Aaj phir jeene ki tamanna hai..bas-shirf jeene ki tamanna hai!
New experiences, new people, new places. One thing is unchanged-well several-the essence of being in my beloved Vadodara. I love this city!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0mEsdr51Ow
I hope I see the famous garba ground and find myself amidst melodious tunes to sweep the night away in the near future. aka Navaratri
Today, I have been having a funny feeling ever since this afternoon. I do not know if it is form that mcspicy paneer wrap from McDonald or not (I love paneer, but that was just too spicy for my taste buds). Yes, I had McDonald in India. I had time to pass and I just happened to be in front of it. Hey-it is better than fainting. I had it last in 2005! My grandma and I sat outside the shopping complex eating ice cream. One of those precious memories I have of her. First time that I came to India and not go to her house in the first week.
A short recollection from my last trip to India. It was one of the highlights:
The night had just settled into the Indian clock. It was the second night in India. First night being in my grandparents' house without my grandma. It felt surreal. I was nostalgic. I felt her presence even after her last rites. I saw her in every corner. I felt her hand on my shoulders like she was looking over me. I walked into the kitchen, and memories flashed back of her eating there with me. It was a beautiful feeling to have her with me in spirit. I knew she was there. Well, that night, being monsoon, I worried I would catch Malaria. On top of being jet legged, I kept praying no one would get sick. Just then, I heard and saw my grandma standing by the mosquito netted door reassuring me that I will be fine.Indeed, I was fine, and I was wide awake when that happened.
I finally arrived at the slum area after morning/afternoon at the office and small meal at McDonald. Now I know my way. Truly something being there amongst the community. I highly respect such NGOs and the people who run them. It was interesting and quite ironic to see IKEA furniture cataloge's pages be used for packing meds. The work they have done is astonishing. Simple ideas, a lot of hard work, and commitment towards progression in society- the mantra. In many places, India is not short in money or resources; but rather, it is the distribution of resources that is skewed. The money from taxes that should be allotted to certain funds ends up being largely cut before reaching the people who rightly deserve the funding. Govt. run schools lack a lot of the fundamental elements of quality education. Similarly, it applies to other sectors of society. I learned that India has about 3 million NGOs. That is approximately 1 NGO for 400 people. Again, it is all about distribution of resources. One thing I loved about the slum area was the love amongst the residents. Hindu, Muslim, Gujarati, Maharashtrian, or from whichever corner of India they migrated from, they had unity amongst them. Nice to see. I found myself switching from Gujarati to Hindi to English! People who know English try to talk to me in English, but I prefer using Gujarati or Hindi if that is someone's original tongue.
I do feel odd. I hope I don't get what is going around. Every other person seems to have Typhoid (but I am securely vaccinated against it thanks to my ice filled mini insulated cup to store the vaccine so I can finish my dose at JFK airport!). At least I finished it, better than no vaccination against it. The other ailments that are really common are Chikengunya, Malaria (no surprise there). Despite measures, I have all variety of bugs and insects that land on me, but I am in India. Subh Ratri :)
Free your mind of tension and go about in your chosen path. Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.
New experiences, new people, new places. One thing is unchanged-well several-the essence of being in my beloved Vadodara. I love this city!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0mEsdr51Ow
I hope I see the famous garba ground and find myself amidst melodious tunes to sweep the night away in the near future. aka Navaratri
Today, I have been having a funny feeling ever since this afternoon. I do not know if it is form that mcspicy paneer wrap from McDonald or not (I love paneer, but that was just too spicy for my taste buds). Yes, I had McDonald in India. I had time to pass and I just happened to be in front of it. Hey-it is better than fainting. I had it last in 2005! My grandma and I sat outside the shopping complex eating ice cream. One of those precious memories I have of her. First time that I came to India and not go to her house in the first week.
A short recollection from my last trip to India. It was one of the highlights:
The night had just settled into the Indian clock. It was the second night in India. First night being in my grandparents' house without my grandma. It felt surreal. I was nostalgic. I felt her presence even after her last rites. I saw her in every corner. I felt her hand on my shoulders like she was looking over me. I walked into the kitchen, and memories flashed back of her eating there with me. It was a beautiful feeling to have her with me in spirit. I knew she was there. Well, that night, being monsoon, I worried I would catch Malaria. On top of being jet legged, I kept praying no one would get sick. Just then, I heard and saw my grandma standing by the mosquito netted door reassuring me that I will be fine.Indeed, I was fine, and I was wide awake when that happened.
I finally arrived at the slum area after morning/afternoon at the office and small meal at McDonald. Now I know my way. Truly something being there amongst the community. I highly respect such NGOs and the people who run them. It was interesting and quite ironic to see IKEA furniture cataloge's pages be used for packing meds. The work they have done is astonishing. Simple ideas, a lot of hard work, and commitment towards progression in society- the mantra. In many places, India is not short in money or resources; but rather, it is the distribution of resources that is skewed. The money from taxes that should be allotted to certain funds ends up being largely cut before reaching the people who rightly deserve the funding. Govt. run schools lack a lot of the fundamental elements of quality education. Similarly, it applies to other sectors of society. I learned that India has about 3 million NGOs. That is approximately 1 NGO for 400 people. Again, it is all about distribution of resources. One thing I loved about the slum area was the love amongst the residents. Hindu, Muslim, Gujarati, Maharashtrian, or from whichever corner of India they migrated from, they had unity amongst them. Nice to see. I found myself switching from Gujarati to Hindi to English! People who know English try to talk to me in English, but I prefer using Gujarati or Hindi if that is someone's original tongue.
I do feel odd. I hope I don't get what is going around. Every other person seems to have Typhoid (but I am securely vaccinated against it thanks to my ice filled mini insulated cup to store the vaccine so I can finish my dose at JFK airport!). At least I finished it, better than no vaccination against it. The other ailments that are really common are Chikengunya, Malaria (no surprise there). Despite measures, I have all variety of bugs and insects that land on me, but I am in India. Subh Ratri :)
Free your mind of tension and go about in your chosen path. Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder.
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