Monthly Archive for April, 2007

Starsky & Hutch quotes

[Starsky and Hutch are in the Captain's office]

Captain Doby: You’ve robbed 7 bookies over the past 6 months. You haven’t filed a report, turned in any money; you haven’t even arrested anybody.
Hutch: How can I arrest them? They’ll know I’m a cop.
Starsky: Oh, I wouldn’t worry. I don’t think you’re in any danger for being mistaken for a real cop.
Hutch: Oh really? Hey, why don’t you do me a favor and go get yourself another perm and let the grown-ups talk.
Starsky: For your information, my hair is naturally curly.
Hutch: No it’s not.
Starsky: Yes it is.
Hutch: That’s a perm job all the way.
Starsky: TOUCH IT.
[Hutch touches Starsky's hair]
Captain Doby: Hey. Why are you touching him? Jesus. You know something? You two deserve each other. Make nice. You two are partners.

Mastering Kaleidoscope

So I was introduced to this great game by my best bud last winter. Went ahead & bought it for suitable “time pass”. What I didnt know was that I would probably be able to solve only 3 of its numerous puzzles till date. Its a simple enough game with dominos & other various shapes that I need to arrange into the given solved diagram.

It is actually more difficult that it sounds like. Each puzzle takes me countless re-takes even to this day & I am left with questioning my intelligence for a long time after. No wonder the fantastic Kaleidoscope is tucked away safely to the bottom of the cabinet, waiting for particularly no-one to indulge it. And if it have it my way, it’ll stay there forever. Whew!

The mispronounciation of my name

To all & sundry, I am Rinchen. All that changed when I started my hostel life in REC Calicut where the mess workers, usually ladies called “checis” in the regional language schemed of ways to mispronounce my geographically-challenged name, that being their opinion entirely.

To some I was Gunjan, to others a vague distortion of the original name, unprintable, mainly cause my imagination-cum-memory’s not as good as theirs. But the name that stuck big time was Rinjan - so Rinjan I was.

 Affectionately, I chose my old blog’s name as such (rinjan.wordpress.com) cause though old memories may not die, they certainly aint fading away either… even after a decade. To old times, to my sweet chechis, to the four years of being Rinjan & clinging on to the name like there’s no tomorrow.

Meet my students

I love teaching my students. I dont know if they reciprocate the feeling while being taught by me but I must say, when I took on this job 4 years ago little did I know that I was heading towards an experience of a lifetime. The very first thing I learnt about my seemingly innocent students was not to take anyone at face value. And that, they will do anything to wriggle out of class.

The first class I took was in a make-shift cabin of yore cause the campus was not ready yet. Two batches of first year students were huddled together in a dark classroom; dark cause power had just failed. And it was the first day after a long vacation. And it was an afternoon class. And they were to study Electrical. With a brand new rookie teacher. I suppose all of these put together prompted them to implore to me not to take class that day puhleezeee…. ma’m how can we study in the dark…. pretty please….

I took pity on them and let them off. When I walked out, the Vice Principal asked me why I wasnt taking their class. When told about the dark story, he walked into the now-silent class and pulled a cord leading to the ceiling and lo presto! The middle part of the wooden ceiling lifts and as if like magic, light floods into the now-bright classroom.

The class burst out laughing, after the VP had left, of course. Needless to say, I became wiser that day onwards.

What I like about teaching these young minds is not limited to just the text book stuff. If I may include Miss Wormwood’s concise teacher definition, “It’s not enough that we have to be disciplinarians. Now we need to be psychologists.” Well… almost…

When you’re dealing with 300 students, you need to come out of your perfect-world and accept that some students need attention, encouragement, even love while a few others may simply require the scolding of their lifetime. I’ve encountered the most intelligent students, with a sad drawback of not being able to communicate in English. Then there are ones who get by without the least bit of studying and instead concentrate on getting into trouble maybe because they “hate” their parents. Some are plain dunces who will desperately attempt with all they got but wont make it through their first year.

We have sportsmen who will sacrifice their sessional tests for the upcoming cricket match; then there are these shy, quiet students who will take the last seat and never look up from their desk. There are boyfriends & girlfriends who will stay joined at the hips in each class; while some are so irritating that I have to tell them to shut up and not ask a 100 irrelevant questions or else…

There are students who will always bunk their classes & fall short of attendance (who actually remind me of my days in college!) There are class clowns who are sometimes too funny for their own good; some students are born leaders, teachers’ pet, groupies, politicians, stalkers even! Each of them as different and unique from the other.

I am happy imparting education, not only professionally but also in terms of doing the right thing - morally & socially. One of my favourite alternate lecture is to tell students not to litter the environment and to make sure they put garbage in bins and not fly it in the campus. Another stress is to make sure they discard their Hindi, Nepali, Telegu, Punjabi and speak in English. Period.

Its an uphill task sometimes and the young mind may not take the enforcements too well in their stride but what makes up for that is my ex-students coming back to visit me, call me up or email me about how well they’re doing and that they miss the college. I miss them all too.

In the meantime, all I can do is sing, “We dont need no education” along with my students during one of their numerous talent shows and get ragged during Teacher’s Day. I think this year I may finally have to dance for them.

Mutual Admiration Society Inc.

A dear friend of mine & me have formed this Mutual Admiration Society where we appreciate the little details of each other lives. As pathetic as it may sound, it actually isnt… Since we’re the only two members, its pointedly clear that we’re not looking for attention from every Toni, Diana or Henrietta. Nor are we insecure enough to hunt around for compliments wherever possible, at least not conciously anyway!

These are the simple rules of the club:

When A cooks, B has to include words like “Yumm” & “Wow madam, this tastes fantastic!” in the conversation.

If A puts on a new dress, lipstick, hairstyle or perfume, B has to notice them and inquire where she got it from, how much it cost and generally appreciate the new purchases.

Whenever both visit each other’s house, they will admire the cleanliness, arrangement & layout, never mind even if its the cleaning lady to whom the compliment should go to.

I appreciate the club because like any normal female, I love the compliments given to me. It makes me pleased to be told how nice your living room looks and oh wow! where did you get those lovely curtains from? Or a simple you look lovely today. Add, did you cut your hair? I adore it and it makes you look younger… & I’m good to go.

We both have been in this club for 4 years now. Its nice to be appreciated. Case in point - recently we both played a game of scrabble after one year. Unbelievably, I won and she crowned me Scrabble Champion of 2006. Now thats what I’m talking about!

So any good news yet?

 

This Q seems to always find me no matter where I turn.
So okay 3 & 1/2 years is a long time and yeah, I’m pushing 28.
Yup, most of my friends currently are mommys while I am yet to walk the walk. 

Marriage after 6 short months of whirlwind courtship obviously led to some wild speculations.

“Two words - knocked up. Why else all this hurry? Snicker snicker”

Fast forward to the present. I’ll take a guess at the gossip…

“Maybe she’s barren, tch tch, poor thing”

Profound sense of irony is something I find less irritating, more humourous. Never a dull moment :) And for possible speculations, I’d like to borrow Rhett’s line, frankly my dear, I dont give a damn.

Birding the Fly

Or, What Dreams May Come

Acc to one famous person, “A fly cant bird, but a bird can fly”

Alas, the fly in me refuses to let be added wings to soar the skies. Why? Let me count the ways…cause I’m too comfy being in my shell, I’m happy being stagnant in my routine, complaining, grumbling more often than not, still staying fixedly cause playing Ace Ventura just doesnt fit into my scheme of plans anymore.

No wonder I’m fascinated by people who travel the globe, leave everything at the drop of the hat, visit exotic places and narrate their experiences to a drooling me. I listen to their adventures and like to imagine the face of my boss when I tell him, I’ll headed for a one way trip, please grant me two months of paid leave!

No wonder a fly cant bird after all… but just for once, birding myself would be a dream I’d like to wake up to.