Category: the daily column

Last night, I went for dinner with some of my housemate’s friends. There were two Spaniards, a South African, a Turk, one Italian and two Polish, along with me (Australian-Indian) and my housemate (Korean). A more diverse bunch in so few I don’t think I’ve ever seen, crammed into a little London kitchen.

It’s amazing to see the world through the independent migrant’s eyes – even though I’m an immigrant in Australia, having lived there for so long and being with the family means that it’s not too far off “ordinary life” (for a given value of ordinary, of course). Here however, with no family nor close friends when most land up here, you very quickly establish close relationships, especially with those you live with. Should a new migrant walk in the door (in this case, me), they’re all very quick to open up and welcome gladly – it’s as though they’re saying, “here’s another like us; welcome, we know what you’re going through.”

It’s a whole world I never knew existed, and it’s gratifying to see it and be a part of it. (apologies for the clumsy writing, the head’s not in it today)

So, I be thinkin’ ’tis high time I got me a handheld gamin’ …

… ok so forget the pirate thing for a minute.

I’m considering buying either the PSP or the DS. Lite edition of either, I guess, as that’s what’s available. I’m not sure of a couple of things, so I must consult my ever present friend, teh internets.

Question for those of you who have both: Which is better? =D

Questions for those of you who have either:

1. Name one stand out game I must get (Other than – PSP: Lumines. DS: Mario Kart DS, because I already know)
2. Name one stand out feature I will appreciate.
3. Battery life?
4. Is it really that good?
5. Anything else I should take into account?
6. How much did you pay? (I have to think whether to buy it here or after I get back)

Question for those of you who have neither: so, how you doin’? what do you want from London? :)

work work work work

work work work work

work work work wokr.

wkro.

lunch!

wrok.

work work work work.

blah.

Beep-beep. Beep-beep.

The SMS tone woke me from my reverie. I glance down at my phone, wondering who it might be, whether it was ok to check it at work or not. Bugger it, everyone else did.

“Can you make some time for me tonight? I will be home about 9.”

Shit. Guilty conscience twigged. Had she found out about something I didn’t realise? Was she angry with me? Was I about to be chucked out? I don’t know what I’d done wrong, or that I’d done anything wrong, but something about the words doesn’t sound right.

“Sure, hon. Should I be prepared for anything? =P” I reply, angling for a light-hearted tone. Who knew, maybe I was entirely on the wrong track.

The reply was swift.

“Not at all ^^”

Well, that didn’t help.

Continue reading “Belated”

Flying on September 11th, over Pakistan and Afghanistan? Only mildly terrifying.

20 hours is how long it takes, all up, to get from Sydney to London. It is much too long to be in that tiny metal tube; business class would have helped, but to sit idle for so long is mind-numbing, and I can only imagine that any move to sell internet to the trapped would be hugely successful – I would pay, even if I didn’t have anything to actually do, if only for the fact that it’s something that changes, or you can do stuff with.

Jetlag is that awesome feeling of falling asleep halfway through an e-mail at 2:30 and waking up at 8:30 in the dark and wondering what happened, then rolling over and being mildly alarmed that the time has now jumped to 10:30. Most satisfying sleep evar.

This one feels real alright.

Last minute flight to Melbourne – $300
(very) Last minute hotel booking – $200
Lunching, brunching, dinners, cakes, and 7 coffees – $200-ish

Realising your friends are more awesome than you’ve ever given them credit for?

I’ve felt this way before, and the earlier feeling returned stronger than ever, as I moved from one friend to the next; I didn’t spend nearly as much time as some of these people deserve, and didn’t meet nearly as many people as I should’ve, but the doubts I had Saturday night proved to be baseless. Some friends you can never let go, and I think I’ve found my few.

In a sense, the diary-esque nature of this is blog is parroting a tradition going back millenia, I’m sure. The difference is, of course, that here I can search instantly on a few key words to find those key moments. I don’t take nearly enough time to re-read my own ramblings – indeed, I hardly even look at the post after posting.

And thus I learn and grow.

Happy Birthday, Dad. That’s a big number! It makes me feel just as old when I think “Wow, my dad is that old, and…” =)

Also, Happy Birthday to India!

(Image snaffled from Nav A)

Midnight, August 15th, 60 years ago saw the birth of 2 nations, today the three “South Asian” nations of India, Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) and Pakistan (formerly West Pakistan). Out of the slowly crumbling British Empire they emerged, and from that day the fall of the remainder of the empire was a mere inevitability.

But the fall of the British Empire is not what is celebrated here; indeed, it is the emergence of the new nation of India. It wasn’t just independence from 90 years of direct British rule – it encompassed independence from foreign rulers that stretched back, variously, to the 13th century. Finally, Indians would rule their nation for themselves.

If there was a price to pay for this, it can  be boiled down to the bitter pill of partition. Whatever the politics behind it, the millions upon millions affected – my family included – didn’t want it. To this day, it is one of the most shameful periods of the history of a people that have so much in common, save religion. Indeed, to this day it remains a sore point, and, in Kashmir where the lines of a map don’t make much impression on the lofty mountain ranges, a source of conflict that drags on both countries’ abilities to do anything about social welfare. It is an exercise for the speculative fiction writer to ponder what may have transpired in a unified India incorporating the “partitioned” states.

Today, many problems remain, and are prevalent. It is something that needs working on, but for once, we can say there is clear hope. India is unmatched for growth upside, and finally is punching its own weight on the international scene. I’m not usually a nationalist or anything like that, but for today, I am Indian :)