Two years is a long time, yet it passes unnoticed. Didn't we welcome 2011 just a few days back, and lo it is ending now. After debating many times if I should return to this space, and if I have anything new to write and whether what I write will interest anybody, I decided to return. Not because the criteria was met, but because sometimes I used to write for myself. In those PhD days, this space was a break in the monotony of research.
In a nutshell, I am no longer in India though I miss it every bit, married (finally found a tall dark handsome educated liberated guy - stroke of luck, destiny, or simple record-keeping? ), and still keeping my career alive though with less enthusiasm and more distractions. How is life in pardes? Sometimes lonely, sometimes liberating and many times hassle-free. Here, face-to-face interactions are limited to a few people, countable on fingers. Work keeps you busy most of the waking hours. Like somebody wise said, you will end up alone here unless you make an effort to make friends. That however takes considerable energy, and one doesn't click with just about anybody.
Otherwise, life is lived online - something I have been trying to avoid with less success. I am consciously making an effort to not open the laptop after work hours, investing time instead in attempting new dishes in the kitchen, decorating the nest, reading a book, or just calling up a friend. I am as interested as ever in music and movies and books. So lets open up discussions on these once again. I welcome the few readers I have to give me suggestions on books, movies, food, music and just about anything.
Latest book read: Girl with the dragon tattoo, a thriller by Stieg Larrson. It was a gripping page-turner, I finished the 600 page book in two days. Otherwise I have been reading more Terry Pratchetts. I am still not fed up of this series, and someone told me I am yet to read the best of his books, so will be onto it in future days. I have developed a liking for Salman Rushdie's works. Recently, I found a box-full of books at home, and many of his books in it. Thankfully, my husband occasionally reads the interesting books as well. So I am looking forward to exploring the library at home. Notable movies in recent past: Children of heaven, Rockstar, Chillar party.
In music, I am trying unventured territories. I used to like instrumental hindustani and stay away from vocal. But I'm exploring those too these days. Love pakistani folk music- that country has many things going wrong for it, hope music doesn't fade away with it. Have you tried the pakistani coke studio? It is a brilliant fusion of modern music and folk music. India has an imitation where singers re-sing the Bollywood songs in a different way. That in short sums up why we don't hear alternative music in India much. Bollywood occupies all ear-space. Any recommendations in other genres?
In a nutshell, I am no longer in India though I miss it every bit, married (finally found a tall dark handsome educated liberated guy - stroke of luck, destiny, or simple record-keeping? ), and still keeping my career alive though with less enthusiasm and more distractions. How is life in pardes? Sometimes lonely, sometimes liberating and many times hassle-free. Here, face-to-face interactions are limited to a few people, countable on fingers. Work keeps you busy most of the waking hours. Like somebody wise said, you will end up alone here unless you make an effort to make friends. That however takes considerable energy, and one doesn't click with just about anybody.
Otherwise, life is lived online - something I have been trying to avoid with less success. I am consciously making an effort to not open the laptop after work hours, investing time instead in attempting new dishes in the kitchen, decorating the nest, reading a book, or just calling up a friend. I am as interested as ever in music and movies and books. So lets open up discussions on these once again. I welcome the few readers I have to give me suggestions on books, movies, food, music and just about anything.
Latest book read: Girl with the dragon tattoo, a thriller by Stieg Larrson. It was a gripping page-turner, I finished the 600 page book in two days. Otherwise I have been reading more Terry Pratchetts. I am still not fed up of this series, and someone told me I am yet to read the best of his books, so will be onto it in future days. I have developed a liking for Salman Rushdie's works. Recently, I found a box-full of books at home, and many of his books in it. Thankfully, my husband occasionally reads the interesting books as well. So I am looking forward to exploring the library at home. Notable movies in recent past: Children of heaven, Rockstar, Chillar party.
In music, I am trying unventured territories. I used to like instrumental hindustani and stay away from vocal. But I'm exploring those too these days. Love pakistani folk music- that country has many things going wrong for it, hope music doesn't fade away with it. Have you tried the pakistani coke studio? It is a brilliant fusion of modern music and folk music. India has an imitation where singers re-sing the Bollywood songs in a different way. That in short sums up why we don't hear alternative music in India much. Bollywood occupies all ear-space. Any recommendations in other genres?
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