My friend Swapnali came to visit me in Kingston in October 2008.When she entered my house, she had a beautiful pink poinsettia plant that she had got for me. I was very excited to see her after so many years and even more excited with the pretty gift she had for me. My experience with plants has never been the best and I can be called the worst green thumbed person. However, I limited these emotions to myself and accepted the gift graciously. Being an avid reader, I had read somewhere that if you talk to plants they flourish well. I decided to name this newest friend of mine”PINKY”.

Pinky got a coveted spot in our living room where it was the apple of my and my landlady Karen’s eye. I would look at Pinky lovingly each day and catch a few words with her (of course she was a girl). Whenever I would see any of her leaves drying up, I would delicately pluck them off being careful of not hurting Pinky.I would water her with just the right amounts of water keeping in mind her strict diet(indoor poinsettia plants need 150 ml of water every 3 days)

As the fall slowly changed to winter, I started getting colder but Pinky fought on. She was a brave warrior sitting on her spot. Whenever a house guest would admire Pinky, I like a pompous parent would glow with pride and tell them that Pinky had come all the way from Toronto. Pinky saw Christmas in all its glory. I even put a little ornament on her so that she wouldn’t feel lost in front of our beautiful Christmas tree. Her pink flowers cheered my spirits whenever I would sit and watch TV. She survived all the coldest days even the -35.

The winter changed to spring and it was all green outside. I would tell Pinky all about my day at school and how pretty it was outside. Pinky would listen patiently. New flowers grew on Pinky too. She was growing bigger and I was happy with the way she was growing. Then it was summer. I started spending more and more time away from Pinky. I even forgot to feed her a couple of times. I felt bad about that, felt like a careless mother. A few weeks passed and I noticed Pinky growing weaker and weaker. Even Karen commented about that and said that Pinky’s days were few now. I refused to accept that and watered Pinky and decided to put her out in the sun. The very next day, her leaves started falling off and she started looking old and withered. I spoke to her and told her how important she was. I told her about the joy she gave me. But no, Pinky had decided to go. So finally on 1^st September,2009 after a short life of 11 months, Pinky was put into the organic bin ready to be picked up on the next garbage collection round.

Pinky is gone now, her coveted spot in the living room taken up by an old framed photograph. I miss looking at her and wish that I could have been a better caretaker for her. Now waiting for the day when I get another plant and maybe I will not do the same mistakes again. All I can say is that I’m sorry Pinky…..I tried my best.

Finally school got done …….graduated in June, awards et al amid great fanfare. And then  it started….it dawned upon me that now I was expected to do something much more useful with my life rather than attending classes in the room we lovingly called the PIT, sipping Timmy’s in the Caf and trying to learn to play Euchre in the SA lounge. Armed with a provisional diploma that I had received at Graduation, which did not serve more purpose than a mere piece of paper….? I was lost in the Canadian Working Class.

A long month passed after graduation with me finding newer ways to kill my time and discovering techniques to let the 24 hours seem less long. The college finally bestowed me with my diploma that declared that I was now a Social Service Worker (with distinction)…..ahem, ahem…..and a mark sheet that was bestowed with more A’s than I have probably ever seen in my life,(seemed like the note passing, giggling and doodling in class paid off)

So now armed with the paper in hand (as my friend Sue calls it) I was again like a lost puppy in a box of cheerio’s. Off I went to seek help to arm myself with yet more paper that would allow me to become a productive member of the society. Got all the due help from my friend Helen at the International Student Services who made it all seem like a piece of cake. So all forms filled up, the money deposited……the big wad of papers was posted off to their destination. I was informed by the much helpful Canadian government websites that my much needed paper would arrive in 27 days.

27 days……isn’t that like forever……yes, it certainly seemed like forever. For once in the past year I felt like I had too much time. I missed the assignments, I missed the reports, and the multiple choice tests……Gosh I even missed the PIT.I wanted to do something……but the question was WHAT TO DO? Started setting my own records…….sleeping for hours…..taking afternoon naps…..facebooking endlessly….researching new recipes for Kraft dinner (which was my staple diet) Also applying for jobs has become a favourite pass time. I am like a hound dog just sniffing jobs out of the newspapers and internet advertisements.

The PAPER arrived in exactly one month’s time…….allowing me to be gainfully employed in any occupation for a period of one year. The job search is on. I know I will get something soon…..it’s just a matter of waiting……yes, some more waiting. I am kind of used to it now.

Wonder what it will be……

”Would you like your coffee with cream or sugar?”

“The bags are an extra 5 cents…..how many bags do you want today?”

“This colour really suits you; we have it in a size 12 as well.”

“Thanks for shopping with us today. Have yourself a nice day.”

Or will I hopefully do justice to all the papers I have collected over the years and add more tax into the  Canadian government’s treasury…………..now these are questions…..just mere questions!!!!!!

Well Friends………..after being in this wonderful country for almost a year……….I have found out the following things……

Only in Canada……With only 3 people per sq. km, Canada has the fourth lowest population density in the world.

Only in Canada……Canadians have universal healthcare. The way they afford it is making people wait so long that most die before seeing a doctor.

Only in Canada…..There havent been mail deliveries in Canada on Saturday for the past 35 years.

Only in Canada…..Canadians consume more macroni and cheese than any other nation on Earth.

Only in Canada……can a pizza get to your house faster than an ambulance.

Only in Canada……are there handicap parking places in front of a skating rink.

Only in Canada……do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.

Only in Canada…..do people order double cheese burgers, large fries, and a diet coke.

Only in Canada……do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.

Only in Canada……do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.

Only in Canada……do we use answering machines to screen calls and then have call waiting so we don’t miss a call from someone we didn’t want to talk to in the first place.

Only in Canada……do we buy hot dogs in packages of twelve and buns in packages of eight.

Only in Canada….When hockey’s over, Canadians turn to poker… and not the sexual kind.

Only in Canada….The students there like to think they’re awesome, but their colleges and universities are nothing compared to the ones in the U.S.

Only in Canada….The teenagers can get legally drunk at a younger age, but they can’t when they visit the U.S

Only in Canada….Some of their major cities are more boring than some of their small towns.

Only in Canada….It’s a great place to escape to when you’re in need of a strong beer or a delicious donut.

Only in Canada….They play weird sports that have no real purpose, like curling.

Only in Canada….Their fine cuisine consists of pancakes and maple syrup, coffee and a timbit donut.

Only in Canada….The only wars they have are between coffee shops.

Only in Canada……There’s a city in SASKATCHEWAN named MOOSE JAW

Only in Canada……do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering.

Birthday Wishes For My Friend

On your birthday,

I wish for you the fulfillment
of all your fondest dreams.
I hope that for every candle
on your cake
you get a wonderful surprise.
I wish for you that
whatever you want most in life,
it comes to you,
just the way you imagined it,
or better.
I hope you get as much pleasure
from our friendship as I do.
I wish we were sisters,
so I could have known you
from the beginning.
I look forward to
enjoying our friendship
for many more of your birthdays.
I’m so glad I met you
because you brighten my life
and fill it with joy.

Happy Birthday Deb……Thanks for being a special part of my life!!!!!

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water …..with whiskey
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar …..and sleep like a dog
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants….. u need to really search for it hard
4. Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy…..and don’t forget entertainment
5. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer…… never forget HOT yoga
6. Play more games….. with compatible and willing people .
7. Read more books than you did in 2008… start with Playboy.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day….and sin in silence for 1 minute
9. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile … at some pretty young things
Personality:
10. Don’t have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment…..
11. Don’t over do. Keep your limits…..
12. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does…..
13. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip… try telling this to your wife
14. Dream more while you are awake….. its waste of time because you can’t dream with your eyes open
15. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need…. Not that damn cute lil thing…
16. Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your resent happiness….. future is more horrifying…
17. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others…. Love all inspite of all creeds .. I did that and its fun
18. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present…. Remember peace forgets and war remembers
19. No one is in charge of your happiness except you……
20. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime…..
21. Smile and laugh more…. Better to smile when u r in company of opposite gender
22. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree…. This works only with wife none else…
Society:
23. Call your family often… and invite trouble
24. Each day give something good to others…. And don’t expect any damn thing
25. Forgive everyone for everything…. And don’t forget their names
26. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6…. And never play cricket with them
27. Try to make at least three people smile each day….. especially if they are of opposite gender

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

By Robert Frost

.: :.

I think this poem is about how the writer looks at his life and sees how beautiful the snow and nature is and he wants to stay in that very moment, but he cant. He has to keep moving to keep his promises. The last lines are deciphered as that he still has a long ways to go before he dies. It coiuld be internal conflicts or external conflicts that he has to deal with but he has many things to do before he passes. The poem gives a very thoughtful mood. The writer is thinking about nature and his life while the reader is also thinking about theirs. This poem really makes you think about the possible turns your life can take and how you need to move on.

Being far away from my own land and in a land of goras……I am often seen as an object of interest.These are some of the questions and possible answers that I could give when I am bombarded with questions about India.

Q. What does that red dot on women’s forehead mean?
A. Well, in ancient times, Indian men used to practice archery skills by target practicing by aiming at their wife’s red dot. In fact, that is one of the reasons why they had many wives. You see, once they mastered the art of archery and hit the target….
 
Q. You’re from India, aren’t you? I have read so much about the country. All the wonderful places, the forests, the snake charmers, the elephants. Do you still use elephants for transportation?
A. Absolutely. In fact we used to have our own elephant in our house. But later, we started elephant-pooling with our neighbours, to save the air. You see elephants have an “emissions” problem…..
 
Q. Does India have cars?
A. No. We ride elephants to work. The government is trying to encourage ride-sharing schemes.
 
Q. Does India have TV?
A. No. We only have cable.
 
Q. Are all Indians vegetarian?
A. Yes. Even tigers are vegetarian in India.
 
Q. How come you speak English so well?
A. You see when the British were ruling India, they employed Indians as servants. It took too long for the Indians to learn English. So the British isolated an “English-language” gene and infused their servants’ babies with it and since then all babies born are born speaking English.

A variation to the above is a compliment —
“You speak very good English.”   Response: Thanks. So do you.
 
 
Q. Is it true that everyone there is very corrupt?
A. Yes, in fact, I had to bribe my parents so that they would let me go to school.
 
Q. India is very hot, isn’t it?
A. It is so hot there that all the water boils spontaneously. That is why tea is such a popular drink in India.
 
Q. Are there any business companies in India?
A.No. All Indians live on the Gandhian prinicples of self-sufficiency. We all make our own clothes and grow our own food. That is why you see all these thin skinny Indians – it is a lot of hard work.
 
Q. Indians cannot eat beef, huh?
A. Cows provide milk which is a very essential part of Indian diet. So eating cows is forbidden. However in order to decrease the population of the country, the government is trying to encourage everyone to eat human meat.
 
Q. India is such a religious place. Do you meditate regularly?
A. Yes, sometimes I meditate for weeks without food and drink. But it is difficult to keep my job, because I have to miss work when I meditate like that. But the bosses there do the same thing. That is why things are so inefficient there.
 
Q. I saw on TV that people there walk on burning coals. Why do they do that?
A. We don’t have shoes. So we burn the bottom of our feet to make it hard so that we can walk.
 
Q. Why do you sometimes wear Indian clothes to work?
A. I prefer it to coming naked.

Q: How do the plants grow, water is so scarce there?

A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching

them die.

Q: Will I be able to see elephants in the street?

A: Depends how much you’ve been drinking.

Q: I want to walk from Delhi to Goa- can I follow the railroad tracks?

A: Sure, it’s only three thousand kms, take lots of water.

Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in India?

A: No,we just print off fresh money at home every day.

Q: Which direction is North in India?

A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here

and we’ll send the rest of the directions.

Q: Can I bring cutlery into India?

A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.

Q: Can I wear high heels in India?

A: You’re a British politician, right?

Q: Are there supermarkets in Bangalore, and is milk available all year

round?

A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of vegan hunter/gatherers. Milk

is illegal.

Q: Please send a list of all doctors in India who can dispense

rattlesnake serum.

A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where many of you come from. All

Indian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good

pets.

Q: Do you have perfume in India?

A: No, WE don’t stink.

Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can

you tell me where I can sell it in India?

A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.

Q: Do you celebrate Christmas in India?

A: Only at Christmas.

Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go?

A: Yes, but you’ll have to learn it first.

Q: Can I see Taj Mahal anytime?

A: As long as you are not blind, you can see it anytime.

Q: Do you have Toilet paper?

A: No, we use sand paper. (We have different grades) or even fresh green leaves at times.

Just felt like sharing my favorite song with all of you……….I dont know why but singing this song makes me feel very happy.Just try it,it may do the same to you too and singing it may just make your day!!!!

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens;
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens;
Brown paper packages tied up with strings;
These are a few of my favorite things.

Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels;
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles;
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings;
These are a few of my favorite things.

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes;
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes;
Silver-white winters that melt into springs;
These are a few of my favorite things.

When the dog bites,
When the bee stings,
When I’m feeling sad,
I simply remember my favorite things,
And then I don’t feel so bad.

Hi Blog Friends……I have no excuse for not updating my blog at a more regular basis.After my move to Canada in July last year I have been juggling too many things.Life here is very different and I took quite a while getting accustomed to it.In fact am still getting used to it.Its college,endless assignments,college job,babysitting jobs and also my full time placement.Am also juggling with this new weather phenomena also known as WINTER.Its really killing and it does not seem to end.Dont know when the day starts and how it ends.Take each day at a day and am surely glad when its over.I will graduate in June and will hopefully become a more active part of the blogging world once again……..Thanks to Pallavi….This post is all due to her.