If only I could understand the words

Ho-kay so, I know my last post was about cultural things, but I am just obsessed with Hindi, Tamil, Asian songs (and everything) in general lately... There are a couple songs that my friend(s) introduced me to, and one of them even came on my Pandora station as well, and all I want is to be able to sing along to it!!! Unfortunately, I don't speak Hindi. Dang it. Although even though I can't understand the words, just listening to their voices and watching the music videos, I can feel what the song is about! And it doesn't hurt to have my friends translate them either ;)

I always admire how the majority of people from other countries around the world can speak multiple languages. Yet here in the United States, we're taught English and that's about it. How boring is that?! Ok, some schools teach Spanish too- which is an improvement. All of my friends from other countries, whether they're from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Germany, Spain...wherever it is, speak at least three languages. AT LEAST. Since there are people of so many different cultures and from neighboring countries, it's just a given that you learn many languages. I am always so fascinated by all my friends' abilities to speak so many languages... And I wish I had learned more than just Spanish growing up!

It's easier to learn, and become fluent, in a language when you start at a young age. I just don't get how after taking Spanish from kindergarten through college, I'm still not fluent. I was totally fluent when I was in Spain! Then I came back to the US... *sigh* and now it's gone. Probably doesn't help that I never practice... :/ oops.

Anyway, maybe someday I can become re-fluent in Spanish. And hopefully ASL too. And maybe Hindi. Or Nepali. ;) We'll see.

Until next time, I leave you with these two amazzzzzing songs. The first one is Hindi, the second is Arabic. I've literally been listening to them on repeat. My roomie Veranja says I'm turning Asian. ;) Thank you, V!

Zara Zara -- Bombay Jayshree


Enta Eih -- Nancy Ajram نانسى عجرم - إنت إيه


PS-- It's Frozen River week! Aaah!!! Freaking out. If you're in the Winona area, or up for a trip, you should come check it out! It's gonna be grand :)

Frozen River Film Festival site

Multicultural things make me happy :)

I work on campus in food service and due to my class schedule and such, I work on weekends only. All of my coworkers that work on weekends with me are from Southeast Asia. I love it. So much. I absolutely would not have it any other way. They are seriously some of the best people I have ever met. I can't even imagine my life without them! I already realized all this; but tonight on our walk back home, I just kind of looked at all of us... and smiled. We all had handmade hats from Nepal on, all bundled up, snow crunching underneath our feet.

Throughout the entire night, there are always many different conversations going on... Some between Sri Lankans, Chinese, Nepali, a mixture of the three... It's so great. Then of course, there is the large group of guys from the Middle East that usually hangs out where we work too! Actually, a majority of the time I don't understand any of the conversations going on! Surprisingly, I enjoy it. In fact, I love it. It fascinates me how we can all come together and bond, even coming from such different backgrounds.

Here are our Nepali loves... (My friends Amanda and Katie as well!)

So many Americans avoid new things, new cultures, new people. Or they want to stay to themselves; stick to "their own kind". When a lot of international students came here at first, they said they didn't feel welcomed by the American students. They said it was quite the opposite of being welcomed, and many people simply ignored them or looked down upon them. This saddens me deeply. I'm glad I'm not like the "norm" of these unwelcoming people. I LOVE hearing about their religions, their homes, schools, weather, land, friends, families, food (ooo especially food!! ;) hehe!!), and recently-- MUSIC.

I'm addicted to it. After the song Why This Kolaveri Di was introduced to me, I totally fell in love. I searched Pandora and found Bollywood and Tamil radio stations...and let me tell you, it was the best thing I've done in a long time! No joke. This is all I listen to now. It makes me dance happily, even though I don't understand anything they're saying! The dancing done to most of this music is just as beautiful as the songs! English music is so boring now ;P

Anyway, these people I've met and grown very close to have opened my eyes to so many things. They inspire me! I love them all so much...and I tell them often ;)

One of my friends is selling some handmade items from Nepal on campus... I currently have a hat, mittens, coin purse, and over the shoulder purse from there. They're sooo wonderful, and original. Plus, it's from Nepal and handmade. How could it not be perfect?!

Now for your listening pleasure, here are a couple songs you should listen to. Just imagine me dancing around my kitchen and my room to music like THIS. You'll want to join, I'm sure! :D

Why This Kolaveri Di -- Anirudh,Dhanush,Shruti Hassan, Aishwarya and Sound Engineer Sivakumar



Autograph Tamil songs -- Ovvoru pookalume



"Maiya Yashoda" from Hum Saath Saath Hain



PS-- Notice the nose piercing in the third video... This is a very common thing for women as it symbolizes womanhood and fertility. Which is awesome, because that's why I love mine even more! Especially since it's on the left side! :)