I’m alive! So far…

I lost track of how many hiatuses I’ve taken in the last year but I figured I’d pop back in to wave around a flag to let people know that I’ve not collapsed in the library stacks, but am alive and well. So far…exams start this week so if my family and friends thought I was hard to get a hold of before, I’m about to pull a Where’s Waldo act on them and going to obscureness until August 16th.

I thought I should reply to comments from the last post, but I realized now that it’s been a month and there’s probably some statute of limitations on replying to blog comments [replies done]. Thankyouthankyouthankyou for all the encouraging words and silent support my peoples.

People, now is a good time in the world. We are all bonding and unifying together for one cause to better society. I’ve seen this happen with other people, but had yet to experience it for myself, but now that I have, it’s brought tears to my eyes.

Yes, when it comes to a single 25 year old girl, the world at large hastens to links pinky fingers and form a circle around her all in efforts to find her someone to complete her life.

Example 1:

I’m walking through the media centre at school - fancy term of place with lots of computers and tables where people chat, study, play PS3 and Wii and otherness. I see a friend I hadn’t seen around campus for awhile and wave and say hi since she seemed busy talking with another person. I’m about to pass by her when she catches my attention.

Her: “Hey!” she says jumping up from her seat.

Me: “Hey, how’s it going? Where have you been?” I say turning towards her.H

Her: “Good, been busy. Hey, are you looking for a man?”

Me: “….”

Her: “….”

Me: You actually want me to answer that !? “um…aren’t we all? Ahahahaha..ha…” Good God what the hell else am I supposed to say to that?!

Her: “so-and-so told me you were looking for a guy”

Me: so-and-so needs to have a talking to and possibly be knocked down “well…I’m not ‘looking’ I mean, I’m single right now, so I’m willing to meet people…but, um, yeah”

Her: “Ok because I know someone”

Me: OK…I know many someones too. “Oh?”

Her: “Yeah, he’s Hyderabadi [place in India where my parents are from] and so-and-so said that’s what you were looking for”

Me: so-and-so needs to have her lips sewn shut. Or stapled. “I never said that - I told her that’s where my parents from but I’m not looking for anyone specifically from that background”

Her: “Ohhh ok, well do you want to talk to him? He’s in India now but he lives here.”

Me: “I…uh, well I’m not looking to stay here after I’m done school…so…”

Her: “Ok well he’s on my Facebook if you want to check him out. He’s really nice. And he’s Hyderabadi. Nice guy. You should talk to him. I have to get to class, but let me know if you change your mind!”

Me: “Uh, yeah, I will, right. Sure thing. Bye.”

Example 2

On the phone with my mom.

Mom: “Your aunt has found a couple guys for you.”

Me: “Of course she has.”

Mom: “You should take a look”

Me: “What do you mean ‘take a look’?”

Mom: “She found them on Shaadi.com. I can send you the links”

Me: Why did we teach you how to turn on the computer?! “Gotta go study mom. Maybe some other time”

Mom: Should I email them to you? There’s also someone in Alberta that -”

Me: “My email isnt working right now”

Mom: “Ok I’ll wait until you get home in August then”

Me: Yay. “Ok mom, love you, bye”

______________________________________________________________

But then there are times I get reassurances. Like this email from my cousin in Florida:

” FIND A PERSON OF YOUR OWN CHOICE. As you know your parents and me are from India, and despite assuming than we know better than you folks, trust me, sometimes we do not know anything about this place!!! Its very scary and intimidating as well. Desi’s came over with the sole purpose to earn money, other than earning money they just don’t know a damn thing!”

When I read things like that it makes me laugh at the entire situation and I can go on with my day. What else can you do but laugh, right? I’m a strong believer in the word “faith”. Faith in anything makes people better for it. It strengthens convictions, makes you bolder and it defines love. I don’t know if I have faith in my abilities as a future lawyer (don’t tell my clients that), but I do have faith in God that so far I’m living it right enough that whatever happens I can make the best of it. And I’m content with that for now.

I’m reading everyone else’s blogs off and on but haven’t commented. But once exams are over everyone is getting a massive comment spam from me

Be well.

Write it on a Post-it and stick it to my head.

“Hi, you’ve reached AKA, I’m sorry I haven’t acknowledged your existence for the past month (insert parent/sibling/friend name), although I truly am missing you every chance I get and I desperately want to talk to you, but because I am either:
(a) at the library at all hours due to immense hair-pulling stress of law school,
(b) at home but trapped under a pile of textbooks and files (during which time I am trying to sleep)
(c) at the library trapped under a pile of textbooks and files, or
(d) have somehow managed to implode due to lack of life and load of work.
Please don’t hate me and leave a message and I will promise to try to get back to you.”

Beep.

There is no end to my genius.

So I went to this new bakery near my place with a friend a got a couple different types of rolls etc  because we were hungry after class.

My friend and I are sitting there and I bite into one, expecting to be thrown by the soft texture and cheesy flavour that everyone was raving about.

Then I chew. Then a puzzled look crosses my face. “These buns aren’t really that good huh? They kinda have a waxy taste to them” I say disappointedly.

My friend looks at me with a blank stare, looks down at the roll, and starts laughing hysterically. “That’s because you ate the wax paper wrapper with the roll”.

Mosaic Me

I took this idea from the lovely ‘liya

Rules:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.

1. DSC00273, 2. Not available, 3. 2006-11-23 at 17-35-33, 4. Not available, 5. noah wyle 08, 6. Water is life!, 7. Gondola at Dusk, Venice, Italy, 8. Miniature Cakes, 9. don’t worry be happy new year, 10. Never Lose Faith, 11. …you will say…I am a dreamer…, 12. Khadeeja Mosque

Self-reflection is so passe…do an online quiz!

Rather than spend my few free moments trying to figure out wheat kind of person I am and such other trifle matters, I figured I’d take the easier route and do a handy online quiz thingy. For some reason I like these things - makes me feel like I’m not such an oddball after all since they actually have a term for people like me: Analytical Thinker (fancy schmancy!). And what’s more is that this analysis seems to have nailed me down pretty well.

So I thought, why not pass on my new found source of knowledge so others can go forth and flourish in it!

Or you can do for the same reason I did - to procrastinate to the very extent possible before reaching for your Personal Property Transactions textbook (the class for Prof Lecter that I’m taking). But share your results too!

Take the test yourself.

Analytical Thinker

Analytical Thinkers are reserved, quiet persons. They like to get to the bottom of things - curiosity is one of their strongest motives. They want to know what holds the world together deep down inside. They do not really need much more to be happy because they are modest persons. Many mathematicians, philosophers and scientists belong to this type. Analytical Thinkers loath contradictions and illogicalness; with their sharp intellect, they quickly and comprehensively grasp patterns, principles and structures. They are particularly interested in the fundamental nature of things and theoretical findings; for them, it is not necessarily a question of translating these into practical acts or in sharing their considerations with others. Analytical Thinkers like to work alone; their ability to concentrate is more marked than that of all other personality types. They are open for and interested in new information.

Analytical Thinkers have little interest in everyday concerns - they are always a little like an “absent-minded professor” whose home and workplace are chaotic and who only concerns himself with banalities such as bodily needs when it becomes absolutely unavoidable. The acknowledgement of their work by others does not play a great role for them; in general,they are quite independent of social relationships and very self-reliant. Analytical Thinkers therefore often give others the impression that they are arrogant or snobby - especially because they do not hesitate to speak their mind with their often harsh (even if justified) criticism and their imperturbable self-confidence. Incompetent contemporaries do not have it easy with them. But whoever succeeds in winning their respect and interest has a witty and very intelligent person to talk to. A partner who amazes one with his excellent powers of observation and his very dry humour.

It takes some time before Analytical Thinkers make friends, but then they are mostly friends for life. They only need very few people around them. Their most important ability is to be a match for them and thus give them inspiration. Constant social obligations quickly get on their nerves; they need a lot of time alone and often withdraw from others. Their partner must respect this and understand that this is not due to the lack of affection. Once they have decided in favour of a person, Analytical Thinkers are loyal and reliable partners. However, one cannot expect romance and effusive expressions of feelings from them and they will definitely forget their wedding anniversary. But they are always up to a night spent with stimulating discussions and a good glass of wine!

Silence of the Law Students

As I type this I am trembling.

Cold sweat has broken out and my joints are stiff with fear that if I move I might just actually end up running until I get back to Canada (a feat in itself which would be miraculous considering the puddle of water called the Pacific Ocean in my way).

I’ve just had class with the Hannibal Lecter of law professors.

Everything from the accent, the Anthony Hopkins-esque looks and icy exterior with slow, deliberate, and methodical speech.

Along with lectures we have mandatory tutorials where the general class is broken up into small groups and we answer questions and discuss material with the professor or TA. He’s the type that sits back in his seat, arms folded across our chest and stares at each of us as if mentally boring the word “FAILURE” onto our foreheads.

Then he calls us out. One by one. With carefully crafted questions to pinpoint how extremely clueless we are.

And somehow he has everyone’s name memorized from one glance at the attendance. No one memorizes my name on the first go. It’s the one thing that has caused all teachers to flub over as soon as they see my name at the top of the attendance list. This man used it as easily as if he had named me.

I’d like to tell you that he doesn’t have that pesky cannibalism habit. But then again there have been known disappearances of overly-frightened law students in the past.

That’s all I’m saying.

You’re Invited…

So…I’m getting married.

I know - a sudden announcement out of left field right? I never thought I’d be the type, but I’m super excited and nervous! Considering my last post I didn’t think this would happen so fast, but I guess when the time is right everything falls into place!

We’ve narrowed down the venue to two different banquet halls.  Made up the guest list. Decided on the colour scheme, the decorator, the photographer, hair and makeup person. We’re working on finding the caterers and will have to book hotels for our out-of-town guests very soon. I may be going to India to do the shopping with my mom in December of this year.  So many things to do and barely any time! I’m lucky that my parents have worked out all these details beforehand though because now it can all work out as planned.

The date? Some time next summer once I’m home after completing my degree.

Oh, the groom? Yet to be decided.

Minor details, people. Minor details.

It’s 4am and I’m awake.

“You know, of all the places I’ve been - and I’ve been to a fair share of them - I’m having a bloody hard time finding somewhere that’s better than Australia” - 60-something Australian passenger on my flight back to Australia from Canada.

I couldn’t help but laugh when I overheard that because I thought the same thing, except replace Australia with Canada. In the end I suppose you just can’t help love your home more than anywhere else.

I got back to Australia after about 4 weeks home just yesterday. The trip was…interesting. As I expected my parents (i.e. my mom) pounced on my the moment I got home with the marriage subject. No wait - they waited about 2 hours, after I had eaten dinner.

Lots of things happened but let’s just say that after a week I was calling the airlines to try and change my return flight about 5 days up from what it was. Didn’t happen.

Overall it was a bittersweet trip home. I got to see my good friends, and see bits of their new lives - Ruby and her new house, bridal showers for two close friends, baby showers, meeting someone’s new finacee. It was bitter because I won’t get to be a part of the actual events like the weddings and the baby (I tried bribing the kid to come out early…obviously not effective enough).

All I can do is release a loud, feel-sorry-for-me sort of sigh and shrug my shoulders and bite down on my lip so I won’t turn into a sobbing mess.

As I muster the energy to be optimistic I’m trying to tell myself that I’ll be alright - I have exactly one year left in school which is the biggest thorn my paw right now and then I’ll be home for good and amongst the people I love most.

But there’s also this sort of sense of dissatisfaction with the next couple years. Like a distant feel that I want to accomplish something more than just a law degree, but the frustrating thing is that I don’t yet know what it is.  It’s far from something humdrum like taking up knitting (no offence to my knitter friends - I’d be afraid to cross you with a set of knitting needles in hand) but maybe not so far-fetched as wanting to move to another country (other than the fact that my parents would conduct a safari expedition to track me down if I so chose to do so).

It’s unsettling.

Uselessness

Two weeks into my vacation and I think I want to go back to school…
Going nuts being at home and having nothing to do (my stupid work doesn’t have any shifts to give me so no work this holiday…boo). And when I’m at home it gives my mom more opportunities to talk about marriage and marriage related insanities. And when you have no work to go to or to do, there’s nothing to get you out of the house.

It’s a vicious cycle.

Anyone need help with anything, just give me a holler.

Speak Good and Help Feed Peoples

I got this link from another blog and thought I’d pass it on. I love word games (Scrabble Queen…self-proclaimed) and this site helps you improve your vocabulary while donating rice to the UN World Food Program.

So while you’re sitting around at your desk at work, school etc wondering how to waste time until lunch, why not help a person somewhere else in the world also gain a meal?

They even give you a warning: “This game may make you smarter. It may improve your speaking, writing, thinking, grades, job performance…”

How can you lose?