Last night, I heard the veena played live for the first time by my friend Manjari. Wow. It was so beautiful and she played so gracefully. The sound is so hard to put into words except to say it is haunting in a way, rich in tone, and I think when played by someone who obviously loves the instrument and music, really speaks to you if you're willing to sit back, listen, and just let the music take you places. We have nothing quite so pretty as that in the States.

I remember when I was little my Dad had this old records (yes, we're talking like, the big black records) of classical Indian and Greek music (my dad being Greek). So he used to play them for us when we were little. We used to get so excited playing with my Mom's sari and kaftans from India and this peacock feather fan she had. You know, I almost had a bhaiyah? But because my parents were only engaged, they wouldn't allow the adoption. My Mom still thinks of that little boy. But back to the records....so my Dad would play them a lot, and I remember him putting on the Greek ones and making us dance around the table in the living room. From an early age...always dancing dancing dancing round that table to lively Greek music. I forget the steps now, but it was so much fun. Am sure anyone peaking into the windows would've been scandalized. Look at that Pastor and his kids...dancing like banchees around that table, jumping everywhere, spinning, laughing....tsk tsk so not proper.

I think we were lucky in our upbringing. I mean, my Dad tried to be strict and sometimes I think he was, but he never suffocated us. I know my parents sacrificed a lot to let us do and have the things which really define us today. They paid for my sister's dance lessons, and she danced for 14 years. (May sound biased here) I used to love going to her recitals, because she was the best one as far as I was concerned. Her feet were always properly placed (she did ballet), and she stepped so gracefully up onto her toes. I remember when she was learning seeing her wrapping her feet up and bandaids everywhere, but when she danced you never knew it. She did modern, lyrical and jazz dancing too, which I loved to watch. We both played flute, my sis even 'upgrading' to the piccolo! I wish I had mine here, because I used to play all the time. I sang in choirs. At one point my parents paid for me to have a few voice lessons when I was 13, and in high school my band director gave my sister and I lessons. That's when we started singing together for school talent shows. I mean, no voice ever fits with yours or harmonizes with yours like your sisters : ) I loved those times. Hahaha, sorry...funny memory here. We did a Jeckyl & Hyde themed show one year, where I sang a song, "No One Knows Who I Am" where I was s'posed to sing the word "Damn!!" but, was so nervous with my parents there, I sang the first verse again...haha...chickened out...but then my Sis and I did a duet called, "In His Eyes." That was so great. But I remember singing it at home at Christmastime, and my Mom taping us. This was late at night, and we were trying to 'stage' it. I just kept singing the wrong words, and Cait would sit there, and go "UUHHHHH..." (rolling of eyes, shaking of head). Cut, retake. ; ) And then in the most romantic moment of the song, it's quiet and I start off with, "Will his eyes reveal to me, promises or lies?" and Cait goes, "but he can't conceal from me..." (supposed to be "the love in his eyes"). Except, needless to say, turkey does this to you, and beans...i mean c'mon....needless to say, I let loose a really big one....caught on tape of all things." Hehehe...oh boy, was she mad. Anyways, yeah....fun days.

My parents got me into horseback riding when I was younger. From second grade through 6th grade I was riding. I used to go and muck stalls just to be near the horses. I love horses. I loved the feeling of riding them, being free to go whereever and however fast you pleased. Making friends. It's hard to explain but the horses I rode became friends. I remember my first big fall from a horse, Anna. This beautiful small Arabian mare. She was one of the sweetest dispositioned horses I knew. We were cantering for one of the first times, and my foot came out of the stirrup and I got off balance....so I slid off the side of her, and was dragged for about 20 feet by my real foot which was stuck in the other stirrup. Thankfully the saddle I was using had these safety features where if enough pressure is applied the stirrup snaps off from the saddle. So that happened. I had my helmet on yeah, so didn't hit my head, just a thud, and whoosh thru the sawdust and dirt in the arena. Anna stopped immediately and came over. I felt her felt soft nose nudging my cheek. She had come back and was checking on me. I was afraid to get back on, but I did, and do you know she gave me the smoothest ride ever. I think she was careful.

And then there was Jared, my little brother, the sports star. Mr. Football. I can remember as a kid, him doing gymnastics, this wicked skinny, big headed, flexible boy jumping around, doing somersaults at the age of like 5. And then soccer, we have on video this game from a mixed boys and girls team, and Jared, at age 5, pushing a girl down from his own team, so he could get the ball. What a little man! : ) Next was Little League baseball. I remember going to all his games and cheering for him. He played 2nd base or right field. In school he played all sports, football, basketball and baseball. In high school though, he became a football star (Mr. Homecoming King himself). Was not there to witness it, but when I was home, I used to go to all his games. He hated when we cheered for him, but c'mon...that's my job to torture and embarass him infront of his friends, hehe. But it was so cool. I wish I hadn't been so far away for college, because I always missed his football seasons. But we used to sit and watch sports together all the time (sometimes not by my choice...). So every Superbowl, World Series, even the Stanley Cup for hockey...we watched. I knew more than I ever wanted about sports, especially football.

The cool thing is, I can go home now and teach him a sport or two. Rugby, yeah...and cricket. I fell in love with cricket here. Wow. I never expected it. My friend Sahir had tried desperately hard to teach the game to me before I came here, and I was hopeless. Even he gave up, and yes, he even tried to teach me Hindi, and gave up. Haha. But I come here, and my friends rope me into cricket before I know what's going on. It was great. I loved going to the India matches, and even though I was scared to death, had fun playing in that one match. Haha...So let's see if I can start a cricket revolution in the States when I go home! : )

But, sorry, back to my parents. So many memories flying through my mind, what to share? :) I think I was lucky, because my parents instilled in me a love for other people. They exposed me to my first new culture: Indian, from an early age. They opened their home up in college to my closest friends, Miri and Abbie. They asked questions and wanted to learn. That's what was so cool, I felt as though I could bring these cultures I had come to be a part of home with me. Mirioni...my best friend....chingu...saranghe, an yoooonnnnggg!! :) Abbie, nina ku penda rafiki yangu....Bwana asifiwe! I got my parents hooked on Kenyan chai tea!! My Dad, who swears he will never touch a drop of tea ever....now asks me to make it when I come home. He's looking forward to eating 'real' Indian food too. Haha, so the pressure's on. I mean, basically my parents encouraged me to think outside my own world and see the world through other eyes, walk in others shoes....embrace other's uniqueness, just as I wanted my own to be. My Dad's said from early on that he thinks I'll live and marry internationally. Haha...Can I share something funny? I think my Dad's a bit disappointed I didn't meet anyone here in Oxford. He was convinced I would...well, so I was I probably too. But, yeah....he's like, "how will you meet someone international if you come home?" hahaha. But I know my Dad wants me home. ; )

I'm looking forward to seeing friends I've been away from. Kim is having her first born son any day now (I was a bridesmaid in her wedding before coming here), Miri's in law school at W&L, Abbie's in Arkansas, Jasmine is in Baltimore (Ball-more), Kim is in CT finishing up her MSc in Psych....Charity is also in CT. And then me....hahaha, oh boy, who would've thought, homeless, jobless, penniless. But with too many places to go, and not enough time to see everyone left behind back home.

Miri, can I share this? :) I remember Miri's and my first year together in undergrad. We were discussing guys we could marry. This girl was very firm: 100% Korean, not Korean American, but Korean!! hahaha, so as we've progressed over the years together, she's come slightly over to my side of things, and has informed me that a Korean American would do for her too! : ) But this is her dream match for us: me marry a Korean, her marry a Korean American. Hahaha. Guys, the three of us are gonna be back together soon. The Three Amigas....or three troublemakers, however you might view it. Abbie....Rach.....Miri....ARM ; )

But you guys have to accept me now....according to Miri, Jared, my Dad, my sis, my accent has changed so much they don't recognize me anymore. Miri and Dad said I sounded almost Indian and British. Cait said British, and Jared just had to hang up on me because he couldn't take it. He's like, "your not my sister" and Miri was like, "you are not my best friend." Guys, I swear it's me. : ) Sometimes new friends leave lasting impressions....so don't be surprised if you hear a few Hindi words coming from this mouth yaar ; ) Sometimes new friends feel just like 'old' friends....and I know I have many lifelong friends here in Oxford.

Gosh, I am a hodge podge of things now!! : ) Feeling a bit less senti about going home....looking forward to it. But still apprehensive and sad nonetheless.