The Expat Diary

The Office

2010-04-18T01:19:00.003+05:30

I should ideally be studying for this test coming on the 4th of May.. But I can't because 'The Office' has hijacked all of my time.. So hooked on to its understated funniness!!

Expat Fashion

2010-04-01T02:26:00.000+05:30

Either way.. I sort of decided to split this whole expatriate crusade that I call a blog and the fashion part of it.. So do hop over (if you exist) to my fashion exclusive blog on tumblr..

Expat Fashion

Ta-dah!

Been around.. doing that. And that.

2010-04-01T02:19:00.004+05:30

Okay,

So who-ever, wher-ever it is that is reading this.. You may (or may not) be wondering where I have been?? (Or am I flattering myself?)

These last couple of days I have been busy - sort of.

Busy gloating more than anything.. Did I tell you that I am going to NYC?? Ha!

No actually it's not even that.. Did you *see* what my last post was.. Once you start posting song lyrics you know that you are blogging to just increase the number of posts you have.. So just thought I'd give the prolific blogger in me a rest.

Wait, all done resting.

Story of my life!

2010-03-19T02:09:00.002+05:30

Have you heard 'Hey there Delilah' by Plain White Tees.. It's been ages since I did.. and when my i-pod shuffled to this yesterday.. believe me I was smiling away to glory thinking to myself, 'I'll be Delilah in the next 4 months'

Hey there Delilah
What's it like in New York City?
I'm a thousand miles away
But girl, tonight you look so pretty
Yes you do
Times Square can't shine as bright as you
I swear it's true

Hey there Delilah
Don't you worry about the distance
I'm right there if you get lonely
Give this song another listen
Close your eyes
Listen to my voice, it's my disguise
I'm by your side

Oh it's what you do to me
Oh it's what you do to me
Oh it's what you do to me
Oh it's what you do to me
What you do to me

Hey there Delilah
I know times are getting hard
But just believe me, girl
Someday I'll pay the bills with this guitar
We'll have it good
We'll have the life we knew we would
My word is good

Hey there Delilah
I've got so much left to say
If every simple song I wrote to you
Would take your breath away
I'd write it all
Even more in love with me you'd fall
We'd have it all

Oh it's what you do to me
Oh it's what you do to me
Oh it's what you do to me
Oh it's what you do to me

A thousand miles seems pretty far
But they've got planes and trains and cars
I'd walk to you if I had no other way
Our friends would all make fun of us
and we'll just laugh along because we know
That none of them have felt this way
Delilah I can promise you
That by the time we get through
The world will never ever be the same
And you're to blame

Hey there Delilah
You be good and don't you miss me
Two more years and you'll be done with school
And I'll be making history like I do
You'll know it's all because of you
We can do whatever we want to
Hey there Delilah here's to you
This one's for you

Oh it's what you do to me
Oh it's what you do to me
Oh it's what you do to me
Oh it's what you do to me
What you do to me.

And there's 'Bright Lights' by Matchbox twenty as well... 'Another alien on broadway...'

She got out of town
On a railway New York bound
Took all except my name
Another alien on Broadway
There's some things in this world
You just can't change
Somethings you can't see
Until it gets too late
Baby, baby, baby
When all your love is gone
Who will save me
From all I'm up against out in this world
Maybe, maybe, maybe
You'll find something
That's enough to keep you
But if the bright lights don't receive you
You should turn yourself around
And come on home
I got a hole in me now
yeah,I got a scar I can talk about
She keeps a picture of me
In her apartment in the city
Some things in this world
Man, they don't make sense
Some things you don't need
Until they leave you
And they're things that you miss
Baby, baby, baby
When all your love is gone
Who will save me
From all I'm up against out in this world
Maybe, maybe, maybe
You'll find something
That's enough to keep you
But if the bright lights don't receive you
You should turn yourself around
And come on home
Let that city take you in, come on home
Let that city spit you out, come on home
Let that city take you down, yeah
God's sake turn around
Baby, baby, baby
When all your love is gone
Who will save me
From all I'm up against in this world
Maybe, maybe, maybe
You'll find something
That's enough to keep you
But if the bright lights don't receive you
You should turn yourself around
And come on home
Come on home
Baby, baby, baby
Come on home
Yeah, come on home
Yeah, come on home

(Lyrics courtesy: plyrics.com & lyrics007.com)

I'M ALL DECIDED!!

2010-03-19T02:02:00.002+05:30

I'm finally sure that I'm going to NYC!!

As amazing as the thought is.. I can assure you that I'm very very intimidated!! If you can't understand, look at the picture above and you will.

I'm was earlier undecided between LA and NYC.. And, LA won hands down. I mean I know that NYC is NYC with its fashion and culture etc.. But then LA's so much warmer.. For a person coming from Mumbai that can be a huge relief..And then I wish to pursue something in the field of media and LA is THE place for all the big-shot media houses..

HOWEVER, I did not get through to UCLA.. and therefore I'm going to a university in NYC instead.. And this make me extremely happy as well.. So screw LA (for now.. who knows post the degree I may want to find a job there)

And then dad called back..

2010-03-12T16:44:00.002+05:30

But today my dad called again..

Dad: So S, have you started reading more about the university..
Me: Ah-hmm.
Dad: Okay, check out accomodations, fee payment deadlines and everything and get back to me ASAP..
Me: Oh ya, I sort of started reading and networking..
Dad: Okay, and call up your cousin in Pittsburg, I'm sure she'll have something to bring to the table..
Me: Erm, okay Dad.. So?
Dad: Ya, so you better start preparing..
Me: Yes, but I would still like to hear from other universities.. what if those give me a scholarship..
Dad: Oh okay.. figure it all out and let me know what I'm supposed to do okay..
Me: Okay.. seeya.. bye. (hanging up smiling to myself)

You see he is more a functional thinker than an emotional one.. SO instead of saying, say, I'm so proud of you he said all of the above.. But so what Dad, I understand, and I love that you care..

Parents are funny creatures..

2010-03-12T16:28:00.003+05:30

(Source: www.dubuque.k12.ia.us/parents/index.html)

Me: (all misty eyed) Mom, I got through one of the best colleges I applied to..
Mom: Have you told dad?
Me: Not yet.. (simultaneously dialing his number)
Dad: (all sleepy) Hello?
Me: Dad, I got through the best university EVER.
Dad: Thik hai (loosely translated to..Oh, okay)
Me: (confused and dejected).. this means I'll leave for sure Dad.. I didn't know all this while if I would get in.. I'm so relieved..
Dad: Oh, Thik hai (... again)
Me: Okay, bye.. (seriously angry by now)..
(Turning to mom) Mom, this is the toughest university to get into.. Can you imagine only 8 got through?
Mom: (all misty eyed by now).. hmm
Me: (going all aww.. she loves me soo much)
Mom: I'm just scared for you, you know..
Me: (thinking of the best way to put across the fact that I can take care of myself)
Mom: I mean, so are so stuck up already.. You know, all don't touch me if you haven't showered today..you are such a fussy eater.. and quite anti-social.. I wonder what you will be like when you return after your degree..after having lived alone, by your own terms for 2 years...
Me: (storming out) ARGH!!!!
(slamming door)

Heard some wonderful news today..

2010-03-12T03:02:00.001+05:30

I got into one of the top 3 universities of my choice..Whoppie!

Mosquito - up close.

2010-03-11T20:28:00.002+05:30

I am sure, and I hope, that I won't get to see too many of these in the US.

Blogger-shlogger

2010-03-10T20:12:00.004+05:30

I can't believe it's 8.00 p.m. already.. I started my day significantly early, and got so engrossed in blogging that I lost track of time.. And BAM! Here I am. At 8. Worried that my entire schedule's gone for a toss.

Either way, so today I shifted my 'other serious blog' to wordpress, after days of contemplation. Blogger had started getting very annoying.

Firstly, since it was a blog started circa 2008, it was on the only gmail id I had back then. And now when I wanted to shift it to a new one blogger snubbed me. :(.. So I had to sign in and out of two email ids for every little change I had to make.

Then, there was adsense. Nonsense. They declined my request stating unoriginal content. It was a review blog, for Christ's sake. I understand, that it implies that I comment on existing stuff.. but how does that make my content unoriginal.

So well, after all the hair-pulling I finally settled on wordpress. It is now up. After a day's hard work. And I am so happy.... and hungry.

DIY - Edition 1

2010-03-10T00:05:00.001+05:30

Have I told you that I recently started deciding exactly what I want to wear, without giving in to the banal travesties that retailers sell these days

So here goes,

I can't wait for these fabrics to turn into clothes!

And, how rich does this blue look??

This is some embroidery I got done on silk.. I have lately taken to the pearl-blue combination..

And I love this *** pattern which is so quintessentially Indian.. If I had my way, I would use it in every Indian outfit I owned. Okay wait, I do have my way here.

And then there's this one.. I had no clue how this one would've turned out.. but it looks nice atleast at this stage..

Although the colours too flashy for my taste, I wanted something really different, and not-me for a cousin's wedding.. and this is perfect..Can't wait for the whole outfit to fall in place.

Today.

2010-03-09T23:57:00.006+05:30

I went out with an ex-office colleague, who is now a very good friend for a movie and then lunch and then coffee.. Whee!

Have had a busy, exhausting day. But was worth it.

But today I got my chunky necklace out of the closet.. and although I thought it would, it did not end up looking that bad with this diaphanous Marks and Spencer shirt, which by the way, was the best decision I made today.. Mumbai, I think was at its hottest today. Thank you, M&S for saving me.

And as far as the neckpiece is concerned..This cute looking guy from a news channel, was looking for women to talk about what the 2010 India Budget means to them. He approached me and I coyly declined saying I was camera shy (which you may figure I am, from the severed head in the picture above), while absent mindedly toying with the said necklace.. To which he replied, 'Don't worry, the necklace will look very pretty on camera.' Totally made my day.

BTW, I didn't do the survey.

Trying hard to study but...

2010-03-09T16:45:00.000+05:30

...doing this instead!

Happy to help

2010-03-09T11:05:00.000+05:30

As is obvious from my previous posts, I have taken my goal of further studies seriously. So I am going to come up with a page that lists the entire process involved in applying to universities for higher studies, step by step.

Meanwhile if anyone wants any kind of help with the process involved in applying to universities in the USA, I will be happy to help.

Just drop in a comment on any post, or ask your question through the contact form.

Post-grad woes

2010-03-09T10:59:00.000+05:30

The front page of today's Education Times made me a happy girl. The front page article spoke of how it is a good idea to take a gap year between studies to sort of gain perspective, do stuff that you always wanted to do etc.

I have taken a year off studies, just to prepare for my admissions. This helped me write a kick-ass statement of purpose and creative essays, chase professors and employers for the perfect recommendations, make sure that my resume included EVERYTHING about me and made me look like a well-rounded person, and concentrate on my TOEFL and GRE.

And I think it worked well. I ended up scoring a 116/200 in my TOEFL and a 670(verbal)+710(quant) in my GRE. And although my essays may or may not be the greatest pieces, I love them as they reflect all that I am.

So I guess then that this decision to take year off was not so bad an idea after all.

Random Rant

2010-03-09T09:27:00.000+05:30

You must have heard of how the universities in USA prefer students who have some sort of experience of having worked at NGO's and organisations for charity..and dude, does this get prominence or what?

So, basically I have no such experience.

But in my defence, I am an honest citizen, a responsible earth-ling, and a generous person at heart. But I do not have any formal experience in helping mankind or anything.

But you know, I am annoyed. I may not have the proof of my benevolence on paper.. but I can tell you this. I never litter. I never waste electricity or water. I donate every opportunity I get. I respect the cultural forms of my country. I buy local as much as I can. Hell, I made authentic Indian wear stylish for many in my ahem, circle.

But in spite of all this, I do not count myself as having done anything worthwhile.. because I do not have it on paper. You may call me a lazy ass who is blinded by the cathartic feeling that doing these tiny acts gives me. But what I can do? What could I have done?

I have an impeccable academic record. Good work experience. But somewhere I know that I fall short. All through these years I felt that doing well at my studies, getting a kick-ass job was all that I needed to do. I prided myself at being smart, efficient.. and then I travelled the length of the city to return home, all exhausted, pretending to be so tired because of the messy, annoying commute in Mumbai.. that i never found any time to do anything else.

Tomorrow.

I told myself everyday. Driving, swimming, doing something for the environment, for the street kids... Tomorrow. I am way exhausted today.

But since a year I have gotten down to doing all the things that I thought I must do. I quit my job last May and took off for a holiday to London.. returned and settled for the not-so-fun, but not-as-time-consuming-either job of assisting my father in his work.

Ever since, I have achieved a little. I got my driving license. I lost a healthy amount of weight. I built a kick-ass vocab (mainly thanks to GRE-prep). I started this blog. I took my other blog seriously. All in all, a worthwhile year.

But it still nags me that I have done nothing, you know, NOT-FOR-MYSELF. I get these spurts of 'lets do something' and I write to NGO's and all that and then Bam! when nobody replies I get disheartened and get back to leading my boring life.

Argh! I wish.. I wish.

Not an expat's cup of tea?

2010-03-08T06:09:00.000+05:30

Something I will definitely miss when I leave home.. Home-made lemon grass tea and ginger infusions.

If I could read tea leaves, I would first find out which university I will finally go to.

Precious

2010-03-08T04:15:00.000+05:30

I just watched 'Precious' and you should watch it too if you haven't as yet...

(Click to watch trailer)

Something so Oprah-ish is not my cup of tea. But this one made me cry.. I cried while watching a movie after so long.

Jobless, on a lazy friday afternoon

2010-03-05T16:27:00.000+05:30

Expat gyan: Getting into a skirt meant for someone two sizes smaller than you, is amazing exercise for the arms.

I found a skirt in my closet yesterday that I didn't really care for much earlier. It is sort of, something that you'll find on a So-Bo housewife on a lazy sunday afternoon, when she is all for being comfortable but doesn't want to be caught in her jammies if a high profile friend drops in. And yes, it was a gift from a So-Bo type housewife.

It caught my fancy yesterday because I tried it on, for kicks, and IT TOTALLY FIT. I was amazed and needless to say that it did wonders for my self-esteem. So I'm wearing it at home today this lazy friday afternoon.

This is sort of how it fits, in a more homely than office print.. And no, I'm not going to post my pictures in it, because wonderful self-esteem aside, I look ridiculous.

But, my arms are all toned now from trying to pry the zipper up for like, 10 minutes.

Currently drooling over..

2010-03-05T03:36:00.000+05:30

On an aside, isn't Penn Badgley, who plays Dan Humphery in Gossip Girl, so very adorable. I love his voice!

(Dan Humphery, Gossip Girl)

Okay, okay, getting back to studying now.

Organising my life, one closet at a time

2010-03-05T01:20:00.001+05:30

For a while now, I have been on a 'break'. Post the job, I decided to take some time off to apply to colleges and sort of just be. So today was seemed pretty much like a useful day for me.

I didn't do much really..just got around to sorting out the clothes in the closet, organising stuff in general etc. But it still feels so fruitful..which is why I decided to take a break and do a Gossip Girl marathon.

(These bedroom slippers were long forgotten.. A cousin gifted them to me as a joke.. But I ended up quite liking them.. Unfortunately it's never cold enough in India to actually wear them.)

(I've only just gotten hooked onto chunky jewellery (or statement jewellery, you fancy lady!))

(I never ever leave the house without some tissues and hand sanitiser.)

Anyway, I have a serious exam coming up this March.. and another essay to write for this scholarship thingy. I just don't seem to be getting around to doing any of that.. I'm taking bad pictures instead. Argh!

An empty closet, full of clothes

2010-03-03T22:54:00.000+05:30

So the fellow expat, my sister, left yesterday leaving a closet full of clothes behind. This leaves me over-joyed. No, it's not because I'll now have a closetful of clothes for myself. Our tastes never were alike. But instead because I will have an ENTIRELY empty closet all for MY MY MY clothes. So that leaves me with an empty closet, but a room strewn with clothes all over.

I, therefore, am making the not-entirely benevolent gesture of donating all her clothes to a charity.

While I have already begun stuffing her clothes in the biggest bag I could find, I am googling charities for the under privileged that accept used clothes. If you know of one, do leave a comment or email me via the contact form.

Just Me.

2010-03-03T03:57:00.000+05:30

The 'About me' page is up.. I mean literally on the top of my blog! Okay, that was probably a sad one. It was.

And I am sure that the 'About me' page will undergo frequent changes as I get more engrossed into this blog. But, this is it, for now.

And to tell you a little more of what to expect out of this blog, I would like to list some of the things I love, a few of which I blatantly also obsess over.

Movies: Are, and will remain, my first love.
Fashion: A newly acquired obsession and DIY fashion is a newly acquired pass-time and my own brand of penny saver.
Shoes: A necessity and pictures of which I may stare at for hours.
Chocolates: A sinful indulgence. Damn you, love handles!
Photography: I'm a self proclaimed 'photographer' and generally only end up clicking myself in DIY dresses and staggering heels at movie theatres.

Expat? Who? Why?

2010-03-03T03:19:00.000+05:30

See I told you I surprise myself.

I generally would never have written THAT as my first post. I am generally very organised and full of myself. And although the two qualities don't really make sense when put together, they atleast ought to have compelled me to write a post that was, well, a little more explanatory.

Like who am I? If I am not an expat yet, why is this blog called theexpatdiary? Where am I? Where am I off to? Rather, where do I desire to be off to? Etcetera.

Or atleast, that is what an organised and narcissistic girl would do.

So, fret not. All of this will be up on my 'About me' page in just a bit. And it's 3:25 am and I'm all drowsy. And that coupled with my airport maukish-ness, warns me to not begin on the 'About me' page just as yet.

But I will begin soon..

Of new beginnings..

2010-03-03T03:17:00.001+05:30

I just dropped my sister off at the airport. She, well, has been an expat (short for expatriate, for the uninitiated) for far longer than me.

Well, I am not exactly an expat..not yet, that is.

But, I digress. Coming back to where I began. I dropped her off at the airport..and..much to my delight and the surprise of others, did not shed a tear. I generally do. Don't get me wrong..I'm not one bit your sensitive, caring creature. I am, in fact, as cold as one can get.

But, airports? They bring out this side of me that always tends to surprise. I see all those people, and get all familial and loving, weirdly so. Gosh, wouldn't you when you see these people filled with the hope of new beginnings coupled with anxiety and apprehension getting into the sliding doors, and those filled with dread of having been left behind to live a life without that special one, on the other side, trying to catch a glimpse of their loved one as the highly secured doors slide back into their place.

Whoa, see I said 'airport' and I'm all mushy.

But to tell you the truth. I am scared. I will be next..going in through those sliding doors trying hard to hide my scared, (probably) tear smeared face from my parents.. making sure that the glimpse they catch of me brings only hope and joy to them.

Okay, I need to stop. Now.