Holi Hai

Not your normal holi celebration. One bar/lounge. Open bar from noon to 5pm. A bunch of indians and some really good music. I was done by 3, really, really need to cut down.

I feel a bit guilty about today, feel like I should have gone to the temple. I'll do some prayers to make up for it. I must say however, I had a great time.

The most random night I've had since I've moved here. Not sure exactly what happened. Am happy we made it home safe.

Spent about 15 minutes with Rickesh...somehow managed to take this pic through the haze.

Obrigada Sao Paulo

Wow, what a city. This Sao Paulo is the largest city I have even seen. Its huge, buildings and buildings everywhere. Its in cities like this that I feel like a quaint little Canadian girl, the magnitude of this place is beyond me. Before you ask, I didn't take too many pictures, I was alone alot and didn't feel like whipping out my camera on the streets of SP.

I spent most of the day wandering around, taking in the urbanness of it all. I walked about for hours, stopping in little shops and for food every now and then. Looking around at the people, I decided that I look brazilian - although using Sao Paulo as a guide, everyone looks brazilian, its so diverse - but I think brazilian is a good fit for my features (especially with my new, sexy tan).

I love watching the effect art has on people. I went to a couple of museums and at MASP I was drawn to this one Cezanne piece and was pondering it when a couple of kids from a school group came up - they must have been 10 at the oldest - one of the girls completely lit up, when I was ten I would have walked right by it but not this girl, she stopped and stood next to me and decided to use that piece for her report, all throughout the museum kids were doing the same, most were paired up, except for this one rebel who seemed to have a magnetic attraction to works by Matisse.

I'm ready to go home but have a little problem. I have no idea where my house keys are....none. I think I've put them in a special place but have no idea where that special place is. I've already checked my bags in, I hope they're in there. I'm not sure what I'm going to do but I'll figure something out, I always do. Wish me luck!

Hippity Hop

My life in Brazil is no calmer than that of NJ. I feel like I am on the road all the time, arranging airport transfers, room service and hoping that my next hotel has internet so that I can synchonize my laptop.

I'm flying around alot. I'm leaving in a few hours to head the domestic airport once again to get on a prop plane to Bauru about 200-300km away, its supposed to be very hot there, hotter than Vitoria. Blah..40 degrees. 24 hours later I return to this room of mine here at the Intercontinental...the staff all know my name and I've spent more time with my morning room service guy and the bellman than I have with my friends. Did I mention the hotel sushi bar? That guy knows me too ;)

Cashasa, Cashasa, Cashasa...sunburn :)

I spent the weekend at the conference site in little town just north of Vitoria, a city somewhere north of Rio. After a rough friday night, a result of the mix of Beer, Cashasa, Tequila and the point system, I awoke to the sound of kids yelling, and went to the terrace to see the following:

The entire coast was full of dads and their kids fishing(?) for shellfish. They were laughing and screaming and having the time of their lives while helping their fathers earn their living. Made my hangover look a bit silly.

Apparently I look like the wife of the governor of the state Espirito Santo. I was 'recognized' a few times, the first being at lunch with the Leadership Team, we went to this amazing restaurant, filled will photos of the brazilian elite..the waiters approached our group and asked if I was her, with the intent of getting my pic. Unfortunately, they were disappointed.

As a total aside, I even managed to get my photo into the local paper as part of the Cadbury delegation to Vitoria, we spent the afternoon on a PR tour of the city's major media outlets (if I can get a copy of the paper, I'll put it up).

The best part of it all so far isn't the beach, the sun or the language, its seeing old friends, catching up with people that I hadn't planned to see. Can't wait to do it again...

Lingering Questions...

Rarely do I feel compelled to post about current events, but this is one that I don't want to get lost in the mix of our daily lives.

In Vancouver there are a few events that continually make headlines - one of which is the bombing of Air India flight 182 in 1985 . I've been hearing about this as long as I can remember. To date it is the largest recorded air disaster in human history (baring 9/11), hopefully it will retain that title, as I would never wish to see a worse one. The tragedy hit the Canadian Indian community very hard and each time I see an Air India plane or flight number at JFK/EWR I shudder a bit at the memory.

I'm not going to get into details because I don't know them, CBC, the Globe and Mail and the BC government have dedicated sites to providing updates and background for those who'd like to read up and learn more.

Today the Canadian justice system surprised me. After almost 20 years of waiting and after a lengthy 2 year trial, the judge weighed in and declared the accused not guilty. Of course the evidence would be in question after 20 years, of course people's credibility and memories would be suspect, the real question that needs to be answered is why did it take so long?

I hope that there is an inquiry, that CSIS publicly justifies why it erased every bit of relevant information, that the RCMP learns and records its shortfalls. Its no longer about justice for the families, but of the whole lot of us, this could have been anyone, and we can't just turn away and let spy agencies act independently for the rest of the system, I understand the confidentiality issues but its crazy that this could happen with no repercussions to anyone but the public.

Every country has its tragedies, every city its embarrassments. This is ours.

I'm here, I'm safe, I made it.

I landed this morning at around 10am, the flight was shorter than Vancouver to Amsterdam. The driver was this guy around my age, we had fun trying to communicate - Portuguese and Spanish versus English and French - it was almost comedic. Eventually we managed to agree to turn the radio on and listen to some music...the station we chose played a mix of Brazilian, American and French rap...including songs I used to listen to back in Rotterdam..sent shivers up my spine. I feel like a bit of a novelty at the hotel, young and foreign. The young part makes me unique, I think it helps that I'm cute. I love that they assume I speak Portuguese first, thats now it should be. I need to learn how to say some basic phrases, I really didn't prepare enough.

Just as a question fielder, I haven't seen much yet, am in the office and have been for most of the day. Its raining, but hot, I'm hoping to see some sun tomorrow. I'm starting to get tired, will probably retire early tonight.

New dilemma - should I stop in Miami on the way back?

Coloured money, strawberry vodka

Although I've lived away for awhile, this was the first time heading back to Canada with foreign ID. Namely a NJ drivers license and credit cards drawn on a US bank in addition to being from a US based office. Everyone I came in contact with thought I was an American. My colleagues, the car rental people, the people checking my ID for purchases. You wouldn't think this would mean anything, but I felt a difference once they thought I was a foreigner...a bit of a polite distance, less camaraderie, more formality, I'm probably just imagining most of it, but I do know there was a marked difference once I told my colleagues I was one of them ;)

Being back in Canada felt good, Toronto feels completely familiar, the streets, the signs, the products..the airport. I had some free time on the way to the office from the airport so I stopped for some Tim's hot chocolate (almost texted you from the line Amy, I was pretty excited). The road to the Hamilton plant I visited was one I had driven before, two years ago, with Ian on my way to Dofasco. The view of the lake was absolutely beautiful, it was sunny, crisp and really felt great. It was -7 when I landed, didn't feel nearly as cold as even 32 does here. The dampness of the water location I guess.

I need to pay more attention to Canadian news...read CBC once a week or subscribe to Macleans like I had originally planned. Here I'm not overly interested in some of the random facts from the midwest, but tell me something about Moose Jaw or Sudbury and I'm all ears. Toronto had turned into such an urban city, with so many urban problems, all the girls in the mall were fashonistas, even the 12 year olds. I had no idea why all the flags were at half mast, not until I read the post at the hotel. What else have I missed..did the Air India trial end? What's going on with the whole pig farm prosecution? I need to spend some time catching up..some other time.

I don't know why it felt so different, maybe its because this time I've really left Canada, I can't see myself moving back anytime soon, if ever, my next planned hop is to some other foreign location (not soon but sometime). I'm not some foreigner in the US, I live here.

As an aside - my favorite part of flying Air Canada - on the cbc in flight sports report, curling news was the headline (for lack of hockey to report on). A sport where drinking beer is in the playbook. Ahh..the homeland.

Click to see pics from friday night (or go to photo section of left toolbar)

Out of control ;)

So Toronto huh? I had prepared all these thoughts to post about my trip but I don't really feel like it anymore.

And they're off..

This is an oddly familiar place I'm in. I embark tomorrow on a journey. I know its just a work trip, but this feeling I have of being on the road, of living out of a suitcase, and all that that means, its almost like a pit in my stomach. I'm off to Toronto tomorrow morning and will be back on Saturday for a couple of days to clean up, have a meeting and do laundry before I'm off on my big trip to Brazil, through TO again. I've done this enough times to know which pants crease the least, to remember to pack the straightener (forgot that once, big mistake), and that I always need to take two toothbrushes because I will lose one...I always lose one.

I love travelling, I love seeing new people, meeting friends, making friends, seeing new places and being exposed to new cultures. I also love being home, home meaning wherever my stuff is. Sleeping in my own bed, using my bathroom, having friends that you can call locally, knowing where to get stuff. Travelling and working on the road are two entirely different things. Working on the road is not sexy, hotels are not homes away from home, and restaurant food sometimes just doesn't cut it. I work with nomadic colleagues, everyone I interact with regularly is from somewhere else - Brazil, Honduras, Poland, Egypt, Peru, Australia and of course the UK, and we all feel the same about it. We look forward to the results of the travel, appreciate the value of face to face contact and the learnings that come from being 'on the ground', but that doesn't mean that we light up at the thought of getting on the plane, of being away from our families and/or friends. Everytime I get asked to do something I have to check my work schedule to see if I'll be in town, I do some some control over when I leave but its not absolute.

I know, I know..poor Asha, she has to travel for work, she gets to get lots of aeroplan points and see cool places. I'm not complaining about this just yet, after Brazil my travel is going to be limited to day trips to Toronto every week or so but even those can get tiring after awhile. Don't get me wrong, there definitely are perks...giving a suggested date for a party in Toronto because I know I can be there, getting to work on my tan, great restaurants (expense accounts) and those miles for free trips home, but three years later, I'm still not sold on this way of life.

I was talking to Gautam today, and he pointed out my nomadic schizophrenia, my confused desire to explore mixed with a never ending quest for familarity...I don't really know how to act and live like I'm staying in one place. I feel this urgency to develop friendships, often superficial ones because I feel like time is scarce. Can't even fathom what it would be like to have a normal relationship. I still find it strange talking about 'next year' and referring to here. I'm so used to being the new girl that I'm not sure what my 'thing' will be when I'm just a regular person..its a bit scary to think about.

Anyway, my car is picking me up at 4:45am. I should go to sleep.

(Amy I'm not sure if you got my message, that is 8:45pm for you, call me - I'll be at the airport until 10ish your time).

Raising Paddy

Friday night champagne and vodka. I don't want to meet men who don't have jobs. I need for you to be able to afford more than a coffee, I'll pay for it, I just want to know that you could. I will not call your house in Toronto to leave a message for you to call me back. Saying you want just want to stand and smell me is not a turn on, its scary. Besides that it was good, a nice night.

So Hoboken is strange. It was St Patrick's Day in Hoboken on Saturday. However strange, I'm not complaining about spending a day at a house party with a wristband and a cup. Kegs, lots of kegs. Patrick the singer played Sweet Caroline for me and I was reminded of NPM and then he played that Juliette track that Abhi used to sing all the time...it was my turn to reminisce.

I added a new photo album - go to the photo section of the toolbar (left)

The potlatch that is my brain...

I'm having weird thoughts. I've learned some interesting things about some interesting people and am not sure how to react. I'm surprised at how okay I am with all this. I surprise myself sometimes.

I wonder sometimes if I'll wake up and it'll all be a dream. Maybe I'll be back in my bed in Coquitlam, or in my room in Ottawa, or at Apt 1419 in Toronto or at Hofdijk 83. I'm not sure where the path started but I do know where I would choose to restart. I'd give it all up for one thing.

I'm happy even though I can feel the movement of the ceiling fan in the apartment below me.

It still hurts. I'm getting a bit tired of feeling like this.

I need to buy a new bikini. I can only find half of mine. The wrong half.

Time is scarce. I'm not sure where its hiding.

Is this for real?

(okay so my itinerary just changed completely, here's the new version)

March 15: Newark >> Toronto
March 15: Toronto
March 15: Toronto >> Sao Paulo
March 17: Sao Paulo >> Vitoria
March 18 - 21: AXLDS
March 22: Vitoria >> Sao Paulo
March 22 - 24: Sao Paulo and Bauru
March 24: Sao Paulo >> New York

Brazil baby!! I'm still in a bit of shock that I not only get to go to Brazil for work but that I'm going to get to be an external at an AIESEC conference.

What's making me happy right now...

Seeing who wins the O-Sydney versus O-NYC debate. Just the thought of going to Brazil. Dancing to my own beat EVERYTIME I enter an elevator and then freezing when I realize there are cameras everywhere. Receiving "local" calls on my cell. Not being the new person at work anymore. Bangs. Easter chocolate at work. Wine with meals. Carpool gossip. Snow, lots of snow. Psycho girls and high school drama. Reconnecting with long lost friends. Amazement at the smallness of this great big world. Reminders of how big the world actually is. Frequent flyer miles. Personal emails.