I'm in a place called Ahmadabad right now, it's my HQ. So far I've visited Delhi, and haven't quite made it on a tour of this cozy city. I'm staying with someone who got really sick after a while of eating Indian food, so I haven't been able to experiment much by my self.
I've made a sweet and sour eggplant/onion/garlic/ginger/Fuji apple (the same ones we get in Canada)/Alphonso Mango stirfry that I've eaten for the last couple of days. I got take out Veggie Chow Mein that was amazing, it was from a vegetarian restaurant so I have no idea what they were using for the gravy. It tasted authentic enough. Spaghetti noodles, cilantro, chopped cabbage, carrot, soooo much garlic, and enough sauce that it was like a chow mein soup.
I also went to McDonald's, had a McVeggie burger that was really tasty, processed cheese over a battered samosa patty, mayonaise and lettuce...... first time I've eaten there in a really long time. I have had Subway too, but that's no fun because it's the same as from home.
People speak Gujurati and Hindi here. The traffic is crazy, no one pays attention to right of way, it's everyone for themselves. I have to say, as a pedestrian trying to get accross the street, you have to do just hope that you're not going to get hit.
There are some people from Nepal, but because I am very pale, I stick out.
Friday, 8 June 2007
June 4th Part III /Now
The following is from an email I wrote to Russell Heyman of BCIT:
I had a little trouble getting picked up at the airport last night, but it had a happy ending. Made me realize just how vulnerable I am out here, as I'm writing this I have a smile on my face.
I arrived in AMD last night, and no one was there to pick me up. I was alone, with nothing smaller than a 100 Rupee note, and an out of service pay phone. No one who was behind a counter could speak English. The guard (with a gun) kept watching me go in and out of the airport, cruise the drivers to see if someone had my name on a sign. I did this several times.
This is where luck came in. A nice gentleman asked me if I needed any help... you know, I was pretty mad looking by this point. Finally, after about half an hour of watching me do this, he asked me again, and he called Poi in Delhi for me. I felt a lot better after that.
Ok... happy ending: So it turn out that Mr. Menoge was there the whole time. He was waiting at the gate, and he totally missed me when I got in. So yeah, I'm glad it worked out. I'm going to talk to Mr. Rohit as soon as he gets into the city, so I'll ask him if I can get set up with a mobile.
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So I'm staying with Erin, and it's fun. Nice to be able to talk to a girl, she's been here for 5 weeks. Turns out, we used to hang out at the same bars in Vancouver. A lot of the time, we get home from Xplora and hit the sack. It's really hot here. I've been watching a lot of TV, and I picked up an optical mouse, I'm working on my portfolio for want of anything else to work on.
I went to get ice cream last night with Erin, she's kinda stressed out right now. And I got to see an Elephant yesterday. Briefly from the autorickshaw.
I'm writing from Erin's system admin class. We're watching Monster's Inc. So far, I'm having a great time.
I had a little trouble getting picked up at the airport last night, but it had a happy ending. Made me realize just how vulnerable I am out here, as I'm writing this I have a smile on my face.
I arrived in AMD last night, and no one was there to pick me up. I was alone, with nothing smaller than a 100 Rupee note, and an out of service pay phone. No one who was behind a counter could speak English. The guard (with a gun) kept watching me go in and out of the airport, cruise the drivers to see if someone had my name on a sign. I did this several times.
This is where luck came in. A nice gentleman asked me if I needed any help... you know, I was pretty mad looking by this point. Finally, after about half an hour of watching me do this, he asked me again, and he called Poi in Delhi for me. I felt a lot better after that.
Ok... happy ending: So it turn out that Mr. Menoge was there the whole time. He was waiting at the gate, and he totally missed me when I got in. So yeah, I'm glad it worked out. I'm going to talk to Mr. Rohit as soon as he gets into the city, so I'll ask him if I can get set up with a mobile.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So I'm staying with Erin, and it's fun. Nice to be able to talk to a girl, she's been here for 5 weeks. Turns out, we used to hang out at the same bars in Vancouver. A lot of the time, we get home from Xplora and hit the sack. It's really hot here. I've been watching a lot of TV, and I picked up an optical mouse, I'm working on my portfolio for want of anything else to work on.
I went to get ice cream last night with Erin, she's kinda stressed out right now. And I got to see an Elephant yesterday. Briefly from the autorickshaw.
I'm writing from Erin's system admin class. We're watching Monster's Inc. So far, I'm having a great time.
June 4th Part II
This flight, I had a great sleep. Got to practice my French on one of my neighbors, and the other guy was doctor. He got called off to help a toddler who hit her head in a fall later on in the flight. I slept through that. I woke up to some super good Indian food.
Landed in Delhi, and Poi was there to pick me up. I went over to his place, woke up Jessica. It was cool to see Poi, he's darker and has lost some weight. He's living with a Nepalese guy, and the Landlord to his building is going to get him to house sit.
I got to go to the Xplora School, we walked there. I saw cows and dogs on the street. Also there are venders, and rickshaw drivers. It was a good first day. Got to meet Miss Priddy, and Jessica wanted McDonald's. And then I also got to go over the entire course of Project Portfolio: 1,2,3. And then Jessica gave me her books.
And then I left Delhi, and flew to Ahmadabad.
Landed in Delhi, and Poi was there to pick me up. I went over to his place, woke up Jessica. It was cool to see Poi, he's darker and has lost some weight. He's living with a Nepalese guy, and the Landlord to his building is going to get him to house sit.
I got to go to the Xplora School, we walked there. I saw cows and dogs on the street. Also there are venders, and rickshaw drivers. It was a good first day. Got to meet Miss Priddy, and Jessica wanted McDonald's. And then I also got to go over the entire course of Project Portfolio: 1,2,3. And then Jessica gave me her books.
And then I left Delhi, and flew to Ahmadabad.
June 4th Part I
On my way to Heathrow, I barely slept. I had a chance to watch Arthur and the Invisibles, and The Last King of Scottland. I enjoyed both of them, guess which of those has Madonna in it? Then, a four hour stay in London.
I transferred perfectly, unfortunately, I didn't eat anything on my ride over the pond so I had to jettison some snacks to make room for a giant black purse. I bought water, Smirnoff, and Johnny Walker Red. I also got the latest issue of NME, which has a totally nude cover of Beth Ditto, the lovely plump singer of The Gossip. I got into an awesome conversation with the clerk about her.
I had the pleasure of seeing the Gossip for $3 at Under the Volcano, a festival for arts and activism. Some of you might have been disappointed that it didn't happen last year, but it's going strong this summer. Beth Ditto is jaw-dropping, voice, body, songs. This is what I was telling the clerk, and his reply was "Eck, how many stone is that?"
I didn't care for the food in the airport. I thought that I played it safe, had a panini with chicken, avocado, tomato. Ok, When I see avocado on the menu, I assume that the cook actually has avocados in the kitchen. I was not prepared for the pasty off yellow sludge that was artfully squished between the sliced soy chicken and the "focaccia," a white bread with speckles of burnt herbs. The tomato was real.
And then I was off to India.
I transferred perfectly, unfortunately, I didn't eat anything on my ride over the pond so I had to jettison some snacks to make room for a giant black purse. I bought water, Smirnoff, and Johnny Walker Red. I also got the latest issue of NME, which has a totally nude cover of Beth Ditto, the lovely plump singer of The Gossip. I got into an awesome conversation with the clerk about her.
I had the pleasure of seeing the Gossip for $3 at Under the Volcano, a festival for arts and activism. Some of you might have been disappointed that it didn't happen last year, but it's going strong this summer. Beth Ditto is jaw-dropping, voice, body, songs. This is what I was telling the clerk, and his reply was "Eck, how many stone is that?"
I didn't care for the food in the airport. I thought that I played it safe, had a panini with chicken, avocado, tomato. Ok, When I see avocado on the menu, I assume that the cook actually has avocados in the kitchen. I was not prepared for the pasty off yellow sludge that was artfully squished between the sliced soy chicken and the "focaccia," a white bread with speckles of burnt herbs. The tomato was real.
And then I was off to India.
Monday, 14 May 2007
Mother's Day Without Mom (or Dad)
I'm from a big family. A family that is so big that I really don't even know the names of half of the members. My Great Grandmother, I called her Popo (sounds more like Paw Paw, only with a Cantonese accent that I can't duplicate anymore), and she had thirteen children. She wasn't even five feet tall, and she lived to be in her late nineties. I remember eating Christmas dinner with the family, there wasn't any room to play hide and seek. These days, my generation's getting ready to have children, so I know that there are well over a hundred direct descendants.
My branch keeps it simple for Mother's day, grandparents, the uncles and aunts, the kids (that's me!) and our partners. We were seventeen last night, split between the "adult" and "kid" tables. My aunt bought steak enough for me, my sister, and her boyfriend, because mom and dad are in Mexico right now for my cousin's wedding. I hate ALL potato salad that is made with mayonnaise, except for my grandma's. I had seconds of that. And Caesar salad with Parmegiano Regiano cheese, and yam fries.
It was a treat to have steak. I gave my grandmother a screen print that I made of her in college called Grammie's a Looker. Of course, she loved it, because I made it and it's about her. I also had the chance to give a cousin of mine a piece that I made with her help; it's this Leather book that has her wandering around a tree, through five seasons. Personally, I think that it's more good concept than good art, but my family had never seen it before so everyone got a hoot out of it. Mom, if you're reading this, I will make you something for when you get back so that you don't feel left out.
And later, full of Steak and Potatoes and Mayonnaise, I went off to Sanctuary. Imagine a bar sparsely filled with goths, only now the young ones are emo, and then add music with lots of bass. It was nice, but kinda lonely without Alicia. I liked it well enough, but I didn't even spend ten dollars, and was out the door again trying to get home. I don't know, I started feeling like I wanted home-now.
When I caught the bus, there was a security guard standing right by the driver. Big guy, and every time we stopped, he would stop people from getting on the bus if they didn't have $2.25. I was kinda angry at that, but whatever, right? Until we got to Hastings and Commercial, and he tried to stop a middle aged woman. I got up out of my chair and covered her, I mean it's Mother's day. I dedicated that to you, Mom.
PS: Real gift when you get back.
My branch keeps it simple for Mother's day, grandparents, the uncles and aunts, the kids (that's me!) and our partners. We were seventeen last night, split between the "adult" and "kid" tables. My aunt bought steak enough for me, my sister, and her boyfriend, because mom and dad are in Mexico right now for my cousin's wedding. I hate ALL potato salad that is made with mayonnaise, except for my grandma's. I had seconds of that. And Caesar salad with Parmegiano Regiano cheese, and yam fries.
It was a treat to have steak. I gave my grandmother a screen print that I made of her in college called Grammie's a Looker. Of course, she loved it, because I made it and it's about her. I also had the chance to give a cousin of mine a piece that I made with her help; it's this Leather book that has her wandering around a tree, through five seasons. Personally, I think that it's more good concept than good art, but my family had never seen it before so everyone got a hoot out of it. Mom, if you're reading this, I will make you something for when you get back so that you don't feel left out.
And later, full of Steak and Potatoes and Mayonnaise, I went off to Sanctuary. Imagine a bar sparsely filled with goths, only now the young ones are emo, and then add music with lots of bass. It was nice, but kinda lonely without Alicia. I liked it well enough, but I didn't even spend ten dollars, and was out the door again trying to get home. I don't know, I started feeling like I wanted home-now.
When I caught the bus, there was a security guard standing right by the driver. Big guy, and every time we stopped, he would stop people from getting on the bus if they didn't have $2.25. I was kinda angry at that, but whatever, right? Until we got to Hastings and Commercial, and he tried to stop a middle aged woman. I got up out of my chair and covered her, I mean it's Mother's day. I dedicated that to you, Mom.
PS: Real gift when you get back.
Sunday, 6 May 2007
Garage Sale
I'm getting rid of my vanity and matching side table, my art table, my old computer, my new bike, my clothes, my tall chest of drawers that's really Tracey's. It's going to be weird coming back from Pune to unfamiliar things. I need this though, spent too much time thinking about downsizing not to go a little nuts. And why not, I don't actually need all of this stuff. I can breath a sigh of relief when all of my stuff is finally gone. Or I am gone from my stuff.
See, the night I decided to move to India, I had this dream: I'm walking around in this big empty loft apartment. I'm navigating through cluttered side tables, they are full of things that are supposed to have meaning for me. And I'm talking to people I love, I think I spotted Alicia and Rosy, and I can't touch them. I reach for them but they move too quickly. Weird. So I try to pick up something from the table and magically, it's wrapped in white wrapping, and physically shuffled away from me. OK, I get it already! India is far from the things I love.
See, the night I decided to move to India, I had this dream: I'm walking around in this big empty loft apartment. I'm navigating through cluttered side tables, they are full of things that are supposed to have meaning for me. And I'm talking to people I love, I think I spotted Alicia and Rosy, and I can't touch them. I reach for them but they move too quickly. Weird. So I try to pick up something from the table and magically, it's wrapped in white wrapping, and physically shuffled away from me. OK, I get it already! India is far from the things I love.
Tuesday, 1 May 2007
OK, so I have a date, maybe
I have received word that I'm supposed to leave my motherland for India on the 20th of May, dates are subject to change. I talked to my BCIT Digital Animation Admin yesterday, and they are hoping that I'll find out asap if I have to go down sooner.
And there's a city change. I'm going to Pune instead of Delhi. Pune, Pune everywhere...
In other news, I have erased all questionable tracks of yours truly from the interweb. One misadventure led me to calling the hospital worker's union, because when I googled my name, well, lets just say that it could have put me in jail in a foreign country.
Hugs and kisses!
And there's a city change. I'm going to Pune instead of Delhi. Pune, Pune everywhere...
In other news, I have erased all questionable tracks of yours truly from the interweb. One misadventure led me to calling the hospital worker's union, because when I googled my name, well, lets just say that it could have put me in jail in a foreign country.
Hugs and kisses!
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