America’s most lucrative export is cultural media. One of the many phenomena that originated in America and spread to the world is Hip Hop music. I’m certain that Hip Hop has been in India since its first début thirty years ago. I’m starting to see a new trend in how hip hop artists enter India. American rappers not only performing for India’s huge hungry market … Continue reading Akon Turns Hip Hop Hindi
Cleaning my laundey in a bucket I realized, I can wash out the smell easily, but I can’t remove to the stains. There are a choices however, accept them as lessons learned, buy new clothing, or wear both! My old favorite shirt and new underwear. In this balance, I’ll find what fits best. Continue reading The Bucket
There is a hollow in the students that we can not fill from outside. We could never bring their loved ones back, change their wombs, or clear away the dirt that they live in. They hunger for a life without unloved loneliness, the shame of poverty, and the sorrow of loss. Though we love them, our love is a meager meal, keeping them alive but … Continue reading A Meager Meal
One of the reasons that my writing became infrequent is because I gradually formed a comfort zone. I guess it is human nature to craft a comfort zone out of any situation. This nature probably leads to extremes like Stockholm syndrome and missing prison. Although many foreign writings about India focus on the initial shock, for the finches that do adapt / survive there is … Continue reading The Comfort Zone
I arrived at the Delhi domestic terminal after a breezy flight from Bangalore. I had to wait over an hour for my friend the Maharaja SriHarsh to arrive. Waiting on a bench looking over the baggage claim I experienced India’s pageantry. The first plane arrived from Kashmir, I saw men and women with heavy winter blankets tossed over their shoulders, rustic Muslim breads and veils … Continue reading The Maharaja of Delhi Sri Sriharsh
I picked up a copy of the magazine Brahmin Today: What Every Brahim Should Read No Matter Where They Are. The caste system is a difficult part of Indian society. Conversion to Islam, Buddhism, or Christianity gets you out of it, but then promptly corners you into a minority. My students with their brilliance and brilliant smiles all come from the lowest and untouchable castes. … Continue reading Intercaste Love Story
I havent been able to write in the last twelve days, because I am been a bit busy. The major thing that I did was visit with Rebecca in both Chennai and Bangalore. In Tamil Nadu Becca and I visited a model organic farm for twenty-four pleasant hours. We ate food cooked over a wood-fire stove, climbed in the surrounding hills, and observed nice in … Continue reading Dec 25th to Jan. 7th: Catch up
1st grade and I dance to Bum Bum Bole Continue reading Having Too Much Fun
Walking absent-mindly past a construction site my usual slack jawed D- Face was stupified into a Mr. Bean like gasp of horror when I realized that the dark lump next to my feet was a severed human hand. Two men watched my bewilderment. They sliced at their throats with their pointer fingers to signal that the owner had left this world in pieces. His hand … Continue reading In Pieces
While sitting at a resturant alone my eyes wandered to a waiter who was seated at a small table ripping banana leaves. The man waved me over and curiously questioned me. With a delighted grin he told me, ” your face, my son’s face’. I gave him a warm smile to show my resemblance to his son. Taken aback he said, ” but not anymore, … Continue reading Jan 1st: The Crying Father
I learned wonderful lessons in 2013. I think that I inspired a few good things too. I measure myself by the good I inspire in others. During Summer 2012, I helped a Nepalese friend research Australian Immigration. He was unable to emigrate, but he took the things we learned and gave them to his son. Now his son is a student at an Australian University. … Continue reading 2014: India, Nepal, and Beyondistan
