People watch

2008-02-28T04:47:00.000-08:00

We are forming opinions about strangers all the time and vice versa, sometimes only by watching them.

I enjoy people watching, before the cell phone came into my life, thats all I ever did at a wedding or anyplace where all I went for, was the food.

Recently I was at the station waiting for my train, I had 15 mins to kill. Standing near the information board, my thoughts were interrupted by a group of asian teenage school girls.

School girl in high pitched voice: Tracy, can you "like" take a photo of my shadow. I "like" really want a photo of my shadow. When I stand my shadow is "like" longer" than me (The word like is accompanied by a simultaneous lift of hands with the palms upto the shoulder, all fingers spread out like she is about to push something, they automatically go down on completion of the word like)

While Tracy maneuvered the camera, her friend stuck her foot out behind the shadow to make it look like it had a tail. The entire group was is splits and started cackling away. They ran around the station taking photos of themselves near the recycle bins and ofcourse, the shadow of the bin.

Three girls from the same school walked past the asian girls, gave them a condescending glare and murmured "embarrassment" with a head shake.

All of them had fringes, straightened hair, their uniform skirts worn way above their knees.

This got me thinking about my days in school, 2 plaits, oiled hair, huge glasses, running nose.

A drunk man meandered and rambled, rambled and meandered.

An old woman asked me for 20 cents, I gave it to her. The inevitable mental math happened, a little more than what I would give a beggar in India.

All of a sudden the entire station comes alive with Sukhwinder Singh crooning "Dil mein mere dard disco". I search for Sukhwinder, he comes out of an Indian boys pocket. The boy starts talking in rapid and loud Gujarati. The entire station gets to know where he stays, what he studies and what he had for dinner.

An Indian lady standing next to me says" These are the people who give India a bad name abroad" I smile at her, unsure how to react.

A straight couple appear hand in hand and start snogging. This provided enough entertainment to the Gujju boys standing near the platform.

"Does this line go to Pakenham", I am asked by a girl. Her skin is pale, her hair is purple, she has 3 piercings on her lips. I reply in the affirmative.

The train arrives, I get in and continue people watching.

Sindhi sambhar steak

2008-02-26T06:06:00.000-08:00

Yes, this is my first blog so I will have to talk about myself. Finally, I decided I should find a new medium to indulge in narcissism.

Why sindhi sambhar steak, have you ever wondered what a sambhar flavoured steak with sindhi spices would turn out to be like, no, am sure your not that adventurous, it would turn out to be me, basically it foodifies(like something can personify a person, hence a person can foodify food) me.

I am a Chennai born confused sindhi. The chennai community has labelled me a north indian or sethu(rich businessman in tamil) and the sindhi community which is largely in north india has labelled me a madrasi. I am actually wannabe Golti.

Excerpt from a recent conversation with someone from North India:

Person: Which part of India are you from Bombay or Delhi

Me: Neither

Person: You must be from Pune for sure

Me: No, am from Chennai

Person: Your a Madhrasi, thought so your accent is very South Indian, you must be into massages and all

Me: Why

Person: Isnt everyone in Kerala into massages

Me: I am from Chennai not Kerala

Person: Whats the difference, its all Madhras

Me: Trademark raised eyebrow look

Where does the steak come in, its the staple diet in the country I am living in which is

I want to create pseudo suspense so Ill give you 3 clues

The land of lamingtons

did that help

The land of kangaroos

that would make it crystal clear but incase your not into animals and wildlife

The land of foster

Bingo,I live in Australia

Onomatopoeia

People watch

Sindhi sambhar steak