Famous Last Words: Surviving Oklahoma Weather

 

Oklahoma

Picture by Unknown

Source: Wikipedia

This week had many ups and downs including Oklahoma weather. This week was a prime example of experiencing all seasons in one week—literally. I remember wearing a hoodie, and my workout leggings all day, and was so ready to go back home and change into shorts and my Birkenstocks because my car told me it was ninety-one degrees. Crazy right? What’s even crazier is that Thursday night the temperature dropped down to the fifties—with what seemed like extreme, cold wind. I remember pulling an all nighter, and going home around midnight for a break, and changing into long pants, and putting on a jacket.

My allergies were awful that day, and they lasted through Friday. I couldn’t tell if I was getting sick again, or experiencing awful allergies. All I know for sure is that it was AWFUL. What I’ve came to realize after living in Norman for almost three years now is that the weather is more unpredictable than the people that live here. What I mean is that you can never expect anything, and DO NOT put your winter clothes away during the “Summer,” and DO NOT put your summer clothes away during the “Winter.” You never know when you’ll need a sweater, or when you’ll need shorts. My boyfriend told me that if you put Vaseline around your nostrils it would stop allergens from getting into your nose, and causing you to feel miserable for the rest of the day. I tried it out, and I think it worked! Weird, but it did the job! We both have terrible allergies, so this week was a nightmare for us. Especially because I had an Organic Chemistry test, and he has a Physics test this Monday.

My tips for surviving Oklahoma weather are be okay with change, keep all your clothes ready, and try Allegra D for allergy medicine.

Week 6 Storytelling: Shantanu and Ganga

Ganga

Picture by Raja Ravi Varma

Source: Wikipedia

Shantanu and Ganga were living their married life to the fullest. They attended lavish parties, ate fancy dinners, drank the most expensive wine. Ganga had long black hair, blue eyes, and a soft smile. Shantanu was in love. She was just so elegant and graceful and had something mysterious about her. He loved that. He couldn’t imagine life without her. That’s why he was wrapped around her finger. He always listened to her. He did everything she said, and he even let her drown their seven beautiful babies. Ganga was pregnant again with a baby girl, but this time Shantanu decided to stop Ganga from killing his babies.

He never questioned her. She was powerful, and mysterious. She was magical. He loved her, but enough was enough. He asked his lovely wife why she drowned his sons. He asked why she was about to drown their baby girl. Her answer was simply I am not the woman you think I am. Her hair started to flow into waves. Her arms turned blue. Her face became pale as can be…she turned into water. Shantanu was shock. Ganga was the Goddess of the river. He had married the river goddess. She took his baby girl, and turned her into water. His baby girl was the princess of the water.

Years and years went by without his wife and his daughter. He waited everyday by the river to see if they would ever return. He started to question Ganga, and everything about their marriage. She hid such a big part of her life from him. What else could she be hiding? He wanted answers. He wanted his sons back. Why did she kill them? It made no sense to him. Why did she leave him? All the questions in his head took up his entire life.

One day Shantanu’s servant sat down with him at the river. She knew Shantanu always sat in the same spot, and she knew that. He looked at his servant. He told her she is never coming back. He will never meet his daughter. She looked into his eyes. She saw his pain, and her king suffering. Little did he know, she was in love with him, and she was happy Ganga left him. However, she was sad he was not happy. She said, “My king, you will fall in love again.” He just stared at her. He thought, “How dare she speak to me, and tell me I will love again.” He stared into the empty water. Old and tired, Shantanu waited everyday.

Bibliography: Narayan's Mahabharata, Reading Guide A

Author's Note: This story was based off the original story, Shantanu and Ganga. Ganga drowns seven of her children, but when the eight son came alone, Shantanu speaks up. However, Ganga drowns her children to send them to heaven. However, she leaves Shantanu. I wrote this story to be a story left unanswered. Ganga was fulfilling her duties. I wanted my story to represent how sometimes some things are left unanswered for a reason. 

Reading Notes: Forest Life, Part B

 

Rama and the Forest

Picture by Unknown

Source: Wikipedia

I thought this story was really interesting, and almost like a new chapter for Rama. I feel like their were a lot of elements in this particular story that I would want to include in my own story like nature, animals, and materialistic things like jewelry like in the original. I think all these elements will create a lesson to be learned in my own story with Rama still being the main character.

One of my friends came to visit one day, and asked me three questions. One question was “What is your favorite color?” The next question was “What is your favorite animal and why?” The last question was “What do you think about nature, and how does it make you feel?” Little did I know, all these questions had different meanings? For example, I said my favorite color was red because it has multiple meanings like passion and anger and love. My favorite animal is a polar bear because they’re big, caring, and warm. My last answer was nature is calming and pretty. The meaning behind the first answer is how you describe yourself to be. The meaning behind the second answer was what you want to see in your significant other. Last but not the least, the meaning behind the last question was how you feel about god.

These questions really got me thinking about nature in particular, and how I want to be more adventurous, and be in touch with what god created. I feel like these three questions can be included somewhere in my story to add a twist of my own. I think it’ll be very fun to see how Rama develops in my own story, and what his favorite color, favorite animal, and his opinion about nature turn out to be. This is the perfect story to add these elements, and make it my own.

Bibliography: Narayan's Ramayana, Reading Guide B

Reading Notes: Dasharatha's Four Sons, Part A

 

Magic Rice

Picture by Unknown

Wikimedia

This story definitely reminded me of a fairytale. The special rice is pretty much supposed to be magic, so girls can be able to get pregnant. I know rice is a major part of meals in the Indian culture. There is usually a main course, and then rice is given with some type of curry at the end. Rice is also used in deserts in the Indian culture. I like that food was used in this story to symbolize magic.

I want to include a magical food in my story, but switch the rice to something else. Knowing that food is such a big part of the Indian culture, I want the magic to be represented by food, as well. I know that yogurt and sugar is given to family members and friends before a big event like an interview, exams, etc. Food is also given to the gods while praying, and then distributed as holy food to people. In fact, there is a day dedicated to a god where everyone cooks a bunch of food one day, and then the next day the kitchen is supposed to remain turned off.

I want my story to be orientated around food to represent how important food is in the Indian culture. I want my story to have magic, love, and special powers. I think this will be a very fun story to put my own twist on! There are many ways I can add magical powers. I’m sure giving birth is a magical experience in itself, but adding a little bit more magic to the process would only make it better. I think that’s what I like the most about this story is that having children is so important. I’m excited to write this story, and make it my own with magic! 

Bibliography: Narayan's Ramayana, Reading Guide A 

Famous Last Words: Recovering From Being Sick in College

 

Sick

Picture by Evan Amos

Source: Wikipedia

 

I would like to start off this post by saying, sanitize, sanitize, and sanitize…EVERYTHING. Everyone has been getting sick. Some have the flu, some have pneumonia, and some just have a really bad cold.

This week I got sick, and am still recovering, but doing MUCH better. Being sick in college is probably one of the hardest obstacles I’ve had to overcome. I fell behind in every class, had to move a test, and was very sick on Valentine’s Day. One thing I learned was that ramen is the best food to eat when you’re sick. Luckily, I was able to go to Tatsumaki Ramen on Valentine’s Day. I debated on not going because it was rainy and cold, and I didn’t want to get worse, but it was one of the best decisions my boyfriend and I made.

I don’t have a guide to keeping up with college while being sick. The best advice I can give to anyone that has the cold or the flu is REST. I think rest is the only reason I’m finally better. Don’t be so hard on yourself, and don’t continue to study or do homework if you’re body is telling you to stay in bed and sleep. Our bodies recover faster when they are at rest because the process of recovery isn’t disturbed. I know it’s very hard to even think about just sleeping with quizzes, tests, and homework that piles on, but do your body a favor and rest. Also, stay hydrated. This is also hard to do when water doesn’t even taste good when you’re sick. Personally, I prefer Canada Dry. It’s my go to when I’m not feeling well. However, the best option is water.

I hope this helps all those that are sick, or get sick in the future. Sanitize, rest, and drink water are my three “must do’s” when sick. On a side note, always carry tissues with you.

Reading Notes: Pattanaik's Calendar Art: Part A (Ganesha)

Ganesha

Picture by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra

Source: Wikipedia

 

I enjoyed watching this video because it explains Hinduism in simple terms—something that is very hard to do, and even all the videos, pictures, and books put together could not justify the complexity of this religion and even the culture. I like that this video starts off with a simple picture of different idols. When you take a closer look at the picture, the viewer sees all the different elements of the gods like Ganesha’s elephant head, the peacock, and even another god within the picture.

I feel like using a picture to tell a story relating to Ganesha’s task to travel the world is something I could use in my own story. However, I would like to include the journey in one picture. I guess this would kind of be like picture books we read as children where the pictures do the talking. A concept that I really liked from the video is the one that explains being incomplete without women, which is represented by a different god. I would like to keep this concept in my own story by adding a female character to Ganesha’s travel around his world. There are many meanings of the various gods I can utilize to tell a story of a journey. I think this video will keep me in check of all the meaningful values held in each god I decide to include.

I like that this video was slow and detailed because it allowed me to better understand what Ganesha, Shiva, Parvatri, and my favorite Sarawati, and more all stood for. I feel like knowing some more knowledge behind the actual gods will allow me to make my story more “realistic” with a twist. I look forward to finding a picture to fit my criteria, and telling a story from just one picture.

Bibliography: Devdutt Pattanaki's Seven Secrets from Hindu Calendar Art

 

Reading Notes: Weapons for the Future, Part B

 

Arjuna 

Picture by: Ilussion

Source: Wikipedia 

I feel the character of Arjuna is very interesting because of the weapons he gets are symbolic to the development of his personality. I like how Arjuna is basically on an adventure while getting these weapons. Urvashi falls in love with him, he learns new dances, and he even deals with a curse cast on him—all things that happen throughout his journey. I think this concept of adventure and journey is something I could use in my own story to build my characters. I would also like to use weapons to represent a piece of Arjuna’s personality as he continues his trip.

Urvashi is character I would like to keep in my story because she reminds me of an evil twin sister in fairy-tales I used to love watching and reading. She is considered one of the prettiest, but she has a bad influence on people. I would like to use her character to represent human emotions in Arjuna such as feeling attraction towards something that may not be the best for them because lets face it, we’ve all had our moments where we give people benefit of the doubt.

Benefit of the doubt is the lesson I want to include in my own story through Arjuna’s character. I think the weapons will tie in really well with how this lesson is learned. I think this will be a fun story to portray because it will have a little bit of everything—bravery, love, mistakes, and action. I’m excited to put this story to work! I want my story to be a little different when it comes to his journey. Arjuna’s character in my story will have to go through many obstacles to gain a number of weapons that he will pass down to his future kids. I would like to use foreshadow in my story, as well. 

Bibliography: Narayan's Ramayana, Reading Guide B 

Reading Notes: SIta Sings the Blues, Part B

 

 Sita and Fire

File from Agni Pariksha 

Source: Wikipedia

After viewing Sita Sings the Blues by Nina Paley for Part B, I better understood the Ramayana, and saw a new perspective on the story. I also really enjoyed how there were characters interrupting the story to argue about what actually happened—this gave the story a more in depth look of why Rama, for example, wanted to abandon Sita. Before the audience even had a chance to be angry at such a ridiculous way of treating someone Rama was once in awe for, the argument suggested ideas of why Rama was doing this. After all, he does have the title of “king” to uphold. However, I still did not think it was okay to want Sita to be alone in the middle of nowhere.

There is a portion in Part B of the film where Sita thinks karma is coming back for her. This is something I want to include in my story. Karma is a very important concept to teach and know in the Hindu religion, so it’s something I can play with for my story. After Rama comes back, he asks Sita to prove her purity….again. This time, I was actually angry. I think I can portray my anger for Rama’s actions through karma.

I’m excited to rewrite this story because the elements from the film can be changed up with extra twists and turns, and I can easily add my personal touch of the importance of karma in my story. Sita’s faithfulness for Rama, even after her sons are born is something I would want to include, as well. I feel like Sita is never at peace because Rama keeps “testing” her. I would want her sons to play a bigger role in Rama and Sita’s relationship. I think these are some elements that will make my story different.

Nina Paley. Sita Sings the Blues. Reading Guide B 

Tech Tip: Weather Widget

Hi everyone! I'm just informing you that I added a weather widget to my blog. I'm usually never studying, or doing my homework at my apartment. You'll usually find me at the library, coffee shops, or anywhere else with food. As write this post, I am blogging and eating at Ihop. That being said, I think the weather widget is a very handy tool to include in your own blogs. This way you'll always know what to expect when you want to blog on the go, and inform your readers. Let me know if you have any questions! Happy blogging everyone.