Its official: I am a comsumer!

A few weeks ago I felt like I was officially initiated into the consumer culture here in Canada...I experienced my 1st mass recall of a product by the manufacturers!

Yes, the toaster I bought a few months ago has been recalled by the manufacturers. Apparently it doesn't always switch off when the toast pops out...meaning that the coils are still on and are thus a fire hazard.

They mailed me a new toaster :)

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C.

Make it Yours

Over the years, I have lived in many houses (or rooms). Since 2001, I have lived in 10 different rooms/homes, thanks to university life and my work abroad. This is not to mention my summer trips home in the past. As you can imagine, unpacking into a new room so often is a chore, but I enjoy taking the effort in making my room cozy for me...a place I enjoy to be.

What I like to do is put up photos and object that inspire a memory of the past, or to come up with a design for these objects that I find pleasing. Everything in my room has a reason for being there. Some reflect who I am, some reflect friends I have had, some the places I have been to, others, like the little Buddha above, just something small that I can play with when at my desk. But even there, there is significance. The 3 rocks it is sitting behind are from Canada, Denmark and the UAE. The Buddha itself is from Calcutta. These are all places in my past/present/future. I like the silhouette that the lamp behind it creates.

I have always customized the desktop on my computer(s), but lately I even started taking an interest in the wallpaper on my mobile phone. Both serve only to give me artistic pleasure! I like to keep a good mix of photos, and change things around to keep it accurate to my tastes. My message to you is that art can affect your mood. Art is subjective, so use it as you like it. Choosing something personal for your environment (desktop, your mobile phone's screen, walls of your house, desk at work) can bring a smile to your face when you least expect it. I think it is important to be able to customize your environment.

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C.

Common Words

The Germans say "Ciao" for an informal bye
The Iranians say "Merci" for thank you

Turkish, Farsi and Hindi share the same words for Enemy, World, Humanity...I find new ones everyday with these 3 languages.

Just thought I'd share this.

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C.

Can't top this

Here is a true story, even though the odds of it happening are ridiculously small.

When I lived in Denmark, a Brazilian friend of mine had a friend from Norway visiting for a week. On the weekend, a bunch of us had all gone out to a club. I met her Norwegian friend at the club and was talking to her. She mentioned that she had visited Vancouver about a year back. She was an exchange student at the university where I got my bachelor's degree. I asked her where she lived while in Vancouver, and she mentioned the same dorm where I had stayed, on campus. I thought it was quite a coincidence. Then she mentioned that she had 2 Indian house-mates in her apartment in the dorm. I knew two Indian guys in that dorm because I lived with them during my stay. It turns out she and I lived in the same apartment, one after the other! I moved out in April and she moved in, in May! I emailed my old house-mates and they confirmed that it was her who moved in after I moved out.

What are the odds of meeting a Norwegian who went on exchange to Canada and lived with my 2 Indian house mates in the same house as me, and meeting her through a Brazilian girl while living in Denmark!?!?!

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C.

Midterms Blues

An annoying aspect of being a graduate student is doing courses you really hate! Unfortunately for me, I am forced by my university to do courses in areas I really have no interest in and which are unrelated to my thesis. However, I shall suck it up and just get on with it.

I have a midterm exam on Wednesday. And I can't relax until it is over. I mean I SHOULD NOT relax until it is over, but ... I'm a grad student, I can do what I want, right?!

University says No.

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C.