J and I are determined to learn Hindi. It's hard and we possess a fairly healthy streak of laziness and pure fatigue, so sometimes it feels like climbing the Himalayas would be easier than learning to speak this language.
So what do two cinemaphiles (yeah, I made that word up) who are exhausted and dull-as-powder do? They watch Bollywood films at night with no subtitles--that's what they do. And, by George, it's helping, kinda...
Now, we watch Bollywood movies for their Hindi, but last night we were delighted to discover a movie that is compelling and thoroughly enjoyable for its content and not just its language--and that's saying something, folks! The aforementioned movie is called Lagaan and it's great. In fact, BBC ranked it as number 14 of the Top 50 Films You Must See Before You Die. If you love and trust BBC like I do, you'll find that an impressive feat. If you're like my brother-in-law, who feels that BBC movies should be titled things like 'Tea at Tata's' and 'Woodland Fairies Discuss Needlepoint' then never mind.
For you boys out there, there's tons of sports and male bonding in it. The DVD cover says it's, "the story of a battle without bloodshed." But because I'm honest I must warn you that there are also tons of dance moves (which I dig), Indian singing (it's...ok), and some, well...some male sobbing as well.
All in all, it sheds a little more light on this dizzying, complex culture, and it does so with lots of color, fun, and Indian rockin'. Watch it.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Friday, June 5, 2009
Dog Days
It's really hot here. No. It's super-dee-duper hot here (to quote Barney--and I apologize). The days drip by like molasses. See, J and I are on a little 'language vacation' because our teachers have to be out of town for the week. What I mean by a vacation is that our lives are exactly the same as they were before, only more boring. Now it would be easy to whine and complain (and I, ahem, have...once in a while) but because it isn't fitting for someone who has been blessed as much as I have, I'm concentrating on what I have to be thankful for. Here's my (partial) list:
- our Dad's love (you know who I mean)
- tile floors
- my kamwalli
- my kids' love of reading
- new curricula
- pretty clothes
- ceiling fans
- our inverter
- our new TV (oh it's so nice!)
- hair color
- food
- my sweet and long suffering husband
- Skype
- books
- Diet Coke
- cheap mangoes
- lots of time with my family
- our sweet team
- our families back home
- care packages from those families back home
- oh! and all my bloggy friends
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
A Mommy Brag...
These King and Queen cats and their child are the creations of our barely-turned-five-year-old and I think they're quite good. I posted this picture mainly for my sister's benefit, since it was her two daughters that inspired our G to develop an obsession with drawing. Thanks, M and C. How is your pupil coming along, do you think?
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