Wake Up Sid

About the condiitons: My baby cousin (who btw looks nothing like a baby) told me he doesn't like watching movies on the laptop because it's uncomfortable, the screen is too small and you have to adjust to the moods of the erratic laptop. I have to call him and tell him I broke all records, watched a movie on the smallest screen possible. It was on didi's mobile with the youtube application.So get this the screen is 3 inches wide and 2 inches long. You have to concentrate to watch the movie. This is must be a feat watching a movie on the smallest screen possible.
About the film: Wake Up Sid is a cute movie and really relatable. He's a rich laid-back boy who never gets laid. lol , a blocked adolescent who reluctantly becomes an adult and all of it seems very genuine...honestly, it felt like my own life. And now I'm pretty sure Ranbir Kapoor is going to be the next superstar, so his cousin is already a star as the rest of his huge family......I'm sure his kids and nephews and nieces and second cousins will all become actors, coz we do everything in families , even becoming stars. Anway, nice film, so watch it if you haven't.

On blogging

One of the joys of blogging with a readership as big as mine, currently I'm sure at least -wait for it- 5 people read this blog.... :) ...with 0 comments or comments I force my friends to write I know for a fact that I can write any amount of crap and noone, noone will read it. Wait is this one of the joys...no,no actually it's pathetic. But I just can't censor myself when I write so I'd rather my social circle doesn't read this, and I really, really don't have the heart to put in all the effort it takes to network, that is to say : read other blogs comment and then respond to the comments I get

Me

1. What was your favourite subject at school?
History/Geography I love reading, love stories, be it anything. Love trivia, and implications of history on our lives today. Histroy was pure joy

2. Did you have a favourite teacher? What was it about them that you liked?
My Maths tution teacher from 8 th to 12th, the one person who always encouraged me, who believed in me more then myself. Amazing teacher

3. What do you like most about yourself?
too many things

4. Why did you start blogging?
To vent, to write after having read so many other blogs, because a friend encouraged me, the joy of saying what I think and sharing with others, a way to keep my memories....

5. Can you show us your 5 favourite blog posts?
You tell me which ones you liked

6. What do you love most about your partner
When I have one, I'll tell you

7. Next to your husband/partner/significant other/children, who do you speak to most often?
Friends, sister, parents...dumb question

8. What are your 5 favourite books?
Only 5?

-Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling
-Fish of the seto and inland sea by ruri Pilgrim
-Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
-A thousand splendid suns by Khaled Husseini
-Tintin Asterix& Obelix and Archies (putting 3 coz they don't qualify as books but I love them just as much)

9. Do you have a favourite work of art?
Hédiose et sa muse by Gustave Moreau

10.If you could live for a year anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
New Delhi,Mumbai (I read Shantaram), Paris, New York

Speaking up, Jotting down.....

How much trouble does it take to be socially aware?

of cleanliness
of traffic discipline
of piracy
of child labour
of food wastage
of ecology
of water conservation
of the girl child


"A lot" is the answer. Isn't it easier to be selfish and hence stay carefree, than worry about the world and feel burdened?

Isn't it better to think "Chalta hai" than to think "Kuch karna chahiye"?


And for those who are the conscious types, has a hint of doubt, frustration or defeat ever entered your mind? Have you ever thought how just one individual's altruistic efforts will sustain against those ten self-absorbed individuals?

by http://gunjaaish.blogspot.com/

Where am I from?

A typical series of questions I come across when I'm talking to a typical desi who wants to know where I come from

Q1: Where are you from?
Me: Douala

Q2: What? Where are you from?
Me: Douala

Q3: Where's that in India?
Me: ermmmm; it's a city in Cameroon, Cameroon is a small country near Nigeria, in West Africa

Q4: Where's Cameroon in India? (People are idiots I tell you)
Me: It's not in India!!!

Q5: You're from one of the islands near India?
Me: *thinking I should hit him with my bag* Noooooooooooooooo, it's in Africa!!!!!!!

Q6: is West Africa a country?
Me: *my grief is beyond tears* No, South Africa is a country, West Africa isn't.

Q7: Is Cameroon near South Africa?
Me: oh my god!! South Africa is in the SOUTH of Africa, and Cameroon is in the West of Africa. (man,some people are slow)

Q8: ohhh is it near Kenya?
Me: nope, Kenya is on the other side of the continent

Q9: What's the capital
Me: Yaounde
dude asking the questions : ouuh what a weird name

Q10: What's the currency?
Me:CFA

Q11: Are you Indian
Me: yes
idiotic dude: but you aren't really Indian
me: yes I am
dude: noo, you're a wannabe Indian
me: what! bloody idiot I'm sure I know more about India then you do (I've met dudes who know more about the US then India)
dude: do you speak hindi?
me: yes
dude: have you ever been to India?
me: every summer when I was growing up
dude: sooo how is it ...............
me: arrrgghh *runs in the other direction, have had enough of this interrogation*


solution to the problem :
dude: where are you from?
me: New Delhi, GK-I

seeeee problem over, two words and I don't have to hear unbearably stupid questions about how they thought South Africa or Kenya is near every other country in the continent. The way they talk you might think that if all the other countries of the continent (OTHER then South Africa) just sank into the sea, they would never notice. I swear sometimes people are heart breakingly stupid.

Tagged

Took up the tag of Enchanted

The rules are that you have to answer in one word but I think it will be very difficult to stick to the rules:

1.Where is your cell phone?

In my coat

2.Your hair?

Oily, needs to be washed

3.Your mother?

Wonderful

4.Your father?

Smarty pants

5.Your favorite food?

Indian

6.Your dream last night?

Dont remember

7.Your favorite drink?

Coca Cola Enjoy!

8.Your dream/goal?

To work in development and eventually open my own NGO in India that would offer free therapies

9.What room are you in?

Internet Cafe

10.Your hobby?

reading and talking to my friends

11.Your fear?

That I'll die alone

12.Where do you want to be in 6 years?

High and flying in my career

13.Where were you last night?

sleeping on the Sofa

14.Something that you aren’t?

Bigot

15.Muffins?

Yummy :)

16.Wish list item?

so many

17.Where did you grow up?

Douala

18.Last thing you did?

Drank a can of Coke

19.What are you wearing?

three layers of clothing, its 5 degrees here !

20.Your TV?

No cable connection, when I have like really, really nothing to do I watch static on it...I'm crazy

21.Your pets?

Grey parrot called Mithu, who talks endlessly

22.Friends?

Scattered in different parts of the world

23.Your life?

Right now, about average

24.Your mood?

ok-ok

25.Missing someone?

My mommy!!!!

26.Vehicle?

Trains, metro,rer, tram, bus.....I have so many of them

27.Something you’re not wearing?

gloves

28.Your favorite store?

Pimkie, Bershka, Mango, Zara, Armand Thiery(only in sales)

29.Your favorite color?

Red

30.When was the last time you laughed?

Today

31.Last time you cried?

Yesterday

32.Your best friend?

Living 6000 miles away...arrgghh

33.One place that you go to over and over?

To the fridge to see If there's anything left to eat or to my college

34.One person who emails me regularly?

Facebook, Peterson Institute, Monster, Economist...too many subscriptions

35.Favorite place to eat?

Home.

Songs to have on my i-pod

-I like what you say- Nada Surf (favourite song ever, I can't explain it by I get this funny feeling in my gums when I listen to this song)
-Pehla nasha remix
-Streets of Philadelphia-Bruce Springsteen
-1973- James Blunt
-Sanu ik pal chain na aave-Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
-Mar jaawan-Fashion
-Roobaaroo-Rang de Basanti
-Madhaniyan-Monsoon Wedding
-Kawa Kawa-Monsoon Wedding
-Kehta hai pal pal-Major Saab
-Jashn-e-bahaara-Jodhaa Akbar
-Unwritten-Natasha Bedingfield
-Afreen Afreen-Nusrate Fateh Ali Khan
-Dooba Dooba- Silk Route
-Tere Bin-Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan
-Luka Chuppi-Rang De Basanti
-Morni Bagaa bole-Lamhe
-Chandani raatein
-Thank you-Dido
-Here without you-Three doors down
-Bubbly-Colbie Caillot
-7 seconds- Youssou N'Dour
-Breathless-The Corrs
-Desert Rose-Sting feat Cheb Mami
-Hey There Delilah-Plain White T's
-Dear Prudence-Across The Universe (originally from the beatles)
-Something-ditto
-Mrs. Robinson-Beatles
-Italiano-Toto Cutogno
-Innamorati-Toto Cutogno
-On s'attache-Christophe Mae
-Sexual healing-Marvin Gaye
-Wherever you will go-The calling
-No woman No cry
-How to save a life-The Fray
-Le vent nous porteras
-Collide-Howie Day
-Faith of the Heart-Watson russel ( star-trek enterprise theme song....fav song)
-This is how you remind me-Nickel Back
-The Girl From Ipanema
-Cannonball-Damien Rice
-9 crimes-Damien Rice
-Same Mistake-James Blint
-Let me out-Ben's Brother
-Lily-Aaron (french band)
-Unchained melody-Righteous Brothers
-Let it Be-Beatles
-Wish you were here-Pink Floyd
-Yesterday-Beatles
-Keep bleeding-Leona Lewis
-Bittersweet symphony-The Verve
-Sweet Dreams-Eurythmics
-Aaja Nachle
-Kala chashma
-Kangna
-Pyaar karke
-True colors-Dove ad
-Pretty Woman
-I want you back-Jackson 5
-Forever-Chris Brown
-Run it-Chris Brown
-Careful-Michelle Featherstone
- Save Tonight-Eagle Eye Cherry
-I'm yours-Jason Mraz
-Dekha ek khwaab-Silsila
-Tumko dekha tho yeh khayal aaya
-Aicha-Khaled
-Batiyaan-Dolly Singh
-Aaja piya tohe pyaar doun remix
-Mein Jahan rahoon-Namaste London
-Aashiq banaya aapne
-Kiska rate dekhe-Joshila
-Kagaz ki kashti-Jagjit Singh
-Shaam se aankh mein-Jagjit Singh
-Stand by me-Ben E. King
-Kabhi Aisa lagta hai-Lucky Ali
-Oh sanam-Lucky Ali
-Gore teri aakhein kahe-Lucky Ali
-Mere Humsafar-QSQT
-How deep is your love-Bee gees
-The Creator-Santogold
-Temperature-Sean Paul
-The way I am-Ingrid Michaelson
-I swear-All for one
-I wanna dance with somebody-Whitney Houston
-Yeh jo des hai tera-Swades
-Maula mere-Anwar
-Udja kale kawan-GAdar
-La solitudine-Laura Pauscini
-Kahin toh-Jaane tu ya jaane na
-Yeh Dooriyan-Love aaj kal
-Chor Bazaari-Love Aaj Kal
-Dheere Dheere se meri zindagi remix from aashiqui
-Alvida-Life in a metro
-Maeri-Euphoria
-Piya basanti
-Hawa Hawa-Hasan jehangir
-Tere Bina-Guru
-Simply The best-Tina Turner
-Lambi Judai
-Laree chottee
-Woh Lamhey-Jal
-I can see clearly now-Jimmy Cliff
-World's greatest-R.Kelly
-Ignition-ditto
-I believe I can fly-ditto
-When you say nothing at all-Allison Kraus
-Words-Ronan Keating
-Bad Day-Daniel peauter
-Happy Ending-Mika
-Hosh walon-Jagjit Singh
-Give it up to me-Sean paul
-Get Busy-Sean Paul
-Justice
-Big Grils don't dry-fergie
-Where is the love-Black eyed peas
-Foundations-Kate Nash
-Ghar Aaja Soniya
-Pehli Nazar mein-Atif Aslam
-Tere Bin-Atif Aslam
-Kabhi kabhie mere dil mein khayal aate kai-Kabhie kabhi
-Aashayein-Iqbal
-Le vent nous porters-Noir desir
-1, 2, 3, 4-Feist
-'74-'75-The Connells
-Tujhse naraaz nahin zindagi-masoom
-Jailer-Asa
-Fire on the mountain-Asa
-Stuck in the moment-U2
-With or without you-U2
-One- Mary J. Blige feat Bono
-Talking about a revolution-Tracy chapman
-Wind of change-Scorpions
-Where you lead-Carole King ( gilmore girls theme song)
-Shy guy-Diana King
-Ca fais mal-Christophe Mae
-She will be loved- Maroon 5
-This Love-Maroon 5
-Tumko tho yeh khayal aaya-Jagjit Singh
-oh Saathi re-mukaddar ka sikander
-Hooton se chollo tum-Jagjit Singh
-Jab koi Baat Bigad jaaye-Jurm

Momma

My mother has come to visit us, here in Paris. And it feels just great!!!!!!! It's wonderful, and I don't want her to leave!! Our house is very clean, everything is in place because we live like right ol' slobs and our room usually looks like something exploded in it. Whoever said that girls are neat & tidy?!
Other then that my mom is seriously cool, there are so many things about her I didn't know like her favourite serial is Prison Break and Lost. She has watched all Angelina Jolie's films, she's great at getting discounts coz she's super friendly and talks to the shop owners, she likes having races with me, she's asked me around 50 times if I or didi have a boyfriend, and when the answer was no she was actually disappointed "you're living in Paris!! you girls are sooo... uffff, and you know I don't have any problem with it".......she's like a guy friend.

We've moved to a new place, it's outside Paris, quite far, but transport is nearby , so it's ok, this is the third time we've moved this year, and I'm sure I can apply for Packers Inc now, I've become an expert at dragging heavy suitcases or boxes, down three flights of stairs (just kick and down it rolls) or taking it to the 5 th floor in a building with no lifts (invite a guy friend or catch someone on the road, and be sure to wear sexy clothes :p). I have managed to make my sis get rid of her useless stuff she has been carrying since 2001. I have one motto : If you're not using it, then to the bin in belongs. Anyways, the house is set with a lot of help from mummy. yeah!!!

What else is going on?? Many things, and I'm finally studying subjects I like, like development economics. It's just so great, I actually want to study, which has seriously never happened, at least not since I left school (history geography was my favourite then). Yeahhh

Right now all is clear on the French front

E-books

Site to read the Anne series online

http://www.tickledorange.com/LMM/Etexts.html

book lists
http://www.tickledorange.com/BookLog/index.html

Hatred and forgiveness

Disclaimer: A very deep post, so unlike me

So there was this one guy I hated for a long time, a really long time, and that's all I thought about, about how much I would like to slap him, hit him, wish him ill, and scream at him. But all it brought was anger, resentment, self loathing. lasted a fair few months and I finally realised that if I don't let it go it will eat me from inside, that he will actually win, that I shouldn't let him have so much power in my life. That I am strong and I am above him, I won't let it ruin me, because I could have carried on hating for a long time but all it would amount to was my own misery. That's when I decided I'll forgive him, even though he doesn't deserve it. Even if he's a worthless piece of shit. I have to forgive him, because the poor bastard doesn't know any better than hurting people who actually care about him. It's that realization that makes me feel lighter, and happier, the tightness I had in my chest was evaporating. No amount of counselling from my loved ones could make me feel better unless from within I had the courage to accept and forgive.

The mind has to accept what happened, it wasn't great but hey when you open your eyes and look around, so many people have been through the same thing if not worse. If they can get over it so can you. If you need to feel better, the mind has to release you.