Some conversations from the last month: Koh Samui, driving around the Southern parts of the island Maher: Les gars, vous avez vu les vaches? Et il y a des chevaux aussi! (Hey guys, did you see the cows? There are horses as well!) Me: Do you know what cows eat? Leila: Gra-nola On the beach … Continue reading Conversations
Category: My stuff…
My random thoughts and stories.
Lei La the Lao Wai
This evening my children and I spent a couple of hours running and playing at a neighbouring housing complex. A friend joined us. While the children were playing on the slides and mini monkey bars my friend stayed close to them, allowing me to respond to a text message on my phone. A little girl … Continue reading Lei La the Lao Wai
My Little Lady Leila
I've never carried a purse that way. A purse?! Never worn pink, Winnie- the- Pooh high-heeled slippers that light up (flashing-red bling). I don't own a flowery hat, or a flowery dress. She's two. Doesn't dress like this every day only because she can't have her way. A Zimbabwean yoga teacher, MoT, sister who's lived … Continue reading My Little Lady Leila
On “The Art of Choosing”: A Talk by Sheena Iyengar
Also posted at Multicultural Mothering here. ------------------ Sheena Iyengar, a professor of business in the Management Division at Columbia Business School, has studied choice for the last 2 decades. She is of bicultural background- her parents Sikhs from Delhi, her education American – both with very different views on individual choice. In her TEDtalk on … Continue reading On “The Art of Choosing”: A Talk by Sheena Iyengar
Yogaholic
It was when Maher and I lived in Lebanon that I started to attend yoga classes on a regular basis. It went from 1 session a week, to 3, then 5, and eventually up to 7 or 8. I started at the Sivananda Centre, two doors down from my flat in Gemmayze. It was interesting, … Continue reading Yogaholic
What Dat Mum?
“What Dat Mum?” At lunch: “What’s that Leila?” I repeat. “It’s a mushroom.” Outside our apartment, near the elevators: “That? It’s a tiny, scrunched up piece of paper that we can throw in the dustbin Rahul.” After a bath: “That’s a hairbrush. But those? I don’t know Leila, umm…they’re a part of the hair brush … Continue reading What Dat Mum?
Two Articles at Multicultural Mothering
An excerpt of "Two Articles on Bilingualism" follows: Catch the rest of the post, and many more interesting ones by other of my mum friends at Multicultural Mothering - our shared blog. http://multiculturalmothering.com --------------- We flew from Beirut to Abu Dhabi (“adi badi” as Rahul calls it) on Etihad Airways, the United Arab Emirates carrier, … Continue reading Two Articles at Multicultural Mothering
Father Who? Oh! You Mean Papa Noel.
I used to get two presents from my parents on the 25th of December, one for Christmas, and one for my birthday. I don’t remember if I was bothered that my brothers, in fact, that MANY people get presents on MY birthday. I don’t remember if I ever thought that Santa Claus was real. I … Continue reading Father Who? Oh! You Mean Papa Noel.
NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)
My friend’s wife, Maria, was on bed-rest for the last few months of her twin pregnancy. They live in Cyprus. I’ve been checking in with them on Skype, every other Thursday. It gets down to numbers – be it weeks, days, weight, length, or contractions. ------ “30 weeks. Woooo hooooo!” “So far so good! Maria … Continue reading NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit)
Dear Dr. Seuss (part 2)
Dirt Feet My hair is long, From neglected times gone My eyes are red, Watering the African Violets In my head My heart is heavy, Listening for sounds, Memories not ready My feet are bare, Together a pair How rare the sweet smell, Of wet, black soil, Caught between my toes No longer without a … Continue reading Dear Dr. Seuss (part 2)
Natasha Devalia 