So on my exchange program to Canada (Montreal!!!) i made my first blunder just a day or 2 after i had checked in.
Montreal and Toronto have different area codes. Montreal is 514 and Toronto is 416. The oncampus residence has free local phone calling service (local meant only Montreal and i never knew it before!) which required dialing a 9 before any other numbers (9 514...) So, i thought il give a call to my aunt and say that i am ok.
Being a computer-worm (oh well i was sort of addicted to chatting and facebook at that time, so i was glued to the laptop) I was dialing the toronto number 941... but what i hadnt noticed was i had dialled 911! Fortunately i realised it on time and hung up before anyone can pick the phone. Triumphant that I had succeeded in not embarassing myself and getting into trouble I relaxed back into the chair and yes busily chatting away...
Tap tap tap so i heard some sounds. Got a lil freaked out cos the wooden floors make similar noise and sometimes when no one else is walking i still hear the noise! (Later on i realized the walls were too thin that you can even hear the floors creaking in the next room.) So anyways i ignored thinking i imagined the knocking. Then again i heard and this time i thought it was my roomie. (ya for the first few weeks we'd be polite and knock at our own rooms instead of barging in!)
So I yell out "Come in". Still no sign of anyone. I open the door and i see a red/ pink faced man, panting outside the door. He looked like a police (actually he was the security officer and i was too new to the place that i didn't know the difference between police and security guard!)
I was speechless when he asked me whether i had called 911... Of course i did but then i was very sure no one answered it. It couldn't have even been 5 mins since the call and this guy is already here at my door step. I felt like a total idiot. I so hoped there'd be a earthquake and id be swallowed in or had the powers to turn invincible. (I like the latter. Imagine all the things i could do... stalk a hot guy :P)
So anyways he gave a big sigh of relief, accepted my trucks of apologies and left with advices like i can always call for help.
Conclusion? Continue to make stupid blunders even after changing countries temporarily.
*sigh*
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Lions and tigers
Yes, its a serious issue. But, belonging to the minority doesn't really help.
Theres a range of view about it. But, what people don't realize is that the more we have to keep dealing with it the more it affects us psychologically. The us i mean here are those who have had to face the consequences directly or indirectly. For eg there are some who in their entire 20 something life had never had house checks done, neither be stopped at check points for the simple reason of being a minority.
I don't mean they should be treated likewise but i mean why treat us different?
Another interesting fact is how stupid some of the people belonging to the majority can get. Just because you are part of the minority does NOT mean that you are part of the liberators. Its not like i had a choice to be born in another family. Heck, if i could i would ask god to move my entire family else where in the world so that i can still be born to the same family.
The saddest thing is that some incidents (comparatively minor to those had to deal with really unpleasant incidents) have left some bitter memories that makes me no longer want the country i was born in. When most friends of mine return home I prefer and enjoy staying back in an unknown foreign country. The only thing that wants me to go back is my family and friends. If they too shift there is no more a reason to go back. This is just not my view Im sure many others want the same. Then, the government can have what it wants where the majority will rule and be the only rulers.
Would you prefer to live in a land of stress or in a land of discrimination and fear?
Id rather be alive and deal with stress wisely than fear of painful death.
Sometimes people talk of peace. We want peace, we do things together blah blah.
Hellooo meet Reality! How can you want peace without correcting the fundamental wrongs?
If the government really wants to have peace why cant it win the hearts of minority such that the minority people themselves will support the government and end the war. For a start they could change the laws that any Srilankan citizen belonging to either of the 4 races stand a chance for presidency.
And i hear people say: Im sorry this is never going to happen in this lifetime!
Or even start at minor scale by representing all the communities in the annual students night ya?!
But i know one thing the country would do. That is if i ever become one of the great achievers in the world every tom dick and harry in Srilanka will claim me as one of their own. But, Id rather give the praise to the country that aided me in my needy time than the country that chased me away!
Theres a range of view about it. But, what people don't realize is that the more we have to keep dealing with it the more it affects us psychologically. The us i mean here are those who have had to face the consequences directly or indirectly. For eg there are some who in their entire 20 something life had never had house checks done, neither be stopped at check points for the simple reason of being a minority.
I don't mean they should be treated likewise but i mean why treat us different?
Another interesting fact is how stupid some of the people belonging to the majority can get. Just because you are part of the minority does NOT mean that you are part of the liberators. Its not like i had a choice to be born in another family. Heck, if i could i would ask god to move my entire family else where in the world so that i can still be born to the same family.
The saddest thing is that some incidents (comparatively minor to those had to deal with really unpleasant incidents) have left some bitter memories that makes me no longer want the country i was born in. When most friends of mine return home I prefer and enjoy staying back in an unknown foreign country. The only thing that wants me to go back is my family and friends. If they too shift there is no more a reason to go back. This is just not my view Im sure many others want the same. Then, the government can have what it wants where the majority will rule and be the only rulers.
Would you prefer to live in a land of stress or in a land of discrimination and fear?
Id rather be alive and deal with stress wisely than fear of painful death.
Sometimes people talk of peace. We want peace, we do things together blah blah.
Hellooo meet Reality! How can you want peace without correcting the fundamental wrongs?
If the government really wants to have peace why cant it win the hearts of minority such that the minority people themselves will support the government and end the war. For a start they could change the laws that any Srilankan citizen belonging to either of the 4 races stand a chance for presidency.
And i hear people say: Im sorry this is never going to happen in this lifetime!
Or even start at minor scale by representing all the communities in the annual students night ya?!
But i know one thing the country would do. That is if i ever become one of the great achievers in the world every tom dick and harry in Srilanka will claim me as one of their own. But, Id rather give the praise to the country that aided me in my needy time than the country that chased me away!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Stunned
It was one of those days that i made poor decisions. I wouldn't regret the decisions i made that day for, afterall i did enjoy myself.
I visited a friend of mine quite late in the night. And therefore, left late enough that public transport had ceased.We took a taxi back home and being the last person to get down i had to pay for the taxi fare. For some reason the machine wouldn't accept my Atm card and thus i had no ways of paying the taxi fare other than call one of my friends for money.
Not many people are awake at 4am in the morning. So, i called each and every known person in my residence hoping that someone will pick up their phone. It was then that I realised i couldnt find the name of a certain someone in my phone directory. So, while the taxi guy was waiting I was definitely shocked that my ex's name was missing in the contacts.
I couldnt remember the day I had deleted it. Even worse was that i never realised it was missing for days. For a moment or two i sat there (still in the taxi) staring at the phone. However, the taxi man was getting quite annoyed and my automatic nervous system didnt fail me as i dialed his number like i was dialing my atm pin number.
(I tend to have this sudden loss of memory when i try to recall my pin numbers but at the cash withdrawing machine, the numbers key in perfectly like an automatic response)
Anyways, ultimately it was another friend of mine who came for rescue as no one was reachable.
Its then that i couldnt help thinking do all relationships end up easily forgotten? I know i loved him very much when we were in the relationship and due to unavoidable circumstances things had to end. Even when it did i had a tough time moving on. But the stunning part was how was i able to forget him completely that he is not even in my chat list. I would speak to him, msg him or chat to him almost everyday before and after we were together. My definition of moving on was to get over those special feelings for the certain someone but still be able to care. Though now it appears that I might have even forgotten that he existed in those couple of days.
I cant help but doubt love now. If it is so possible to forget (though i am glad, I do not want to end up single for the rest of my life!) then how do you believe in one's words that "I will love you and care for you for the rest of my life".
Don't you have to remember the person to love and care?
Maybe I am wrong. Maybe if you do love the person you wouldnt let things get in the way of keeping in touch and hence allow the possibility of forgetting the person. Anyways, I do believe in things happen for the best. So maybe I am really ready to move on...
I visited a friend of mine quite late in the night. And therefore, left late enough that public transport had ceased.We took a taxi back home and being the last person to get down i had to pay for the taxi fare. For some reason the machine wouldn't accept my Atm card and thus i had no ways of paying the taxi fare other than call one of my friends for money.
Not many people are awake at 4am in the morning. So, i called each and every known person in my residence hoping that someone will pick up their phone. It was then that I realised i couldnt find the name of a certain someone in my phone directory. So, while the taxi guy was waiting I was definitely shocked that my ex's name was missing in the contacts.
I couldnt remember the day I had deleted it. Even worse was that i never realised it was missing for days. For a moment or two i sat there (still in the taxi) staring at the phone. However, the taxi man was getting quite annoyed and my automatic nervous system didnt fail me as i dialed his number like i was dialing my atm pin number.
(I tend to have this sudden loss of memory when i try to recall my pin numbers but at the cash withdrawing machine, the numbers key in perfectly like an automatic response)
Anyways, ultimately it was another friend of mine who came for rescue as no one was reachable.
Its then that i couldnt help thinking do all relationships end up easily forgotten? I know i loved him very much when we were in the relationship and due to unavoidable circumstances things had to end. Even when it did i had a tough time moving on. But the stunning part was how was i able to forget him completely that he is not even in my chat list. I would speak to him, msg him or chat to him almost everyday before and after we were together. My definition of moving on was to get over those special feelings for the certain someone but still be able to care. Though now it appears that I might have even forgotten that he existed in those couple of days.
I cant help but doubt love now. If it is so possible to forget (though i am glad, I do not want to end up single for the rest of my life!) then how do you believe in one's words that "I will love you and care for you for the rest of my life".
Don't you have to remember the person to love and care?
Maybe I am wrong. Maybe if you do love the person you wouldnt let things get in the way of keeping in touch and hence allow the possibility of forgetting the person. Anyways, I do believe in things happen for the best. So maybe I am really ready to move on...
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
A thing called Arranged Marriage...
What i thought was too early for marriage was proved to be wrong by my friends...
Like getting a degree, they just thought "hey lets get married and increase the population!"
Ofcourse at one time or the other we have given a thought to marriage and like most people i also want to fall in love and marry.
But, there is something else called "Arranged Marriages". To most people from where i come from, it was something that happened during our fathers and mothers generation and to the rest; they might not even have heard of it!
Arranged marriages are something like where your parents hook you up with a man/ woman instead of your friends. They look at all sort of criteria starting from family backgrounds to bank balances :p And yes, once you are hooked there is no turning back as it is not a date thats arranged but a wedding!
Years ago and sometimes even now in developing countries such marriages are forced upon the kids by their parents. However, now, i believe it is different. The reasons can be many...maybe for the parents wish (yes, there are many of us who will jump into a well rather than talk back/ hurt our parents) or just too fed-up of waiting for the "right" one or even dating itself...
Getting married to a complete stranger could appear "sick" (that's what one of my friends would like to call it), scary or even stupid. But, lately i seem to see another side to this thing called arranged marriage.
Another side?
The whole thing about marriages is that we want to live happily with that one special person. Love him/ her and to be loved back. So, does it matter as to how we fall in love? But that you are in love. Many would argue back saying that once you are married you are forced to be in love.
Maybe true. But, did we not choose him/her first? There should have been some basis to choose him and hence a sign of what i call "liking".
Anyways my point being, isn't it interesting to have a married life where you get to know the person day by day? And who knows you might even fall in love day by day without your own knowledge. Imagine, in love marriages you know your partner years before you get married and by that time you know everything you need to know (atleast the good side). [It somehow sounds a little boring.]
So while the "honeymooning" period has diminished/ ended in love marriages it probably has just begun for arranged marriages.
In addition, you enter love marriages with some expectation and hence expect the partner to fulfill that expectation. However, the catch is no one person is same and perfect.And a change could lead to disappointment.
However, in arranged you hardly know the person and may have even imagined that your life is doomed. To your sweet surprise it would have turned out better than you expected.
Ofcourse these are my opinion and i am no expert in marriages or love. Neither am i settling in for any sort of marriages at this moment!
Like getting a degree, they just thought "hey lets get married and increase the population!"
Ofcourse at one time or the other we have given a thought to marriage and like most people i also want to fall in love and marry.
But, there is something else called "Arranged Marriages". To most people from where i come from, it was something that happened during our fathers and mothers generation and to the rest; they might not even have heard of it!
Arranged marriages are something like where your parents hook you up with a man/ woman instead of your friends. They look at all sort of criteria starting from family backgrounds to bank balances :p And yes, once you are hooked there is no turning back as it is not a date thats arranged but a wedding!
Years ago and sometimes even now in developing countries such marriages are forced upon the kids by their parents. However, now, i believe it is different. The reasons can be many...maybe for the parents wish (yes, there are many of us who will jump into a well rather than talk back/ hurt our parents) or just too fed-up of waiting for the "right" one or even dating itself...
Getting married to a complete stranger could appear "sick" (that's what one of my friends would like to call it), scary or even stupid. But, lately i seem to see another side to this thing called arranged marriage.
Another side?
The whole thing about marriages is that we want to live happily with that one special person. Love him/ her and to be loved back. So, does it matter as to how we fall in love? But that you are in love. Many would argue back saying that once you are married you are forced to be in love.
Maybe true. But, did we not choose him/her first? There should have been some basis to choose him and hence a sign of what i call "liking".
Anyways my point being, isn't it interesting to have a married life where you get to know the person day by day? And who knows you might even fall in love day by day without your own knowledge. Imagine, in love marriages you know your partner years before you get married and by that time you know everything you need to know (atleast the good side). [It somehow sounds a little boring.]
So while the "honeymooning" period has diminished/ ended in love marriages it probably has just begun for arranged marriages.
In addition, you enter love marriages with some expectation and hence expect the partner to fulfill that expectation. However, the catch is no one person is same and perfect.And a change could lead to disappointment.
However, in arranged you hardly know the person and may have even imagined that your life is doomed. To your sweet surprise it would have turned out better than you expected.
Ofcourse these are my opinion and i am no expert in marriages or love. Neither am i settling in for any sort of marriages at this moment!
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Voices in her head
She cant stop thinking of him.
She keeps up just for his call.
Did he ever call?
It did ring the first day. It made her crave for more calls.
Does he know?
Does she know he doesnt know?
She wants to change for him.
She wants to meet him as often. But...
Why "But"?
Hes never there. When hes there shes not there.
Didnt she throw him away a few years back?
She did.
Then why now?
She doesnt know the answer
He didnt notice her for the past few years?Then why him?
She doesnt know the answer.
Can she imagine him and her "together"?
She knows its a big mismatch.
She knows they can never clique
Then why?
She doesnt know the answer.
Then what does she know???
*irritated*
All she knows is...
Shes falling for him... deeply.
She keeps up just for his call.
Did he ever call?
It did ring the first day. It made her crave for more calls.
Does he know?
Does she know he doesnt know?
She wants to change for him.
She wants to meet him as often. But...
Why "But"?
Hes never there. When hes there shes not there.
Didnt she throw him away a few years back?
She did.
Then why now?
She doesnt know the answer
He didnt notice her for the past few years?Then why him?
She doesnt know the answer.
Can she imagine him and her "together"?
She knows its a big mismatch.
She knows they can never clique
Then why?
She doesnt know the answer.
Then what does she know???
*irritated*
All she knows is...
Shes falling for him... deeply.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Obession 1.5 - Dolphins
Im crazy about dolphins. Got a huge dolphin huggy back home plus got a small one here too. It might be cos i am Pisces. They are such graceful, fun creatures. Though let me tell you im not the only one crazy about dolphins.
One day, I went along with one of my friends to his lab. It was quite late so no one was there and just like any other curious little girls... (alrite i was anyway known for my curiosity even back in school.) So, i go snooping around first in his cubicle then to his supervisor's cubicle.
Note: I did NOT digg into any of her files or any of her personal belongings.
Guess what i see?! Her entire cubicle is decorated with dolphin stuffs. She had a cute ruler (yes, how can a ruler be cute???) but it was! Because it was one of those pyramid shaped ones with this blue liquid filled to half of its volume. And in it were cute little plastic dolphins floating around. She had other things too. A calender with dolphin pics. I think an ornament with dolphins. Then, her screen saver was dolphins and i believe, her wallpaper could have been dolphins too! Anyways, suddenly his supervisor became my best buddy... haha!
Though i might have been hers worst for snooping around in her cubicle.
Anyways we didnt stay that long. We had come so that my friend can take a couple of papers he was working on.
At the moment my perfect tattoo would be a dolphin.
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