CAN WE JUST

(love this song SO MUCH AUGH)

Blue

I was helping this EXTREMELY sassy old lady at work.  Our conversation:


Me:  "I think I'll dye my hair blue here soon."

Her: "WHAT.  That is a VERY BAD idea.  Why would you want to do that?"

Me:  "No it will be awesome!  It's gonna be like a work of art... they'll put me in a museum or something."

Her: "Yeah they'll put you in a museum.  A museum for monkeys."

Me:  "There are no monkeys in the museum."

Her:  "Well.  There'll be one ."


Meaning me.  Hahahhahah I had to laugh.  This lady really makes a lot of my coworkers angry (and also me, on occasion, though not since I've gotten back).  It's funny how in a sitcom situation she would be the quirky old cute lady who has a sharp tongue and wit.  In reality, she brings people to tears.  For every funny little conversation like that, are a few hundred instances of please-less orders, eye-rolls, and sarcastic yet oddly not-funny comments.  But I do get a couple gems from her. So that's that.

huh.

I'm actually getting mildly worried about my funds.

I'm only working 4 days a week this month.

Dropped 450 on a car repair charge.

Dropped 500 on roundtrip tickets to the Dominican Republic (plus will soon have to pay 2,000+ for my four week spanish course there).

Dropped 420 on  a Vegas trip (all inclusive accommodation and flight though).



Whut.


I need to hardcore work.  All summer.


Ayyyyyaaaa I feel really bad about all this money.  But doing a four-week spanish course was one of my goals for 2015.  Once that's done, the only other thing I want to do is the El Camino Pilgrimage in Spain.  And that can wait if need be.

Can't remember if I've posted this song before. If so, apologies.

phoenix

There is a kind of humility only found in someone who has crashed and burned.

I'm talking really, really, crashed and burned, not a 2-day breakdown, but months/years of bottom-of-the-abyss dwelling. 

Haven't seen it too often, but I really really value that quality (maybe because I see it in myself).  Is it sort of a paradox to acknowledge your own humility? It's definitely something I hope I can keep up/improve upon.  Pride is nasty.

In other news, I'll be heading on over to the Sanford Mental Health Unit here in Fargo, to see if I can get a copy of my paperwork / record of my own personal crash-and-burn.  Should be interesting.

Have a song:

And Another:

Home

Something important about travel:

If you are staying with someone for a long time (i.e. more than 5 days)  don't expect them to have your fun for you.

YOU have to research things that will be fun, and make sure you have a plan in place to execute them.

Sometimes your host will take it upon themselves to entertain you day in day out, but I have found that this is rarely the case.

Find a class for something you are interested in.  When I got bored and cooped up in Delhi, I researched language schools, and found a well-rated school to study Hindi at (Zabaan in Kailash Colony if you wanted to know).  If that wouldn't have occupied my time I would have found dance classes, cooking classes, literally ANYTHING that would have kept me busy and enabled me to meet people.  Group classes are the best.

I did salsa classes all over Europe, since that's something that I'm really into, and now I'm planning to go somewhere in South/Central America to learn Spanish this spring.  (Tryin' for Cuba, but my parents aren't so happy with that considering it's technically illegal for me to go there.)

Okay anyways:

I'm back in Fargo.  Woke up this morning feeling like complete crap.  Long distance relationships are so hard (at least this one is).  Won't be able to see him again for a year at least.  Ayya.  Anyways I got rid of a huge sack of clothes, and three small bags of books... hope to get rid of more stuff, lets see.


Here's a song for you:  Kickstarts by Example.

Pursuing Minimalism and Waffle Espionage

When I get back to Fargo I want to seriously downsize my possessions... Get rid of absolutely everything I don't need,  probably reduce my material goods by at least 40-50% if not more.  The feeling I get when giving away my things is similar (I would  imagine) to the way a lizard feels when she finally sheds her skin.  The only thing my stuff does is make it harder to leave.  And I loathe the feeling of being trapped.


Anywho!

Bangalore was absolutely amazing.. Less for the things I did than the people I was with.  Well.  Both I suppose.  Also it was so sunny and warm, and I could walk to go get food by myself, and cook by myself.    10/10 would recommend.

 (this is the only photograph I have of anything cultural or sightseeing-ish) Hindu Temple.

I went down there to get a break from the cold cage of Delhi (seriously had a headache for a full week up there).  I was staying with my friend Sid who I stayed with in Liverpool (through the couchsurfing website).  I almost didn't go, since my boyfriend wasn't too happy that I was staying with a dude he doesn't know but in the end I went ahead with it.  Really needed a break from Delhi.

One if Sid's friends, Chetan is the owner of Waffle Walle, one of the only waffle carts in Bangalore (and India). Turns out this guy used to be an investment banker, then quit his job to go after his waffle business dream.

His waffles are absolute heaven.  I've never had waffles that good outside of Brussels.  And I was beyond impressed to find an Indian who chose to quit a lucrative job to chase a crazy dream.  I didn't even know that happened in India. Just goes to show that you can never make a blanket statement about a group of people.  There are always some who defy the mold.

 The owner. Making me a nutella/peanut butter/ice cream waffle like a boss.

 Turns out there is another waffle place.  They have more money and a better location.  Their manager made a covert visit to Waffle Walle to scope out the competition, so Chetan decided he better return the favor.  We three spent the next day indulging in waffle espionage.  Chetan talked excitedly:  "These are too crispy!  They don't make them fresh, they reheat them. They use the same milk as me! Look at their waffle makers, they're so much more expensive than ours. " He demanded that I rate his waffles on a scale of 1-10 as compared with their waffles.  I'm sure the workers there were wondering what the heck was going on.  I doubt anyone has ever been so fascinated with their waffles.

 Asking her what kind of ice cream they use. 

Chetan and Sid, discussing the various kinds of milk you can use when making waffles.

I also bought a sari for my friend back home. It was quite expensive though so if she doesn't want to pay that much I'll just keep it for myself :D. It was pretty hilarious watching my two friends try to help me figure out how to put it on. Luckily Sid's sister came home and helped me with it.

 Don't worry we watched a Youtube video first.

 Yussss Sid's sister is home at last!

 Love this woman.

so gangster. 


I think the best part of Bangalore is my friends ALWAYS spoke English.  Very relaxing. I've eaten whole dinners here in Delhi where I hear nothing but Hindi.  Also.  I got to dance.  It was a drum and bass club on a weekday... not my favorite type of music but I still went crazy on it.  

Now back in Delhi!  Happy to be back with my boyfriend, but it's so cold here :(.  And of course, I've spent more time in the house than out as usual.  Back to Fargo in a few days, then on to planning Cubaaaa (and working my butt off to save up the money I've spent).

2014's Most Danceable

Hey people,  just got through eating Indian fast food here in Delhi, where my host mom and her friend forced me to speak Hindi to the manager like a trained monkey.  Anyways it goes like this:

Host mom:  There's the manager!! Use your Hindi use your Hindi use your Hindi!

Me: ahhhhdkrivjrhivhdAapka restaurant bahut accha hai (your restaurant is very good).


In honor of my involuntary dance deprivation, and the new year, here are the top five most danceable songs that I became addicted to in 2014.  Some of them were released earlier, shh.  Enjoy:

Sean Paul - Hey Baby

This song AUGH.  Never became a big hit in the U.S. so I haven't gotten to rock a dance floor with it yet... heard it in Serbia and it completely turns me up.  If you like, have a look at the official movie, with the  Nikeata Germaican Dance Team.  I didn't post it, just in case any of my family reads my blog and gets offended by the scantily clad women.  Actually if you are one of my family members please don't listen to any of these songs..

Jhene Aiko - The Worst

Perfect for slow-angry dancing.  SORRY (elderly) FAMILY MEMBERS I KNOW SHE'S SCANTLY CLAD.   I don't think my grandma reads this.  But she does know how to internet, so who knows.

Bailando - Enrique Iglesias

I know I've posted this song before, but it needs to be heard.  I really like Sean Paul's part on the English version, but the Spanish version seems like less of a we-only-listen-to-English-songs coupout. 

Tonight (Best You Ever Had) - John Legend

First heard this on the Kizomba dance floor, and holy hell is it romantic.  About to turn it up and dance with my boyfriend actually.  Excuse me a second>>>

Feelings - Maroon 5

AUUHHHHAKLAJ:F LOVE THIS SO MUCH RIGHT NOW.  Addicted, currently.