January 2013 - Curios and Dreams - Indian Skincare and Beauty

This Sunday I was involved as a volunteer for the Pulse Polio Vaccination campaign that is held throughout the country at regular intervals.

So my roommate, Antara, and I sacrificed our only day off (this Sunday), to sit at one of the many vaccination booths set up around the city. From 8 a.m. in the morning to 5 p.m. Yes! Phew! Although I didn't expect many parents to come, given the lack of information and far-flung location (a government school situated in the interiors, in a neighbourhood I had never been to) but pleasantly enough by the end of the day we vaccinated around 120 kids!

It did get pretty dull in the afternoon though, but the lazy hours when no people were coming in, we entertained ourselves with dogs, cats and goats...with petting and random biscuit feeding. I guess they were happy too. And some drawing by Antara, and ofcourse me as usual troubling her every now and then. Haha :P

Yesterday was a door to door campaign though. Around 200 houses to be covered by a team consisting of two people (we were alloted different areas to cover)... Gosh! What a day!! Walking around in the sun all day long, knocking on doors, talking to people, giving those 2 drops to every kid upto 5 years in sight....even running behind a few on the streets... Gosh! Mighty mighty task..

The bad part:
A total energy sucking thing. Dehydration, hunger, foot aches and back aches..(that are still being experienced). But these were the small things.
What actually got to me was the really unwelcome behaviour by some families. They had issues coming out or giving us their names. Some didnt want to get their kids vaccinated (claiming it wasn't necessary and shooing us away), while a few were all for giving wrong information "we don't have kids" or "yes,yes, they were vaccinated yesterday".
It was really frustrating to see people behave like this even when the government was taking steps to eradicate a horrible preventable disease like Polio and spending so much money on a completely free vaccination programe! The government cannot succeed if its people don't meet it halfway!

The best part:
The great feeling when the day ended.. We did something that would help the children of our country! (Even if it was small scale coverage by us, but there were many other volunteers out there and a significant part of the state benefited from their efforts. We put in our bit, whatever it's worth. That made us feel really happy).

This Sunday, I was a responsible citizen of my country. This Sunday, I was a shield against Polio. This Sunday, I helped protect the lives of our next generation. If that's not an accomplishment, then I don't know what is.

"To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

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#YOLO? Not anymore.

Now, before you clap your hands and whoop with glee, I haven't found some miracle drug that evades Yamraj on his buffalo, however fist-pump worthy that might be. No, I am here to spread the news of how YOLO has been made to kick the bucket. Word yamdoots a.k.a the language enthusiasts at Lake Superior State University have called for the banishment of this hashtag with the 38th Annual "List of Words to be Banished from the Queen's English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness".

Here's a peek into the rationale behind it-

"Stands for 'You Only Live Once' and used by wannabe Twitter philosophers who think they've uncovered a deep secret of life. Also used as an excuse to do really stupid things, such as streaking at a baseball game with YOLO printed on one's chest. I only live once, so I'd prefer to be able to do it without ever seeing YOLO again." Brendan Cotter, Grosse Pte. Park, Mich.

Can't say I disagree with the ~~guru~~, erm, aficionado, with the word becoming the poster excuse for all acts reckless or immature. Like...

Crawling on my hands and knees to the bar #yolo

Everyone is stressing over finals except me, haven't studied at all or anything #yolo

YOLO tweeple, you may only live once, but you will live with the consequences. So do us a favour, don't do a Bella and jump off a cliff just for the sake of a yolo tweet!

Speaking of cliffs, the fiscal cliff has also been razed to the ground. Whether your government is climbing it, falling off it, or dangling on its very precipice, economic updates on the financial crisis, contributors say, would be more welcome.

"(We’ve) lost sight of the metaphor and started to think it's a real place, like with the headline, 'Obama, Boehner meeting on fiscal cliff'." Barry Cochran, Portland, Ore.

Also earning a place of honour on the list were 'guru' 'bucket list' 'double-down' 'superfood' and 'spoiler alert' while some ~~passionately~~ earnestly voted against the colloquial use of 'passion'.

"As in 'that's my passion.' Please, let's hope you mean 'enthusiasm.' 'Passion' connotes 'unbridled,' unmediated by reason and sound judgment. Passion is the stuff of Ahab, Hitler, and chauvinists of every stripe, and terrorists." Michael T. Smith, Salem, Ore.

"Seared tuna will taste like dust swept from a station platform -until it's cooked passionately. Apparently, it's insufficient to do it ably, with skill, commitment or finesse. Passionate, begone!" Andrew Foyle, Bristol, UK

Then, of course, there is 'trending'. Which, as a matter of fact is how I found the topic for today's post. *Squirm* But even though it has been bid goodbye, I can hardly imagine people not using it.

Here is the complete list for your perusal, should you wish to do so. And these are some words that have already been banished previously. Are you guilty of still using them? ;)