White Mischief

We had a guest for two days – Schnapps, our adorably regal cocker spaniel fathered eight cute puppies two months ago. As the rules of mating dogs state, we got one of the puppies – unfortunately with a zoo already running at home (Schnapps, Shaurya, Shaurya’s dad – my brother and some fish) there was no way we could have kept “chicklet” without risking our sanity! So it was that when the uber-adorable puppy had to be given away (luckily, a friend has adopted him, so I’ll get to meet him regularly)…

Chicklet, as I started calling him is the most affectionate puppy and the first dog to enter our home, who was following ME around and not Bhaiyya. I melted within seconds when he wriggled his plump little body onto my foot, curled up and fell asleep there! He was following me around everywhere, would mewl and wait outside the bathroom, wake me up in the morning by nibbling on my fingers – ofcourse he also had my work chalked up by his incessant urinating! I fell in love anyway…miss the little chap scampering around our home!

- Off to Tinsel town for nearly a fortnight. Officially, to attend a “Stage Pédagogique” and get trained rigorously as a debutante professeur du réseau Alliance Française, which shall hopefully give me a helping hand up that ladder of professional progress. Unofficially, for twelve days of complete freedom and letting down my hair! :-) There’s loads of people to meet, tons of catching up to do, crazy amount of fun to be had – shall toss in some serious back-breaking work as well and voilà the Quintessential Bombay Life that I miss all the time! Now that’s what I call living the life!

The Constant Gardener (2005)

I went for the film like an ignorant viewer – I hadn’t heard of the film, didn’t know it was based on the novel by John Le Carré and definitely didn’t know that it had won accolades at the Oscars. It was the opening film for the European Film festival organized jointly by the Alliance Française de Poona, Max Mueller Bhavan - Pune and the British Council - Pune at the Natinal Film Archives of India, Law college road, Pune – and that’s all I knew about it.

In a way my ignorance turned out to be for the good, since I went with absolutely no expectations and definitely no idea what the film was about! I walked away silenced and quite disturbed by the film’s portrayal of the immense betrayal and the double-standards that continue to be practiced by the “colonizers” against the “colonized” even though I was well aware that it still isn’t an equal world. The extent to which the “third-world” countries are exploited by the super-powers (in this case against the backdrop of the powerful pharmaceutical industry and a drugs being developed to combat killer diseases) has been brought to light with an almost brutal efficiency – the silences and the vast landscapes of Africa bring to fore the stark reality that we all pretend doesn’t exist. Even now, weeks after seeing the film I can’t obliterate the image of the white birds circling over a bleak terrain characterized by dry bushes, fecund swamps and a wildness that doesn’t even spare its human inhabitants. Even now I get goose bumps when the strains of the haunting African soundtrack flash through my mind. Yet, despite this impact the film has had on me, I know I’m not going to do anything about it, that I shall move onto the next topic of interest and this too shall fade away forgotten in the pursuit of more inane matters. And I think to myself – am I any better than those that colonize(d), oppress(ed) and exploit(ed)?

The film is definitely worth watching for its brilliant treatment of subject and for the acting par excellence by Ralph Fiennes – I am, however, not convinced by recognition Rachel Weisz got for her role that made its impact more by its absence than its presence. The character certainly deserves a mention, but in terms of acting – from my point of view, she was barely around to act and it certainly wasn’t exceptional! Ralph Fiennes, on the other hand, is superlative, as usual!

Instant Gratification

Oh come on, don’t give me those looks! Haven’t you seen all those issues of Cosmopolitan and the like, screaming about how instant gratification is the thing in today’s world of instant-this and instant-that? So, anyways, since I need some instant mood boosters right now, I’m going to talk about instant pick-me-ups (talking about my mood here people, rein in that imagination!)

• Head-banging to Bon Jovi with the volume at an ear-splitting level that is sure to make the neighbours raise their eyes heaven-wards praying for deliverance! (they were probably doing that this morning, since the song playing was Born to Be My Baby by the one and only!)
• Waking up at the crack of dawn to the sight of the sun-rays piercing through the cottony clouds, the smell of freshly watered earth and the sound of nothing else but the fan whirring in the room.
• Slipping into my oldest and most comfortable pair of jeans – yep the same ones that hug my body so faithfully and have that green spot right below the knee, marking me as a messy painter. They may look like they need to be shown the way to the trash-can but no other pair makes me feel sexier ;-)
• Being the recipient of that one comment of appreciation in the middle of a frustrating day – nothing like a little ego massage to make me feel a lot better!
• Switch on the television to find one of my all-time favourite numbers playing on VH1 (it was King of Wishful Thinking by Go West, this morning)…
• Escape a boring (yawn) session of food/clothes/relative gossip talk at a soporific dinner party, to a conversation with one of my wicked buddies. Oh, I’ve done this so often!
• Being gifted flowers – even a random bunch of wild flowers. Actually better those, than boring roses! *hint hint* (again this happened very recently, so happiness again!)
• Shopping – it doesn’t have to be a truck-load of bags, even walking out of a store with a new set of fun, sexy lingerie, or a new book (don’t you just love the look and feel of a new book that hasn’t been read as yet?), or even some new stationary (I admire my new books for weeks before I can finally convince myself to use them)…retail therapy rocks. Totally. (Had picked up all three last week, so imagine how indulged I was feeling then!)
• Lifting my head from dreary accounting work, at the sound of my phone beeping and read a message from my one of my favourite people.
• Last but not the least - sinking my teeth into a Cognac or a Cointreau filled Lindt chocolate, letting the liqueur flood my mouth as the chocolate slowly melts on my tongue. Sheer ecstasy within seconds.

Recent Film :- Astérix et Obélix: Misson Cléopatre – the one with Monica Belluci (as Cléopatre), Gérard Depardieu and a whole bunch of very good French actors. A totally fun film, and a must watch for Astérix fans. Make sure you go with someone who enjoys Astérix and that particular brand of humour.
Current Books:- Bloodlines by Fred D’Aiguar and Skin and Other Stories by Roald Dahl.
Current Music:- Free Your Mind by En Vogue (remember them?)
Current Mood:- Strange 'coz I'm in a limbo between downright melancholy and a completely-abnormal elation of sorts.

PS Belated but heartfelt greetings for the festive season to all in Blog-world!

My Current Wallpaper

Self-Evaluation It Seems...

“Why B.A? Why M.A? Why Literature? Do you want to become a teacher/lecturer?”

These questions have dogged me ever since I decided I’m going to take up Arts, and specialize in English Literature. And I’ve doggedly dodged the questions refusing to satisfy anyone’s curiosity or appease their frustrated attempts at making me consider more lucrative career options. My decision to take up French was met with some relief, for most people thought I was aiming for the corporate world and the well-paying field of interpretation. Yet, through-out my under-graduate years and even during post-graduate studies I never, in my wildest (or most sober, if you please) dreams, imagined I’d end up in the teaching profession. I knew I’d do something related to Language and Culture, but what exactly, I wasn’t sure. Frankly back then, even I didn’t know the answer. So when I took up teaching, most people around me weren’t as surprised as I was (specially since I started with the dreaded kid’s course)!

Yesterday was the last day of my fifth session with Alliance Française de Poona. I’ve had a rollicking time this session – it was more of fun and sharing my knowledge, than actual teaching/working. Today, I got a call from an ex-student from my weekend batch, asking me if I’d be teaching a 1B in the next session and I burst out laughing on the phone. The current batch has been asking me the same thing for the last few days – initially I thought they were just asking because of the comfort level that is attained by the end of a session between a teacher and students, which makes you want to continue in the same group – but now I’m beginning to think that perhaps I am a likeable professor, irrespective of the fact that I do make them write a lot. And when I say a lot, I mean a lot!

I don’t think I fit any of the stereotypes one has about teachers, except maybe the fact that I am bespectacled ;-) and that I was a sincere student who had an astonishing 90% attendance in college and expects the same from everyone else ;-) Yeah well, I have high expectations from the world in general! Seriously though, I was thinking about my classes and realized that with my appearance, my attire (faded jeans with glass-paint stains!), my attitude and my antics in class (I talk to myself, I tap my feet and swing my hips when I’m teaching them a song and I threaten to throw my pen-knife at them when they make silly mistakes), it’s a little wonder that I have such an easy, relaxed relationship with my students. Plus I’ve lost my cool only thrice and am generally quite lenient, since I think my students are old enough to decide where their priorities lie and thus old enough to choose between responsibility and discipline and the opposite.

I attended an Alliance Française organized cultural event yesterday with some of my students (a Nouveau-Cirque group that calls itself “Méli-Mélo” )…my brother was also there with his partner and after the event, they both had one thing to say – that they would never have guessed I was their teacher, not their friend, if not for the fact, that most of them address me as “Ma’am” (atleast the ones younger to me – still can’t get them to call me Mademoiselle)! I’m not quite sure how to react to it, but I do know that it feels nice when my students stay in touch and want to continue with me as their teacher. I’m guessing that means I rock as a teacher. I think I’d give myself an 8 on 10 ;-)

P.S The current batch has done quite well, making me even prouder of them, than I already was, after having replaced a colleague for 4 days and walking away from that class horrified at their lack of comprehension and required level of fluency, not to mention complete lack of discipline!

P.P.S The Nouveau Cirque performance was amazing – I’m not sure I managed to interpret it correctly (the main theme being the delicate balance and transition from childhood to adulthood and the over-all absurdity of our existence), but in terms of performance it was a really well-executed and entertaining display of acrobatics, gymnastics combined with dance and mime. The backdrop of the Shaniwar-wada fort highlighted the absurdity of their act, though the acoustics could have been better had it been in a closed auditorium or else at least quieter environs, not bang in the center of the old city and one of the most traffic-congested areas of the city.

Current Music :- Pretty Child by Indus Creed.
Current Book :- Nearly done with Perfume – it’s made my hair stand at ends, yet drawn me to it, like a moth is drawn to fire. It’s definitely not a book that you can read, without any kind of reaction. Perhaps it wouldn’t qualify as high-brow literature (one never knows), but considering the fact that I’ve not been very impressed by most works that are hailed by literary critics these days, I’d rather read something of this sort, than well…other literary trash! *chortling with wicked mirth*
Current Mood :- Satisfied.

Je Suis Contente :-)

At long last, I’m sitting in the peaceful haven of own environs, in front of my computer, with my own headphones clamped firmly into my ears, crooning along to the familiar tunes of Françoise Hardy’s “Tous les garcons et les filles de mon âge” – I could just about sink into an oblivion, so intense and deep-sated is the satisfaction right now.

It’s been a strange, strange three weeks deprived of the computer and thus continuous connection with the “other” world, as it were. Three weeks of enforced isolation and distance from what I considered my only outlet. And this close at the heels of my decision to distance myself physically and emotionally from two people whom I’d grown to love a lot. Expected to feel adrift, lost and lonely (more so, since guardian angel Kitana caught that flight to La France – and I do, so miss her!) – but strangely enough what I found was the peace and content I’d been craving with desperation. It’s been three weeks of re-acquainting myself with the quintessential Geetanjali. It’s been three weeks of learning to love myself again, of letting myself let go and do as I feel. Most importantly it’s been three weeks of being in control of my life and making things happen for me…and of smiling from within, once again.

Current Mood :- Optimistic. Light-hearted.
Current Music :- Hasta La Vista – Mc Solaar (merci encore une fois Kitana – j’ai finalement écouté les chansons que tu m’as donnée le dernière fois que j’étais chez toi. Ma pirate préfèrée..je t’embrasse ma chère !)
Current Book :- Perfume by Patrick Suskind (a most riveting read vis-à-vis the descriptions of perfumes, as well as the hair-raisingly bizarre plot)

Grihasthashrama

Friday 29th September 2006

I woke up with an uncanny feeling that something's changed...well not really, just woke up to see plenty of missed calls and messages from people who wanted to wish me at midnight, but forgot my eccentric habit of putting my phone on silent. I'm now 25 years old - a quarter of my life has whizzed past me, and I'm still not half as intelligent as I'd like to be, nor have I found what I"m looking for...and then there are those who remind me I've entered Grihasthashrama and should think of "settling down" - *puke*

I thought I had a nice materialistic gift-list which included Anne Hathway's wardrobe from the film The Devil Wears Prada, books, music, flowers, chocolates...but that morning as I read my messages and spoke to my friends, I realised all I really wanted was Papa...obviously not a gift anyone in this world is capable of giving me...

Didn't want to do anything special, but three days later, I'm still reeling under the whole Birthday after-effect. Messages, phone calls, cards, cakes (yes in plural, five to be precise), flowers, visits from unexpected and expected quarters, gifts, lunch treats - everyone (from family, to friends, to students) seems to have worked over-time to make this birthday special...am still recovering from all of it...

Update :- Registered for and started DFA (remember I spoke of it earlier?) last week. This time I didn't tell anyone till after my first class! LOL!

Request :- Am devoid of computer and this the internet, so please bear with my prolonged silences in blogger world and elsewhere on the internet.

Current Book : Toujours Provence by Peter Mayle (a continuation of the Provence series, one of which I read and reviewed some time back)