I’m alive fellow Texans and I wrote this on the hop, skip and jump over here.

Good morning, London. It’s 1:22 am Texas time as I sit cramped in my seat writing this.

I’m still on the plane and have about two more hours to go in this over air-conditioned dungeon.  Yeah, I definitely just woke up so excuse the sarcasm so bright and early. I forgot how much I hate the actual flying aspect of flying.  

It hasn’t been that bad though. No crying babies, no obnoxiously smelling men, and nothing too crazy. I can’t believe I have a full day of shenanigans ahead of me. I’m not just going to my families’ house and passing out- I’m actually hanging out around the city for a bit. I need to work on getting a mobile number and Internet connection. I really hope I’m going to be able to be as active on Twitter as I usually am.

Internship doesn’t actually start until the 28^th. I just got an email asking if we could push it back a week -.- Was I suppose to say no? Anyways, slow and steady wins the race so hopefully I can see some family and friends in Leicester before this internship takes over my time.

It was really hard saying bye to my friends, mum and bro. This is weird. Usually every summer I ship back to Plano and work some job that has nothing to do with anything I’m interested in. If you’re friends with me, you know how miserable my summers usually end up being. Especially last summer. So here’s to a thrilling summer filled with excitement, adventure and different surroundings.

I feel like there is going to be so much going on and I’ve barely had time to write it all down but to name a few- Paris, once Munisha gets here. The beach with some friends- though the beaches here are not like swimming, sand castles, sun block and tanning, they’re still a good time. Perhaps Amsterdam if time (and money) permits itself. I just heard that Wimbledon will be around the same tine as the Olympics so I’d like to check that out. Last but not least, the Olympics.

I wish Munisha was coming here earlier! There is so much to do and show her that I wish she would ditch her Canterbury program and just hang out with me all day. Speaking of, Congratulations to her for graduating this weekend. I had the opportunity to go to her graduation which led to her packing her room, which eventually led to us crying in the living room like idiots for a bit. Typical meatball move.

Anyways, she will be here soon enough and we will take over London.

Is it bad I’m already planning out what I want to eat for lunch and dinner? I am going to get so fat eating all the crisps and chocolate. I was joking around with everyone before but I think I’m actually concerned for my health.

This blog post was suppose to be a time pass for me and keep me distracted from how cramped and annoyed I really am…and hey guess what? It helped. Time to wake up and snap out of it. Maybe I’ll get a head start on some tea now.

Xo

I should most definitely be sleeping or studying for my two upcoming finals but instead, I am overwhelmed by heaps of excitement.

Exactly 15 days from now, I will be on a plane, jet-setting to one of the best places on this earth- LONDON. 

Though I will be there this summer for an internship aka business, I have a few additional trips and fun things planned so instead of making an entirely new blog, I decided that I’m going to continue on here and update my wordpress every opportunity I get and share my experiences.

Let the countdown begin.

I was inspired by two guest lecturers in my Family Problems Sociology class to write this next blog post. It may seem like I’m preaching but after hearing them speak and then doing my own research, the subject matter really touched me enough to want to write something about it. It’s kind of a debbie downer issue but it’s something that we as a society don’t pay much attention to when in fact, we can change these numbers just by helping out.

Did you know…

In Austin, Texas for a family of 4, the disposable income of the entire family needs to total $53,000 to successfully raise a family. This includes: housing, food, and utilities. That means, both parents need to be earning a total of $27/hr.

Well, what about the majority that work minimum wage jobs and earn $7.25/hr? That’s only $14.50 between both the mother and the father. How are they realistically supposed to raise a family on such a limited amount of income? Mind you, this is just the statistic for Austin. Imagine what the remainder of the nation’s numbers look like.

So let’s just say that with such a limited income, one parent loses their job. They can no longer afford their rent or mortgage payments, they get evicted from their residence and then they’re left with nothing. Where do they go?

They may turn to their family…but what happens? How long can you “couch surf” with family members? Hotels, churches, maybe even shelters…Eventually, they will become homeless and unable to afford any kind of housing options.

Our guest speaker came from a shelter called Front Steps. Fronts steps has a shelter called ARCH that houses Austin’s homeless temporarily. They see 700 individuals a day walk through their doors..and 10,000 individuals a year. 10,000. Imagine that. But the shelter does not house families. Only males. Meaning, that same family of 4 that lost their home now has to split up. Women and children can find shelter at the Salvation Army across the street from the ARCH facility. Problems solved right? Not quite…the Salvation Army only allows women and their children 14 years of age or younger.

The following class we had another guest speaker come and talk more in depth about poverty, specific to Austin. She was from an organization called Caritas. Their mission is to fight hunger, homelessness, and poverty. I learned a great deal from her as well. We analyzed some common myths and facts about homelessness and had an open discussion about what it means to us. From this we concluded that the top 2 results of being homeless is 1. poverty and 2. lack of affordable housing.

Bottom line: we do not have enough subsidized, affordable housing options out there. Over time, the federal spending allocated for these housing options has decreased and been attributed to other parts of our budget.

Most people think that those beggars on the street are poor and homeless because they choose to be. I’ve heard people say, “They’re just lazy, they don’t want to work for their living.” Though that may be true in most cases, it could function both ways. Everyone’s story is different. Some may be too old or disabled. Even then, if you have a job, that doesn’t enable you to be able to afford a comfortable way of life. It just doesn’t. You may obtain a minimum wage job with your spouse but look at those statistics I presented earlier…that doesn’t mean that even then, you would be able to afford enough to survive and raise a family successfully.

There are so many ways to help.  You may not have the dollars to donate, but your time means something. You can start by voting. I’m not telling you who or what to vote for. But as human, with a heart and working brain, think about these things that are affecting the community. You see the homeless, you hear them. So help them. If you want to be more proactive, donate your time. Places like the Salvation Army, Caritas, and ARCH are always looking for volunteers and interns to help serve the community.

National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is November 12 – 20. See what you can do to aid those who need it the most.

This is one of my favorite videos that goes along with this post perfectly-

http://www.livingwage.geog.psu.edu/counties/48453

What does this really mean anymore? After reading a post on ThoughtCatalog I really started thinking about my “friend” circle and what it means to me. 

They say that to have a friend you have to be a friend. True. 

But on the same note, who has time to be a real friend these days? Let’s face it, how many people can you honestly say you’ve maintained the same relationship with since grade school? Personally, there are enough for me to fit on one hand. But what about all those other friends? I consider myself a social bee. I like being “in-the-know” about what’s happening with the people I care about. But realistically, there are so many people I care about but not enough time or energy to keep up with them all. You could have the most amazing couple of months hanging out with someone and then all of a sudden the communication subsides, the random outings come to a halt, and more importantly, they diminish from your favorites in your Iphone and become replaced with someone else. I don’t know about you but I know that pattern all too well and quite honestly, yeah it sucks but that’s life and I am proud to say – I have finally come to terms with this ugly truth. 

There have been numerous times where I’ve met a new pal and then we make it Facebook official and that person turns to me and says- “OMG, you know XYZ..what a small world!” 9/10 I’ve replied back saying- “Oh my goodness, I love him/her, they’re one of my good friends.”  Wait. No they aren’t. I haven’t talked to them in months or better yet, years. Wrong answer. It’s an impulse thing. But it happens to all of us. 

OH social networking…With texting, Facebook, Twitter, and GChat I’m golden. I don’t really need to talk to anyone directly and I can still maintain some sort of relation with them without being BFF’s. Out of those 1,000 and some friends of mine on Facebook, I often talk to maybe six on a regular basis. Six. That’s it! I can’t decide if I’m shocked about this or relieved I don’t have to keep up with all 1,000 + friends. With Facebook and Twitter I can let everyone in my network and some know where I am, what I’m doing, who I’m doing it with and what time. What if I don’t want my friends, friends, cousin’s boyfriend to be all up in my Kool-Aid?  - That’s a whole other subject.

Back on track. Point being, I don’t really have to make much of an effort to be in-the-know about all these people with the help of social networking sites. But is that what our society is coming down to? Pure laziness to meet up for coffee and talk about worldly issues or something simple like what we cooked for dinner last night. We’re forgetting how to have personal interactions with people and becoming more and more socially awkward. No one likes an awkward turtle. If I wanted to talk to cardboard, I’d talk to cardboard- sorry dude. 

Speaking of awkward turtles…That awkward moment when you see someone you haven’t in what seems like decades and you strike up the smallest bit of common ground of convo only to end with this closing statement. You know the line. You’ve said it, I’ve said it. “Let’s hang out, text/call me sometime and we’ll plan because I miss you!” I’ve seen it on Facebook, Twitter, in person, via text. EVERYWHERE. Guilty as charged. You know in reality, you’re probably not talking to them or seeing them anytime soon so why bother? If you haven’t had a rendez-vous already, chances are you won’t. 

Let’s make an effort, people. 

I”m not saying let’s go reconnect with everyone from your high school yearbook in hopes of rekindling those memories…I’m simply rationalizing good, meaningful relationships.  Everyone has friends. But do we have good, quality friends we can hold on to for years to come? Chances are, we don’t because we are becoming too lazy to be a friend and I have seen numerous friendships fail because of this. If at the end of the day, you have gone the extra mile to strengthen those ties and whatever you’re doing doesn’t seem to be working- at least you know you’ve tried. Then, sure. A+ for effort. You’re one step ahead of the game.

Like  Kanye said, “people in your life are like seasons and anything that happen is for a reason.” So run with it. But that’s the point…run with it, don’t walk. 

 Just when I thought I was having the roughest day possible…I remembered that one of THE most inspiring journalists of our time was coming to SAN MARCOS, TEXAS. How that slipped my mind among all the drama of the day- just don’t ask.

So anyways, Soledad O’Brien came to Texas State as one of the keynote speakers for our Common Experience program…and of course, like any efficient journalist, I was ALL over that event.

I did not cover her event for The Star but instead, decided to do a little blurb on my own.

I have followed O’Brien’s work repeatedly and watched almost every documentary she has created. From Don’t Fail Me: Education in America to Unwelcome: The Muslims Next Door- It’s fair to say that I have been inspired by them all.

“I have focused my career on telling stories that otherwise may just go away,” said O’Brien.

During her lecture she mentioned briefly some of her obstacles she had to overcome being a women, half black and half latino throughout her career. O’Brien transitioned from a premed Harvard student to an award-winning, record-breaking and critically acclaimed journalist.

O’Brien said that quality, credibility, and value have to be apart of any story journalists create otherwise there is no story.

O’Brien concluded with a memorable quote from Dante, “The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in times of great moral crisis, maintain their neutrality.”

This was one of the best evenings of my life thus far and I was privileged enough to be able to speak with O’Brien and have her sign my copy of her book and take a picture. Hopefully, this is the first of many more encounters with her. She truly is an inspiration to any aspiring journalist.

My guest post for Twomangoes.com

All I need is Aishwarya Rai’s stunning eyes, Sonam Kapoor’s beautiful locks, and Katrina Kaif’s simple smile and I’d be golden.

These days I’ve noticed women are placing so much emphasis on their physical attraction, to the point that they’ll do anything and everything just to emanate their favorite soap opera actress or the latest Bollywood babe. Don’t get me wrong, I wish I had many of the features those bombshells possess but let’s face reality here, not everyone can be as blessed as Priyanka Chopra without doing a little something.

I blame all this on Bollywood and South Asian media. People talk so much about how Hollywood is evil because it emphasizes physical beauty and makes women think they need to be chasing the latest beauty tip or fashion trend, but Bollywood isn’t any better.

Enter Fair and Lovely. Now let me get this straight, you can wash your face with a bar of soap and as a result you should be shades lighter in approximately 4 weeks? Does anyone else see anything wrong with that picture? Are women really that desperate to look fair? What happened to, “it’s what’s on the inside that counts.” Uh, yeah right! The other day I was talking about this with one of my Indian Christian friends and they said their pastor at their church said in his sermon, “there is no fair and lovely for the soul.”  Amen. But if there were, I’m sure these crazy perfection-chasing divas would find it and start using it.

Who cares what color you are? As Michael Jackson once said, “it doesn’t matter if you’re black or white.” But guess what, in Bollywood it matters. I’m sure there are the occasional “dark” actresses, but if you think about it, can you name them off the top of your head without doing a little Google-ing?

Long hair. Personally, I have long, dark brown hair, but I will say that so does every Bollywood actress on the map right now. Again, there have been the occasional odd balls but almost every movie or soap opera I’ve seen lately has this unrealistic portrayal of a women’s hair. Not all South Asian women have long, dark brown hair. Where’s the variety people?

Remember when color contacts where in? Sorry if I offend any of you who are currently rocking those- but that trend was over and out a LONG time ago. Girls were going crazy at the idea that they could change the color of their eyes to match those of their favorite South Asian celebs.

Natural beauty is the best beauty. I’ve heard this one too many times. Unfortunately, I don’t think Bollywood got the memo. Everyone wears a surplus of makeup and prances around in the latest designer outfits. If you turn on ZeeTv, you can bet your bottom dollar you’ll witness a female just completing a simple task such as making breakfast, only – she’ll be cooking in full makeup as if she’s going to a Shaadi. Reality is, women don’t wear that much makeup on a daily basis.

Last but not least, you have one of the most controversial topics…weight. All actresses and actors in Bollywood are fit and in shape. We know this because we’ve been seeing a lot more then their faces in some of the latest Bollywood films. Filmmakers are choosing to expose a little more skin and it’s evident these actors and actresses have been working on those bods. You can’t tell me, as a female, when you saw Aishwarya Rai in Dhoom 2 you didn’t attempt to starve yourself for a day to look like her. I definitely did.  As for the guys, when you saw that I’m sure you thought to yourself, “damn I wish my girl had that body!”

Bollywood: 1  You: 0

I know this sounds cliché but what’s wrong with being you? We live in a society where people don’t embrace difference as well as they do conformity. It’s okay to be different! In fact, every time I visit my family in England I feel like I see the same girl on the street a million times because they all dress alike, sport the same hair style, and talk the same. Who wants a bunch of clones walking around? It makes finding that special someone that much harder. If you know you can find those same qualities you find in one person elsewhere, what’s the point?

Moral of the story is this:  Bollywood is creating this unrealistic idea of what’s beautiful and sexy when the only one who should decide that is ultimately, YOU! In reality, it takes much less effort to be an individual then it does to constantly be trying to keep up with the latest fad. What Dr. Seuss meant to say was, “Be who you are and look however you want, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter, don’t mind.”

“What you are as a single person, you will be as a married person, only to a greater degree. Any negative character trait will be intensified in a marriage relationship,because you will feel free to let your guard down – that person has committed himselfto you and you no longer have to worry about scaring him off” — Josh McDowell

I was talking to one of my best friends today and started off on this rant. I was writing a review for this book I’ve been reading. My cousin was one of the editors for it and I wanted to sit down and see what it was about. I came across a story in there about a Muslim- American women named Saliqa A. Khan wrote an anecdote that left me in tears and utter amazement. “My Journey to Islam” tells the story of a Muslim mother of three children and how she escaped an abusive marriage through a divorce from her reverted Puerto Rican Muslim husband.  Khan credits her ability to remove herself and her children from a harmful situation to Islam and her ongoing faith.  Married young, with three children, she attended college and worked two jobs. She was the breadwinner of the family.  While her marriage was experiencing turmoil, she continued to practice Islam and became more pious in her devotion to Islam. Her faith kept her other burdens off her mind and allowed her to let go of her daily stresses. Khan knew her marriage was coming to an end but fought the good fight for her children’s’ sake until one day, enough was enough. She was waiting on a sign from God to give her the confirmation she needed to end a deteriorating relationship and she had finally received it. Khan fought many stereotypes that society places on not just Muslims, but women in general. It is frowned upon in the South Asian community to divorce your husband or wife and the reality is, people judge. Speaking from personal experience, people regard you as less of a person and think that you have disadvantages when in fact, it is those adversities that bring out the best in people. Khan showed her children, her peers, and society that through faith, all things are possible.

Aside from this really heroic story, I started thinking on larger scale. Khan had her reasons and no doubt, they are completely justified. I just began thinking about those who take advantage of their situations and take the easy way out. Then I started thinking of everything marriage encompasses. I know what it is, you know what it is, we all do. Some dread it, some dream of it for years on end, and others just don’t care. It’s so odd that this one word has so many different interpretations and meanings.

So this union is a bigger picture then you think. (at least in the South Asian community it is) Not only is it between two people, but two families. Have you ever heard the phrase- “You marry me, you marry my family.” I mean, it’s true… is it not? In most cases you gain another mum, dad, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, etc.

Call me old school…but after reading this story about Khan and talking to my friend I began thinking about what “marriage” means to me. I truly feel that my generation does not know and may not ever know what the meaning of marriage is. It’s a pact. A promise. That you and your loved one will be monogamously committed to one another, for as long as you both shall live. The end.

There are very few acceptable reasons from my perspective that these promises be broken, which are obviously examined case by case. People have their reasons for wanting that 7 letter, ugly word..divorce.

Everyone has become so quick to make change that divorce is such an easy alternative. But is it though? Wouldn’t it be easier to work through your differences with your spouse and abide by your promise? I think people need to be more conscious and understanding of what they’re getting themselves into before they take that leap of faith towards a formal union…just sayin’

Going back to what I said earlier, I feel like my generation has never had that traditional idea of “marriage is forever.” Divorces have become common among the average American population. It’s like the delete button on a computer these days. Just backspace and pretend like it never happened..right.

This time last week I was figuring out how console two of my best friends as well as come to terms myself with the disturbing and unexpected news that my close friend from high school, Shamil Patel had passed away the night before from a fatal car accident.

As I sit here and try to formulate my thoughts and feelings I’m jamming out to his favorite song, Summer Love- Remember.

Shamil and I both went to the same high school but drifted apart once college started and I really regret not keeping in touch as much. But what I can say is that he left his friends and family with some amazing memories and life lessons. He never once had a frown on his face, never once let anyone around him know that he was going through tough times…he just kept chugging along with ease. He taught me to be true to myself, make smart decisions, love the people who treat me right and forget about the ones who don’t. He was always there throughout high school to make fun of me, and give me advice. (even when I didn’t ask for it) All in all, he was such a great friend and I will forever remember him and everything he was an advocate for.

Shamil, you were an amazing friend to everyone and we know you’re watching down on us everyday. we miss you and love you.