A Word Of Thanks By K D Singh

My tour to Europe was indeed a dream realised. Just like every good thing comes to an end, likewise my Europe tour is culminating, filled with many wonderful experiences and great surprises. I wish to thank everyone who helped me to accomplish this. Starting with great brother Alain Perin, who, just after a short visit in India in November 2007, promised to invite me in his country and just a few months later, sent me sponsoring documents and took charge of all my expenses, including air-tickets. What a great person who lives in a very simple life-style. His wife Marie Agnès Perin, who is more than a sister to me, took care of me, more than an elder sister during my stay in their own house. I lived here not like a guest but like a family member. I wish to thank Jonathan and Florence, children of Alain and Marie Agnès, who shared every moment of my happiness here and made me to realise that I was not in a foreign land, but at my another home in Belgium. I wish to thank my great brother Pierre, who worked day and night in the Project Thinley, was responsible for all the informative work on computers. He was the mastermind behind the control of both the blogs of my stay here, in english and also in french languages. He works in a very self-less manner and is always spreading joy with his broad smile. Thanks Pierre. I would like to thank Perrette, who inspite of her being very busy with her family, husband and three children, gave her complete energy to the project and was present in every conférence, controlling all the assignments with a spirit of responsibility. Thanks Perrette. I would like to thank Ginette, what a wonderful person, she is a synonym of gentleness. She worked in the Project Thinley with complete dedication, wearing a compassionate smile all the time. I would like to thank her twin sister, Jeanine, what a great person, she worked whole-heartedly in the project. It was a great evening when both the sisters invited me for a wonderful dinner at their house. Thanks Jeanine and Ginette. My special thanks to my brother, friend, Doctor Talwar ( Shivi ), who gave me a feeling of India in Belgium and inspite of his pre-occupations , gave his maximum to this project and was present in most of the conférences. A very intelligent person, who speaks ten languages fluently, works a lot on international level for humanitarian causes, goes even to the poor countries like Bangladesh etc, to help the needy people. With your wonderful dance shows, full of spiritual energy, you filled the atmosphere of each conférence with your magic charm and we were just floating in that soothing music, matched fully to your dancing steps. You are indeed a multi-personality. Thanks a lot to be what you are.
My special thanks another great sister Hélène, born in India, came to Belgium when she was just four years old, speaks only french, but has a big corner for India in her heart. She looks very indian in her sari and bindi. She has a very special room in her house which is full of indian touch. She has put small thnigs which she brought from India, and you feel like sitting in India in that room. Hélène has been working with Marie Agnès in this project for more than two years and has contributed a lot. Her husband is Belgian but children, though belgian, have a look of being indians also. The wonderful evening when they invited me for dinner in their house, had been un-forgettable. Thanks Hélène. I would like to thank Francine Jacquemin for all her contribution in the project. She works silently but very confidently. Wonderful dinner in your house, with Alain and Marie Agnès , will always stay in my mind. You even have Tibetan Flag and prayer flags out side your house, to indicate that you are fully for the cause of Tibetans.
My special thanks to Josée from Luxembourg. What a wonderful lunch we had in her house on our way to Avioth for my first conférence. We were received so warmly and we passed some un-forgettable moments eating and enjoying with wine and gateaux. Josée has been an active participant in the project and she reached for most of the conférences. She has an impressive personality and a simplicity in the way she carries her-self. I have a great appreciation for her. Thanks Josée. My special thanks goes to Nicole Bataille of Avioth ( France ). What a warm welcome she gave us when we arrived for the first conférence ! Her house, just next to the Church of Basilique, is filled with spiritual vibrations. We had the pleasure of spending one night in her house. The moment I entered her house, it gave me some feeling as if I am not in a strange place. I felt very much at home. Her lovely daughter Shanti is planning to make a trip to India in coming october though our agency, Les Routes Du Monde of Montréal and we will take care of her as she is going to India for the first time. She will do the circuit " L'Inde Sacrée" with us. Nicole, also thanks for the wonderful set-up for the first conférence in your holy town. I felt the spirituality with every breath I took in Avioth, by the Grace of Majestic Basilique Church. Thanks Nicole.
A Big thanks for Mr Pierson, Radio Vivacité, RTBF, Arlon. This was for the first time in my life that I was sitting in a studio and facing a radio interview. I was not even prepared as this was a BIG surprise given to me by Alain and Marie Agnès, but because of your support, I could speak something. I was full of excitement and emotions as I was left with no choice but to face you and answer your questions. Thanks thanks a lot for your moral support and giving me a chance of life time as my voice was was heard through radio by millions. The memories of every moment that I passed in your studio, will stay in my mind. Thanks Mr Pierson. Merci infiniment.
I wish to thank very much, Mr Jean Claude, a professional tourist guide of Namur. You were very kind to take me around along with Marie Agnes, Alain and Pierrette in Namur city. I used to like Namur but never knew so much of details which you imparted us that day. Visiting the Citadel with you was a marvellous experience. You have so much of knowledge and a special talent for describing. I am also a tourist guide in my country so I could appreciate in a special way. I got to learn a lot from you that day. You showed us entire Namur, old streets, museums and a funny but interesting story about the snails ( escargots ). Thank you Mr Jean Claude.

I wish to convey my thanks to Francine Chavanne. You are such a wonderful person. There is a great message in your calm posture. You offered us a pleasure of having great souper at your residence. You have contributed a lot for the cause of this project. Merci beaucoup. I would wish to convey a BIG merci to my BIG sister Jeanine Thomas ( Nininie ). You fulfilled my dream o 20 years to go to Paris. This was a wonderful git from you. I will never forget. You have a great compassionate heart. I wish good health to you and to your Mamy. Sh is a very sweet person. May she live a long and happy life.
My heartiest thanks to Marie Pol. What a great personality you are !!!! Simplicity with a high esteem. We had a pleasure to visit your farm-house at least three times and every time it was full of wonderful memories. My third conférence was also in your Ciney Conference Hall. The particular evening when we all contributed in cooking had been most wonderful. Thanks a lot. You have worked wholeheartedly for the projest with Marie Agnès. Thanks for everything.
I would like to thank neighbours of Marie Agnes, Johnny and his wife Claudine ( Cloclo ). Cloclo, thankyou for everything. You showed me your garden of strawberries and gave me a pleasuer to enjoy your home-made chocolate cakes and wonderful coffee. You are always smiling and ocassionally laughing but always in good humour. Johnny thankyou for taking your time to walk with me in the beautiful nature near Rue Du Petit Bois. You have a good knowledge of nature that helped me to learn more about forests in Belgium. I would like to thank immediate neighbours of Marie Agnes, Mr Rudy and his wife Natalie. You ahve wonderful children. We pray to God that your son Benoit will recover very fast after his operation and will stay in sound health for the rest of his life. Rudy and Natalie are a wonderful couple. That was a very pleasant evening when you welcomed us in your house and we enjoyed the beer Leffe. I would specially like to thank Mr Rode, what a wonderful person you are ! You have a great knowledge of the Historic Church of Waha and you took your time to drive me to the church and explain even the minute details about this magnificent church. This was indeed a great learning experience for me. Thankyou very much.
One of my great passions in Belgium was going deep into the forests. This dream was fulfilled by Mr Norbert. Thank you sir Mr Norbert for taking me, Nono, Jeanine and Ginette deep inside that magnificent thick forest. For some time, I was thinking as if we are lost in the nature. But you have the knowledge of every corner of this forest and a good knowledge of every species of trees and herbs. We learnt a lot that day. A good three to four hours inside the forest gave a lot of oxygen to the lungs. Thankyour Mr Norbert.
I would like to thank Anne , who was the first Belgian to tarvel with my company Les Routes Du Monde in the year 2003, but when she came to know that I am in Belgium and delivering conferences, then she came to attend my conference in the Aubel conference hall. That gave me a very good feeling as she remembered me after such a long time and came for the conference. You are otherwise also, a very good person .You gave me confidence by appreciating my conference. Thankyou Anne very much. I would like to than Anne Marie, who was a part of the group of Les Routes Du Monde, Nov 2007, attended my two conferences, at Convi and at Aubel. What a pleasing personality you are ! We talked about our previous voyage. You also brought some gifts for me. Thanks a lot.
I would like to convey a special word of thanks for four fantastic friends from Metz, France. Rene Claude, Cathrine, Tania and Joelle. The moment you came to know about my first conference in Avioth ( France ), you immediately contacted Marie Agnes and reached for the conference. What a great pleasure we had together. This was going to be my first experience of delivering a conference in Europe, I was a bit stressed, but you presence gave me a great courage. We took several pictures together and you finally send me all the pictures in a DVD. I brought DVD with me to India and showed the pictures to my family. Not only that, but you sponsored three tibetan orphan children of Menri Monastery during this conference. Thankyou very much Rene Claude, Cathrine, Joelle and Tania. May God bless you all.
I would like to thank Petit Arno along with his mother and sister for welcoming us in their house. We had a wonderful time in your garden, on the swings and also the skate board. Arno, may God give you and your sister, a very good health, intelligence and an inspiration to go ahead in your life. May God Bless your family. I would like to thank Caroline. What a pleasing personality. You have a beautiful house with many small pet animals. Thanks for welcoming us to your house. May God give you courage and strength to face the difficulties of life. You may achieve your goal of life with God's blessings and your hard work. Thankyou very much. I would like to thank Mr Kulwant Singh. Indian blood in your veins, but now a Belgian national. Still India lives in your heart with great love and affection. I did not get a chance to meet you wonderful family, but surely next time I will see tham all. You are a very kind person. This was told to me by Alain and Marie Agnes, but meeting you was another wonderful ocassion. I pray to God you may recover fast from your after-operation phases. It is only a matter of time. You are otherwise a very active person. May God Bles You. Thank you Mr Kulwant.
My special thanks to the Directors and Professors of twenty schools that I visited during my stay in Belgium. Dear sirs/mesdames, I found children of this country very disciplined and very intelligent. They gave me a very good impression of this country and we can hope that you have a great future which is in the hands of these children. They greeted me with full love and affection everywhere. They also gifted me a few paintings that they made specially for me. This touched me very much. They have, in general a good knowledge about the culture of Belgium and also they had very intelligent questions regarding customs, traditions, culture, education system, jobs ( metiers ), religions, national languages, clothes, food , sports for children and more questions about India. I really appreciated. But Sirs/Mesdames, I could talk to these school children only because I had your permission to do that. I thankyou very much for that. We too have wonderful children in our country, and I have an idea, that may be we can make the children of two countries to communicate with each other so that they can exchange ideas about school projects and also learn about each other's cultures which are at times similar but at times very very diffrent. If any of the schools is interested, kindly send me an email kdguide@yahoo.com , and I will visit schools here and deliver the same message. Thanks a lot.
I would like to thank all the children of twenty schools that I visited. You all are so beautiful and loving. I came from your country with wonderful memories, and you are a big part of all that. I told you about my country India, and asked you questions about your country, Belgium This was a good exchange as I got to learn a lot from all of you. But you should never forget what I told you while explaining our Indian Flag and it's colours.. There are three qualities we all should have all the times. The qualities are.. Courage, represented my orange colour, purity of mind and thoughts, represented by white colour and richness of heart and compassion, represented by green colour in the Indian National Flag. These qualities will help you always and also will help your great country Belgique. Never forget two slogans..
1) La Verite Triomphe Toujours.
2) Le Travail et La Cle Du Succes.
I wish you best of luck for your exams and your future. Be good and do good.

I would like to thank the organisers of the places of conferences, that is Avioth, Salle de Foot-ball at Bourdon, Ciney, Le Studio at Marche, La Convi, Aubel and Vigne Philosophe at Rochefort. Delivering conferences was a new experience for me but above all, in a new country and in a language which is not my the language of my country.... they were the big challenges for me. I could not face this challenge if I did not have full support from all of you. You understood my situation and gave me full co-operation. I thankyou very much for that.

My special thanks to the Presse of Belgium and its organisers. By giving me coverage in L'Avenir Du Luxembourg, Passe Partout and La Meuse, you have helped me a great deal to fulfil my contribution for the cause of our project. The reporters listened to my feelings very patiently and printed the exact version in the news papers. Pres interviews had been a great and a very pleasing experience for me in Belgium. Thankyou very much. Long live the presse of Belgium.

My Very special thanks to Pierrette, Rafael, Jacqueline and Arnaud (Nono). You all four came to India with our group of Routes Du Monde and together we did the circuit L'Inde Sacree. What a pleasant time we spent together! Ever un-forgettable. We never lost contact even after your return from India, and I always hoped that we will see each other once again. When I arrived on Brussles airport on the 19th May, 2008, I was expecting to see only Alain and Marie Agnes. But my joy had no bounds when I saw also Pierrete, Rafel and Jacqueline also. All five of them got up very early in the morning , Alain and Marie Agnes drove from Marche-En-Famenne, Pierrette from Namur and Rafael and Jacqueline drove from Eupen and they all reached the airport to receive this small Indian, who is very very lucky. All of you filled my heart with so much of happiness that my voice blocked and I had no words to say. I was looking around with eyes wide open, and appreciating my arrival welcome. We all drove to Pierrette's house to have a wonderful lunch ( already arranged ) with beer Carlsberg Mmmm. After talking a lot about our old memories, we all departed in the evening to our destinations. I came to the house of Alain and Marie Agnes and Rafael and Jacqueline towards Eupen. Then later during my stay, Pierrete came specially to take me for shopping a Jeans which I wanted positively that day.. what fun. I had an honour to stay in Pierrete's house and also in Rafel-Jacqueline's House. What a homely feeling at both the places. 5 June was my birthday and I was in Rafael's house. He took me to his wine cellar and aksed me to chose the best wine for the occasion. I chose Nuits St Georges. We celebrated. You three came to most of my conferences and appreciated me, just to encourage me to do better. Pierrette, later went to Tunisia, and I could not see her as I had to come back on 20th june. But Pierrette I will seee you again one day. I gave spiritual names to Rafael and Jacqueline, Deepak and Jyoti. ( Hindi Names ). Rafael and Jacqueline even came to the airport to see me off on the 20th june. You gave me big bundles of pleasures which I will not be able to reciprocate. Thanks a lot Rafael and Jacqueline.

Arnaud ( Mon Nono ), when you came with the group in 2005, and I received you along with everybody at the airport, you were a young boy of 21 years, tall, good looking a lovely smile and guitar in your hand. I liked you immediately, no second thought. A click in my mind. I wished I had a son like you. Three days later when I told you my feelings , you started called me Daddy. You gave me so much of happiness which has no price in the world. At the end of three weeks when you were leaving to Paris, I was sad, but I was sure that I will see you one day. And that day arrived in Belgium. 17th June, 2008, A big surprise for me, arranged by Marie Agnes Alain and you. Evening 5 o'clock. I am taking afternoon nap in my bed in Marche-En Famenne, In Alain's house, Nono enters my room, quietly cat a cat, no noise, I get up with some sweet intuition, and I saw you standing in front of me. You came and hugged me , out of description. What a gift you are for me !!!! You drove from Paris, just the next day after you finished your final exams, to see me. We had marvellous time together for two days. I thank you and special thanks to Marie Agnes to give me this wonderful gift of Europe. Thank you Nono. I will see you soon somewhere.

I wish to thank petit Gwenail, grandson of Alain and Marie Agnes. You are so cute. We played together. You told me, "je vais cacher mes petits cochons dans la maison, autrement, le lou va les manger ". You wre very serious when you said that. And that evening in Ciney, when you were going with your daddy, I told you, Gwenail, va dormir, je vais nourrir tes cochons, et je vais les chcher dans la maison avant que le Lou arrive ". You were listening to me very seriously. May God bless you petit Gwenail.

I wish to thank young guys with whom I had great fun, Alexandre, Nicolas, Karna, ThiThan and Luna. We had so much of fun together in your houses, when u all invited me for dinner and also in the Bowling Billiards. Don't forget I was the champion that evening. Ha ! Thanks you all . Alexandre, wish you all the best for you wood-work, Nicolas, mon Nicolama, wish you all the best with your Mathematics, Karna, mon cher, wish you all the best with you medical studies. May you become a very successful doctor one day. Thi Than and Luna, may you both do the very best in your life to make your parents proud of you. I thank you all to give me so much of fun during my stay in your country.

I wish to express my feelings towards the pets I liked and enjoyd playing with during my stay in Belgium. Moustache, the old cate of Alain and Marie Agnes, 20 years old, loves his house, La Renarde. He is a lucky cat as he gets special cat food and love and affection of whole family. I think that is the secret of his long life. Long live Moustache. Surcouf, the lovely dog of Pierre. He is very happy when you enter his house where he lives with Pierre. But he not at all be happy if you want to leave his house. He would bark madly in front of your car and would try his best to stop you from going. We all know that animals are sometimes more sensitive than us, and Surcouf is a living example of that. Long live Surcouf. Joule et Lana, the two very pampered dogs of twin sisters, Jeanine and Ginette. I would say these two dogs have done very good karma in some past life to be in this house. Apart from best food and comfortable sleeping places, Joule and Lana travel everywhere in the cars of Jeanine and Ginette. The two sisters are taking them for long walks in green forests and healthy nature. I wish long life to Joule and Lana. Buboon, the lovely cat of Francine Chavanne, who lives in the house of Francine and her daughter Patricia. Buboon gets all the love that a cat can ever think of. Buboon has all liberty to go anywhere in the house at any time. Long live Buboon.

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