My Guru

Like this phrase, “ no knowledge, without college,” so college can’t be without teachers. In school or college we don’t just go to learn about the specific subject or program, but we also learn about life at the same time; it’s spiritual, moral and behavioral aspects. Teachers can also teach us how our subject or topic is related to the real world. Teachers can also adjust to an individual’s needs. Every person has different ways of understanding and learning, and teachers who are experts in teaching can expand knowledge by giving examples so students can understand. Sometimes, teachers are like parents or friends, who teach by doing fun activities, rather than teaching from a book. Computers can’t take me for bike riding, and eating out. Also in college or school, we learn from each other, which is highly effective for our knowledge. A teacher, who admires our feelings, not just gives us a score but also with special compliments, like I got in my writing “Tabitian bag”, “Bangles”, and “Family” is my Power.” A teacher gives us encouragement and also inspires us to study. By their writing a few words, which gives us big motivation, that leads us to the door of the success.

That’s true, today computer skills are highly in demand, but a computer, by itself, is still just a machine. It helps us in studying, but still we need someone to guide us in how this electronic device works. Computers are pre-programmed, very rigid in teaching us special programs or subjects. They check our answers by right or wrong, sometime with rational. I agree that computers are very helpful, when I use for dictionaries, research, messages to my family, my writing, study, and for my music downloads. It’s all great, but computers can’t understand our feelings because, once again, it’s just a tool.

In this faster running world, we need computers as well as we need teachers. But I like going to college and learning from teachers and from others. Studying on a computer is boring and there is no fun. It is a big work to sit and be responsible for the curriculum. At last, there is no such thing that can replace the teachers, because in my language (Hindi), “without Guru (teacher) knowledge is incomplete.”

Study or Work

In my point of view, it’s better to be a full-time student because there will be more time to study. There will be only one job to study and you can concentrate more. There is a full life for us to work. Also, you will be able to finish your college degree faster and you will be able to enjoy working. You will be able to settle your life in a young age and marry whom you love. There are two disadvantages of being a full time student. First, you have to beg for pocket money, which is pretty bad. No matter how much our parents gave us money there will never be enough for us. I remember eating samosas in school and worried about how much they were. Second, you won’t feel independent because you have to limit your desires. As a child, it is ok but not as an adult. Nobody wants to be under control of somebody for every little thing. Also, there will be no money to spend on your girl/boy friend. That’s going to be pretty bad.

On the other side, if you are part-time student and work part-time it is crazy to fight with your boss that I can work here and have class here. Working and studying needs big stamina and lots of efforts to keep both. It is like a slow process. Sometime, if you are tired after work, it’s hard to focus in study. I have seen even some people drop their classes because they can’t make it. It is good for those, who need to run their home or support someone. A friend of mine’s son is in college. She told me that her son is giving her a hard time. It has been seven years, and he didn’t finish his degree yet, which was four-years degree. Sometimes work is like an obstacle on your way to focus or if you are smart enough to cover all the material. It’s fine to work during summer break to make a little money. My sister in-law finished her bachelor degree in Anthropology and she started working. Then, a few months later, she applied for her master degree. She got admission in University of Chicago and she quit her job. She finished her master degree in two years. Now she is working.

Sometimes it is good to be part-time student and work part-time. Like parents, if they able to study or even part-time, it is great. At least they are leaning. Here, we have the opportunity to study and work. I wish, in India, we could have something like that so my sister can study English and work part-time to support her son. Full time is better for single and who is living with their parents. Finally, it’s better to be a full-time student, if you have the opportunity.

I POD

Today is a world of development and every one likes advance technology. “I Pods” are an amazing piece of technology, which attract everybody all over the world. When I went to India, my husband bought a charger for his I Pod from my small city Pathankot. I see people on the train with their “I pod.” Even some people listen to music while they read books. It is best, if you travel every day. I never thought that I ever needed an “I Pod,” but my husband thought I should have it. I was fine with my Walkman.

Before, the “I pod,” I used to have a Walk man. Everywhere I go I carry my music CDs with the Walk man, which got little heavy. I had to buy batteries every time, which lasts only few days. Batteries cause a lot of toxic waste, which is bad for the earth. When I was listening to the Walkman then I had to change the disc every time. It was a hassle. Sometimes it turns itself on in my bag. By the time I turned it on my all batteries were gone. Even, I had to carry extra batteries with me. It was very expensive to keep buying batteries. After all rechargeable batteries are not much help. I love to listen to Indian music, which makes me feel like I am in India. Even though I am not a musician, I admire musicians.

Last Christmas, I got the “I pod” gift from my husband. It is the craziest little thing. “I Pod” is very convenient to carry around. It is very light and very gentle like a newborn. I don’t think I would like to go to back with my shabby Walkman and carry batteries, and CDs with me. Without “I Pod,” I wouldn’t be able to listen Indian music because I download up dated Indian music from online. Furthermore, my life would be very complex, sad, and unhappy. On the other hand, I have a big collection of English, Hindi, and Punjabi music on my “I Pod.” I just need to charge my “I Pod” and then for a couple of days I don’t have to worry about it. I carry it with me everywhere all the time. Even, when I read my book; I would like to listen to music, but only on the train because it keeps me away from the stranger. I feel safer with my “I Pod.” It is also like my best friend.

The power of the family love

This theme “Power of the family love” contain very special place in my life. All my memories with my family give me so much happiness. I remember going with my father, who never needs any invitation to visit his family. My family thinks, a family problem is not for a single person’s problems, it is whole family’s problem.
The power of the family love is, sharing every event and helping each other. I remember when I used to get sick, my mom stayed up all day to took care of me. Her tander touch help me recover fast. We have a phrase; one stick is easy to break but hard to break a group. My relatives always wait for the next who is going to get marry, so they can, sing, dance and play instruments. They are like a full music band, including my husband on a keyboard. At home, I always sat with my father to listen his anecdotes but my mom always complained that I didn’t sit with her when she was preparing meal. Even though, my cooking was bad but not as good as my mom’s. Now my husband’s side, we go to all his family’s celebrations such as; Birthday’s, Wedding parties, Thanksgiving, New Years, and Christmas parties and so on many more. On a weekend my sister-in-law often come to our home to watch a movie and eat dinner with us. Finally, I am nothing just the rock without my family. My family is my power and love, which is precious then jewel.

My Discovery

In this book “Funny in Farsi,” the author described America as a land of the free, independence, and many opportunities in life. It is true this country is a land of the free. Whenever I go to Costco, there are always sample foods for my husband to eat. Recently I went to Lush to buy something for my acne, the girl who works there gave me samples to try on, but in India I can’t touch anything without paying it first. Americans are very friendly. I also discover that boys and girls have the same freedoms. Even girls can have boy friends. In India having a boyfriend openly and living with them is not respectful in the society. My sister in India is a laboratory technician and working. She wanted to learn improve her English but there is no part time job. Either she can quit the job or forget it. Here we have more opportunities for the students. I didn’t get this chance to learn English in India. Now I have and I am going to take it.

Similar experience

While I was reading this book “Funny In Farsi”, I missed my father who is in India. I also had a similar experience like Firoozeh’s uncle when he came in the United States. When I came here, I started eating cans, frozen, and microwave food and trying all the different nationalities of foods without being worried about gaining weight because in India I eat home made food, and sometimes Chinese food. After few months I noticed my Indian dresses were tight on me and I never went back to my original weight. The chapter “A nose by any other name,” is totally like my own experience. I remember my parents always wanted to give me nose plastic surgery because my nose was ugly, but my father only has enough money to educate and support his four children, not for my nose. When I grew up I told my father one day I am going to have plastic surgery. In Indian culture people look at the face with perfect a nose. Even when my mom wants me to pierce my nose as Indian girls do I didn’t wanted to because then it would showed how ugly my nose is. When I came here and got married with my ugly nose, I told my husband I wanted to get fix my nose. He didn’t agree with that and said you have a beautiful nose and you didn’t need any surgery. After reading this, I learned that however God made me, I am happy with that. I also experienced filling a form to get an army t-shirt and later I received calls to join in army. The book activities were fun and I felt like I was in school. It took a lot of creativity to make those posters, like gathering pictures to post on it. I learned a lot about the author and her love about her family. Now I am waiting for her next book to read.

In Garlic We Trust

“In Garlic we trust,” is written on this stone plaque, below the garlic. This is a six inches long by six inches wide plaque. My sister-in-law gave it to us a few months ago. She bought it from a Chicago museum. She probably noticed it because of our love of garlic. So, I put this plaque in my kitchen, by our dinning table, where my husband usually chops garlic to make garlic bread. Garlic is the king of the vegetables, which protects us from many diseases, especially excellent for heart related problems. I use garlic in my all cooking and my parents too. My husband loves eating garlic. Even our Friday pizza has garlic topping and after that he sprinkles on garlic powder. Sometimes I roast garlic cloves in an iron pan to keep our heart happy. One time, I made food without garlic because we ran out of it and then my husband said, “no food without garlic.” That’s what he believes. I know some people think garlic stinks, but if you eat parsley after using it you can eliminate the garlic smell. I like reading about natural cures. Studies show people in Italy have less heart problems then here because they trust in garlic and me too.