Compliments @ MindSay 
advice
Yesterday, I got one of the best insults yet from the guy my sister's dating. I think the nature of our relationship is that we don't care enough to expend energy disliking each other - we just gain entertainment from interacting in a fashion that suggests it. We haven't had any direct interaction in about three years, it's always through my sister, which makes things doubly funny.
Sadly, it was profane on multiple levels. So you'll just have to imagine it.
I also got a completely random compliment that wasn't really meant to be a compliment, I think. I was giving Spectre a ride home, and out of the blue, he just demanded, "Don't you ever stop smiling?" Definitely made my night.
I'm actually better-known for forgetting to make facial expressions. According to my mom, all three of us sisters have very striking features, so when we're just thinking or concentrating on something, we look sort of intense. Generally not the case, but it's different in each of us. But as far as Spectre is concerned, from what he's seen of me, I never stop smiling - he says I always have just a little half-smile on my face about something.
A very sweet comment. I like compliments that aren't intended to be such. I've had my fill of the stereotypical lameness from guys, and the sweetness that means nothing from girls. I have a very short time on this planet, I do not have time to waste with words that aren't real. Tell me exactly what you think, I value it more than the most gilded false praise you could offer. When someone's not trying to make you feel good, just talking, for some reason it makes me feel even better.
Then we've got Knuter, who totally understands this and is rather rare with the compliments. Random observation from awhile ago - I would drive myself into the ground on anything I do in my life just to hear him say he's proud of me. But it's not the kind of thing he says. So, I just do my own thing (which is better than driving myself into the ground), and I learn to be proud of myself.
I have more to say about the events of Tuesday, but it will have to wait - we've got a gig today, it's time to go make some music!
Here is an entry in response to one of the questions from my "call for questions" post. It was such a good question and I got fairly detailed in my answer, so I thought it deserved it's own post.
Trillian's Question:
Do you eat most anything served? Any trouble with Delhi Belly? (I have theories that if you think you're going to get sick, you will.) You mentioned before that you've had a better reaction from people because of wearing traditional clothing. Do you wear saris and salwar kameez all the time? Have you had any negative reactions from people due to that, or only positive?
Good questions. I can tell you from experience that your theory is dead wrong—or at least incomplete. Actually, usually people think they are tough, they have an iron stomach, and they won't get sick. Therefore, they aren't as obsessively careful as they need to be and usually end up ill. Even with the greatest care, most everyone who comes to India does get sick at one time or another to varying degrees. Currently we have (at least) one girl down with what is probably Dengue Fever, and several more who probably have the bird flu thing that seems to be an epidemic here. So far, practically EVERYONE has had a touch of "Delhi belly" as you put it. I was down for about two days and count myself VERY lucky. Though uncomfortable, I had a very minor case.
I haven't worn one of my saris yet as it seems to be taking a million years to have a choli made. However, I intend to as soon as I can as I can't think of a type of clothing that makes me feel more beautiful or feminine. I DO wear salwar kameez or a skirt and long kurta every day. It makes a HUGE difference in how people treat you and in how much harassment you receive. Notice I didn't say that I don't still get harassed. Even the most proper Indian girls get harassed. So far, the only negative reactions that I have got were from young women, maybe teenagers. In their western clothes and tight jeans, they can't seem to imagine why *I* would find pakka Indian clothing both comfortable and attractive. Usually the reactions are QUITE positive! I get tons of compliments everywhere I travel not only from people who recognize the clothing from what it is, but from other westerners as well.
Of course, I am a strange bird myself and abandoned western clothing almost entirely since two years ago. Most western clothing makes me feel fat and ugly (I am neither) or, at the very least, uncomfortable in my own skin. Indian clothing makes me feel beautiful and the compliments I get, here and at home, confirm it.
Today was surprisingly good. Definitely a lot better than my last day last summer. Everyone told me how much they were going to miss me and to take care and keep in touch. They even came in search of me to get their goodbye hugs. It was really sweet. I actually felt appreciated. Lol, I even had two guys kiss me. I can't say what the look on my face was, but it definitely had to be shock.
David, my mentor and boss, told me I was brilliant and that he couldn't wait to see how much I succeeded. He told me they would miss me and that they really appreciated everything I've done. Also, he said that I brought youthfulness and vivacity to the workplace that there wasn't before since I'm at least 15 years younger than everyone else.
Denise, one of the admins, told me that I would pave the way and will be able to achieve anything I can think of and that she's so proud of me and of course that I'm a cutie :). She calls me her little girl or her little Tejal. She is the sweetest lady because that's exactly what she calls her daughter minus my name and inserting her daughters name.
Nancy told me that I should stop worrying because I have this upcoming year in the bag and honestly of everyone that meant the most coming from her. She is one of those women who is a hardass when you work with her, but she knows what she wants and she goes for it. As far as I know, she couldn't have any children so she adopted a Nicaraguan ( I think they are from Nicaragua I may be mistaken) family and has been with them for 12 years. They have something like 8 kids, but right now because of some little misunderstanding they aren't really talking to her. It is breaking her heart, yet she goes through every day and you wouldn't know anything was wrong unless you knew what was going on. She loves those kids and it makes me sad that she hasn't seen or talked to them in 2 to 3 weeks.
Janet told me she's going to miss me greeting her in the morning and being there to brighten her day.
Joann told me to keep smiling because I genuinely mean it.
James actually called to tell me goodbye and that he knows that i'm going to excel at whatever I choose to do and that they've loved having me the past two summers. I wish he had actually come in today, but oh well.
The list goes on, but those are the ones that really made an impact other than this one lady Suzanne, who just started working with us, who told me I was a sweetie. Haha, I love how everyone thinks I'm sweet just because I try to be nice and smile at everyone. I hate good byes because they are awkward with people I'm not really close to and because its sad .... another chapter of my life that has ended, but I left there feeling like I've grown as a person and that everyone really did appreciate me this summer and I didn't work my ass off for nothing. I really hope some of the people keep in touch because they are really nice and even if they don't necessarily help me get anywhere in my career they are nice people to know.
Today was fairly quiet. Lana didn't come to work, which made my day. I know she's not really all that bad, but I can't help disliking her. I did some things for David and finished off the last of my projects. David took me, Nance, and Denise to City Cellar and we actually had a great lunch. It wasn't awkward at all and it was really nice seeing the other side of these people. I think I am going to miss them, but I don't think I'm going to miss the job. I could've come to love working there if I had more worthwhile jobs and if Lana wasn't around to ride my ass. Oh well, another job, another summer, another year.
I'm still happy and that's all that matters.
Note: My cynical side wonders how much of this was just them saying something because they had to say something, but I'd like to believe that since I've been nothing but genuine they would give me the same respect.
It was the most awesome thing, even though the weather was kind of crummy. Things could have been worse.
I'm not in the mood to write all about my trip in my blog, plus you guys will probably just get jealous, so.... you get the point.
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