I have always have this urge to pen down my sentiments when I feel deluged under my emotions. In the past couple of years my life has changed drastically : From being a Graduate student one day, to a college lecturer, and again back to being an international graduate student, to my current status as a married house wife, and constantly being asked if I plan to join the work force. The last five years have been like an awesome roller coaster ride, that I have enjoyed immensely. I had a wonderful envious life being revered by students, a couple of years younger to me following me constantly to know how I had landed such a prestigious post so early in my career. Even in the comfort of the job, I wanted to pursue my higher studies in America. I took my GRE and TOEFL as I searched for universities that met my educational needs. During my stay in JNU as a Masters student of English I took interest in Immigrants Culture. SFSU was an excellent choice because it has one of the best faculties in Ethnic and Asian American Studies that concentrates on the lives of Asian Immigrants. Since my course was inter- disciplinary I was able to take course from other departments, namely, Women Studies, Anthropology and Sociology. The whole experience was enlightening for me since I was able to compare my experiences as a student in JNU, as a lecturer in Delhi University and as a Graduate International student. Reading academic books and writing weekly book reports was as staple as breathing. And then I meet “S” and all that I had mapped for myself took a back seat for a while, or at least that's what I believed it to be. But things happened with such speed since then: I graduated with my second Masters degree last summer and completed two years of marital bliss. While “S” received an American passport, I received my driver's licence and green-car.
And as I settle down in my new role as a housewife, I intend to chronicle my daily happenings that catch my attention and trigger my thoughts. Writing has always been an outlet for my sentiments but to be a part of the internet gives my personal journal a whole new dimension. The internet medium helps to expand my interests, thoughts and in the process meet like minded people with varying perceptions, who may be thousands of miles apart and whom I would never know in normal circumstances but here in the cyber world of personal journalism . I am looking forward to many sessions of wonderful conversations.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Friday, November 9, 2007
HAPPY DEEPAWALI
Its time to forget foes and feuds,
for friends are fun.....
Today SH called from office and said the Mr. WHo had invited us to their house for Puja celebrations. I am surprised. I want to go. End the feud and crazy notions that have been nurtured among any closed door discussions. This is the same individual who, I had heard did not like SH because he left the company that who worked for and joined a better company (that would not hire Mr. who, although he would love to ;o) for a better position etc etc. Through sources I knew that Mr. Who spoke and wished ill for SH. That story has circulated for some six years now. S has done really well for himself. While B has been in the same place and same position all the while.
Last year when Mr. Who's son got married we were not invited for the celebrations. And I really did not care since what ever I knew was hearsay and had never met them. But in the last few months I have met Mrs. Who, couple of times. I have been cordial. I actually like her son's wife. (we have common friends and we often bump into each other in parties ... well, well!!!!) She had come up to me as I stood with my glass of mocha cocktail. I liked her instantly. When she came to know who I was and vise versa we both were at a loss of words. Then I met Mrs. Who again during Pujas and when I addressed her she looked as if she never expected me to talk to her. Well whatever.... I am wishing everyone and she is there.... If I don't wish her, all that my dad spent on my expensive residential schooling would really be a waste. Right!
Well, so we have been invited to their house. And SH will go to their place after 6-7 yrs. That feud must be something, I say!!!
But I am happy. In this new land that we are calling home we need to socialize and make friends. How will we ever know if one is right kind of person, that we would like to associate with, if we don't give them a chance. We could gel if we give each other a chance. So there, now I am happy that they asked us and hope that something nice comes out of it.
Diwali/Kali puja is an auspicious occasion and gives us hope. So i am looking forward to make a good beginning today.
for friends are fun.....
Today SH called from office and said the Mr. WHo had invited us to their house for Puja celebrations. I am surprised. I want to go. End the feud and crazy notions that have been nurtured among any closed door discussions. This is the same individual who, I had heard did not like SH because he left the company that who worked for and joined a better company (that would not hire Mr. who, although he would love to ;o) for a better position etc etc. Through sources I knew that Mr. Who spoke and wished ill for SH. That story has circulated for some six years now. S has done really well for himself. While B has been in the same place and same position all the while.
Last year when Mr. Who's son got married we were not invited for the celebrations. And I really did not care since what ever I knew was hearsay and had never met them. But in the last few months I have met Mrs. Who, couple of times. I have been cordial. I actually like her son's wife. (we have common friends and we often bump into each other in parties ... well, well!!!!) She had come up to me as I stood with my glass of mocha cocktail. I liked her instantly. When she came to know who I was and vise versa we both were at a loss of words. Then I met Mrs. Who again during Pujas and when I addressed her she looked as if she never expected me to talk to her. Well whatever.... I am wishing everyone and she is there.... If I don't wish her, all that my dad spent on my expensive residential schooling would really be a waste. Right!
Well, so we have been invited to their house. And SH will go to their place after 6-7 yrs. That feud must be something, I say!!!
But I am happy. In this new land that we are calling home we need to socialize and make friends. How will we ever know if one is right kind of person, that we would like to associate with, if we don't give them a chance. We could gel if we give each other a chance. So there, now I am happy that they asked us and hope that something nice comes out of it.
Diwali/Kali puja is an auspicious occasion and gives us hope. So i am looking forward to make a good beginning today.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Tonight Show
In response to, Tonight show, Jay Leno,
2nd Aug, 2007
I enjoy my daily dose of Jay Leno each night at 11:30pm after the news. But today he disappointed me. It was not something that anyone must take lightly who has even a shred of respect for ethnicity and culture. Probably people as ignorant as him in the media are the reason that many innocent lives were distorted post 9/11 when people attacked innocent Punjabi Sikh men because they thought they were Arabs or middle eastern. Tonight Jay Leno intended to make fun of science of cloning, celebrities, but as a result ended up making fun of common people who were going about their chores of the day. I have no idea where this has been shot but it is an offensive act. Making fun of people is fine if you are educated enough to make the difference between the right and the wrong. Cracking a joke is a very serious matter. You need to be sure of your act and your audience. Jay leno wanted to show a cloning of an old music band and if it was in the Middle East how they would look. In the process he ended up showing four Sikh men in there ethnic gears. It has irked me highly. If this kind of media portrayal were not done there would not have been such misunderstanding among common people regarding Sikhs.
Dear people, Sikhs are a separate religious sect that belongs to the northern region of India. They have their own state: The mighty state of Punjab. Please do not mix them with Middle Eastern people. If you care to notice it properly you will very easily see the difference. Firstly, they tie their turbans in a totally different fashion. They wear a weapon around their chest called, kirpan. They have beard and long hair, kesh. They wear an iron/steel bangle on their right hand called kara. Well, as easy as it gets they do not wear the long robes associated with the Middle Eastern men. The Punjabis wear kurtas and lose pants called salwars. At this point I am not sure if they have a colloquial term for it in their language or not. Well, people, it is always a good thing to be educating one selves about others. If you expect other to be respectful to you then it makes sense if you are sensitive to their feelings as well.
I feel sad at some people who think that they have the right to make fun of others because they consider themselves better among the rest. I ask them what gives them the right to poke fun and who laughs at them. Even if one person out there does not find the joke funny it kills the purpose of being a professional comedian, then his whole point of being out there is beaten. So even if I like you, Jay Leno. You have not done your homework. Such hue and cry about racial minority and still some ethnicities are ignored is a serious offense.
2nd Aug, 2007
I enjoy my daily dose of Jay Leno each night at 11:30pm after the news. But today he disappointed me. It was not something that anyone must take lightly who has even a shred of respect for ethnicity and culture. Probably people as ignorant as him in the media are the reason that many innocent lives were distorted post 9/11 when people attacked innocent Punjabi Sikh men because they thought they were Arabs or middle eastern. Tonight Jay Leno intended to make fun of science of cloning, celebrities, but as a result ended up making fun of common people who were going about their chores of the day. I have no idea where this has been shot but it is an offensive act. Making fun of people is fine if you are educated enough to make the difference between the right and the wrong. Cracking a joke is a very serious matter. You need to be sure of your act and your audience. Jay leno wanted to show a cloning of an old music band and if it was in the Middle East how they would look. In the process he ended up showing four Sikh men in there ethnic gears. It has irked me highly. If this kind of media portrayal were not done there would not have been such misunderstanding among common people regarding Sikhs.
Dear people, Sikhs are a separate religious sect that belongs to the northern region of India. They have their own state: The mighty state of Punjab. Please do not mix them with Middle Eastern people. If you care to notice it properly you will very easily see the difference. Firstly, they tie their turbans in a totally different fashion. They wear a weapon around their chest called, kirpan. They have beard and long hair, kesh. They wear an iron/steel bangle on their right hand called kara. Well, as easy as it gets they do not wear the long robes associated with the Middle Eastern men. The Punjabis wear kurtas and lose pants called salwars. At this point I am not sure if they have a colloquial term for it in their language or not. Well, people, it is always a good thing to be educating one selves about others. If you expect other to be respectful to you then it makes sense if you are sensitive to their feelings as well.
I feel sad at some people who think that they have the right to make fun of others because they consider themselves better among the rest. I ask them what gives them the right to poke fun and who laughs at them. Even if one person out there does not find the joke funny it kills the purpose of being a professional comedian, then his whole point of being out there is beaten. So even if I like you, Jay Leno. You have not done your homework. Such hue and cry about racial minority and still some ethnicities are ignored is a serious offense.
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