Every once in a while bright little sparks appear in my life that light up an amber fire of memories, the warmth of which envelops my cold existence and makes me smile again.

The Christmas version of the three little pigs!

An award

The Procrastinating Queen!



This is the award conferred to me by my father and I couldn´t put it more aptly.

It´s true and I embrace the fact with no protest.

A new experience

I wrote my first recommendation letter today! Till date I have only asked for recommendation letters for me. So this was exciting. Fortunately one of my good students asked me for it. I would have found it difficult to write it if I hadn't been convinced of her capabilities.

I don't know if I'm allowed to publish the text. I think I better not since it's confidential.

Anyway, am feeling happy.

My first Thanksgiving

Turkey!

Pumpkin pie and Pecan pie!

14th November

To all the children out there,

To all the big people who remember they were children once,

To all the big people in who the child still lives,


Belated Happy Childrens' Day!


From the child in me.

Wishes!

x
They say be careful what you wish for, lest it come true.




xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxI should definitely stop wishing altogether.
x

It's Halloween.

Joy!

It expresses so much joy so easily. I love feeling that way.


Also brings back fond memories of school.


Click on it to enlarge.


Got it from here.

Excerpt from the other blog

"You know tomorrow's Monday again and I am dreading it. On one hand I feel and I know when you start off on a Monday you end up with a Thursday (you see I'm off on Friday's this semester!). And that is always my feeling on Monday mornings. That's how I pull through. What's hard though are the Sundays. They know there's a Monday waiting to spring at them. Really once the Monday starts it's ok. Sunday's, time is ticking by so fast. It makes me restless and nervous.That imaginary sound!..."

Guess what!

The UT vs Kansas State game

The Hook 'em Horns sign of UT. And a burnt orange UT band. Just for the heck of it.

My first American football game live! UT vs Kansas State.

The Longhorn players. They run across the field and kneel to pray. A bit like kabaddi, huh?

Longhorns supporters/fans in burnt orange and Kansas state in violet.

The sea of orange.

It was an experience. We lost, so a bit disappointing especially with all the hype of being Natinal Champions in 2005.

The stadium experience was pleasant. Nice weather. It even rained but we were didn't get wet because of the shade. Compared to cricket in India there were many people but also a lot of space so no stickiness. Like I said before no heat. No dirty litter all over the place. The T.V screen (the biggest in the U.S?) made it very convenient to watch the replays and the details which cannot be seen at such a distance. Less noisy as we couldn't take anything into the stadium that was noisy, security reasons you see.

Impressive band and formations. The U.S national anthem, The Star Spangled banner, started the game.

Joined the crowd with the 'Texas fight!' slogans and the UT song 'The eyes of Texas'. Oh! Also wore a UT burnt orange T-shirt. You must have noticed burnt orange and white are the colours (colors?) of UT.


Will I go again? No idea. Wouldn't mind but wouldn't spend so much money on it.




More info here:

About the Longhorn traditions.

About the Longhorn stadium.

¡Feliz Cumple!

Just realized, partly because of a friend, that last 5th of september my blog turned 2!!!

Significant that it was born on Teachers´ Day!

I have finished my dissertation. Yes, you can all rejoice now. I won´t trouble you any more.


Unfortunately my worries are endless. This time it´s due to the song by Charles Aznavour called Hier encore.

The well rendered English version of the song was sent to me by a friend.

One of the lines of the song is my next worry:

"The friends I made all seemed somehow to drift away."

Je, je, je...

Y yo pensaba que solo pasaba con los estadounidenses.

Definition of teacher in the context I am working in.

x
Teacher:

A person who cares enough about abusive and ungrateful teens to work for crappy pay and long hours while hoping someday students mature enough to realize how lucky they are to have someone who gives a shit about them.


Example: My teacher may have been a bitch sometimes, but she never gave up on me and I'm happy about that.


View source.

Spontaneous reaction to this

x

x

x

Immortal, invincible dreams

swarm around, intoxicating me.

Turning my very existence nightmarish

and yet I can't live without them.

They are my instinctive breath.

x

x

x

Me and my thoughts!!!

"Je pense, donc je suis" (more popularly known as "Cogito ergo sum") said Descartes.

In my case, I think too much therefore I am confused and lost. I can't stop thinking therefore I am an insomniac and I am going crazy.

KI KHUK KHUK IN

Didn't know I had such crazy friends. That's why they're fun to be with. They make me roll with laughter!

This is one of my other favourites :)

Talking aloud.

Doesn't feel different. Doesn't feel exciting. Feels so normal. Am I getting used to change?

My last few days in Hyderabad didn't feel like the last ones. I don't think I was mentally or emotionally prepared for this next step. Life is running at a high speed and just pulling me along with it. I am not complaining. If I hadn't got this opportunity I would have been. But really, I was not expecting it.

I feel like I'm on vacation. Feel like in a months time will be in Hyderabad again. Even saying goodbye to my friends was strange. I just know it didn't feel like a goodbye.

A new beginning is what motivates me. This is what I live for. A new world.

But as of now, I'm still transitioning. Haven't as yet digested the reality of my rebirth.

July, I'm home again. And this time to stay.

Goodbye yet again! This time with a difference.

xxxSeems like my life is full of goodbyes... or new beginnings. That's what makes it exciting and dynamic - and emotional. My heart doesn't get used to it. One would assume it's easier each time but no. Doesn't get more difficult either. Just that my heart has learnt and now recognizes the ache and deals with it. I get used to the ache, now bitter-sweet .

xxxAnyway, since I am unable and unwilling to cut the umbilical cord to school, I went back (yeah, once more). This time to bid farewell to my teachers. Won't see them for long.

xxxThose of you who haven't been to school for long, the timings have changed. It's 8:20 -14:40 now. So imagine my surprise when I reach there at 8:50 with the intention of attending Assembly (9:00 - 9:20) and don't see any children on the fields. Not one.

xxxI walk in a little rattled. Summer school? It isn't even hot. Holiday? My watch isn't working?

xxxI find out about the change of timings and get really disappointed that I won't be able to attend Assembly. But as it turns out, my luck, Shantatamma takes Assembly on Fridays for the 9th from 9:00 - 9:20! Yippee!

xxxWe sit in the room (no corridor, terrace assembly). She plays some Hindustani music as the children/students walk in. All of them sit quietly. Yes, no chitter-chatter.

xxxShe turns off the music and asks them to identify the instrument - sitar - and the artiste - Ravi Shankar. Once they reply, she's silent and everyone else too.

xxxShe suddenly looks up and says, "We have an old student here with us today." All heads turn to me and I fell a warm burning on my cheeks as all the blood rushes into them. "A.g, why don't you say something about yourself?" I nod, tomato red and cheeks scorching now. She adds, "In fact, why don't you take assembly today?" Not one to miss opportunities or run away from challenges and since I love impromptu action, I get up and walk to the front. Now I resemble a trembling tomato.

xxxWhat shall i say? Will they listen? Are they already making fun of me? They don't relate to me at all. I'm too old a senior. Will my voice shake? If they notice? Why are they staring at me with those small, black, beady, curious eyes.

xxxThings went well though. Made them guess my profession. Not engineering, nor medicine. They did not interest me. Spanish did. Asked them what they knew about Spain and Latin America. We spoke about football, bull fights, Santana and Shakira. I added some literature to it. And one student even knew Isabel Allende.

xxxThen Shantatamma took over. Praised me of course :D

xxxShe said people should realize there are other fields and other professions. I pointed out that I am not the only example. I said, "Look at the teachers around you. They have to deal with you." Got small laughs (very encouraging).

xxxFinally thanked Shantatamma for giving me the opportunity and the students for not making fun of me. A student, after much coercion from Shantatamma, got up and thanked me too.

xxxOn the whole, loved it. Amazing experience, feeling exhilarated. Warm memories of our school days came flooding back.

xxxAfter meeting all the teachers, saying good bye, I left school on cloud nine, grinning away to glory... actually, I haven't stopped grinning as yet.

x

x

P.s Painting by a Japanese artist.

Call for help!

Have hit the lowest of lows.

No concentration, lots of motivation but somehow am not motivated.

Things can only get better, right?

I know there's such a bright future. I can see it and feel it. Yet i'm not moving and time is.

Help me out. Don't call. It's such a distraction. Just leave comments, positive ones, please.

Animadme por favor... ya!


P.s Man! I sound really bad. It's not that bad but still leave hope please.

Inédito

This is basically to keep you busy reading something till the 1st of July. Wrote all the following more than a year back. At that point, it was too personal or incomplete... well, a lot of it is still incomplete but here you have it.

And please remember this.

Chennai to Madrid and back... and misery struck!

xxxxxThe city sweats. The reeking stench of 7 million bodies brushing past each other. The blend of sticky sweat from the hands, arms and shoulders of the masses is hanging in the air, adding to it’s putrid saltiness. You feel repulsive as you anticipate your bonding with them. Not yet though. Right now the heavily scented, sweet agarbati perfume of the flight clings to you nauseously and you feel a shooting ache seep through your teeth to your jaws, zipping through your eyes and pounding your temples over and over again...

Moments of loneliness…

… when you have no one to talk to in the train.
… when you have no one to cry with.
… when you want to go window shopping, when you want to share old xxmemories with that someone and they’re not there.
… when you don’t find a hug, a real hug.
… when you badly need and don’t find an ¨I love you¨ .

:D

When you’re all alone and a laugh escapes you, that’s a true laugh.

Happiness...

… when you cry uncontrollably, shedding your burdens, feeling lighter and fall asleep.

A Olga y a Teresa

He conocido a muchos y llegaré a conocer a más. Sin embargo, sois vosotras a las que conocí en mi primer viaje a España. El viaje de más ilusión y el más difícil para mí hasta ahora. Un lugar desconocido y dos almas hermosas para darme la bienvenida, para ofrecer a shoulder to cry on, para compartir lágrimas y sonrisas… y cotilleos :p

Tristemente al fin sólo para despedirme de ellas.

Aún así, sé que estaréis a mi lado, y yo a lo vuestro, para siempre.

Os quiero mucho.

A Jörg

Mi querido Jörg:

xxxxxxxxxNo lo puedo creer... que no te voy a ver jamás en mi vida; que no te voy a dar ni un abrazo, ni un beso más; que no vamos a dar otro paseíto por el bosque. El té y el café que me hacías por las mañanas. Tus cuentos. Tu música.

xxxxxxxxxLamento no haber podido pasar más tiempo contigo, a tu lado. Estoy muy agradecida por haberte conocido y haberte visto otra vez antes de...

xxxxxxxxx¿Qué es la vida? No lo sé. Quizás lo sabrás tú ahora.

xxxxxxxxxTe echo de menos muchísimo y te recordaré para siempre.

xxxxxxxxxMi querido Jörg, estés donde estés, te doy un abrazo muy fuerte. Espero que por fin descanses, que descanses en paz.


13 de junio de 2006
Alcalá de Henaresxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxa.g

Dissertation... deadline... so not available till... ¿July?

Coming Soon!!!

Harrassment at the Passport Office, Hyderabad

New links:

Guerrero and Zogam.


:)

And it rained!

I love Hyderabad when it rains. The heavy grey clouds hovering over the city. It's a pity photos don't capture the cool, fresh breeze, the refreshing smell of wet mud, the soothing sound of the rain, the laughter of children playing in the rain. It pushes you to jump out, join them and scream out in joy.

Back to school

Went to school the other day, on my birthday.

Always feels good to go back. Lots of memories flood back and the best thing the teachers still remember you :)

Had lunch with them and was witness to an interesting 'Vijayalaxmi teacher style' conversation. Was rolling with laughter. It all began when the teachers were discussing that the 10th class students wanted to spend a night in school. So here's the conversation:

Zainab Ali teacher: Where will they sleep?

Vijayalaxmi teacher: Who is going to sleep?

Zainab Ali teacher: And what about the mosquitoes?

Vijayalaxmi teacher: They will sleep!

I remember the time our batch spent a night in school, we had a bonfire and all. Would love to do that again.

Met Shantathamma, who tried to impress upon me how the work I'm doing isn't significant at all and how I should start a school. How everyone should start a school. I appreciate her advice and concern. Most of all, I am flattered by her confidence in me. Start a school! Not as easy at it sounds, is it?

Hmmm... I miss school. Thank god I can go back whenever I want to.

Hi!

Will only be able to post after the 26th, so please bear with me once again. Meanwhile comtemplate one of my favourite works: Muchacha en la ventana (Girl at the window) by Salvador Dalí.

Love,

a.g.

A game!

Hey!

Check out the game i added at the bottom of the page. i love it. it's addictive.

Enjoy...

:)

By the way, the objective is try to "flood" the board with a single color in less than 25 steps.

Hyderabad:

Where are we now?

Well, good question.

Routine, routine, back to routine.

Last week we organized a cultural programme which to our pleasant surprise went off very well. It was absolutely worth all the sleepless nights, bad moods, tensions... A thrilling sense of achievement is what i feel.

Now i could do with a little rest before moving on to something new.

Just want to record my thanks here to all those students who were always there inspite of my nastiness and without whom the cultural programme would not have happened. Next sem again?

I'm also very satisfied with my students because this time 17 (!!!) of them got an A! I can clearly see the effort they are making and it feels so rewarding.

So basically, and as usual, I'm smiling blissfully.

Still want more though.

Incredible ignorance!

How come they also have the best brains?




There are more, many, many more videos like this so don't tell me that this is a highly edited, manipulated video.

An update

Have been asked to update my blog...













...so here you have it.

I´m becoming what I´ve always asked other friends not to become... a workaholic!

Para una persona especial

Hay poca gente sincera, inocente, positiva y buena.

Poca gente que entra en tu vida, la llena de amor y felicidad y deja huellas para siempre.

Jaume eres una. Cuando estoy contigo siento tu paz.

Gracias por todo.

Hasta la próxima.

Un beso,

Thoughts on the balcony

x

Life would be so much nicer

with background music.

x

You'd always know

what state of mind you're in!

Desayunos en el balcón

For the archives

x

x

Proof of books being cleared.

Amma´s dream come true ;)

New Years´ and the surprise party

We invite you...

The Hyderabad Choral Society meets every Thu. at 7 p.m. at Vidyaranya. New members are welcome. For more information contact 23736512 or 66101030 or 9849451794.

Generally...

Happy Republic Day!

Went for the flag hoisting today. Sang the national anthem. Felt sweetly patriotic. Reminisced about Republic Day Celebrations in my childhood. All the games and sweets. All my kutti friends.

About work, am thoroughly enjoying it. I'm teaching a beginners batch and once a week i teach the diploma evening students. I love it.

Ofcourse, most of the methodology i learnt falls flat. With 52 students it isn't posible to do group work and teach a substantial amount in 2 hours. Try it. The advantages are that Indian students are quite used to being a grupo numeroso. But the disadvantages are many more. We go very slow. No individual attention. All the students don´t get to participate so the shy/timid student loses out. Correction of home work is dificilísimo. Correction in general is difficult since there isn´t any time for individual correction. The classroom is arranged in rows since any other arrangement does not accomodate 52 students. And many, many more. You got any?

Anyway...

I proudly announce that I've joined the Hyderabad Choral Society. It was one of the few things i wanted to do.

So basically very busy... and inspite of everything happy. The best thing is that feel tired at the end of the day. So I get a good nights sleep.

Apologies

will post after the 18th of Jan. Deadlines to reach till then. Please pray for me!

Y T, te escribo la semana que viene. Ay, ¡cuánto te echo de menos!