I’d rather be a mystery than be misunderstood

A friend’s Facebook status got me writing:

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I’d rather be a mystery than be misunderstood.

Words are never enough, to cry my emotions out

Can neither explain my feeling, nor make one understand.

It hurts when my voice goes unheard

You couldn’t sense my heart; my words have failed me again.

And then I let it be, burying it all deep down

Hoping someday you would hear the mute voice’ call.

I’d rather be a mystery than be misunderstood.

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Again, my words have failed me. Hope it makes sense. :)

The week that was...

It's been sometime since I last wrote; and there are quite a bit to write about. To start with, had a few requests for my recipes from my previous post; which is included at the end of this post.

At the university, some students (only one) got into a row with the staff for not being organized and having to wait long hours to get the student ID. There, he is called next and happily leaves with his ID. Made me think if I got into an argument with the staff I might get things done, MY WAY! (That wouldn’t be the case always, I suppose…)

The Dean was involved in personally having a chat with few of the newly admitted, making them feel welcome. He also apologized for the little inconvenience caused and admitted that the University has something to learn from and be more organized. Next day, there was a official welcome by the COO and formal introduction to some of the staff members and the student council.

The council had arranged a few ice breakers and a city tour (We don‘t have a campus, but a 9 storeyed building with lecture halls and computer labs, and a recruitment firm at the 4th level: not much to see in there :D); the teams I was in seemed to always win the challenge (but for the little dance competition, where I was in the second place - more on this to follow).

Did I just mention there was a dance competition? The council asked one from each of the 4 teams to get on the dais for fun-filled shaking of the booties! And the winner will get a grand prize. None seemed to get out of their cozy little seats and I was the first to get on, shake a leg for a number that I had never heard before; encouraging members of the other teams to shake as well. With all the 4 on the dais the competition hit a start and 2 were eliminated, leaving myself and a lovely German Lady to show our dancing talents. Council played a slow number and we had to do a ball dance together (which am not at all sure how to!). I didn’t even know how to hold the lady! After all was done, there was not even a single cheer for me which made Katie the winner of the challenge. I was asked to present the lady with her well deserved prize on my knees; handing the prize to the lady blushing red with embarrassment, was a jolly good experience! :P (Should ask the council to share the pictures… :D)

We visited the:

Information centre

City public library

Outdoor recreation park

Immigration office

And the city centre

Ending our little tour taking a leisurely stroll by the Brisbane river.

Became a member at the public library and checked out this novel, “A Void” (Georges Perec, 1969), a lipogram without the use of the alphabet “e” [originally published in France with the title La Disparition, English translation HarperCollinsPublishers 1994, by Gilbert Adair], the translator of the work is outstanding, to have adhered to the constraint posed by the lipogram and to produce such a piece of excellent work without having to compromise with the twists and turns of the plot and the linguistic aesthetics. It deals with a hallucinating and a chronic insomniac protagonist who seems to struggle with the real and the unreal; so far I am enjoying it and look forward to read more of Georges Perec.

Now the recipe as promised:

Srikand:

Ingredients: Curd (Yogurt - 1 ltr), Sugar (powdered) and cardamom (powdered - 2 tea spoons)

Preparation: Drain the curd of excess water tying up in a clean muslin cloth for sometime.

Method: Beat the curd and cardamom, adding sugar in increments tasting now and then for the desired sweetness to creamy, buttery texture.

Simple isn’t it?

I was not requested to post the other recipes; so, they are not in here. :D

Veg Fried Rice, Chicken Korma and Srikand...

First day of the Orientation week, and was surprised to be surrounded by only Asians! (Exception: 1 German and 2 Aussies). Made me wonder if the Aussies went to other parts of the world to pursue their education. There was no order, and small groups of the student community chattered away happily (not that I wasn‘t a part of the chattering Asians! :P); with all the Asians around, it was expected. We were asked to fill in our contact details, as we all filed in a queue. My turn hadn’t come until it was 12:30 PM (We Asians do have a lot of questions, even if it is just a simple matter of filling in our Addresses!); I submitted my form and the charming lady from the student support gave me a nick name, cute ear-ringed Aaron (don’t know if she meant that I was cute or the ear-rings!). By the time it was 03:00 PM, only a few had completed with all the formalities and I was among the unlucky others who were asked to come the next day.

Got back home, cooked my dinner (had stomach full; no, more than stomach full after a week in Australia).

Today’s Menu:

1. Veg Fried Rice

2. Chicken Korma

4. Srikand

5. Orange Juice

You guys sure you don’t want to know the recipe’s?

Artistic block

Today, I finally happened to take my painting gear out only to find myself in a state of artistic block! Nonetheless, I forced myself to paint; something! Anything! Trying to picture, to grasp a thought from the creative void, to give it a form and to fill it with all the pretty colors I had in front of me. No matter how much I tried, not a thought that I wanted on the paper; just the emptiness of the eternal void. Reluctant to give up, started rummaging my possessions and the net to draw inspiration and without I realizing (I hate it when MS Word says realising is spelt with a ‘z‘, when I studied in school with a ‘s‘ (same with colour) - why does it have to be US everywhere!) ended up watching “The Sound of Music” (Forgetting even to have my lunch; which, I hadn‘t prepared. Julie Andrews was captivating, no matter how many times I may watch it I enjoy it still the same).

After which I did some reading on the real story of the “Von Trapp” family, learned that the great grandchildren of Maria Von Trapp, tour the world performing as their great grandparents and grandparents did. The reading led me to a cappella (music without the aid of instruments) and then to arirang (Korean folk song) - listened to a few a cappella and arirang; and there, its already dinner time. Haven’t cooked yet, guess will have to make do with bread toast and cheese omelet (love it!!!).

One thing I realized today is that one can’t be forced to do what he likes, but be inspired to do on his own. Where do I find the inspiration is the question! And more, Can love be forced? Can liking be sowed?

All I could draw on the paper was a line, and mind you, not a straight one.

Blame my luck!!!

Woke up to find the water supply cut and believe me, it is difficult to go about doing your morning ritual with no water! I was the only person up at that time (Other early birds had left the nest already) and started wondering if my inmates forgot to pay the BILLS. Worrying how long will it take to resume if paid immediately? What if there is no water for days together? Trying every tap in the unit to no avail, panicked if I made the right decision on lodging at where I am now. Woke up my room-mate who had just gone to sleep a few hours (2 to be precise) earlier startling him with the news; it was something new to all the inmates and all seemed puzzled as I was. Later we got to know that there was a repair in progress and the supply was cut temporarily.

Learning the situation, myself and one other inmate decided we pack our tooth brush and paste and head to the university to take a crap and brush. Finishing up what we intended to at the uni, we head to the bank to provide the id proof required as a procedure. There in the queue at the bank, an elderly gentle man strikes up a conversation and blurts “We’re in the Q, not in the Bond Gadget Guy” and winks at me taking me by surprise. I politely reply “Sorry sir, I am not much of a Bond fan, maybe if you suggest a few movies I would rent them and watch”. The gentle man suggests I watch Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace (Which I have already, but don’t remember coming across the character!) and continues to marvel on how good the Bond gadgets are. Luckily my turn comes and I excuse myself still not sure as to what was that all about and headed to the counter.

After which we went to Fortitude Valley (one of the suburbs adjacent to Brisbane) to a Desi store for some grocery shopping. Picked up green chili pickles, Daliya (crushed wheat), Moong Dhal, Aata and Ajwain (which did amaze my house-mate, who never had heard of daliya or ajwain) and got back home to prepare Daliya Kichdi (Would any of you be interested in knowing the recipes? :P quite healthy I must say…). Once home was relieved to find water flow off every tap I turned on. :)

Breakfast: Curd and Bananas

Lunch: Bread, Omlet and Daliya Kichdi

Dinner: yet to decide.

Done with my lunch and here I am to update my day’s events (thus far… As I am sure there isn‘t going to be anything more to the day other than watching a movie or 2 and preparing my dinner).

P.S.: I still haven’t started with painting. :(

The Journey to the Land of Kangaroos

Second day in the land of Kangaroos and I’m spending thinking what am I to do to pass the day that is. Woke up by 08:30 hrs IST (13:00 hrs here), blame the jet lag or the fact that I am jobless, I slept through till noon! Now that I am up suppose I could tell you all about my journey to the OZ.

I’ll take you to a few months back when I decided that I need to do what I like the most. It was a bright sunny day of march when I accompanied Sankar to IDP (Education Consultants), who happily dumped me at the reception to talk to the long haired consultant (A good looking south Indian dame with a long hair neatly plaited - don‘t get to see them that often on Bangalore streets) who was to help him with his documents for his Visa application; I happened to browse through the brochures and there, something interesting. The rest is known.

9th March, 2010 04:15 hrs IST I was scheduled to fly to Brisbane through Dubai (which now thinking was foolish to do, to have flown back and then head to Brisbane) and the previous night said goodbye to my loved ones; hugs and tears (Yes, I do cry and did a lot more than usual that night. Thinking of it now makes me think I am a cry baby!!!), blessings and laughter. At the airport met Sharat (One with whom I traveled to Brisbane) and we proceeded to check-in; first it was excess baggage, Sharat had packed 5 kgs in excess and had to empty the excess off and it took a good hour to do that. And then there was a system error which held us from going through the immigration. At immigration Sharat was asked a lot of questions ‘coz he looked lot different from the young Sharat in the passport (though it is the same with me I was through in less than 30 seconds) and took 20 minutes for the officer to be sure it was him.

Emirates was ok, not as good as a few told me it would be. There was not enough leg space, it made me have cramps. At Dubai got fresh and did a bit of window shopping. At Brisbane took a cab to the accommodation I was to stay in, Sharat didn’t have the address to his accommodation yet and accompanied me; later dropped him to his place and did groceries shopping (I will have to cook for myself). Cooked Pasta and asparagus with tangy tomato sauce had it for dinner and spoke to my folks before I went back to bed.

And today I am just thinking and writing; and even maybe paint, for I have all time now to do what I want.

Just a few words

Its been an hour now since I decided to create this blog, and here I find myself thinking what do I write!

The day's events were mundane; and seem to have nothing to share.

Makes me wonder if I really could express what I think or feel with words! Words are deceptive, but that is all there is.