tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3201812246574096442024-02-06T19:50:59.742-07:00The After TasteJayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320181224657409644.post-72352890113717107132011-08-18T18:36:00.002-06:002011-08-18T18:51:31.716-06:00VacayAugust 18! Where do the weeks go?? How does life go by so quickly. I now understand why people say our lives pass by so quickly that one day you'll wake up and realize you've turned 50. It's not just days that pass quickly, but WEEKS. One week, two weeks, and its already the end of summer.
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<br />I need a vacation bad. Everyone else seems to be going on fabulous trips. How do they afford it?? Unfortunately, I can't take a vacation day for another 10 months. But all I dream about is going somewhere.
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<br />When I was little, all my parents would talk about was going back "home." I've talk about this... this sense of home. For vacations our biggest trips would always be..to...INDIA. We'd save so much money and blow it all on tickets around the world. Every time. My friends always went to Europe, Hawaii, Mexico. Us? We went to India... and not the beachy vacation type... it was India: Visit every old relative you have type. I envied my friends and craved an amazing beach vacation. I still would love to go somewhere resort like. But now, I have an urge to go "home." Often times I think, if we just had an extra $1000 we could go see my parents, my friends, my church, my home. Just an extra few bucks. Going to India with two kids costs $10,000 -- how did my parents do it? Why didn't I know the value of it? To them, and to me too now, you can't put a price on going home. C and I imagine elaborate vacations to the most unique places. We can't afford it right now. And as soon as we do have a little bit of money, I know the first trip we plan will be back home. Is that how it will be from now on? All my trips will be back home? I'll drag my kids to the US? Make them meet all my aunties and uncles and cousins?
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<br />Sigh.. I'm turning into my parents.. and that, folks, is a whole new post in itself.
<br />Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320181224657409644.post-58358656372146137182011-07-25T20:32:00.003-06:002011-07-25T20:37:52.298-06:00...and back.I left my last post anging. I just couldn't write anymore...then I went to Walmart. Nothing a little retail therapy can't fix :)<br /><br />On my drive home I realized even though I have so much going on in my head, I can't write it down because...<br /><br />because it means I've admitted it to the whole world. That I've accepted it...and proclaiming it to the whole world is hard... its... scary. What if someone else reads it? what if someone thinks I'm talking about them. What will happen if my barrier is torn down and people find out how I really feel inside? But the best blogs have all their feelings displayed. That's what makes me add them to my daily subscription. I want to be free though. My mind is getting crowded...my heart is feeling lonely. I need to let it out before I explode at the wrong time on the wrong person. So here we go... I will be honest, I will let it go...some censorship might be allowed though.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320181224657409644.post-86600887532466884842011-07-25T17:10:00.002-06:002011-07-25T17:16:12.723-06:00hi blog,<br /><br />sigh living here makes my words short, my patience large, my freedom limited, but my brain full. And you my blog is the place I should be exploded into. SO...post #2 in 2 days.<br /><br />I talk to myself so much here...Sometimes I feel the only real friend I have here is God. And thank god God moves around with you where ever you go.<br /><br />But at the same time I feel so scared to write it down.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320181224657409644.post-57572685546234151732011-07-24T19:09:00.002-06:002011-07-24T19:20:34.761-06:00...and 5 months later...Oh blog... I am so sorry I have ignored you. It has been so long and I haven't even told you why. I finally got a job! and I'm a permanent employee. It isn't really in my field but any experience working is good experience at this point. I've had so many new adventures since my last post. There are so many issues that i've wanted to talk about and i will try to write down in the next couple weeks. I don't want to forget the issues I'm going through so I must write it down.<br /><br />So after Valentine's day time, I ended up going to a New Immigrants welcome workshop. I've known about this workshop for a while, but it was hard for me to accept that I am an immigrant...that these kind of workshops are geared toward me and not only people with accents and far away countries. Let me tell you it was a fun and relieving experience. That week, 3 out of the 7 participants had moved from the US to Canada -- just like me. People without accents, people who identify more with the Canadians than the other immigrants, people who missed Chipotle and Olive Garden, people who had everything in the US, and...people who moved for love. It was nice to meet them. However, I made a very good friend who moved from Malaysia and around that same time I met someone at the Red Cross who moved from Kuwait. It's been nice having some of my own friends who are struggling with the same things as me.<br /><br />After all of this... i finally got a job. That in itself is so different. Yes I've worked hard before, but working while having a family is HARD. Working while having a family and arthritis is even harder. So much so that I had to call my mom and have her visit just to get my sanity back. But the job is good...just during the week...weekends and holidays off. They sent us on a trip to Chicago.<br /><br />So much has happened in this time and I can't condense it down to this post. I promise to write more often this week. I have a lot I want to talk about and want to write down to remember in the future. I love going back to my old posts and reading what I was going through at that time, I know my problems right now will be minuscule in the future.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320181224657409644.post-72361185660048228812011-02-21T08:08:00.003-07:002011-02-21T08:23:04.127-07:00Love and ThingsI've been wanting to post since valentine's day. This year was our first valentine's in Canada. last year we were in Denver and it was so hectic with family around and meeting everyone. We don't celebrate things much, so I wasn't sure if I would get flowers or anything. I did mention that I would like a single rose. I think the gesture of flowers is sweet. I know men think its wasteful cuz the flowers die...but especially in the middle of winter, having something alive and blooming brings a huge smile on my face. So the weekend before valentine's day I felt really awful physically. I also go through ups and down with this arthritis. Some days I just can't move anymore and have to climb into bed as fast as I can. Sometimes it's before we've had dinner, before the dishes are done. But my husband is soo good. He'll let me go to bed. Bring me water so I can take my meds.<br /><br />While he got into bed...I thanked him for being a good husband. He didn't say your welcome... he said... "that's what husbands and wives do, they take care of each other. " Him saying that was such a huge gift in itself. It meant that those are the biggest gifts we have to give each other. When one of us is hurting physically, mentally, or in our hearts, our job is to care for each other. I just loved the way he said it. So practical. He was promising that he will always take care of me...which means a lot more to me cuz I know i'm gonna have a lot of sick days.<br /><br />I was reading another blog and she was writing what her marriage is. I wanted to do a description of mine:<br /><br />Marriage is bringing home shawarma take out on friday nights and watching old 80s malayalam movies. It is playing monopoly deal until someone is commander in chief of the whole universe. It is waiting in line for the car wash and talking about the most important things cuz you can't walk away while stuck in the line. Marriage is getting a phone call around 6 when he leaves from work to tell me he's coming home. Its the hug we give before leaving for our days. Marriage is making eggs over easy 7 days a week, and eating them even when i mess them up. It is letting him keep the tv on all through the night but waking up to turn it off when the infomercials start. Marriage is watching amazing race on sundays and knowing his secret that he likes watching desperate housewives. Marriage is learning about sports and him learning about books. It is the random hugs we share whenever we pass each other. It is us doing our own things and when i look at him, him waving and saying hi. Marriage is knowing that our jobs are to take care of each other.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320181224657409644.post-92134835929160861682011-02-08T18:17:00.003-07:002011-02-08T18:28:55.750-07:00Bright Sunshiny DayToday was a beautiful sunshine day. The back of our house faces south, so I was able to bathed in the sunshine all day. The funny thing is, a sunshiny day is only good if you are inside. In Canada I've found that the sunshine is a trick...it's actually colder on bright days than on snowy ones. And not just a few degrees colder but substantially colder. But today I didn't mind because I spent the whole day inside. Doesn't a peek of sunshine once in a while make the whole winter better?<br /><br />I often complain that I hate being at home. I wish I woke up with some purpose...a place to go. But there is one thing that I love about staying at home. Yes I get to enjoy the day...wake up late...watch tv...do whatever I want. But my most favorite thing? Making meals. I make elaborate breakfasts and lunches. I think about them for hours and savor it for even longer. First of all, I'm a huge sandwich lover...I love bread, cheese, and deli meat. Add some eggs or jam or veggies or sauces and it becomes so much more than just a sandwich.<br /><br />This morning I had a wrap/taco sort of thing. I have some whole wheat chapathi (indian tortillas) and made some scramble eggs topped with cheddar and ham. I enjoyed the wrap dipped in salsa.<br /><br />I loved the salsa so much I decided I needed something similar for lunch. Rachael Ray is having a waffle week and strangely there are many posts online about using your waffle machine. I have a sandwich maker but have never used the waffle pattern. I decided to make a sandwich in the waffle maker. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE HOT TOASTED SANDWICHES. I used a 12 grain bread, some homemade garlic butter (just garlic roasted in melted butter), turkey, and cheddar, It was so good! I could have made it more toasty but the cheese was getting everywhere. Since I loved the salsa so much I dipped the sandwich into salsa. I could have used some veggies...I think I may try some arugula.<br /><br />These warm meals make my day. It turns my mood right around and reminds me to be thankful for the small things in my life :)Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320181224657409644.post-34330171504424586372011-02-07T21:01:00.002-07:002011-02-07T21:19:31.676-07:00Such a small jobI'm not doing much in Canada. I think we all know that. Finding a job has been the hardest thing I've ever done in my whole life. Luckily, two days of the week I get to volunteer at the Canadian Red Cross. It's such an easy little volunteering job. I just answer some phone calls, register patients for our services, and work on other administrative projects. But it is so rewarding. Today I had an elderly woman call me asking if there were some services that Red Cross provided for elderly help. Red Cross unfortunately does not have anything like that, but I had a phone number for another organization that does provide these services. All I did was give her the phone number and she was so happy. She has been divorced for 23 years, has no children, and her friends are not in good physical condition to help her. Now that she is becoming more limited physically, she was lonely and just needed someone. I didn't do anything other than simply Googled the agency, but she was so relieved. It's something so simple that makes this job worth it.<br /><br />I saw so many weird things today. I got a phone call from a girl who from her voice sounded like she was in trouble. It really shook me up because the thing she was asking for was something I thought was mandatory for all parents to provide for a child. I didn't really know the answer to her question and it made me realize how lucky I am that my parents knew where to go for this particular service. It really scared me that the kid was asking for help and not the adults.<br /><br />I also saw a hawk. In CO this was more common, usually during the summertime. In Canada I don't usually see that many birds, other than geese. Especially when it is so cold outside. But I saw a hawk up close...and I know there are some superstitions about it being bad luck. I dunno.<br /><br />I also saw a man standing on a bridge as I was driving on the highway. It just worried me. It's so cold outside...why is he walking? and that too on a bridge...and just standing staring at the cars driving by. Gave me a weird feeling.<br /><br />I dunno...strange day overall.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320181224657409644.post-56099129557577894142011-02-04T19:06:00.002-07:002011-02-04T19:14:43.591-07:00TGIFTGIF is such a useless phrase to me...when almost all my days are friday like. But a real friday has so much potential doesn't it? It holds onto everything that will become The Weekend. I do look forward to fridays because it means I get to spend two whole days with my husband..instead of by myself. We get to sleep in, watch tv/movies, window shop and just chill. On Friday, time seems unlimited.<br /><br />Tonight we are gonna stay in, watch an Indian movie and eat my favorite food--shawarma!! Its one of my favorite activities.<br /><br />Yesterday I tried to make Parippu curry. Basic dal curry. Someone who loves to cook so much should find this to be really easy, but me? It is the hardest thing for me! I blame it on my pressure cooker. It is GIGANTIC. I can't ever figure out the dal to water ratio or how many whistle or even like using it cuz its a pain to wash later. But I loveee parippu curry. It makes rice so much better. Especially the kind my mom makes. It's so smooth and velvety. You just want to eat tons of rice when there is parippu around.<br /><br />I reallly really hope to figure out how to make this properly cuz its a relatively inexpensive dish. Just a few cents for the dal and some water! But it really makes a huge difference when eating rice. Especially if you are vegetarian (kinda what I'm doing these days). I find it really hard to eat rice without a meat/fish item. Lately, though living with my in laws I've learned that if you have enough good vegetable items it can be very tasty. This is easy when my MIL is cooking for me, but for me to make a bunch of creative things myself...that's a challenge. My wonderful husband likes butter chicken...which is easy to make...just pour a bottle of curry paste over some chicken. BUT the curry paste has cream in it. And that doesn't go well with my body. So on butter chicken days I'm stuck eating vegetarian. I hope I really get that parippu curry right!Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320181224657409644.post-30991892123699800122011-02-02T17:10:00.003-07:002011-02-02T17:31:35.719-07:00New ProjectOk. Let's set things straight. I really need to post more. It seems so easy to blog when I'm really angry and frustrated. But I don't want all my entries to be whiny and self loathing. Since life isn't really going how I want I should use this time for other things. I want to write more, I really do. But some things, that you know will lift your day, just slip from your regular schedule. Think about it: praying...exercise...writing.<br /><br />So I want to start a new project. I wanted to tie food into my life stories. I'm really not good at food blogging using my own recipes. I think its a hassle to take pictures in the middle of making dinner. And I'm not usually as creative as one would think I am when it comes to food at our house. Actually, when I really think about it... I'm kinda sick of the food I'm making and I wish I could eat some of my mommy's food.<br /><br />So the project I want to try is to write about the dishes my mom makes. I really don't have recipes... but there are a million sites online that you can look for. What I have are memories. Not only of how the food tastes, but when we made the food, and what it reminds me of. Some people go into trances when they listen to music. They remember their childhood, school prom etc. For me, these memories come to me through food.<br /><br />I'm trying to decide the first food I should do. I think I'll go with what I crave the most. hmm...That is probably my mom's Chicken Curry. It's just a normal kerala style chicken curry but its my comfort food. First of all my mom makes tons of food when she makes something. So when we have chicken curry there is tons of it. My dad cuts chicken up for her and stores it in the freezer so that she can use it whenever she needs to. My mom usually makes it during the day.When my sister and I come home we just have to eat it right then instead of waiting for dinner. We always grab bread and eat it out of a bowl. I think what I like about chicken curry is that it automatically makes a meal a million times better. Just a little bit is enough savory tasting to complete an Indian meal.<br /><br /><br />Now that I read this idea again I think its kinda corny. Maybe I will pick something that brings a more specific memory next time.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320181224657409644.post-51353432199657558942011-01-31T21:28:00.002-07:002011-01-31T21:41:35.758-07:00Hello, Old Me.Tomorrow I'm going to an interview. This is one of many interviews I've gone to in the last month. Really hoping that something works out . I'm crossing my fingers! The organization I am interviewing with tomorrow is an ideal place to work. It fits really well into my life goals. The services they provide is basically what I have done in the past, what I want to expand myself into with my new education, and why I decided to do an MBA in health care...all on a large scale. Hopefully this goes well.
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<br />While preparing for the interview, I came across an old document on my laptop. It was the essay I wrote for my application into the MBA program. It's a reminder of who I was and what my aspirations were. I had to answer the typical "what will you do in five years" question and though I'm not there yet, I want to make my old self proud of what I'm doing just a few years after writing that essay. The hardest part of job hunting is staying hopeful and believing that an opportunity is out there for you. Sometimes you just want to settle for anything. Reading this essay, I want to be just as confident as I was back then and stay true to my values and interests.
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<br />I know 40 years from now I will look back on my life and reflect on my professional career. I hope I look back at it with pride and have had the opportunity to learn a lot and help as many people as possible. I am anxiously waiting to start that career path. I just hope my chance is getting closer!
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mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in;} ol {margin-bottom:0in;} ul {margin-bottom:0in;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b style=""><span style=""><span style="">1.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><span style=""> </span><b style="">How will the MBA/MS degree enhance your career plans? Project the kinds of positions you anticipate having five years after earning the degree. What experiences have you had that form the foundation of your goals? <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="">The Health Administration MBA degree will enhance my career plans by giving me the opportunity to learn how to manage and lead a group of people to provide the best healthcare to our society. <o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Although earning a bachelor’s degree is a great success, the decisions that followed it forced me to continue the process of molding myself.<span style=""> </span>Fortunately, I had the chance to work in a family healthcare facility, which introduced many doors of opportunities in healthcare.<span style=""> </span>This job confirmed my interest in healthcare, but it also gave me the interest in the business aspect of it. The work done by the office manager, electronic medical record trainers, and drug companies were intriguing positions that I had never noticed. The more interest I took in these positions led me to the decision of joining the MBA program emphasizing health administration. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Five years after obtaining this degree I hope to in incorporate my previous education and become a program director for a rehabilitation or physical therapy center. Furthermore, I dream of expanding my career by working for a corporate health company or pharmaceutical drug company by providing exceptional business management.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style=""><span style="">2.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="">Give a candid appraisal of yourself. Include some discussion of your strengths and weaknesses. </b></p> <p class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.75in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><i style="">I am a strong-willed, passionate, dedicated, determined woman. My interests range from arts and culture to technology and modern science. I am a quick learner, punctual, enthusiastic worker with a very helping nature. One of my most important strengths is my wide array of skills. Because of this quality I am always ready to confidently take on many tasks. However, this is also one of my weaknesses. I would like to improve my method of finding a balance so that I can focus on completing just a few tasks more thoroughly. <o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><i style="">Another one of my best strengths is my passion to work with others. This is one of the reasons I am very interested in being a part of healthcare because compassion for others is a necessary skill in all areas of medicine. I have often been praised for my kindness, helpfulness, and understanding. I enjoy working in teams and do not hesitate to lead any size group.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><i style="">Although I am proud of my strengths and improving my weaknesses, I have decided to enroll in an MBA program because I believe there is always room for improvement. Through this program I wish to develop myself professionally and academically while establishing a career. <o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.25in;"><i style=""><o:p> </o:p></i></p> <p class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b style=""><span style=""><span style="">3.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="">Discuss three of your achievements or accomplishments. <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style=""><o:p> </o:p></i></p> <p class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style="">I recognized one of my greatest accomplishments as I stood on the field at Folsom stadium during my college graduation: I had completed a Bachelor’s degree in just three years. As I found my parents in the crowd, I knew I had made them proud, and I knew I finally achieved the dream of all dreams for family. I am very proud to be an alumnus of the University of Colorado with a physiology bachelor’s degree and to be one of the first to receive a college education in my family.<o:p></o:p></i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >Furthermore, a recent accomplishment of mine is the renovation of a small enterprise that my family has decided to buy. Though we had to commit much time and effort into this project, I am honored to be a part of reviving this business.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >One of the earliest accomplishments I can remember is tackling the liturgy of the Indian Orthodox mass by converting the sounds of the native language to English script. Putting it together with various tunes is one of my best skills. I still hold that pride as I lead in the church choir and encourage the younger generation to learn and hold onto our unique culture. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p> <p class="Default" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b style=""><span style=""><span style="">4.<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><b style="">Describe your level of commitment to education and the ways in which you might make a special contribution to the learning experience of others. <o:p></o:p></b></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" >I am at a stage in my life where I can thoroughly commit myself to my education. This is the reason I have decided to apply for a master’s degree only a year after completing my bachelor’s degree.<span style=""> </span>Often new graduates are distracted by the demands of life which gear them away from returning to school. Since I will be entering into this program early in my life and right after receiving my bachelor’s degree I am able to continue focusing on my education and building a professional career without any other obligations. I hope to make a special contribution to the learning experience of others by being an example of a dedicated student with the desire of achieving the most out of an education. I recognize the importance in obtaining the best education based on one’s interests, and I hope my focus and passion to complete a master’s degree in business management will encourage others to similarly commit themselves to succeed in a master’s program. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><i style=""><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<br />Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320181224657409644.post-85582991051920167982011-01-05T08:37:00.002-07:002011-01-05T08:54:20.503-07:00Hello 2011!A belated happy new year to my post and also my blog birthday. I'm not as up to date as other bloggers are with wishing my readers a happy Christmas or new year or wishing my blog a happy birthday. I just do it whenever I have time. I know this would drive me crazy as a reader who keeps about 20 blogs in my google reader, but i'm not quite sure that I have a fan base yet :) so I can still do it my way.<br /><br />The last few days I've been reflecting on my 2010. It has been the most interesting year of my life. I could say one of the best years of my life....but at the same time one of the worse, hardest, most lesson learning years. 2010 had a lot to top because my 2009 was AMAZING. not only did I graduate, have a great job, got engaged, I was looking forward to getting married and a huge move. 2010 was more like a huge piece of humble pie for me. God stripped me of everything I had...a car...a phone...family...friends...job and gave me everything that I wanted while I had it good....a husband...a new family...wifely chores...losing weight! It really drove down the reality of appreciating what you have at that moment because the next moment can definitely change your whole life. And the grass is always greener on the other side.<br /><br />In 2009 I was very spoiled...all the money I made was spent mostly on shopping, food, selfish things other than paying for my car. 2010, I learned how to live off of another person's money (this time not my dad) and really budget and plan and not take advantage of it. I am truly lucky that money is not a huge issue for us.<br /><br />2010 also taught me how hard a life as an immigrant is. In the US we always have controversies on how to treat immigrants (and then there are the illegal ones!) but often times they are looked down upon. I've done this myself, to other family members, and now that I am on the short end of the stick I have really been challenged. It is really hard getting immigration papers, working with the government on things, fitting into a new community, finding a job, learning new places. So i regret how I treated others....and feel very very sorry for treating them so badly. I also understand why my parents and other family still have such a strong feeling toward India after living in the US for so long. It's has to say goodbye to the place you are from.<br /><br />I also learned how to be a wife, to live with a husband. I have a wonderful husband that doesn't bother me at all. We probably had about 4 fights that lasted a few hours in the past year. I am soo lucky to have a sensible, practical husband that really loves me and to be in a relationship that games are not necessary. I truly believe we are each others' best friends and our relationship has been quite easy because of that.<br /><br />I know 2011 is a year of more change...but change that will help me settle down. I need to find a job for sure. I need to find my purpose in Canada. At the same time, I want to find more friends. I want to understand Canadians more. I need to slowly let go of the US if I want to fit in in Canada. I want to find more of a routine. 2010 brought a lot of changes in my dietary habits and weight loss but I hope I can reach my ideal goal in 2011. There is so much to do. I want to stay motivated, positive, and loving.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320181224657409644.post-53623876865114393412010-12-23T12:27:00.002-07:002010-12-23T12:41:38.676-07:00And one year later...And one year later...I'm a real permanent resident of Canada. Today I received my OHIP card (Ontario Health Insurance Program) for health care services. What a wonderful moment! Not only is this the last thing I was waiting for regarding my immigration, I haven't had insurance for the last 3 years. I turned 22 and got kicked off of my mom's insurance. I only worked part time so I never received any medical benefits. I was going to grad school which provided really expensive insurance that I didn't take. I figured I worked in a doctor's office, so if the worst happens, I always had doctor's around to help me. It wasn't too bad. Whenever I had to see my real doctor I just paid for it, and I think I actually saved money compared to getting real insurance. Unfortunately, I went to the doctor more often after I moved to Canada and realized how beneficial insurance can be when I had to pay for my visits as an unemployed woman.<br /><br />So receiving this card was quite a wonderful moment. I finally felt safe. Anything could happen to me, and I could see a doctor. This might not mean much to other Canadians, but coming from America and working in medical billing, I understand what a privilege it is to receive free health care. The card came stuck on a piece of paper. I looked at the paper over and over again. It just said here is your card, please notify us if your address changes. I was expecting a list of restrictions. Could I really go see any doctor? The ER? Walk In? Specialists? I'm not sure yet...I think I may need a referral for specialists. But I know many people walk into the ER like it is the walk in clinic. I recently heard a story where a woman died in the ER while waiting to be seen because the wait time was so long, and no one was available to tend to her.<br /><br />I guess there are advantages and disadvantages to both systems. There are not many doctors in Canada because many of them migrate to the US where doctors get paid more. The salaries in Canada are lower because most of the medical expenses are paid by the government. Waiting times are long, and doctors' skills may not be allocated properly since even a little cold is treating by the ER doctors. Health care is very expensive in the US but we don't have to wait very long. There must be a happy medium between the two.<br /><br />I'm still very excited about receiving my card. At least I have some option. Not only do I need a lot of services, it will be interesting to compare the two systems as well.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320181224657409644.post-81637200866928802992010-11-23T08:11:00.004-07:002010-11-23T08:22:08.730-07:00Life and Deathi'm here at school and the printers are not working....i have a few minutes before class and a mind provoking topic, so it was a perfect moment to update the blog.<br /><br />last night i have this weird feeling...like i was going to die. my body was hurting so much that i thought i may have something like MS or some sort of whole body cancer. Thinking about this really scared me. How would it feel to hear that you may only have a few days to live? After looking up MS symptoms...I'm sure I don't have that so I feel much better today. But last night I was so scared that I just started crying.<br /><br />I also had this weird feeling when I went to an amusement park this summer. I went back home in August and me cousins and I decided to go to an amusement park. I lovee rides, but this time I was quite scared of something unusual happening. I'm usually the one that forces others to get on roller coasters...but this time it was realyl hard to get myself to go on it.<br /><br />This is pretty odd for me because there have been days in the past where I would go to sleep and hope that I died and won't have to wake up the next day. Before getting married, I've had many nights that I'd go to bed when so much physical pain and heartache that I just didn't want to live another day.<br /><br />Last night, I was scared to die. I feel like theres's not much to live for these days so I thought it would be easier to think about death. It's not. The reason I was so scared was because I wasn't ready to leave my husband yet. I think my purpose in life may no be extraordinary, but just to care and be with my husband. I was truly scared because I didn't want to leave him alone in this world. And selfishly, I didn't want to see him start another life that has potential for prefection without me. I know this is morbid to think, but thinking about it gave me a spark. I feel like I do have something to live for. I didn't just move here to make my life so difficult. I'm really here because I love my husband and really really really want to be with him and hopefully for 60+ years!Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320181224657409644.post-74890571204258011522010-11-04T10:11:00.003-06:002010-11-04T10:37:13.662-06:00MidtermsI wanted to write this post a couple days ago. I always have stuff on my mind that is time sensitive but forget to actually write it in the blog! As we all know the Midterm elections were this week. This is not another post on how the House is divided and if our country will make it another two years. This is a post about how you feel as an immigrant during voting season.<br /><br />Recently it seems as though everything I do is so similar to how my parents are. Everything I am trying to work through in Canada reminds me of what my parents must have felt when they came to the US. I remember when we were little and had dinner parties with all the other indian families, the uncles would sit around and talk about Indian politics. I never knew why they would be so involved in indian politics. First of all it was really complicated. Secondly, and most importantly, they don't live there anymore so why do they care so much? To me politics was something you worried about when you lived in that area. Isn't it in my best interest to be informed on who my mayor, senator, congressmen are in my city? How they directly affect me?<br /><br />I guess its more complicated than that. This year when everyone was voting in the US, i felt left out, but at the same time i was so interested. I read all the articles, watch the polls at the end of the day. But why? I don't llive there anymore and it doesn't effect me at all. I think for me it was more a feeling of pride, a feeling of belonging. I still feel like I am an American and regardless of where I live I want America to prosper. I want it to look good amongst the other countries. I want people to elect the right guys because the American government still affects my parents and my sister and all my friends and family still in America.<br /><br />You know I think that's what it means to be a citizen. To be proud of your country regardless of where you are or what situation the country is in. That is your country and you want to show it off.<br /><br />I guess those uncles at the indian parties are still indian inside and still care how their families/parents/siblings are living back home.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320181224657409644.post-2236926906127088572010-10-26T11:03:00.000-06:002010-10-26T11:04:17.672-06:00tiredi realized that i'm slowly becoming my mom. its so dreadful and something that i don't want at all...but it seems so inevitable. one time we went to india and had planned this super long tour around south india. our first stop was chennai, then mysore, then mangalore. we werer going to do a 10 day trip by train. it was quite fun, we visited family on the way and got to see a lot of places in such a quick time. i really liked seeing the mysore palace and its extraordinary architecture. naturally when we got back to kerala everyone asked how our trip was. My dad, my sister and i were soooo excited to tell everyone how it was and how much we enjoyed it. But my mom's response? "oh it was tiring" everytime someone asked us about it she said it was tiring. We got really mad at her and told her she has a negative attitude. She does usually look for the negative in things and try to argue with everyone--its just her nature.<br /><br />So the other night my hus and i went swimming. he asked me how i was liking it and i was "its tiring, my legs hurt a lot." as soon as i said it...i wish i could take it back. he scrunched his face and said "are you always complaining?" i felt so bad at that moment. he had set up this whole swimming thing, bought me a new swimsuit etc. i do tend to complain a lot. with my body issues...a lot of things are painful but i guess it is just as hard being around someone complaining about it as well. sometimes i feel like i have a right to complain because i have an actual physical problem. but no one likes being around a complainer. i've decided to not be so complainy anymore. i want to be a positive person (i used to be a positive person). but sometimes at the end of the day...i feel like my husband is the person i should be the most honest to. i guess though, you just gotta suck it up and live.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320181224657409644.post-33207302729928000722010-09-28T08:52:00.002-06:002010-09-28T08:59:08.549-06:00Busy BeeI finally have become busy in Canada. I started classes a few weeks ago...just part time taking some classes that i didn't take in my previous programs. its at a community college...which is interesting. i always think of myself as very immature--well not immature....just not mature like other people my age. But, when i come to this school....i realize how much of an old lady i am. :P not that its a bad thing, i like being out of that uncertainty phase that the other students are going through. I know everyone has their own issues but its funny how during class i'm stressed out about grocery lists, what to make for dinner, laundry, etc.<br /><br />I also started volunteering and though i've only gone to two days, i loveeee being in an office again. there is something about walking into an office and pouring yourself a cup of coffee. i can't wait until i get a real office job. i also love being around other people too.<br /><br />all this good karma has helped and i've actually gotten my immigration!! it was so exciting and such a relief to finally have things work for me. i finally get to add myself to insurance policies, bank accts, etc. i feel like i have an identity here.<br /><br />i've also realized how hard it is to be a working wife! i was out all day...and came home to a pile of hoemwork. i realized then that i need to organize my life better if i intend to cook, clean etc like before. i want to be the perfect wife but be an independent, confident woman as well.<br /><br />i'm havin fun though. life is much better than it was before. though i miss all my daytime tv shows and sitting around in my pjs all day!Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320181224657409644.post-41432217098284733302010-09-09T17:46:00.002-06:002010-09-09T18:03:40.535-06:00Got Milk?Allergy articles are everywhere these days. I've always been amazed by how many kids are becoming more and more allergic to things recently compared to when I was a child or even another decade before that. Though I haven't researched it much, I've heard that the rise in allergies is because our society (at least in first world countries) have become too sanitized. Our bodies have become used to cleanliness so much that it recognizes some objects as being foreign. Unfortunately, our bodies are recognizing everyday things like peanuts, corn, wheat etc as being foreign.<br /><br />At first I couldn't believe how many kids had peanut allergies! I even heard at one school if you bring a peanut butter sandwich, you are shunned to the peanut table to eat your lunch! I didn't realize how much of an impact allergies had in schools.<br /><br />But of course the believe who believe it the least develop it the fastest right :) I've developed a bunch of allergies recently! The year I turned 21 I decided to grill some fantastic shrimp. Shrimp is something I absolutely loved...but that day, I felt a little funny in my throat. I didn't think much of it and thought I must have made a mistake in my recipe because I didn't find it very appetizing at all. I tried it again later in Indian food and still found myself not really liking it as usual and my throat and lips were kind of swollen. I realized then that I am probably allergic to shrimp. I've recently experimented with crab, lobster, oysters and found the same reaction to those too. But giving up shellfish was easy. I didn't eat it much before anyways.<br /><br />But recently I found out i was allergic to something else--something that i absolutely love and had everyday--MILK. I loveeee milk. I love drinking a big glass every morning. It keeps me so full and I really think I lost most of my weight from that. As I've mentioned before, I have some symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, but lately the symptoms have been so severe I could hardly get out of bed and move around. I was getting really tired of life, it just didn't feel right that a 24 yr old would have such severe symptoms of arthritis. I was even questioning how long I would live if the symptoms kept progressing like that! My dear husband was doing researched and suggested that I don't drink milk for a couple of days. I did that and the results were amazing! I felt so energetic. I didn't have any swelling or pain. I was so amazed! I haven't had milk for about 2 weeks and I feel so strong. I do miss milk a lot but I grateful we found out what was bothering my body. It's interesting how our bodies react to certain things.<br /><br />I don't know if we should work on cures for allergies. If you eat pure, non processed food, it seems to be easy to avoid what you are allergic to. Milk is hidden in a lot of things, and I still need to experiment with other types of dairy. Until then I'm just grateful to be pain free!xJayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320181224657409644.post-47044327207466368392010-07-20T07:19:00.002-06:002010-07-20T07:27:13.857-06:00Today i feel like the whole day is open to do anything. i don't really have plans...although i've never really had plans in my housewifedom...but today especially...im kind of at a loss of what to do. i think its because last week was the hills finale...so i feel like i'm free from self-indulges that i like to do by myself during the day. i dunno why this feeling.<br /><br />this weekend we did a lot of furniture and homegoods buying. i lovee doing this, not only because i love household things, but making these decisions make me feel like this is my house too. even though i've been here for half a year (!) i still don't have much to myself. all i have is a 5 drawer chest where i put my clothes, my computer, a few shoes, a jacket, and yoga mat. moving here has really made me live minimally. only recently have i even started buy groceries or goodies just for myself.<br /><br />other than that...we don't have much going on...i'm going home this weekend and its all i can think of.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320181224657409644.post-39305430441635327812010-07-16T10:09:00.002-06:002010-07-16T10:17:45.954-06:00Hopefulhi. ok ok i missed a day but we were really busy. :) sorry. I don't really have a specific topic for today. I'm just trying to figure out what to do with life. I have this feeling that my immigration is going to take a long time...at first I was feeling really optimistic...but I saw an estimated processing time chart on the canadian immigration webpage and it says it could take much much longer. sigh.<br /><br />I'm trying to be optimistic about life...because if i bum around its not fair to C. he works so hard during the day that he shouldn't have to come home to sadness. He should be happy when he comes home. And really I'm just being a baby. Its not as though I'm suffering here...my only problem is that I'm dying of too much free time. I mean how many married 24 yr old's can say that??<br /><br />I also believe that I have a purpose for being here...maybe my purpose will be unveiled to me soon, maybe in 50 years. Why else would God have made me meet C on the internet out of the billions of people out there? Why would He have set me up with someone in Canada...there are so many people in the US. There just has to be a reason.<br /><br />So I'm making my options...school starts again here in september. So i was thinking of taking a few classes. Think about this--I can take any class I want...I don't really need goodd grades cuz if I fail I don't have to tell anyone about it. I can just forget that whole class...or drop it or whatever i want. But at the same time, I may be able to learn some stuff, use it on my resume, and actually start using my brain again. I'm looking at taking some classes at the <span style="font-style: italic;">college</span> (thats community college to us americans--our college is called university here) just for fun. Also, I just applied for a volunteer position. Pray that I get it!! Then I can get out of the house...maybe meet some new friends...get up and get dressed everyday. It will be fun!<br /><br />Please Please Please just keep me in your prayers.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320181224657409644.post-37517528169973258472010-07-14T07:29:00.003-06:002010-07-14T07:44:01.122-06:00The Indian Cliche Wifehello blogosphere...i actually made it to a second consecutive day for a new post. I dunno why but blogging is much easier when you are upset, isnt it? But then I don't want my blog to be one big pity party...because its a reflection of my life...and my life really is quite easy breezy fun right now.<br /><br />Moving to Canada has really taught me a lot. Since I've been back from india i've been in a very sad-y mood. I guess until the trip to india, my excuse for not working is because i had to be in india for 2 weeks....so if i started a job i wont be able to take time off etc etc. Then i guess in my head it was like, once i come back life will start. but....it hasnt...its really the same as before if not more frustrating. My immigration is taking soooo long. So even though i'm usually quite content and happy to be here with my husband...i've had days were my insides have burst and i've gone into crazy crying spells. I feel like my life is so indian cliche...girl meets boy. girl and boy are well educated from good families. they get married. girl moves to boys country (usually some foreign country). girl applies for immigration. girl sits at home because she can't work. girl depends on husband for everything.<br /><br />You know when you are in school or working...all you want is a break. But in reality with a break like this...and a brain that is used to being challenged, you literally go crazy! I really do feel for all those H1 wives now. Some of them are so young it must be so hard to adjust. Then they decide to have a child just because there is nothing else to do...and suddenly this young girl because some old aunty-like person.<br /><br />I know i made the right decision because even though i had everything else at home...i came home every night and cried because i didn't have C. I'm just so anxious to start my life...use my degree toward something. start making money....having a routine and some new friends.<br /><br />i guess i'll just have to wait.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320181224657409644.post-71299706836161163112010-07-13T11:18:00.002-06:002010-07-13T11:31:37.916-06:00Groceriesoh wow i'm really bad at blogging. the thing about blogging is that i read a lot of really good blogs. i have about 30 or so in my google reader and they all do such a good job at writing a post everyday. i hate it if they leave a huge gap between posts but i don't know why i don't apply that rule to my own blog.<br /><br />my last post was soooo long ago and so much as happened. i've taken a trip to india...my MIL has come back home...my sister in law got married. so much. but i felt like i did write a post in between...the thing is.. i have so many ideas in my head for a post but i never sit down to write it. i really will try.<br /><br />one of the ideas i had was to talk about grocery stores in india. can i say ew? first of all...during my last trip to india i stayed with my husband's family the whole time. It's a little different staying with them because they live in "the city" and in a flat and by themselves. Which means we gotta fend for ourselves ie cook, clean, etc ourselves! Usually when i got with my parents, we stay at our own house which is next to my uncle's house which is where we usually hang out and eat. My aunt usually cooks enormous amounts of food for us, and we never have to worry about coming home to an empty kitchen. This time though, after whole day expeditions throughout Cochin, we'll come home around 9ish and be famished and left with no groceries. But at the same time, since we were in the city, we dined at some amazing restaurants and didn't have to spend hours sitting in the car traveling from our house to other places.<br /><br />Anyhow, since it was just my in laws and C and me, their parents let ourselves do a few things on our own. (my parents have never let me do this, maybe cuz im a girl, maybe cuz i don't really speak malayalam, probably cuz i don't know the way around). After spending about a week there C and I had the hang of things so we decided to go get groceries because I loveeee grocery stores. But OMG i feel so bad for people in India. They get crap! I was buying some fresh veggies and couldn't even stand to look at it. The tomatoes were tinyy and misshaped, the carrots were small, the cilantro was all squished. everything was just gross. I asked for some eggs but they ran out of it. We wanted to buy milk, but they are sold in tiny bags that were leaking everywhere. I was very surprised to see a superstore that was so disorganized. I felt really bad because I know where the big, luscious tomatoes were, the pretty yellow bananas, the ripe ripe mangoes--they are all on a ship to dubai, england, america...<br /><br />It was quite the experience and now I feel even more bad for indian housewives who make amazing dishes with so low quality products. They already hardly have gas stoves, fridges and microwaves.<br /><br />Everything else in india was much better than usual this time. I really enjoyed this trip. It was the right duration (about 10 days) because India can get kinda boring and disgusting if you are there any longer. For the first 10 days its still so new and exotic.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320181224657409644.post-11128710525731825522010-05-17T20:06:00.003-06:002010-05-17T20:19:27.405-06:00Yummy yummy yummy I got rice in my tummy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1i47Acbl0S5bpEGYBZNjgzFtKF9_XjwWacoYAdjBvdg0R3M8vfIOIjxZG7_pSNBGJfeTQBluZpkDnIlMHaGyWAISwIF-qCo8zPjrUPGM9kKSnL3yMOIrZVNFBZW0j60oWy3yjtrOtPKG/s1600/IMG_3359.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1i47Acbl0S5bpEGYBZNjgzFtKF9_XjwWacoYAdjBvdg0R3M8vfIOIjxZG7_pSNBGJfeTQBluZpkDnIlMHaGyWAISwIF-qCo8zPjrUPGM9kKSnL3yMOIrZVNFBZW0j60oWy3yjtrOtPKG/s320/IMG_3359.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472428740822012834" border="0" /></a><br />My motivation for cooking has diminished. I think it's because my sister in law is at home with me all day, and the part of cooking I liked was the surprise when we ate dinner. But when she is here, she can smell and see everything at the early stages. I dunno, I have some weird complex. I'm also exhausted from eating food from my cousin's trip last weekend. We had so much food and so many leftovers that I hardly had to cook last week. Then we had my sister in law's bridal shower, and the aunties sent home a bunch of food from that as well. So after eating all that, we were left with actually having to make a meal today.<br /><br />I've been wanting to make fried rice (indian kind) for a long time now. My husband likes traditional kerala style food and isn't really into the north indian stuff, but i love how curried north indian is (compared to dry kerala food). He's on a business trip though, so its the perfect time to eat stuff that he doesn't like, hence, fried rice, egg curry, and yogurt salad. YUM!<br /><br />I always thought fried rice was something that is hard to make since it is usually only made on special occasions (in a malu home). I know whenever my mom made it, she makes huge quantities to feed an army or take to a potluck.<br /><br />For fried rice (this makes about 6-8 portions) take 2 cups basmati rice and soak it in water (after washing it) for 20 mins. While that is soaking, slice half a medium onion and one large green chili. Heat up about 3 tbsp oil, once it is hot, add fennel, cloves (4-5), and one bay leaf, let it toast in the oil. Then saute the onion and then the chili. once the onion has some color on it, add 1 tsp of coriander pwd, 1/2 tsp chilli pwd, and a pinch of turmeric. let that fry in the oil. Drain the rice from the soaking water and put the rice into the pan. Fry the rice with 2 tbsp of butter/ghee (i used butter). once the rice is kind of translucent from frying, add 4 cups water and salt until you can just taste the salt in the water. cover, bring to a boil, and then reduce to low and let it sit for 20 mins. I stirred my rice in between because i was scared of burning it. During the last 5 mins, i put in about a cup of frozen mixed vegetables.<br /><br />It was so good!!Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320181224657409644.post-19187625727264332392010-05-13T18:57:00.002-06:002010-05-13T20:05:04.728-06:00Guests!Last week was a huge feat for me. It was my first time having guests over! My aunt and cousin came to visit me. I wish I could have taken pics of all the food i made...but I was wayyy too busy. It took me almost two whole days to make everything, but i made a proper kerala meal and also had another lunch with some local guests too! It was such a big deal because i had to make the house look perfect, the food taste perfect, make sure they were entertained, and just play the role of a good hostess. Plus it was my aunt...she was gonna go home and tell my mom everything!! But no worries, everything went well.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320181224657409644.post-40104784210334496352010-05-03T20:50:00.002-06:002010-05-03T21:02:43.727-06:00The grass is greener on the other side...I don't know if I have used this title already because grass has been on our minds for a couple of weeks now. My new hobby is gardening and making our perfect house look beautiful on the outside. It's also a super romantic, intimate outing with your hubby. Not only does he feel manly doing all the heavy lifting, shoveling, etc...he gets to watch you get creative and physical..grunts and all. I feel its so intimate because your partner sees you at your worst. You wear the most casual clothes you have, you get hot and sweaty...and you even feel sore the next day. It seems like such a vulnerable activity.<br /><br />But i also came up with this title because i'm homesick. I feel like i just want one day to go back to life how it was....even if it includes a full day of work...a couple of classes...and going to bed alone. The life I'm living right now almost feels like a fairytale and sometimes I think with the next blink of the eye I'm going to go back into reality. No my fairytale isn't glamorous...but...its just so surreal.<br /><br />I think i'm starting to really lose it with having so much time on my hands. I feel pathetic and feel like I'm losing my skills. I crave people interaction. As much as i've been trying to absorb this new city... I would give anything to drive on my old streets, walk into a Target, eat a McDouble and see my family.<br /><br />But when I had all that...all i wanted to do was move to Canada. That was my excuse for everything while i was home...."sorry I can't do it...I'm moving to Canada."<br /><br />Well Canada I'm here and I want a life. I don't want to be a full time housewife. I want a car. I want to know what each store is. I want to have friends here. I want to make memories. I want to feel like I belong here too.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-320181224657409644.post-36572402186051523712010-04-26T10:19:00.002-06:002010-04-26T10:19:47.408-06:00eggtastic theory seems to have the opposite effect. the egg was perfect today. the day has been anything but perfect.Jayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01517673428839830271noreply@blogger.com0