The Finals Boat has arrived

Dun, da dun dun.

Strange as it seems, I am deep in the midst of my finals, and actually studying in a semi-normal manner for the first time since midterms. Homework? What foreign substance is this? My brain seems a little reluctant to accept any information, or let it out in reverse. Quite difficult to concentrate when, let's be honest, shopping for Christmas presents is much more fun. I think there is a strange connection in my head between Christmas and finals, as I switched on Christmas music today from some odd inspiration and literally cried in happiness.

[Little unimportant side-note that nonetheless makes me unnaturally happy: spring classes! Seminar on the Qur'an, Religion 400 class for my major, Music History II--Classical to Modern, and Anthropology of Human Rights. Not only did I get every class I could dream of wanting or needing, but they all fit into a perfect little schedule with no class on Monday OR Friday. I may die of overwork, if I don't die of happiness.]

This is Halloween?

Apologies for the gigantic lateness of this post, given that next week is Thanksgiving. However, I thought that perhaps this might have been one of my favourite Halloweens of all time. Surprising, no? I think I found the secret...

Indians do not celebrate Halloween, although personally I think it's right up their alley as holidays go. Scratch that. Indians just like holidays. In any case, us Americans were determined to get a little spooky cheer on, so we went shopping and found the only pumpkin in the supermarket, pulled together a few costumes, and got as much candy as we could afford.

Then we went Trick-or-Treating.

"But, Indians do not celebrate Halloween! How does Trick or Treating work?"

Like this: Take a bag of candy. Run around the student canteen yelling "Happy Halloween!" and give everyone candy, instructing them to say "Trick or Treat!" before you hand over the sweets. Then run through the halls of the Men's International Hostel banging on doors and repeat until the toffees run out. This, my friends, is the secret to Halloween: play in reverse. Jack Skellington would have been proud. Maybe.

Anu, Minakshi and Sumedha, who amazingly got into the spirit and dressed up! We were so proud.

Barf and Apples

Also known as, برف اور سيپ

Things to remember:

1. Barf is not just a soap* from Kazakhstan; it also happens to mean snow in Urdu.
   
2. "Mela" does not mean apple in Urdu. I think I actually argued with my peer tutor several times on this point before realizing that "mela" means apple in Italian.

*said soap may possibly be called that because barf means snow in whatever root language. Please, would someone who speaks either Russian or Kasakh please confirm?