In today’s New York Times “ Doctor In India Jailed for telling Sex of a Fetus”… “In 1991 ,there were about 945 girls born per 1,000 boys ,but this dropped to 927 by 2001, according to a national census”
Anyway the article got me thinking ….In spite of being born in a country where the “cultural preference for sons has distorted the sex ratio“ ..amazingly I haven’t felt much by way of discrimination..
Well , my parents have two kids- my sister and me …. I’ve led a pretty sheltered life as long as I was in school and stayed with my parents .My mom and dad; especially my dad, mom too but if you know my dad you know he pretty much rules the homestead !! made sure that my sister and I weren’t cut any slack especially in the area of education
(thank fully my parents don’t say things like you’re girls; we cant spend on your education lets save for your dowry!!! My relatives might say such things ..but I don’t stay with my relatives. )..And it wasn’t just too keep up with the Joneses that my parents sent us to school or something..(if you know my immediate family , you must already know that we’re a rather hippie type family…)
Well my dad’s older sister is a PhD, arguably the first lady PhD in our community (incidentally my aunt worked in the Indian institute for reproductive sciences , carrying out research in the same field the Indian doctor was sent to jail for ‘mis’ using…. ), my first cousin from dad’s side has graced the cover of national magazines and has appeared in many print and television ad’s,( mind you this was in the late eighties- early nineties, when modeling was cool but not the fad it is now (yes, yes she’s modeled with Milind Soman!! :) ), and for a community that’s got a lot of people in the industry now ,she was one of the first ones . So needless to say my dad’s side of the family consists of progressive ladies ….
Really if my dad wasn’t my dad , my life would have been slightly if not drastically different, so you can imagine that coming from an environment where my immediate family hasn’t made me or my sister feel as if we ought to deserve less from life because we are female.
… I get really ticked of when random people make me aware of the fact.. don’t get me wrong ..I’m not a trailblazing Amazon.. but I don’t take kindly to the comment “You’re like a boy..” or something to that effect (and they don’t mean it as a compliment !!, I’ve only heard that once in New Zealand by a desi guy… in America the desi guys have some brains ..ok ok NZ desi’s, pretty much all of them were amazing ,but there were a couple of keeda’s from the motherland!!!! ) especially when its said by some guy my age. I mean just because at the age of 24 I don’t want to ask my parents for spending money and therefore work part time while going to school ? Because I don’t need a guy to drop me in his car when I need to do shopping?? Because I can cross the road without holding a guys hand??? … THAT makes me less of your concept of what a girl should be like!!!!
News flash buster…. Each and every girl would like to do the above things ..its just because people like you exist that they cant…
Well back to the story so till school and even undergrad in India I don’t think I suffered much!!??!! Apart from weird dress codes and suchlike… but even guys couldn’t come to college in shorts and pajamas so fine!! Well thankfully most guys I’ve met are great , apart from a occasional keedas, who were just acquaintances and not friends anyway.
In the US ,the situation is good, all the girls here have overcome certain obstacles (or not ) ,but are certainly living their dream of coming out here ..my hats off to the sisters, I know gals who’ve worked at mid night as night watchmen, washed dishes in restaurants,worked as parking lot attendants and worked thier way through school, girls who lived in the superdome in New Orleans when Katrina struck(what you thought an Indian girl couldn’t survive that ??) people who marry their soul mate irrespective of creed ,caste or community, people who earn more than their partners , yes all are desi, all are my friends and I’m proud of them and proud of the guys they are with!!
But I’ve had certain sources tell me that certain guys here don’t want to get married to girls who are studying here .. prefer girls in India …hmmm I wonder why????? ( actually not :P)
Well I pity the poor Indian girls who pay bucket loads of dowry to eventually get married to such a person ..poor gals will be dreaming of their cool American prince charming and life in the land of opportunity … Well gals here…. I break the illusion ( or at least part of it ) .. I held on to this idea as well before I came here….. Here it is…. JUST BECAUSE A GUY LIVES ABROAD ,DOESN'T MEAN HE'S COOL!!!
Sure there are great, cool guys out here , and the concept of an American Prince Charming isn’t a fairy tale ….but you have equally cool guys in India …and those psycho types you thought could exist in India only ..yupppp they’re here a s well!!!!!
Well , I’m sure all the gals would have read most of this . Hope it wasn’t too long!! But I just got on a roll with this topic ....
As for the guys ..Well if I’ve scared you off ……Thank goodness !!!!..That was the aim!!!..
For those guys who did read…. Thanks .. I hope it wasn’t too long and I hope it was enlightening to read how some one from the other side views things …
As I was writing this I had the newspaper with the article open next to me.. an American guy sitting next to me saw the bold headline of the article and said CRAZY!!! Well that’s what I said when I first saw it too!!!!
Friday, March 31, 2006
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Neighbours....
What’s with that house across the street.. it always looked spooky.. now someone’s started playing( loudly I must add!!!) the organ (or at least it sounds like an organ)at night. I half expect bats to fly out !!!! And tonight getting back home I saw two Men in Black type people walk into that building…Hey don’t get me wrong I’m all for the Adams’ family staying next door…will definitely add some more excitement to our “quiet” neighborhood!!!??!!
Friday, March 24, 2006
Uni Life....
Thanks to Niharika for the forward….reminds me of Welly and applies to Alabama as well…gosh eight years in college…… I’ve been postponing the real world for way too long…...
TOP 10 REASONS WHY UNIVERSITY IS LIKE PRESCHOOL...
10. You cry for your mother.
9. You cross the street without looking for cars.
8. Snack time is a necessity.
7.You bundle up for the outdoors without caring what you look like
because everyone else looks as stupid as you do.
6. You stay at home and play games with your friends.
5. You wear your backpack on both shoulders.
4. You wear big mittens.
3. Playing in the snow is a legitimate activity.
2. You take naps.
1. You look forward to cheese toasties. (I misss toasties..basically grilled cheese sandwiches)
YOU KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN AT UNI TOO LONG WHEN...
You actually like doing laundry at home where the washing machines
work.
Two miles is not too far to walk for a party.
You'd rather clean than study, esp. if an essay's due.
"Oh crap- how did it get so late" comes out of ur mouth at least
once a nite!
Home cooking becomes something u desire, not avoid.
U plan your classes around sleep habits & soap operas,
You know the take out guy by name and don't even need to read the
menu
You go to sleep when it's light and get up when it's dark.
You live for getting post.
Looking out the window is a form of entertainment.
Prank phone calls become funny again.
You start thinking and sounding like your friends and your accent
becomes a hybrid 0f their accents
Highlighters are the coolest things on earth.
Rearranging your room is your favorite pastime.
Rubbish cheap shops are so cool.
The weekend lasts from Monday to Thursday
TOP 10 REASONS WHY UNIVERSITY IS LIKE PRESCHOOL...
10. You cry for your mother.
9. You cross the street without looking for cars.
8. Snack time is a necessity.
7.You bundle up for the outdoors without caring what you look like
because everyone else looks as stupid as you do.
6. You stay at home and play games with your friends.
5. You wear your backpack on both shoulders.
4. You wear big mittens.
3. Playing in the snow is a legitimate activity.
2. You take naps.
1. You look forward to cheese toasties. (I misss toasties..basically grilled cheese sandwiches)
YOU KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN AT UNI TOO LONG WHEN...
You actually like doing laundry at home where the washing machines
work.
Two miles is not too far to walk for a party.
You'd rather clean than study, esp. if an essay's due.
"Oh crap- how did it get so late" comes out of ur mouth at least
once a nite!
Home cooking becomes something u desire, not avoid.
U plan your classes around sleep habits & soap operas,
You know the take out guy by name and don't even need to read the
menu
You go to sleep when it's light and get up when it's dark.
You live for getting post.
Looking out the window is a form of entertainment.
Prank phone calls become funny again.
You start thinking and sounding like your friends and your accent
becomes a hybrid 0f their accents
Highlighters are the coolest things on earth.
Rearranging your room is your favorite pastime.
Rubbish cheap shops are so cool.
The weekend lasts from Monday to Thursday
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Sweet Home Alabama Part 2
Alabama Facts and Trivia
1. Alabama introduced the Mardi Gras to the western world. The celebration is held on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent begins.
2. Alabama was the first state to make Christmas an official holiday in 1836…
3. Alabama workers built the first rocket to put humans on the moon (after coming to the states I’ve heard a couple of conspiracy theories about this ..you know who you are!!! But whatever).
4. The pecan is the Alabama's official nut. ( I love Pecans, wish I could eat Pecan Pie more often!!).
5. Many scenes from Forrest Gump where shot at the University of Alabama. Tom Hanks’ character studies here. And that famous run across the Football field takes place in T town’s Bryant Denny Football stadium .
6. The University of Alabama also is home of the Crimson Tide, 12-time national football champions
7. The Birmingham Airport opened in 1931. At the time of the opening a Birmingham to Los Angeles flight took 19 hours.( Isn’ t much better now bro.. took me 24 hours to reach Birmingham from LA, thanks to Delta canceling my flight, and delays.. and this after a 24 hour journey across the Pacific ,needless to say I was pretty frazzled when I reached Tuscaloosa slept for 2 days straight after that I think.. the people who I stayed with thought that was a bit strange( you know who you are !!!) .FYI the flight from LA to Birmingham takes around 5 to 5 and a half hours I think).
8. Courtney Cox- Arquette (Monica from FRIENDS is from Birmingham,Alabama… you didn’t know that did you ???). Other famous Alabamians, Nat King Cole, Helen Keller, Lionel Ritchie!!! The Temptations and Condoleeza Rice .
9. Harper Lee the author of Too Kill a Mockingbird is from Alabama , and is an Alumnus of The University of Alabama.
10. Vivian Malone and James Hood both registered for classes in 1963 to become the University of Alabama's first two black students. This was the final battle to end racial segregation in American higher education. President Kennedy and his brother, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, personally negotiated what was to happen in Tuscaloosa that summer, after Gov. George Wallace blocked the doorway to Foster Auditorium at the University of Alabama ,symbolically trying to prevent the African American students from entering ( not highly encouraging huh, yeah I learnt all this after I came here because in school they know of their disgraceful history and have spent 40 years to make up for it.. good job too !!!).
11. In 1955 Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus and sparks the Montgomery bus boycott which brought Dr. Martin Luther King to leadership in the Civil Rights Movement.
Compiled from the internet…………
1. Alabama introduced the Mardi Gras to the western world. The celebration is held on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent begins.
2. Alabama was the first state to make Christmas an official holiday in 1836…
3. Alabama workers built the first rocket to put humans on the moon (after coming to the states I’ve heard a couple of conspiracy theories about this ..you know who you are!!! But whatever).
4. The pecan is the Alabama's official nut. ( I love Pecans, wish I could eat Pecan Pie more often!!).
5. Many scenes from Forrest Gump where shot at the University of Alabama. Tom Hanks’ character studies here. And that famous run across the Football field takes place in T town’s Bryant Denny Football stadium .
6. The University of Alabama also is home of the Crimson Tide, 12-time national football champions
7. The Birmingham Airport opened in 1931. At the time of the opening a Birmingham to Los Angeles flight took 19 hours.( Isn’ t much better now bro.. took me 24 hours to reach Birmingham from LA, thanks to Delta canceling my flight, and delays.. and this after a 24 hour journey across the Pacific ,needless to say I was pretty frazzled when I reached Tuscaloosa slept for 2 days straight after that I think.. the people who I stayed with thought that was a bit strange( you know who you are !!!) .FYI the flight from LA to Birmingham takes around 5 to 5 and a half hours I think).
8. Courtney Cox- Arquette (Monica from FRIENDS is from Birmingham,Alabama… you didn’t know that did you ???). Other famous Alabamians, Nat King Cole, Helen Keller, Lionel Ritchie!!! The Temptations and Condoleeza Rice .
9. Harper Lee the author of Too Kill a Mockingbird is from Alabama , and is an Alumnus of The University of Alabama.
10. Vivian Malone and James Hood both registered for classes in 1963 to become the University of Alabama's first two black students. This was the final battle to end racial segregation in American higher education. President Kennedy and his brother, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, personally negotiated what was to happen in Tuscaloosa that summer, after Gov. George Wallace blocked the doorway to Foster Auditorium at the University of Alabama ,symbolically trying to prevent the African American students from entering ( not highly encouraging huh, yeah I learnt all this after I came here because in school they know of their disgraceful history and have spent 40 years to make up for it.. good job too !!!).
11. In 1955 Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus and sparks the Montgomery bus boycott which brought Dr. Martin Luther King to leadership in the Civil Rights Movement.
Compiled from the internet…………
Sunday, March 19, 2006
100 things to do....(reworked)
100 things to do …….
I’ve always wanted to make a list like this so here goes ……have to admit I had to look at other sources for inspiration, also did go overboard at times, if you don’t dream big ….how are you going to achieve it ??
...So here’s my list of 100 things I want to do in my life ..in no particular order .hopefully should provide me some direction ,and I can strike things off the list as and when they happen ..i may have done some of things I haven’t struck of already..but I want to do them better the next time around so they remain on this list….. disclaimer this list can and will change over time!!!
The first time i wrote this list it was 2 am at night so needless to say i kind off lost track with the ctrl -c's & ctrl v's(LOL)..here is a updated list with no repetitions (i hope) and somewhat attainable!!!!
1. Visit Prince Edward Island Canada.
2. Get something published in a newspaper or a magazine. Done sometime in third grade!!!!
3. Attend an Eagles concert.
4. Drive across America from coast to coast.
5. Say "I love you".
6. Learn to play the guitar.
7. Learn to swim.
8. Actually learn to drive.
9. Visit the United States of America .Done 28th December 2004
10. Be in a movie or TV series ….I guess being an extra is alright
11. Live in New York city .
12. Climb a mountain.
13. Win an award
14. Go around the world atleast once ,took 24 yrs to do it but Done – 14th December 2005.
15. Visit Switzerland.
16. Visit Bora-Bora –Tahiti- Done 28th December 2004.
17. Prepare a five course meal.
18. Buy a house.
19. Get married.
20. Try my luck at the stock market.
21. Join a salsa or funk class
22. Go scuba diving .
23. Learn French.
24. Participate in a demonstration- Done sometime in undergrad.
25. Watch the filming of an episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show.
26. Learn to (actually learn to) use a bicycle.
27. Visit Chinatown(preferably in In San Francisco)
28. Fall in love.
29. Send a message in a bottle.
30. Plant a tree.
31. Keep a Journal Done June 2005.
32. Stay out all night partying and go to work the next day without having gone home.
33. See a tornado Done Early 2005
34. Visit Paris.
35. Teach for a living Done July 2002 –ongoing .
36. Write my will.
37. Ride on the Orient Express.
38. Own a laptop –Done February 2006.
39. Own an ipod .
40. Go up in a hot-air balloon.
41. Run in a marathon.
42. Overcome my acute attention deficit disorder.
43. Ride a horse .
44. Become a Radio Jockey (even for a day!!!).
45. Go on a cruise ship.
46. Sky dive.
47. Bungee jump.
48. Be interviewed either for Tv or a local ,national ,international paper-done May 2004.
49. Play tennis.
50. Visit Goa- Done in 2001.
51. Visit an American Indian Reservation.
52. Eat Mexican food !!!! done 2004.
53. Visit the Grand Canyon.
54. Visit an active volcano.
55. Get out of debt.
56. Ride a cable car-done February 2004.
57. Get a bachelors degree in Engineering –done 2002.
58. Get a Masters.
59. Make a road movie.
60. Learn to bartend.
61. Get paid to travel.
62. Read War and Peace.
63. Meet a long lost friend after 20 yrs!!!??!!!.
64. Get paid to say something about movies or music or both.
65. Have kids.
66. See a hurricane-done June 2005.
67. Get a dog done 1998.
68. Make a complete and utter fool of myself.-Done
69. Meet a member of the British Royal Family.
70. Visit a rainforest.
71. Meet some one famous.
72. Travel by myself –Done .
73. Stay in a hostel –done October 1998.
74. See a movie at a drive-in done in Dubai.
75. Come up with a good one-liner.
76. Become a semi-acceptable cook.
77. Visit Egypt.
78. Work as an Analyst.
79. Make a short movie.
80. Go whale watching.
81. Read One hundred years of Solitude and Love in the age of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marques .
82. Fly First Class.
83. Visit Singapore –Done March 2004.
84. Queue for something for at least 24 hours.
85. Make a difference.
86. Go on an Archeological Expedition.
87. Visit a European Castle.
88. Sleep out under the stars on a warm summer's night- Done.
89. Swim in crystal clear waters.
90. See Dolphins
91. Go back to each house I've ever lived in ??? or ok the home where i spent my childhood....
92. Learn a martial art and kick someone’s ass with it.
93. Buy a telescope.
94. Volunteer for a good cause-Done.
95. Watch a prefect sunset at sea-Done.
96. Go fishing.
97. Do something I was always afraid of doing.
98. Sleep in a hammock
99. See Snow.
100. Explore New York’s public library.
I’ve always wanted to make a list like this so here goes ……have to admit I had to look at other sources for inspiration, also did go overboard at times, if you don’t dream big ….how are you going to achieve it ??
...So here’s my list of 100 things I want to do in my life ..in no particular order .hopefully should provide me some direction ,and I can strike things off the list as and when they happen ..i may have done some of things I haven’t struck of already..but I want to do them better the next time around so they remain on this list….. disclaimer this list can and will change over time!!!
The first time i wrote this list it was 2 am at night so needless to say i kind off lost track with the ctrl -c's & ctrl v's(LOL)..here is a updated list with no repetitions (i hope) and somewhat attainable!!!!
1. Visit Prince Edward Island Canada.
2. Get something published in a newspaper or a magazine. Done sometime in third grade!!!!
3. Attend an Eagles concert.
4. Drive across America from coast to coast.
5. Say "I love you".
6. Learn to play the guitar.
7. Learn to swim.
8. Actually learn to drive.
9. Visit the United States of America .Done 28th December 2004
10. Be in a movie or TV series ….I guess being an extra is alright
11. Live in New York city .
12. Climb a mountain.
13. Win an award
14. Go around the world atleast once ,took 24 yrs to do it but Done – 14th December 2005.
15. Visit Switzerland.
16. Visit Bora-Bora –Tahiti- Done 28th December 2004.
17. Prepare a five course meal.
18. Buy a house.
19. Get married.
20. Try my luck at the stock market.
21. Join a salsa or funk class
22. Go scuba diving .
23. Learn French.
24. Participate in a demonstration- Done sometime in undergrad.
25. Watch the filming of an episode of the Oprah Winfrey Show.
26. Learn to (actually learn to) use a bicycle.
27. Visit Chinatown(preferably in In San Francisco)
28. Fall in love.
29. Send a message in a bottle.
30. Plant a tree.
31. Keep a Journal Done June 2005.
32. Stay out all night partying and go to work the next day without having gone home.
33. See a tornado Done Early 2005
34. Visit Paris.
35. Teach for a living Done July 2002 –ongoing .
36. Write my will.
37. Ride on the Orient Express.
38. Own a laptop –Done February 2006.
39. Own an ipod .
40. Go up in a hot-air balloon.
41. Run in a marathon.
42. Overcome my acute attention deficit disorder.
43. Ride a horse .
44. Become a Radio Jockey (even for a day!!!).
45. Go on a cruise ship.
46. Sky dive.
47. Bungee jump.
48. Be interviewed either for Tv or a local ,national ,international paper-done May 2004.
49. Play tennis.
50. Visit Goa- Done in 2001.
51. Visit an American Indian Reservation.
52. Eat Mexican food !!!! done 2004.
53. Visit the Grand Canyon.
54. Visit an active volcano.
55. Get out of debt.
56. Ride a cable car-done February 2004.
57. Get a bachelors degree in Engineering –done 2002.
58. Get a Masters.
59. Make a road movie.
60. Learn to bartend.
61. Get paid to travel.
62. Read War and Peace.
63. Meet a long lost friend after 20 yrs!!!??!!!.
64. Get paid to say something about movies or music or both.
65. Have kids.
66. See a hurricane-done June 2005.
67. Get a dog done 1998.
68. Make a complete and utter fool of myself.-Done
69. Meet a member of the British Royal Family.
70. Visit a rainforest.
71. Meet some one famous.
72. Travel by myself –Done .
73. Stay in a hostel –done October 1998.
74. See a movie at a drive-in done in Dubai.
75. Come up with a good one-liner.
76. Become a semi-acceptable cook.
77. Visit Egypt.
78. Work as an Analyst.
79. Make a short movie.
80. Go whale watching.
81. Read One hundred years of Solitude and Love in the age of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marques .
82. Fly First Class.
83. Visit Singapore –Done March 2004.
84. Queue for something for at least 24 hours.
85. Make a difference.
86. Go on an Archeological Expedition.
87. Visit a European Castle.
88. Sleep out under the stars on a warm summer's night- Done.
89. Swim in crystal clear waters.
90. See Dolphins
91. Go back to each house I've ever lived in ??? or ok the home where i spent my childhood....
92. Learn a martial art and kick someone’s ass with it.
93. Buy a telescope.
94. Volunteer for a good cause-Done.
95. Watch a prefect sunset at sea-Done.
96. Go fishing.
97. Do something I was always afraid of doing.
98. Sleep in a hammock
99. See Snow.
100. Explore New York’s public library.
The Rainbow Connection..
THE RAINBOW CONNECTION
Why are there so many songs about rainbows
And what's on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,
And rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we've been told and some choose to believe it
I know they're wrong, wait and see.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers and me.
Who said that every wish would be heard and answered
When wished on the morning star?
Somebody thought of that, and someone believed it,
And look what it's done so far.
What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing
And what do we think we might see?
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers, and me.
All of us under its spell,
We know that it's probably magic...
... Have you been half asleep? And have you heard voices? I've heard them calling my name.
... Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?
The voice might be one and the same
I've heard it too many times to ignore it
It's something that I'm s'posed to be...
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers, and me.
Laa, da daa dee da daa daa,
La laa la la laa dee daa doo...
-Kermit the Frog
Talking about songs I’m just a 1000 ratings away from being a rating master on Launchcast radio..at present ive got an addict rating!!!!!i must admit i've been listening to music india online as much as i listen to launch....
Why are there so many songs about rainbows
And what's on the other side?
Rainbows are visions, but only illusions,
And rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we've been told and some choose to believe it
I know they're wrong, wait and see.
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers and me.
Who said that every wish would be heard and answered
When wished on the morning star?
Somebody thought of that, and someone believed it,
And look what it's done so far.
What's so amazing that keeps us stargazing
And what do we think we might see?
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers, and me.
All of us under its spell,
We know that it's probably magic...
... Have you been half asleep? And have you heard voices? I've heard them calling my name.
... Is this the sweet sound that calls the young sailors?
The voice might be one and the same
I've heard it too many times to ignore it
It's something that I'm s'posed to be...
Someday we'll find it, the rainbow connection,
The lovers, the dreamers, and me.
Laa, da daa dee da daa daa,
La laa la la laa dee daa doo...
-Kermit the Frog
Talking about songs I’m just a 1000 ratings away from being a rating master on Launchcast radio..at present ive got an addict rating!!!!!i must admit i've been listening to music india online as much as i listen to launch....