|
|
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, September 24, 2013,11:57 AM
You Can’t Eat Your Cake for Free
By Pia
Traversing through narrow European
streets, men and women are seen crouching over, picking up trash from parks.
Who are these people? In Lithuania, when
public assistance is received, the recipient must perform work duties in
return. When a country that is a fraction of the size of the United States can
organize such a system, why have we not?
The House passed a spending bill
that would cut Health Funds, triggering chaos and an uproar amongst people
everywhere. The persuasive power of statistics could not be more apt for such a
situation, highlighting the validity behind the noted phrase “lies, damned
lies, and statistics.” Yes, it is true that the vote came two weeks after the
Agriculture Department stated that at some point in 2012, 17.6 million households
in the United States did not have enough to eat. Yes, it is also true that the
vote came two days after the Census Bureau reported that 15 percent of
Americans (46.5 million people) live in poverty. It has been made aware that
the passed bill would cut federal food stamps, casting away 3.8 million
Americans from the program in 2014.
The
slightest hint of compassion in an individual would spark a feeling of
injustice and deem this decision as an “insult to the poor,” where not only
starvation and death are inevitable, but so is an increase in crime rates. However,
what is actually happening is not the preconceived and misunderstood notion of
an attack being sprung upon the poor; it is not the ghost of Marie Antoinette
haunting us with her famous “let them eat cake.” It is the House of Republicans
reworking the safety net, which simultaneously is unraveling our social and
societal threads.
Tangled in
the emotional strings of liberalism, many responses to the decision failed to
include the requirements of food stamps recipients. For example, able-bodied
adults between 16-60, with some exceptions, must register for work, accept
suitable employment, and take part in an employment-training program.
Furthermore, recipients must pass a drug test. According to House Majority
Leader Eric Cantor, this encourages healthier and more proactive decisions. In
1996, a Republican Congress worked with Bill Clinton to overhaul the workfare
program in this country and institute a workfare requirement, which is what
this current pass seeks. It does not demand having a job, but a willingness to
work or give back to the community.
The amount spent on Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) drastically increased to $85b in 2012 from
$50b in 2008, a 75-80% increase in spending for the program in a 5-year. At the
same time, however, this administration noted that there was an incredible
improvement in the economy, with a decrease in unemployment from 10% to 7.3%
and no inflation. While it never seems justifiable to deny basic human rights
and sustenance, perhaps a $38b cut will go back to how it functioned in the
1990s, when there was no strong argument for an increase in the program. What
we should be more concerned about is where this money is going rather than
agreeing that preventing food is cruel, inhumane, and all an attack upon the
poor.
Friday, September 20, 2013,11:47 AM
The Things I Do to See Imran Khan(s)
This post is a cross-cultural exploration, a compare and contrast of my Desi experiences in NYC with those in London.
Albeit this post does not deal with the Dutch-born Punjabi artist, who I also went through great pains to see, my journey and hustle to see the actor is definitely worth commemorating.
My dance team NYU Dillagi was requested by UTV Motion Pictures to hold Imran Khan’s promotional event for his upcoming film “Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu” on January 29th. It was a big decision not to go abroad, this event being one of the reasons. However, getting to Skype with the whole team, the event, and even Imran Khan was totally worth it - the best of both worlds.
In short, the New York event was, without bias, extremely well coordinated and handled. The event did not start on IST. Everyone was seated. Food was arranged. Valentine decorations illuminated the romantic aura of the hall. Though I was over 3,000 miles away, the pulse, energy, and excitement that rushed through all the fans in the hall of E&L translated through Skype. Dances were cleanly transitioned, Imran Khan was beyond eloquent and down to earth, the flash mob was beyond a success, and the meet and greet commotion left from Kimmel to Facebook for hours and days. Great job NYU Dillagi and sponsors J
If only my London experience was a fraction of what I just described…
At the NYU event, Mr. Heartthrob mentioned that he would be going to London the following day. No matter how far or unreasonable it would be to go on a school night to a Bollywood promo event, I made my mind that I would go. As aptly said by Polonius in Hamlet, “Give thy thoughts no tongue, nor any unproportioned thought his act.” Last minute, all my friends that wanted to go backed out. I didn’t realize why until I stepped out of the dorm and Google Mapped the directions. The shortest and most convenient option to get there took over an hour and a cab would have cost 59 pounds PER way. Whatever subconscious intentions and goals were by going to this event did not matter to anyone but myself. I’ll only get to live in London once; why not explore and get lost! As a result, I set forth on what seemed a long, confusing journey with a friend of mine.
The luxury of sitting with friends in a collegiate atmosphere was totally absent, as the crowd of Desi’s, mainly aggressive parents and their toddlers who bore the smell of Indian lentils and oil, hyper teenagers, and tall boyfriends accompanying their Imran Khan-obsessed girlfriends. Since the event was in Cineworld in Feltham, all of us had to wait in the entrance behind a barricade, uncomfortably being pushed and shoved as if we were in a mosh pit. The lack of humor and wit in the MCs after the first hour turned from remotely entertaining to painful. I expected the entrance to be filled with people, but it was not the case. Then again, hoards of people squished themselves against the barricades, condensing the volume of people. Compared to UTV’s NYU event, I was not very impressed. The stars arrived a little after 8pm and barely spoke/showcased themselves/promoted their film for 20 minutes before getting attacked by the mob of people screaming for their fliers to be autographed. It could have been much more organized with a proper meet and greet, which would have gone much smoother, even if the actors were on a tight time-budget. The crowd was a big factor of the aggravation for many people too…While I didn’t get an autograph, I got my 2 seconds of fame by reminding Imran Khan that I was on Skype during the NYU event, whether or not that actually struck a bell in the moment. Kareena, on the other hand, pretty much just ignored all her fans and proceeded to her car. Guess it's the jet lag? ....
After the event, we stopped by Burger King and got ourselves veggie burgers, then proceeded to make our hour+ long way home.
All in all, I’m glad I went. I not only got much closer to the girl I went with, but I also did exactly what I came here to do: test my limits and not control what’s ahead of me. An opportunity presented itself and I didn’t think twice. I just did it. I didn't treat London like a foreign ground, but rather myself as a foreigner who set forth to conquer and explore the adventures ahead. My feet were most definitely not on the ground.
Monday, May 28, 2012,7:48 PM
My Last Few Weeks
Before I reminisce about the best experience of my life, studying abroad in London, I thought it'd be best to recap the really crazy events that took place in my last month.
HOUSING: I wish I got to see Nido at least once during the semester, but I got to live in two dorms! I had absolutely pitiful luck in the housing situation I was given - a single in Guilford. Guilford's an incredibly convenient dorm. It's located right next to the mall Brunswick, which has everything from a Waitrose (kind of like a Walmart meets Whole Foods), Starbucks, great cheap restaurants (always tell them you're a student), O2 and 3 (NEVER USE IT) mobile network shops, great fashion stores - River Island and New Look, etc. It's also the dorm closest to classes, about a ten minute walk to campus from there, as it's located right next to Russell Square. Though I was given a single, I was in a two person suite, and I never thought how someone living in another room could make my experience completely miserable to the point that I would only go back just to sleep (even contemplated getting a hotel room a few times). Long story short, I was accommodated to a huge studio in Byron. Byron, honestly, I liked much better. Not only were about 30 people I knew, including my best friends, there, but it's location and area was much nicer. The dorm is much newer than Guilford's, and doesn't have the creepy dollhouse feeling that Guilford does....a really eerie feeling. My room never got sunlight either, since it faced the gutter of the building right in front of it. But, I got an incredible housing situation in Byron after, so no complaints :) BURGLARY: :( Be very very very very very careful of your purses, ladies! I'm someone who's incredibly safe and careful, never giving a thief an opportunity to nab me. Unfortunately, whoever got me did a great job! I was entering the Russel Square tube station at night with 15 drunk friends (I was the only sober one). In between getting my card from my bag, shutting it, tapping in, getting in the elevator, getting on the tube, and re-opening my bag, someone not only stole my money but my camera and phone (that's why I haven't been able to update any photos). I knew there was no way of getting either my camera or phone back, but I checked the Russel Square station again...It's pathetically organized. No one works there at night so even if someone found my camera (which wouldn't have been the case because the thief shut my bag again), they would have no where to put it, nobody to give it to. Instead of going to the Tube transit police, I was advised by many to go to the official police station, located in Angel (A stop away from King's Cross I believe). It's a very dodgy walk, definitely do not go there alone at night if you ever have to. They weren't too helpful, but it was good for some peace-of-mind. EXAMS: SIGH! I was the only one with this schedule: inter micro on Tuesday, money & banking followed by marketing on Wednesday, then calculus on Thursday. I spent my last TWO weeks, every single day (except for the weekends - which was 12pm to 12am) in the academic center 6 Bedford Square from 9am to 12am. It's a decently enough safe walk back, just a very uncomfortable 12-20 minute one (Guilford - Byron) if you're caught in rain. But the studying paid off! I've never had to work that much in my life for exams.. TREAT: Went to the Knightsbridge station and treated myself at Harrods on the last day...Went to Hyde Park after to go biking, but none of the Barclay bikes were working... Now to make a post about how much I miss London...<3 Friday, May 18, 2012,8:50 PM
Last Night/Last Day
I will upload everything about my last few months here -- everything from dorm changes, to safety issues, and to how much I love this place.
From being so insecure and scared to not wanting to leave America at all, I can safely say NYU London is the best experience of my life. I could live here. I don't even want to go back home! I wish we didn't have to move out by the 19th and noon. Thursday, May 17, 2012,6:55 PM
Don't Want To Go
I just had one of the craziest months and hardest weeks of my life -- shifting from Guilford dorm to Byron, getting everything mugged from my bag, Intermediate Micro exam Tuesday, back-to-back exams on Wednesday - Money and Banking with Marketing right after, and Calc on Thursday. BUT I MADE IT THROUGH!
It's almost 3am, Friday morning. I have to leave tomorrow. There's so much I wish I just jotted down and noted everyday in these blogs. There's so much I have yet to just update and reminisce about. I'm not ready to leave. There's so much to see, so much to do. Sigh. Time to make the most of my last few hours here and then write all about it Monday, April 23, 2012,9:54 AM
Spring Break 2012! YOLO
Hello world! I know I said I'd write about things to do in London last time, but if anything I may just update that blog with pictures, my experiences, etc.
SPRING BREAK WAS AMAZING. All non-Tisch students have a 2 week long break from the end of March to mid-April. I knew I'd be living in Europe only once with my best friends, so I made the most of it. Our trip : London to Ibiza, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, Venice, Istanbul, Zurich, and Paris (by myself). Spain Ibiza Ibiza's known to be a party-central island with amazing beaches........during prime time - the summer. As expected, most clubs and party places were shut, but not all. Pacha was still open, so whoever wanted to go out that night went. Apparently it was great, but I was too tired after all my exams, so stayed in. The beaches!! They were breathtaking.     In Ibiza, we spent a total of two days. The weather was absolutely perfect - warm and sunny. However, it kind of reminded me of a dead Miami. Since there weren't many people around, it wasn't too active. I don't know if that's just because we were in San Jose and not in the proper city, but I wasn't the greatest fan of where we were (except our hotel, which was on the beach). Ibiza city was great and fun to walk around & take pictures.   Barcelona I absolutely loved Barcelona. We were here for 2 days as well. We were lucky with our weather here too. Barcelona was gorgeous, and must be one of my favorite European cities. We went around Arenas Barcelona then saw the museum right across. After we walked around Las Ramblas, where I met up with a friend of mine. Later that night we went out clubbing near the beach to Opium. The nightlife in Barcelona was the best I've ever experienced. The club was classy, the crowd was decent, the music was fabulous. I ended up getting a bit of food poisoning from the paellas and tapas I had. A note to vegetarians - Spain is impossible. There is almost nothing vegetarian. The next day we walked around Gaudi's Park Guell and Segrada Familia. After, I had a sort of YOLO Lizzie Maguire experience, where my friend took me around Barcelona on his motorcycle.        By Madrid I felt malnourished. Being a vegetarian got even harder as we went around Spain. In Madrid, we got a lot of rain. I was the only one who packed boots so I was a happy camper. We went around the palaces and churches: Our hotel/apartments in Madrid and Barcelona were amazing. The one in Barcelona was a proper apartment, and the one in Madrid...well it was definitely cool aesthetically, but not comfortable as there were 5 people to a room.            Madrid was beautiful. It had a nice mix of Spanish architecture/ and modern city design. Madrid was more like New York and reminded me of the East Coast, where as Barcelona was more of the West Coast. Madrid seemed more European, whereas Barcelona looked like a proper Latin American country. Italy Rome Our days in Rome were kind of bittersweet. We were there during Easter weekend. Everything was shut or shut very early, so it was a bummer for those who hadn't been there before. It rained a bit in Rome as well, so we tried doing as much as we could when the weather was nice. Right after we walked around the colosseum, the Pope entered, which was very cool. The streets of Rome were so nice and fun to walk around. We strolled around the street artists, had amazing Italian food (finally! food for vegetarians!)           Venice Venice was very unique and pretty, and I just wish it didn't rain so much for half the day we were there. It's a place that can be seen in a day, but I honestly wish I got to stay there longer. The gondolas, the houses on the water...It was breathtakingly beautiful, and we all attended a little bit of Easter mass.       Turkey Istanbul Istanbul was unique compared to all of the other places we saw on the trip, but it was definitely not my favorite. As much as most people would disagree with me on my opinion of the place, I just felt like it was an upscale Asia meets a downscale Europe. I guess it reminded me a lot of India, but it wasn't India. My expectations were very different to give it the benefit of the doubt, but nonetheless I made the most of it! We did everything from seeing Topkapi Palace, Sophia Hagia, the Blue Mosque to going to the Asian side to visiting a Turkish bath. But again, this place was not vegetarian friendly. Pizza overload again.    
    
Switzerland Zurich Zurich was ridiculous...ly expensive. It was very clean and proper and reminded me of a typical European city. We were rained out here as well, but it was pretty and tiny so we got to see everything. Two of my friends even got to go paragliding in Interlaken.      France Paris C'etait incroyable. I've done an exchange in Paris and been there at least 8 times, so why'd I go again? If you look back at my post about France, I uploaded a picture of one of my favorite Japanese band's concert ads in the metro...Yep, I went back to Paris to see their 20th anniversary show there. It was worth every waking minute and penny. Enough said <3    ~~~ Spring break made coming to London so worth it! YOLO |
|
|
10 previous posts
You Can’t Eat Your Cake for Free ★
The Things I Do to See Imran Khan(s) ★
My Last Few Weeks ★
Last Night/Last Day ★
Don't Want To Go ★
Spring Break 2012! YOLO ★
When Home Comes Abroad ★
Programs! ★
(home)sick! ★
MIA - PIA ★
Past posts by month
January 2012 ★
February 2012 ★
March 2012 ★
April 2012 ★
May 2012 ★
September 2013 ★
Credits
Coded by wickedicy
banner from Reviviscent.
|
