Archive for the ‘holidays’ Category

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Listen Up

Thursday, December 13th, 2007

How did you spend International Human Rights Day (10 Dec)?

I was at the Human Rights Concert here in Shillong. The whole reason I’d gone was to see a sort-of famous singer, Lou Majaw, who is well-known for both his Bob Dylan covers as well as his hot pants.

Sadly, though, Monday was a bit cold…and the concert started nearly 45 minutes late. After about four hours of sitting in the FREEEEEEZING cold, I called it a night before Mr. Majaw even made it on stage for his performance. (I wonder if it was too cold for his hot pants?)

The performances ranged from not-so-great to really good (but, yes, they were all performing for a good cause, so I shouldn’t judge…yada, yada, yada).

I filmed a few bits of the performances…I have a feeling you might recognize a few of the songs from the night, too…

10 points for the most number recognized!

Posted in *India, holidays, media | 2 Comments »

Birthday Abroad

Saturday, December 8th, 2007

birthday

birthday lunch

When I studied abroad, I was insanely jealous of my fellow Americans who had early-year birthdays and got to celebrate in Oz. I thought of making up an “Australia birthday” just to get one myself.

But as you might recall, when the idea of spending my birthday away was actually creeping near, I was getting a bit sad. It’s not that I’ve had amazing birthdays back home. In fact after years of disappointing (and even a couple horrible/tragic) birthdays, I started planning my own birthday get togethers (which works out quite well…you always get your favorite kind of cake then).

Being abroad, though, I didn’t plan anything and just figured I’d have a day like any other. When the big day came, though…well, I have to say it was a pretty darn fabulous day. Right at midnight four of us had a glass of the banana wine from the local wine festival (and I got a few fab presents, too!). After a good night’s sleep, I came to the office for a round of “happy birthdays” as everyone made a point to stop by and say so.

Then for lunch, the girls had made a great big meal (all veg, of course). For dinner, we went to the Team Leader’s house and had another homemade meal (her nieces, too, remembered to make it all veg) while listening to the soothing sounds of Sean Kingston, No Doubt, and Nelly Furtado (her nieces, too, requested I bring my computer for music). My seat at the dinner table was pretty fab, too. And really made me feel a bit like being at home; it gave me a full view of the family calendar for 2008, which starts off with a picture of St. Louis and the Arch.

And even though my ever-so-thoughtful sis knew to send birthday wishes on my big day, I of course got the birthday call from my parents the next day. If you know the folks, this is no big surprise. They hardly remember to call before midnight on my birthday when I’m in Cali…expecting them to remember it AND the time change when I’m in India, well, that’s just too much. I attribute it to the fact that there’s not that whole painful-birth memory to etch the day in their minds. Still, they remembered to call when it was December 5th in Missouri.

When I finally made it to onto the Internet on that next day, I got to get lots of the happy-birthday e-mails and posts, too.

Yeah…fab day in all.

birthday meal

calendar

And if you’d like to see them making me birthday roti…

Posted in *India, away from America, food/beverage, holidays, media | 2 Comments »

AID-ing the Day

Tuesday, December 4th, 2007

kids on World AIDS Day

fliers at World AIDS Day

Growing up in the US, we kids always knew when a random holiday or declared observation day was: Grandparents’ Day meant a one-day project in art class, Earth Day meant a tree wrapped in paper towels to plant back home, and World AIDS Day meant a red ribbon given in home room.

But as an adult, we really know nothing (or is it just me?). However, now in India and volunteering with an NGO and now with a weekly article on development in the state newspaper, I’m knowing lots more of those days.

Saturday was World AIDS Day. The NGOs (Impulse included) organized a bike rally to raise awareness. Because, you know, nothing says learn about AIDS like a bunch of dudes riding their motorcycles. But sarcasm aside, it seemed to bring quite a few people out to the streets to see what all the ruckus was. And lots of people got information on HIV/AIDS.

Watching the bikers, though, I felt a bit like I was in America…except for the fact there were no Harleys. Lots of American brand clothing and helmets (that I’m pretty sure were “purchased” through a point program of Marlboro cigarettes).

Thought you might enjoy the pics, though…

bike rally

bikers
I don’t know if you can see the Nike logo on the gold hoodie or the Marlboro logo on the helmet…but they’re there!
Oh, and random note, you wouldn’t see this in the nearby state…two men riding on a bike together is illegal…can you guess why?

Posted in *India, clothing, holidays, transportation | 7 Comments »

So Flippin’ Homesick and Annoyed

Thursday, November 22nd, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ugh. What am I doing on my favorite holiday? Sitting in a smokey Internet cafe that’s playing 80s rock. NOT preparing a turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, and apple pie…what I love doing and have been doing (or helping do) every Thanksgiving since I was like 5. I mean, I even got to do it when I was stuck in LA and was sharing it with others than my own family. Why am I still not doing it here, then, you ask? Well, for starters, they don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here. Obviously. But I can’t even spread my own holiday cheer as
1) they don’t have turkeys
2) they don’t have ovens
So making anything but mashed potatoes and gravy is impossible.

But being out of America for Thanksgiving isn’t the only thing that’s making me miss the good ol’ US of A. No. I also know I’m going to be missing my birthday and Christmas, both days of which are meant to be spent with friends and family (and if you’re like me and plan them right, you can even spend half the day with the special people of the East Coast or Midwest and the other half with the wonderful people of LA). Don’t get me wrong. I’ve made friends here, and the others at the NGO have been wonderful about opening up their homes and families to me. But, you know, it’s just not the same. As much as I hate winter, I love this time of year in the US because of the time with my close friends and family.

Besides missing my friends and family, though, I’m also missing my computer discs, which, too, are in Missouri. Somewhere in the 11 boxes of stuff I shipped to my parents’ house are the discs that I need to keep my computer from committing suicide.

Then, there’s also the fact that I don’t feel much like a traveler anymore. Not only am I seeing much less of this area than I did of others, but with my savings quickly dwindling, I don’t know if I’ll be able to stay on the road for the last two months of my planned year away, so I don’t have that feeling of looking forward to the next place that had been propelling me forward when I’d get homesick or lonely before.

And couple all of this with Missouri football, and I could literally cry. Honestly. When I was checking the scores/BCS standings/AP rankings after last weekend’s games I got completely misty eyed. Four months ago, who the eff thought Missouri and “BCS title game” would be breathed in the same sentence? But after last week’s upsets, it’s a definite possibility. And missing the big game against kansas this weekend, is literally killing me. I mean, I can’t even watch the game anywhere here, and the Internet cafe doesn’t open until probably the third or fourth quarter, so not even Gametracker is an option. Grr!!!

And honestly, what could be better than playing in the BCS title game? Keeping kansas out, of course. And is it bad that I’ve even considered not keeping my “you can’t live off your parents’ money” savings (what should be my first couple of months’ rent and living money) and spending it on tickets to New Orleans and a game ticket if the Tigers were to play on Jan. 7? Probably, huh?

So, yeah, I’m definitely hoping to get/expecting calls/text messages sent from Arrowhead Stadium (or your living rooms if you’re out of MO), with updates on Saturday night/Sunday morning.

Sigh.
Missouri football

Posted in *India, away from America, holidays, sports | 9 Comments »

Diwali Part Dos

Wednesday, November 14th, 2007

OK, so I have to admit, I didn’t take a huge variety of pictures of the festival…but how about a video? It’s short (about 15 seconds) and unedited, but it can give you a pretty good feel of the decorations at Police Bazaar that night. (And I promise lots of pics of later festivals!)

BUT…here’s a picture of the pizza I had that night. Although it’s quite unlike any pizza I’ve had before (and not just in America, either) — think lots of crust and not a lot of sauce — it’s the closest I’ve come to at-a-restaurant Western food since I’ve been in India. Now THAT is something to celebrate!

pizza

Posted in *India, food/beverage, holidays, religion | 6 Comments »

Happy Holidays from the Hindus

Tuesday, November 13th, 2007

Diwali Festival

One thing I’ve quickly learned about Shillong is that there is a festival, celebration, or holiday just about every week. This is pretty much due to the city’s multi-cultural/ethnic/religious backdrop.

Last week was the Diwali Festival. And it’s a festival that does not happen quietly. For three nights, there was really no chance of getting much sleep as revelers blasted not only fireworks, but also firecrackers, long into the night.

On the night with the loudest firecrackers, I took off from the office early and headed into the center of the city to see what all the festivities were about. Normally a bit dark, there was no darkness this time. Shops were strewn with strands of light, glowing with clay-pot lanterns, and adorned with trees and flowers. After snapping a few pictures, I somehow ended up in a bookstore (I’m a bookworm, I know) and wound up talking to the owner for quite a while. When I left, I asked him if he would be heading out to celebrate or watch the festivities going on right outside his door. He replied, “No. This is not our holiday. This is the Hindus from Mumbai celebrating. We, we’re more like the US and China. We don’t celebrate this.”

The owner was Khasi, the main tribe here in Shillong, which means he’s most likely Christian. Although, I knew there were many differences in the people here in Shillong, I guess I kind of assumed they were a bit more integrated…I mean in the US, we use every other country’s holiday as an excuse to celebrate (Cinco de Mayo? Margaritas! St. Patricks’ Day? Green beer! Mardi Gras? Whatever’s cheap!) or sell our goods. And you know, in the US, pretty much everyone does something for Christmas…I found out this past year, that it’s one of the most popular vacation times for Jewish families. So hearing his comment has made me start looking a bit more closely at the society here.

Just how much like the US is it? Well…you’ll just have to wait for a few more posts, and then you can judge for yourself.

Posted in *India, holidays, religion | 4 Comments »

That Would Have Been Scary!

Friday, November 2nd, 2007

Halloween 2003

My second full day in Shillong — my home in India for the next three months — nearly came and went without my realizing what day it was. Without the witch and pumpkin window clings or the aisles and aisles of candy, I’d nearly forgotten it was Halloween. Luckily, though, the complete lack of October 31st paraphenalia meant that there was no “sexy nurse” to remind me why I dislike the holiday so much.

But even though Halloween is my least favorite holiday, I have to say it was a bit spooky not having any signs of our country’s most-debated school celebration around, and as I’ve been reminded a few times lately, Americans (and Canadians) must have the only devil-worshippers; we’re the only places that really celebrate said occassion (apparently Day of the Dead isn’t big in Asia, either). So when my lack of love for Whoreloween comes up, foreigners are usually pretty surprised. “But didn’t you send me a picture of you and your friends on Halloween?” enquired Aussie Alex. Uh, no, Alex, that picture was the centerpiece of one of the infamous C by the Sea Christmas/Hannukah cards. Clearly. (If you open the above picture link, imagine getting this as part of one of those Sam’s Club photo cards with the message, “Merry Christmas. Seriously.”)

I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’ve celebrated Halloween — see above photo of me and some fellow first-year teachers all excited at a Halloween celebration — but I just really could do without it. And nearly did this week. To which the saddest part of my near-miss was realizing I’d almost forgotten to ring in the next season with the Mariah Carey “Merry Christmas” CD as I’ve done since my first Halloween at college. Luckily, though, I caught on just in time. Whew.

Posted in *India, away from America, holidays, media | 2 Comments »

The 4th Day of July

Thursday, July 5th, 2007

I was definitely surprised that Seoul didn’t have a big 4th of July celebration. No, not because I think every place should celebrate it…but there were a gazillion advertisements I saw around the city for places celebrating Canada Day (July 1). And with all the military families and American teachers here, I was sure there would be something. One bar that served cupcakes with sparklers? A little fireworks display at the military base that other Yanks could come to? Or an expat group that grilled steaks at a park? If there was, I couldn’t find it…

Although I had a good day, come nightfall, it was a little sad. So far I’ve made some friends throughout this journey, but I didn’t think about how busy I’d been in Seoul, until I realized I haven’t made any American friends here; this was the first holiday I could recall ever spending totally alone. And the knife-turn of it all is that the 4th is one of my favorite holidays, coming in right after Thanksgiving (geez…how American am I that I only love holidays that no other country celebrates?). Knowing that the past five 4ths have been split between my pals in LA and NY, and I always had a great time — on a cruise on the Hudson River, making my first new LA friends, crashing random parties in Hermosa Beach, catching up with the college crew on an island off Manhattan, or burning to a crisp on the beach — meant that the night of just me and myself was that much more magnified.

Hopefully when November rolls around, I’ll have found some people I can force into eating turkey and dressing with me. I figure American or not, nobody can turn down a free home-cooked meal (however, if I’m in India then, it may be tofurkey and dressing).

Posted in *South Korea, away from America, holidays | 3 Comments »

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