T.I.I

To whom it may concern,

The c button on this key board doesn't really work. My fingers also don't really work. In fact there are many parts of me that don't really work now. Welcome to India (one week later).

Yesterday, we were 3 on a scooter. One with her butt hanging off the seat. Bumps and 3 people on bike don't go well.

In Kolkata, it was fairly rat free for the entire stay. Until the LAST night. I came this close to jumping sreaming and everything that equals I'M-GOING-TO-DIE.

We have a secret language between us. It involves 5 fingers opening and closing like a bird beak. Meaning - HAGGLE. Especially with taxi men who want to charge you 10 rupees more than the agreed price.

If you want to feel safe in India, or at least Chennai, go to the cinema. In the cinema, you remove the battery from your camera, your water bottle label gets snipped off and they actually go through the contents of your bag rather than take a quick look. Forget about airport-is-safe. In the ladies line at security, you go to a secured booth to get searched, your boarding pass gets a stamp, you need stamped tags on your bags but... when at the gate, if your tag has the wrong date and the male security guard stops you, all you say is "We were at the LADIES LINE" and all is forgiven. So, cinema trumps airport.

If you want to volunteer at the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata, be sure to have changed diapers at least once in your life before. It comes in handy when you are asked to change many diapers one after another. You also will not apologise to the poor baby who would have to endure your poor skills.

If you ever do decide India is a place to visit, be sure to bring along a million copies of your passport. This is what they require at internet places, phone places and maybe even toilets? Maybe.

If you get a toilet roll that is a tenth of your normal sized one. DO NOT FRET! The person who handed it to you did not take it out of his/her own toilet.

And when all else fails, just remember and keep repeating to yourself. T.I.I

THIS IS INDIA!!!

I Like THAT

I like that my blinds are open today.

I like that it is raining.

I like that the sky is White with mist.

I like that I have soft music plus rain drizzle sounds.

I like that I have fishballs in my tummy.

I like that I go on a plane in two days.

I like that I have a backpack to pack.

I like that I like all this.

I also like my mummy. alot.

Swiss Emmental and Blue

Tonight, I sit on my floor bed eating cheese from a knife, drinking sweet tea from a bottle and read The End of a Spear. So much for the 1 hour walk around the condo today.

This cheese is delicious.

I lay in bed worrying about many things. About India, God, friends, love. And I was overwhelmed to the point of eat-cheese-at 1.30am. Eww, I just chewed on a piece of cheese wax, thinking excitedly that I was about to consume blue cheese.

Now that's the real stuff.

I read blogs of people whom I look up to for their wisdom and thought provoking writing. Who share their life like I'm a trusted friend. I read their writings of unique struggles as they live in circumstances that you would say aren't normal. They are normal people with normal thoughts. And so I'm normal too and therefore would have normal thoughts.

I'm down to my last piece of blue.

I have to make myself think. What is incredible? I miss having the culture where people praise people all the time. "Nice shirt!" "Your hair looks good like that" "That cake was delicious." "You're so funny" But now, why would I absorb all these things that shouldn't matter? Or do they?

Last Swiss Emmental. Sweet tea does taste good with cheese.

I think I try. I've kept my room clean. I exercise. I play the piano. I cook and do chores. But I don't read, I don't draw, I don't create, I don't talk, I don't Love, I don't smart.

You know what? Maybe I just need to see more people other than my family.

See ya, I'm going to get more cheese.

Wan One

Happy New Decade!

I was away from the city after driving 40 minutes on scary highways (Slowly) I feel somewhat like a hero.

So, I don't update the other blog anymore because I don't have access to it. Read: lost password. oops.

I have a splitting headache now at 2am on the 3rd of Jan. Some would advise to go to sleep but I'm waiting on some streaming to get done.

India is in... 15 days and I still have about 5 big things on my sticky note "things to do"

Number one. Go exercise. OK.

My bed is also broken. I need alot of things.

So goodbye, 2011 shall be very different in Newcastle compared to 2010. I think I shall enjoy it!