bounty Island. I tried to wipe the melting caramel off of my hand and walked further down the aisle towards the exit; the gateway to India. A cool breeze touched my cheeks yet couldn’t prevent the sudden rising dampness on my skin. Forget it, I thought, while anticipating major sweat stains.

I walked through the jetway and realized that this entire Indian decor made me feel at home in a way I have never felt before. I came home. A new home which would happily give me innumerable food poisonings in seven different colors, an Ambassador, a desi-dog called Bhoomi and an indescribable experience of being an entrepreneur to set up a business in India together with my mom. A home which let me perceive the world through completely different lenses. As a Dutch I partly grew up in France and travelled quite a bit but never ever have I felt this way, not even on a holiday. Apparently I took the first step in my life subconsciously. Yet at the same time I was completely unaware of the fact that I would spend my next ten years in Incredible India.
Was it a fortunate stroke of serendipity? God knows.
Did I predict that I would feel this way after embarking the air plane? No.
Did I plan to stay in India for more than ten years? Hell no!
Do I use coconut oil in my hair? Yes.
This year, in June 2017, it suddenly struck me that I have been walking on India’s soil for more than a decade. While sipping my lukewarm chai I petted my desi-dog and said her name out loud.
Bhoomi: a Sanskrit name for ‘soil’ or ‘earth’ of which I understood the meaning years later. The name was coincidence. The dog wasn’t. She was literally thrown in my lap and has been holding my hands ever since. She is a true desi-dog at heart keeping me grounded till date; a process which I call ‘bhoomification’.
Now ten years later it’s time to share my entrepreneurial experiences in India Inc. with the world. An entrepreneurial journey on classy high heels.
Will you join me and listen to my stories for a while?