We crossed off another movie from the list today: National Lampoon’s Vacation. MIM really liked it and it’s one of my all time favorites. Towards the end, when the family is running slow-mo across the Walley World parking lot and the theme song from Chariots of Fire begins to play, MIM points out that he’s heard this song before – only the Hindi version.

What? There’s a Hindi version? I ask, interested. So this led us on an internet search to find all the Bollywood movies that stole – er uh – borrowed music from the West. It’s an interesting list which I’m sure is incomplete! Did they buy the rights to these songs or simply just copy them? I’m thinking they had to buy the rights, how else could they get away with it? MIM is not so sure. Are these songs too close for comfort? You be the judge!

Chariots of Fire vs. Main Teri Hoon Janam

I Just Called To Say I Love You by Stevie Wonder vs. Aate Jaate

The Final Countdown by Europe vs. Mere Rang Mein

Macarena by Los del Rio vs. Dil Le Le Lena

Rendez Vous by Jean Michel Jarre vs. Agneepath

Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman by Bryan Adams vs. Jab Kisi Ki Taraf Dil

The other day I was browsing the web and one thing led to another and I found myself reading about the benefits of a raw food diet. Some people had posted before and after pictures of themselves and raved about how healthy and amazing they felt after going raw. This led me to contemplate for 2 minutes about going raw too.

And then I remembered this:

And this:

When joined with this…

Equals this!

The results are in: This is the best microwaved Indian meal – voted #1 by one special Indian and his gori girlfriend. And this, along with many other cooked meals, is why I will never, ever be able to go raw. You should be able to find the Tandoor Chef meals at Whole Foods, or if your local grocer is hip, possibly there too. We have only been able to find the Kawan Parathas at our local Indo-Pak grocery although I’m sure if you live in the city they will be much easier to come by.

We highly recommend that if you are in a hurry or low on cash and want a great Indian meal, go for these two products! We have found that eating out at an Indian restaurant (although we lack live sitar music) isn’t even as good!

Psst! All above photos were taken with our new Nikon D80 camera. We’re still getting a hang of it, and I have yet to read the manual, (shame shame!) but I’m already loving how the photos turn out. For Christmas, my parents gifted me with a great Casio Exilim that takes wonderful pictures too! So thanks everyone for your wonderful advice on cameras. Great photos makes blogging that much more enjoyable.

We have ONE grocery store in the area that sells Indian goodies. It’s always a trip to go there (trip in the funny sense and trip in the sense that it is a bit of a drive too!) because there’s always a laugh to be had afterwards. The store is not owned by Indians, but rather Pakistanis. They are very sweet whenever we come in, and always offering MIM and I a free drink. (In my experiences, whether they are Indian, Pakistani, or Middle Eastern, I am always offered a drink from the coolers. Is this a tradition of some kind?) Anyways, the funny thing about the store owners is that they will go to all ends to make things appear different than they are. I am not used to this!

Case in point: One time we came in looking for a kurta for myself. There were only a few, and not very good ones, so we asked if they were planning on getting any more in.

“Oh yes! We are getting a large shipment in very soon. Stop back after a week,”

So we stop back after a week and ask about the shipment. They then told us it hadn’t arrived yet and to come back in 3 or 4 days.  A week later we stop in and ask again. Their response; “It came in, but everything already sold out!”

Hmmm…Pretty hard to believe since for the past two years every time we stop in we are the only ones there.

On another visit, they were out of our favorite parathas. “We just sold out,” they tell us. Emphasis on the just. “We will get more soon, stop back!” They’ve never restocked those parathas. My guess is we were the ones that bought the last batch.

One time we asked if they had a certain Hindi movie to rent, and their response was, “Someone just came in and bought it.” I guess MIM and I always show up at slow times of the day; seems like we always miss the rush!

And finally, MIM noticed their cooler was broken. The door was ajar, which had been ajar for sometime, leaving the drinks warm. MIM mentioned the door to the owner, and his quick response in Urdu was how the handyman was on his way this minute to come fix it. Many weeks later, it’s still ajar, the drinks are still sadly warm.

I don’t mind it really, it gives MIM and I a good chuckle and it’s actually kind of interesting to me how people can think so fast on their feet. If someone asked me a question point blank, I’ll always give an honest answer, even if it made me look bad. “No, we do not have that movie”, “Yeah, that cooler’s been broken for awhile, I just haven’t felt like getting it fixed”, “No, we won’t be getting in any more kurtas. You’re SOL.”

When you’re used to being in a place that is so cut-throat like I’m assuming Pakistan is, I guess you get used to doing business that way. I’m sure business owners aren’t the most honest here as well, but this is my first experience at what it might be like shopping in India or Pakistan – at least from how MIM has described it to me.

The fact that the older store owner writes all of the purchases down in pencil and uses a calculator to sum up your order (even though there is a cash register right next to him) will keep me coming back, no matter how offended I might become when I’m continually lied to. It’s just so darn cute!

I sent MIM out in the cold and snow to pick up donuts. I’m such a good girlfriend! In the sudden quiet and stillness, it’s the perfect time to write a new blog.

So, lately I’ve been trying to get MIM up to American pop culture standards. We watch a lot of Family Guy together and I have found myself needing to explain many of the jokes to him. Really, how funny is Family Guy if you don’t get the jokes? He laughs when I laugh, but when I ask him if he knew what the joke was about, he usually says no.

For starters, I decided to put him on a 80’s/90’s movie regimen. I thought he should be up to date with those around his age first. I thought of all the movies I grew up watching and enjoying. This is the list I have come up with so far. Please feel free to add whatever you can think of. We’ve got to help this poor soul become Americanized!!

P.S. I’m crossing them out as we watch them!

1. The Goonies
2. Big
3. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
4. The Breakfast Club
5. A Christmas Story
6. National Lampoon’s Vacation (& Vegas Vacation & Christmas)
7. Dirty Dancing
8. Little Monsters
9. Back to the Future
10. E.T.
11. Gremlins
12. Pet Cemetery
13. Stand By Me
14. Little Shop of Horrors
15. Nightmare on Elm Street
16. Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure/ Big Top Pee-Wee
17. Police Academy
18. Poltergeist
19. The Princess Bride
20. The Shining
21. Splash
22. Teen Wolf
23. Urban Cowboy
24. Karate Kid
25. Beetlejuice

Suggested by Readers:

26. 16 Candles
27. Pretty In Pink
28. The Lost Boys
29. Grease
30. Animal House
31. Caddy Shack
32. Lethal Weapon
33. Home Alone

Have you ever eaten these scrumptious potato chips? Well I suggest if you do, that you do not eat them in the dark, on the couch, while watching a movie. We awoke to find these little buggers everywhere! And crushed little potato sticks do not come up off the carpet very easily. If you’re wondering why don’t we just sweep them up well- MIM’s vacuum is broken. Bah! Still, I suggest that you DO eat these potato sticks. They are wonderful!

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted anything or replied to comments. Sorry guys! I’ve been held up playing Mario on the Wii – a Christmas gift that I can’t seem to tear myself away from! Before that MIM and I were in NYC where we both have family. My little brother is there studying architecture and MIM has two cousins in the area.  It was an amazing time. Cold, but still amazing! Check out baby Zain, MIM’s cousin’s 2 month old son and just try to say he’s not one of the cutest babies you’ve seen!

While visiting MIM’s family and baby Zain, Zain’s grandma was cooking up a storm and it was some of the best Indian food I’ve tasted. Afterwards, the four of us braved the winter storm, picked up some Gulab Jamun and headed out to explore Rockefeller and get a picture by the famous Christmas tree. (I’m the Eskimo on the right).

Now, remember a previous post where I was asking about cameras, knowing I could only afford a point and shoot but wishing I could afford something a little more professional, like an SLR? Well I never really believed in the law of attraction until now, because MIM’s other cousin gifted us both with own very own SLR’s! I almost fell over and died. I am a total believer now – put your thoughts out there and the universe might just pick up the signal!

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and enjoy the New Year! Bring on 2010!!

One day I will get a big hunker of a camera that takes professional photos, and then I will make MIM sit down and teach me photo shop, and then I will open my own photography company and make millions…
But for now my poor butt needs something small and simple, that still takes good quality pictures. Any suggestions??

Just happened upon this series on India’s history on The Science Channel tonight. Love when I watch something about India and it’s actually good! Here’s the description of the 60 min episode in which I only caught the last half hour (they also have episodes on Chinese and Greeks):

Long before the Western world was known, India provided the world with its riches. However, India’s invaluable contributions to science and technology have all too often been overlooked. Few know how profoundly India has shaped the modern world.

So grab your remote controllers and Tivo that baby!!! (and I’m going to give MIM a great big kiss for discovering cotton!)

And I didn’t feel uncomfortable in my outfit at all. In fact, I felt great! And when MIM said afterward, “You were the most beautiful girl there”, I melted. Even so, it didn’t stop me from throwing on jeans and a t-shirt as soon as we got home! Here are some pics from the night, enjoy, and thanks to everyone who lent some good advice!

Tonight the Indian International Student Association at our college is holding an Indian Cultural Night. There’s going to be dancing, music, performances, authentic Indian food, and an apprehensive white girl in a salwar kameez. I imagined myself wearing a simple kurta and jeans. It wouldn’t be too out of my comfort zone. But to my dismay, MIM had something else in mind. “Wear the salwar kameez!”

Oh God.

Wearing the salwar kameez for a quick photo is one thing. But actually going to an event in it, well, I’m already feeling the nerves. Ok so, it IS an Indian event and it’s not like I’ll be the only person wearing one, but still, this will be the first time I show up in public in something completely foreign to me – and a little itchy! And the sash around my shoulders? I’ve already had nightmares of continually putting it back in place or else stepping all over it, or maybe losing it all together. And the M.C. Hammer pants will take some getting used to.

First things first, the entire outfit still has suitcase creases in it. So taking the advice of a reader, I’m turning it inside out to iron it and praying I don’t ruin the entire thing – or maybe that’s exactly what I should do? No!…it’s beautiful and MIM’s mom picked it out herself. And just as MIM told me, “Why’d I buy it if you weren’t going to wear it out?” Hmm…I don’t know. I just thought it would brighten up my closet…

Here’s to new experiences!

P.S. It’s cold where I’m from these days, but I can’t think of anything that would go better with the salwar kameez than open toed sandals. Any suggestions?