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My Fourth Host Family at Scotland – GSE Program of Rotary Foundation

Note: I was selected by Rotary Foundation for its exchange program called Group Study Exchange(GSE) for Scotland. I visited West of Scotland for tenure of one month, i.e. from September 8 to October 8, 2012. We were total five members, one team-leader and four team-members. All my posts regarding my experiences of this program are posted here on SpeakBindas under the category of GSE Scotland. Read on..

Howard & Karen Gibb, Hunterston Rotary Club, Scotland

L to R: Howard Gibb, Devang Vibhakar, Karen Gibb

L to R: Howard Gibb, Devang Vibhakar, Karen Gibb

They live in the town of Largs in Scotland. I stayed with them during the tenure of September 19-22, 2012. Staying with them was very energetic in a sense both of them were very active. I reached in the morning at their place and we were playing badminton the same afternoon! Me and my team-mate Snehal were a team in badminton against our hosts, i.e. Howard & Tom. Unfortunately, they beat us! But we won a great time with them. It was more than fun. Bonding of India & Scotland on the very first day.

Howard & Karen have two daughters. I had the opportunity to meet both of them. Both are married. I met the elder one first who had come to visit me with her two kids. Her Primary school going son was enthu in talking with me about his school. I really liked talking to him. I also met their younger daughter who recently gave birth to a baby-girl. Meeting her husband was interesting in terms of talking about golf which he said he loves the most in sports. He also knew a bit about game of Cricket as well as Indian curry!

Something that I will never forget is that Little Cumbrae Island was visible right from their home. This island was in news all over India in the year 2009 for rumours of Baba Ramdev has purchased it for 16 crore rupees. I believe, you remember it now. Actually, it is purchased by Sarwan and Sunita Poddar (Scottish millionaire couple of Indian extraction) who are likely to be disciples of Baba Ramdev. I could see it very clearly from the window of Gibbs’ house. That was a fascinating experience. Below is the picture of the island taken by me.

Little Cumbrae Island, Scotland

Little Cumbrae Island, Scotland

Howard had specially taken me to a hill to click this photo.

At their home, I was given a special & spacious room with a separate bathroom. Big & spacious was their home, and so were their hearts. Howard has worked for years in the tourism industry. He showed me in his laptop the work he had done. He was to get retired soon. Karen was really good at cooking. She made me have many different delicious dishes. I also had the opportunity to have one lunch with her younger daughter and son-in-law. With this club, we also went to watch a movie in a near by town.

At one evening dinner at GSE Coordinator Derek Andrews’s home, I requested my team-mate Mirani Patel if she could lend her saree and infact help Karen to wear it for the evening. And she did it. Karen seemed to be very happy about wearing Indian saree.

My stay with the Gibbs family was really very comfortable. Enjoyed like anything. I am indeed thankful to hospitality they rendered upon me.

Home Sweet Home of Gibbs' Family.

Home Sweet Home of Gibbs' Family.

About

Devang Vibhakar is the Founder and Editor of www.SpeakBindas.com. He has interviewed more than 350 people. His effort was recognized by Limca Book of Records, twice. He has been to Scotland as well as Germany as part of vocational & cultural exchange programs and has compiled five books so far. He's passionate about bringing forth interesting stories & interviews of entrepreneurs to avid readers of SpeakBindas. He can be reached here.

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