Trip to Williams Lake – The city to make memories and smiles!!

This blog is dedicated to my friends from Williams Lake, YOUR CITY IS BEAUTIFUL LIKE YOU!!!

Williams Lake, a small city with blessed surrounding and landscape. The city is bustling with different colors of diverse culture. For some it may not matter that they live next to a beautiful lake, but for me nature is everything and living next to a lake is like a dream come true. People have undivided opinion about Williams Lake, which I don’t care about, I love the city and that is all.

That was a perfect day in Williams Lake, it was drizzling. I drove to a higher location and hiked a little to enjoy the spectacular view of the beautiful lake. After that I went to enjoy some country music at the concert, really nice and intoxicating tunes (even the name of the singer was Whiskey Jane). It was raining that night, but I didn’t saw anybody doing the rain dance. Everyone had their cow boy hats and boots on. Long boots remind me of my close friend all the time. I am thinking about her even right now.

The city gave me a lot of memories to cheer about – seeing a friend after 2 years and don’t know what to talk about, a walk around Scout Island while eating DQ blizzard, breakfast next to the lake, two benches at the top of a tiny hill, spectacular view engraved in my head, the lukewarm breeze, unexpected rain droplets kissing my skin, using sky as a canvas and drawing pictures from clouds, and the horse race down the hill and the whole rodeo show.  I don’t know why I love this city, I have been to so many other cities, but the feeling I felt there I have not felt anywhere else. I guess that was a perfect day to visit cities like WL or maybe I love the city because two of my very close friends are from this city. All these memories are coming back to my mind and I am feeling like I am in Williams Lake.  There are other reasons why I love the city, but I cannot describe them in words.

There are some bitter memories as well like a flat tire and unavailability of replacement tire, almost hit a deer, getting a speed ticket - damn tail-gater, non-availability of hotel room, but all this makes the trip all the more adventurous. I have no regrets all the trouble to get to Williams Lake worth it, I will do it all over again and again. When you see a friend after years you forget everything and the feeling is indescribable. It brings back all the memories when your friend was near you and the time you spend with them. Every moment was priceless!!

I love the house near the lake and wish to own a house there in future! And you are welcome to stay at my future house. The door sign of my future house will read like “Friends, Smiles, and Laughter are always welcome” :)

Sometime small things about a particular city make us going back there again and again. My reason to go back to this city is to relive every moment I spent there on 29^th June evening!!!

Life of a graduate student

Disclaimer: all character and events in this blog, even those that are based on real characters –are entirely fictional, all opinions are poorly written, and any copyrights issues – I don’t care. The following blog contains coarse language and due its contents it should not be cited anywhere (Shah 2013). They say don’t forget to cite.

Huh! Why I decided to write about life of a graduate student? What is there that has not been said and experienced?

I remember somebody wise once said each individual is different (…..citation need- they say don’t forget to cite), well I guess he forget that there are grad students. Isn’t guy? You know what I am talking we all share same “HAPPINESS”, get it? no darn! I still struggle with North American sarcasm! I mean we all share the same pain – structure is missing, too much information, too little information, what about the methodology, and biggest pain in………. referencing. Holy smoke! Why not we just have universal referencing, oh Chicago is a windy city, lets blew away some grad students, APA – who developed this one, bunch of psychos – we have treated lots of people, time to have fun with grad students, MLA – cant think of anything stupid, you guys are smart figure it out. Darn it! Grad studies killed my creativity, now even when I talk to people about normal stuff I tend to cite authors from my research.

 The other night with friends, “according to American department of energy 2012 we can use breweries residuals to produce energy.  NERD ALERT!!!! I was like seriously “Zishan” – 2012. What the hell!!

Sometime we graduate student even dream about our research. One night in the dream I figured out how to implement my methodology, I woke up in the middle of the night wrote it on chips bag with a marker and went back to sleep. I saw that after a week and trying to figure-out what the hell is that. God bless the grad studies, oh oh I mean! Supervisor bless the grad studies.

Some day we sleep in our offices, we meet our grad fellows in buses and library or in Tim Horton queue, we make guest appearances in social events, we decide to see a movie at the cinema hall when it was off the screen a month ago, we try to save leftover so we don’t have to cook lunch for tomorrow, we are the only people at the university on weekend, even the security staff recognize you, we are the biggest customer strata for Tim Horton and other stores at the campus, we can smell free food from our office, we text each other when there is a free food,……..the list is never ending(……..) citation needed…. They say don’t forget to cite, otherwise somebody is going to get in trouble.

CITE CITE CITE! What about my opinion, oh it is already stale!

Alrighty! I wrote this for fun, if I offended somebody please feel thank me! no seriously thank me and other fellow grad students!

If you want me to describe grad studies in one line I (Shah 2013 – they say don’t forget to cite) would say “it is complicated like my tax returns”  so many damn rules and regulations to follow.

That said, I still love being a student and love being in the midst of all this confusion, that make our life more interesting.

Three cheers to grad studies. Hip hip hurray…………..

  

   

What is Gender - Personal reflection and experiences

It is my personal opinion and reflection and I have no intention to hurt any gender. I am a “Man” in case you are thinking that this is definitely written by a woman. Oh in case you are wondering I am not a student of gender studies either, I am a business economic student, oh! Yes right I may have some “economic motives” behind this.

The inspiration of writing this blog comes from two of my very close friends article. The article not just inspired me to do things differently, but also made me think about gender inequality. Thank you my fabulous friends! 

There are only 12 fortune 500 companies that are headed by women, I wonder “why”, you can count the number woman billionaires on Forbes list on your fingers, I wonder “why”, everyone wants to be Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, and I wonder “why”. Having said that gender studies is not just about women, that is a misconception. I guess that is why I have never met a man who is taking gender studies. Gender study is itself marginalized by the society as the field of study about plight of women. This is sheer out of ignorance and stereotype!  

What do I know about gender studies, may be nothing, actually, I have no formal education and background in gender studies, but do we really need to study this as a subject? We just need to keep our eyes and ears open to figure out how gender plays a huge role in our day-to-day life. In my friend Charelle words “Gender is linked to everything, and everything is linked to gender”, if you just for a minute analyze your daily routine and habits you will realize how everything in your life is influenced by your gender - the clothes we wear, what we drink, kind a car we drive, what we eat, everything is affected by gender stereotype created by the society. My understanding of gender is based on my personal experience and observation of events around the world.

So what is”Gender”? Gender is something that separates us anatomically, but in today’s world gender has a different meaning – a word that dictate us what you are supposed to do, how you act, how you react, do’s and don’ts. oh! “It is feminine” “it is masculine”; this is what society thinks gender is. Who define what is feminine and what is masculine? And what are these terms anyways? We all feel the pain, we all smile, we all cry, and we all come in this world the same way. So why this question!

Before coming to this country I have never heard of gender studies as an academic stream. I guess in my country we have not only marginalized woman, but also made sure that they never even realize that they are marginalized. Women don’t even realize that they are discriminated based on their gender, oh you are a girl – you are supposed get married as soon as possible, have a family, cook, and clean. And most of the women accepts that due to our so called “society norms”. Why not you let them decide what they suppose to do, marriage, family, cooking and cleaning is not the only thing in their lives.   

Gender in my personal opinion in this marginalized world is about how we are treated and distinguished from each other based on our gender, what is expected from us and what is acceptable to the society. Kids at the early age were taught about what is expected from their gender.  Why not we teach them what is expected from them to keep the humanity alive and what they can do to make this world a better place.   

While writing this intricate blog, I felt is it right to say this or not, then I said to myself who is anybody else to decide what is right or wrong I will write whatever I feel like, we all have freedom of speech. But again freedom is dictated by the society and boundaries are well defined.

Gender should only be anatomical difference and nothing else.

I may have said so many things that someone find offensive, but then again why it is offensive, are your sure your understanding is not influenced by the society and their so called “norms”. If you still feel offended then accept my apologies.

I want to thank my friend Emmy (the title is based on your observation that my perception should not be influenced by anybody, but me)  and Charelle for inspiring me! Love your article!

Time well spent today!

Another New Year – What I have lost and found last year - Precious Year 2012!

A New Year is like a blessing - live it to the fullest

For the last 3 years I was spending my New Year day on streets of New York, not like a homeless guy, but enjoyed the vibrant culture and colors, street performances, chatting with strangers, hot coffee outside Macy’s, shivers at times, smile and laugh with strangers, loud sound of party blowers, people holding plaques “Free Hugs” “Don’t forget to smile” “Lord is with us”, street vendors selling some of the coolest stuff, kids dragging their parent to M&M and ToyRus stores, people lost in city maps, couples asking strangers to click their pictures, traffic cop waiting for 18 hrs shift to get over, an old lady looking at the empire state building and reminiscing how it looked when she was young, and a young man observing all this while waiting in the queue for “Rockettes” dance performance at the most beautiful theatre “Radio City”. Another last day of the year in New York fast paced life, the only day when the city lost its momentum and slow down to enjoy each and every bit of being human. New York is a city where you can find yourselves in thousands of pictures taken by strangers from all over the world, like I have hundreds of strangers in my photo albums.

 I missed all that mixed bag of emotion here in Prince George on my first Canadian New Year Eve!

The year 2012 was a wonderful year for me both personally and professional, I started my new position as a Research Fellow for the university, made some friends for life, bonded with old and lost friends, moved to a new and wonderful place with amazing roommates, had amazing summers with friends, travelled to some of the most beautiful cities in Canada, met some really amazing and crazy individuals– don’t ask their names some of you know what I am talking :D, learned some important lessons. Although there were days when I wanted to go back home and hug my Mom and Dad, stay in their arms, hold my little nephew, and see the smile on everyone’s face. There were days when I needed my friends to talk me out and fortunately there were friends like Matt, Greg, Alishia, and Charelle, whom I am indebted. There were friends like Harpuneet and Ashish who were trying to make me laugh. Tried skiing for the first time and rest is history and one of my most read blogs. So many memories I don’t know how many I will be able to recall.

Moments when I had supper at the lake and splashed water……, flying kites and snapped tread - running for the kite, meeting a friend after 5 years, from knowing to liking, ….I think I am getting a poetic, now I am going to stop now.    

Writing this blog brings back all old memories, I have no regret, I have cherished every moment of happiness and sorrow. Bad days make us realize the true worth of good days.

Thanks for being my friend! Cheers to New Year and Cheers to New Memories.  

Sweetheart! just hold me and follow me - this is how we dance

Dance like you have ants in your pants

Dance makes me and my partner Happy! Even my fingers are dancing while writing this story. Yo yo! Like a rapper! Yo yo!

India is famous for many things, its diversity, spicy food, big fat weddings, scorching heat……but one thing I love the most about India and Indians that we are Happy People. So the question is how we express our happiness? We do that by dancing our heart out, dance until we are drenched in our own sweat, until we are exhausted or collapsed, or until or shoes broke down, c’mon I am going to dance barefoot in that case.

I, Zishan publically admit on this day that I love dancing like crazy, not just crazy bollywood dancing that to my Canadian friends is like changing bulbs, monkey dancing, or dancing like you have ants in your pants. Yes, I do all this crazy dancing along with this more formal style like Bhangra. That’s not all, in Canada I have learned some new style Waltz, Tango, Salsa, Twist and turn, Robot dancing, pop and lock, tap dancing. Oops there are other styles too, Shake that Ass, belly dancing, strip tease… haha! Just kidding! I don’t know this style or maybe I do. Haha! :p

Once more thing everyone, dancing is fun, but at the same time it is injurious to your health, you may get bitten by someone, got kicked or punched in face, knees, gut, almost anywhere, gets you in fight, girls and guys hit on you – girls are fine with me, but guys oops wrong number dude. Haha!

Okay! So I went to a dance studio (lets say it was a dance studio:p) in Montreal. Since my feet were dying to hit the dance floor. The studio that night was packed and to my advantage it was freestyle night, so I can do whatever I want to. :D some guys were doing awesome spins and robot dancing, I said fu.. I can’t do that but I can do some crazy mix of Indian and North American move, so I asked my partner to watch me and follow me afterwards. I mixed tap dancing with some bhangra and other freestyle moves. I must admit that it was a little embarrassing for a minute, but then everyone start cheering me up and joined me.  My famous two finger whistle caught attention of everyone, since it was so fu…. loud. Hehe!

My partner joined me, but she said I don’t think I can follow your step. So to please her I switched to ballroom dancing with twists and spin, she was uncomfortable with that too, she left the floor. But no worries another girl joined me, but to my disadvantage she was trained dancer, I was like FML. I got nervous and she said “Sweetheart just hold me and follow me” I don’t know what style of dancing she led me into. But that was awesome but lacking panache. Who cares after 5 minutes, I have gone back to my freestyle dancing and we had great time after that. But fun part my partner just disappeared from that studio I was where the hell is Emma. But then I said who care lets enjoy since that was my last night in Montreal and I to have catch an early morning flight. I was sore next morning and limping instead of walking, even the security official asked do you need a wheelchair and are you okay! I was like if someone asked me what happened what I m going to tell them, I was dancing my ass off on an official trip. Haha!

Dance is life and music is like blood. I have a secret about how I can dance like crazy and for hours. If you want to know secret call me maybe! :D

So you want to dance you know who to call.

I am waiting for the dance club at the UNBC to start again!

The shoe heel, the scar, the coffee, and the cell ph no – Sweet!!!

We just met, but here is my number, so call me maybe!!

So my friends I am telling you a real story about a guy who is a frequent flyer, but he always avoid Delta Airlines ground staff…..why? hehe!! Not yet, I will get there, listen to whole story first. Airport lounges, waiting areas, restaurant, bars, and stores are an awesome way to socialize. But stores…FML (f… my life – for those who don’t know the abbreviate, but now they know how to describe their life in three letters. Isn’t awesome! Haha!) I am f…. shopaholics, holy crap, ask lucky people who have seen my wardrobe. Don’t get jealous! :p okay may be for a second. :p don’t get offended read ahead. :p

Once upon a time there was a guy called Zawesome! Hehe! He love to travel, traveling is a bliss, but sometime you get head butt, scanned 3 times, spend $$$, forget your  laptop bag and gifts, random security check, lost luggage……, silver lining – meet interesting people, make new friends, of course shopping hehe. Anyway Zawesome was traveling to New York for a winter vacation. Air Canada is such a “wonderful” airlines (MF), I have all the fu…. legitimate reasons to curse them. He missed his connection from Vancouver thanks to Air Canada – “I love you Air Canada” I have my middle finger jacked up to salute your services. :p  “Sue me if you can”.

He was running with 15 pound laptop bag and a luggage stuffed like you are trying to fit yourself in your 10^th grade pants, trust me you won’t be able to zip it. :p above all wearing a down jacket, looking like an Eskimo, running like he saw a yeti or sasquatch (oh Canada!). I don’t know why the f…. I had dress shoes on that day, oh wait I remember so that at security he doesn’t have take 2 minutes to tie his shoe laces(again Oh Canada – snow shoes).

He was running and thinking he can still make it to the connecting flight. Run Zawesome, Run Zawesome!! FML here it goes my left shoe heel came off and I am fu….. slipped and my shoe was flying in the air and I was praying don’t hit anybody, don’t hit anybody…it did not…isn’t it great… wait wait for it… the girl at the Delta Airline counter saw me slipped she screamed “oh my God” she ran towards me to check on my well-being. She didn’t saw the fu…. shoe on her way, she stepped on it and guess what she slipped like we slip on ice.. I was fine, I saw her and literally said “oh fu..”. I got up and started limping toward her since I had just one shoe on.  Four of the by passers were just looking at her and I said what the hell you guys are looking at, help her to get up (in my mind – As….s).

Anyways I helped her to get up, I asked are you alright, she replied with a question – r u alright Sir (really sweet girl). I replied I am good, are you doing good, are you hurt somewhere. She said no, but I saw a little bleeding scar on one side of her face. I was like oh man what I have done to this sweet girl. I asked her do you need anything, she said I have a band-aid at my counter, it will be okay. I really felt bad for her! She was really sweet she took me to the shoe store and got my shoe fixed for free, I am not going to disclose the brand of the shoe, but no more this fu….brand.  

She told that I missed my flight, that time I was not concerned about the flight I was concerned that I gave a scar to this sweet girl. I was feeling guilty.

I went to lounge afterwards and came back to the boarding after couple of hours, my good luck or bad luck, she was the one who was boarding the flight that time. I still had like 2 hours to kill, I went to her counter and asked her how she is doing (I am nice guy.. :p). she was alright and about to finish her shift, I don’t why I just asked her – hey you want to grab coffee afterwards – she said yes. I said to myself that’s good I have somebody to talk for a while. She came back after like half an hour, ooo! She is looking good. We talked about so many random things and about our life, how it sucks. Haha! Just kidding! My life is awesome (touch wood) :p. she told me that she has another 3 months with Delta airlines and then she was unsure where she going to work. I apologized for the scar she got because of me. she said don’t worry! I said you look like the harry potter girl version. We both laughed so hard!! Haha!

How the coffee ended? It lasted for about 25 minutes, she give me her no. and said call me if you are in Vancouver again.  I still her number, but unfortunately didn’t have an opportunity to visit Vancouver after that.

I guess whatever happens it is for the good, I got rid of the shoe once I am came back, but I kept the heel as a souvenir. Haha!

So my friends check what you are wearing before traveling, no fu…. dress shoes. You may not be as lucky as I was you might get yourself hurt instead of a number of a pretty girl. Haha!

Say Jambo! Say Jambo! Nothing I am just listening to this song. Say Jambo. Haha!

Travel Safe!

My “awesome” “bizarre” insomniac Zombie roommates!!!

Life in university residence

Starring

Michael Horianopoulos as “Mr. Baker”

Rylee Isitt as “Mr. Pop”

Gregory Pye as “Mr Foul mouth” – well I want to give him another name but…you know Greg what I am talking about. :p

Myself as “Pakora king” - self proclaimed king. :p

Disclaimer – The views expressed in this blog is what author have witnessed over the last few years. If the actors in this story intend to kill me after reading this blog, please hire an assassin from India “Life is very cheap in India” save some money for “education” sake. “hidden intention behind this advice” – I can always buy back the assassin since they all are corrupted. Take that bitch in your face. :p

Cheer up guys! You are going to be famous now!!! I have huge fan following. :p

A day in life of Mr. Foul Mouth (FM)

He woke up late most of the mornings and complains I am fu…. tired dude (damn you FM, you should not be playing games all night). :p he has unique personality, I enjoy his company (I have to write something good about it, otherwise someone is going to get hurt real bad someone…). He is an avid games and enjoy making alcoholic drinks, one heck son of a gun, I mean literally son of a gun, he love shooting people (in the game).

One fine night I was enjoying a movie and like most of the nights FM decide to shoot some people. While he plays video game, you can hear him swearing at the top of his lungs. As. Ho.., mot… fu….$%^$%&^$#@#@*&(*)()$#@. Oh ya! One more thing his accent is so screwed may be just for me, I sometime just say what! What! What! With my mouth wide open.

Another interesting story this little self-proclaimed hard nut scared of spiders. One day I found a small or rather tiny spider in my room and I was talking to my other roommate about the same. FM over heard us and ran out of his room with a wooden sword (oh! he is into martial arts to; I don’t what all crap he is in. I know I am trouble now, he is going to kill me for all this) any ways I don’t give a shit about it. So he came out with his sword and started screaming where is mo…. Fu…. spider, I am going to smack it with my sword. The look on his was quite hilarious as if he practicing martial art for this day only. No matter how much he tries to avoid encounters with spiders, they find him sometime in his tea kettle, shoes, car …..let me just end the day in FM life on a good note. Mr. FM if you found this annoying then “go play hide and seek and …….” This is his favorite quote :p haha! Go! Go! Go!

Love affair with oven - Mr. Baker (Mr. B)

An awesome guy who loves baking, birds, chocolates, bailey, imitating voices, drama, and god knows what all he loves. I love his freshly baked cookies. Too much goody goody stuff, now some interesting thing about him. One night I and Mr. Foul mouth were talking around 1.00 am in the morning next to Mr. B room, we heard loud noises from his room and it scared the shit out of us since it was in some language we are not familiar with. Holy “fu..” my reaction what the “fu..” was that. To me it was like a real life exorcist movie, we went to our respective bed right away. Next morning we asked Mr. B what the fu.. have happened to you last night and he told us that sometime he talks in Portuguese while sleeping. We had similar episode after that, but it does not bother us anymore, but trust me it was freakishly hilarious. So heads up to the new roommates, dudes you are moving in with a sweet zombie. Good luck! Why zombie – during exam days he does not sleep at all and next morning you can see his face, pale with bloody eyes. One more thing he is the funny guy in our suite and wants to be a part of every ding dong and bing bang… I really like him imitating Jim Carrey’s stand up “My crotch wants to buy you a drink madam” just don’t try this as a pickup line Mr. B.: p

Fizz life of Mr. Pop

This name has nothing to do with the candy Mr. Pop, but it is the fluid that runs in his blood stream. I am joking guys, he is not a mutant or is he? Sometime I think he is one of the guys from X-men (keeping in mind his intelligence level). His interests are diverse from photography to building cool stuff from Lego, preparing for dooms day (:p), computer programming…list goes on. He is also the curry king of our suite, last summer our place smell like spices. His curries take forever to prepare, my goodness! He is a geek and got some awesome stuff like $400 water purifier, 2 microscopes, game steering wheel, flight simulator joysticks, all the fu…. tools to build anything literally anything he can build a fu…. plane if he want one. Oh yes! He is a cheap drinker, one or two glasses and he started trembling like a gal walking with high heels for the first time. :p 

Mr. Pop love drinking pop all the time and I believe one day university residence will install a vending machine in his suite since most of the business is coming from him. “Customer is king” :p

Mr. Pakora King (Mr. PK – I prefer Z though)

How did I get this name since I organize pakora party all the time and cook 6-7 different types of pakoras.

What I say about myself, I don’t brag about myself. You all know me, I love sharing everything except one thing…I know how to keep my friends happy. I love dancing and I think I can dance..what you don’t trust me ask my dancing buddy Alishia. :p

Guys!! If you are annoyed with this post then I say “suck it up” :p

What I didn’t hear you “you wants to kill me” – c’mon guys “go play hide and seek and……” haha!

You know me guys “I love you guys and I miss you” thanks for being there for me when I was down in spirits. I remember Mikey hugged me and said Zishan everything is going to be alright and by God everything is going great since then. Oo Please guys don’t start hugging him now, magic works only once. :D

Thanks Guys!