don't poke fun at mental illness.

Recently I read an article in the Huffington Post about McDonald's apology to the public for the "You're not Alone"- Millions of people love the Big Mac.

The ad is a picture of a woman with her hand on her head. It really seems as though they are poking fun of mental illness. I'm surprised McDonald's would even allow such an ad to be put through. If I was working at an ad agency, it's my responsibility to make sure to speak to the brand of McDonald's. That's why I was wowed by the advertisement.

Well at least McDonald's did the right thing by apologizing. That's actually the only thing they could have done, or else they would be experiencing a nasty brawl.

 

routine.

As you all know, this weekend we were on holidays and so was my blog! 
Sorry for that. But I am back and I will have two posts this week. 

I have one more week of school left. It is a bittersweet feeling. I thought I would be jumping with joy but having a consistent routine for the last two years is going to make me miss the school.

I have grown so much these past two years and have gone through many struggles. I'm not saying the buck stops here but my personal growth has been immense and I thank it to this program and my family and friends who have stuck by my side through it all.

I am so excited to start the next phase of my life-be it the challenges, happiness, struggles etc. I will face, I believe I can do it all. You know why? "If you are put in a position where you are to complete various tasks that you never thought you could and even if you think it's the best work you have done and you get it back with an auto-fail or a fail because an instructor felt it wasn't - that means you are learning and you will do better next time AND you can take up any challenge that comes your way."

That's what I got out from most of my assignments. Regardless, a mark will never define you. It is the way you learn and what you take in while learning. Plus, having instructors believe in you always helps.

I wanted to share a quick recipe that helps boost my energy through it all.

1 tsp protein powder (I love the French Vanilla flavour)
1 tsp peanut butter
1 tsp of walnuts
Cup of Almond Milk
Handful of frozen mangos (Or any frozen fruit you love)

optional: handful of kale or spinach 

Magic Bullet it and voila you have a delicious, high in fibre protein shake.

My goal for the upcoming year- get up early every morning, work-out and work even harder to succeed for the future! 

wedding fun.

2013 is a big year for my family and I. My one and only sister is getting married end of August and so is my really good friend end of May.

Pinterest has been my wedding fashion, DIY decorations, ideas, thoughts and so much fun, escape.

Even though I'm not a strong believer on spending large sums of mula on a wedding, I can admit the excitement does get in the way of the cost.

However, Pinterest has been a big help on the plans my sister has for her big day or rather the plans I have, considering I'll be doing most of the work!

Below are a few cool ideas on DIY bridal shower/ festivities/ and East Indian wedding fashion!

 

the pain never goes away.

The past two days I have been at the Convention Centre listening to my fellow classmates IPPP's (Independent Professional Project Presentations). What a fun ride it has been hearing everyone's journey along the way and the challenges/successes they've faced. Congrats to all of them!

My good friend and classmate, Dave Baxter did his IPP on Manitoba Cold Cases. This is about the many missing women/ men in Manitoba.  When I was listening to his presentation, I was thinking about the time my ma told me a story of her cousin who went missing in India and has yet to be found. Then, today, at work, I stumbled upon an article about the Nepali Civil War which happened nearly six years ago. In it is a woman named, Purniyama Lama holding a picture of her husband, who she's waiting for to return to her. He was taken away and rumours have it, he was killed.

Be it anywhere in the world, we all share a story and like Dave put it "the pain never goes away."

courtesy of bbc- Purniyama Lama 

Girl Rising

I was asked to do a screening for this upcoming amazing film called Girl Rising. Just watch the trailer and you'll know what I'm talking about.

Happy soon to be International Women's Day! 

india.

Last week I was in India. I can't even believe last week, this time I was in Delhi, shopping with my family and eating yummy food on the streets.
It was a hectic, yet wonderful experience. It's been 22 years since I've been back with my entire family. It's always been either my sister and I and/or with my ma, but this time it was the whole fam jam.

All I can say about India: ORGANIZED CHAOS. You wonder how people survive in such a country where if you aren't up to pace then you are cut from the entire crowd and considered an outsider. A country where respect is number one, yet if you come from a lower social class, others treat you with disrespect. Where anger is not the solution, the answer to everything is "don't worry, it will get done." And, as a matter of fact everything does work out. Nothing is ever planned.

In a way it's overwhelming, crazy, out of control type of lifestyle, but the other way I look at it, is it's different. It's a different outlook on life and one the key attributes I learnt through this particular experience is patience is a virtue.

Travelling for 10 days wasn't easy, especially since my entire trip revolved around going to this store, after this store, after this religious place etc. It was a go, go life but luckily being in a program that's taught me to balance certain tasks, I felt I could handle it, or at least my mind could. My body on the other hand feel sick 4 days into the trip. The flu got the best of me, and now back in Winnipeg, I am left with a sinus infection.

Was it worth it, you may ask?

Yes, every experience is worth it. Be it good OR bad.

All I can say-  family comes first and everything else is the many added benefits to the nourishment of my life.

Cousins and I the first night in Allahabad - Gunjan Didi Wedding.

Khumb Mela.

Millions of people gather for a celebration that happens every 12 years. Hindu men, women and children gather in a holy place in Allahabad, India and dip in the Ganges water to free them from all there sins. During this time as many as 30 million people attend. In a couple of days, I will be one of them.

I've decided not to go near the Ganges because it's unsafe - already 36 people have died, mostly women and children in a stampede that happened two days ago. But the coincidence is many years back when my ma was in India, she prayed at the Ganges saying that when "my daughters are older, I pray that we will be back 12 years from now during the time". Her wish came true.

I will post pictures during the time I am there.

Photography: Macleans website. 

dishonest.

I've always loved children and even though I would never think of having them for my own, I knew in the back of my mind there would come a point where I would.

I also confide in my doctor a lot. I've changed doctors over the years because when I was around the age of 19, I felt more comfortable with a woman doctor which ended up leading me back to my family doctor. He's someone who really cares for human beings and someone I trust.

Now here is the issue.

When I read articles where doctors tell other women lies that they have cancer in the uterus and have to get a hysterectomy- then I become VERY angry inside.

This is happening in Rajasthan -north-west of India as I write this.

Women are confiding in doctors, saying that during menstruation they are bleeding heavy. The doctors recommend they get there uterus removed because they say they 'MIGHT' develop cancer.

Many of the women in the article were reluctant of getting the surgery but they did because the doctor told them so. Did I mention the doctors get paid $200 which is equivalent to 10,644 rupees. For some people, especially in this village it means selling there house and/or animals and hope to survive in this tough world.

Not only that but most of the women who get these surgeries are physically tired and cannot do 'normal' activities like they used to.

This article doesn't have to do only with the lack of education but also dishonesty. If my doctor told me, Priya, if you don't get this surgery your life will be ruined- I would think for 2 minutes and end up getting the surgery. This is because we often trust people who have vowed to take care of humans. Not only that but we simply trust our doctors.

It's sad. It's sad because we live in a world where greed means more than the value of human beings.   

pre.post highlights: One! International Charity Event

Thanks to my amazing ma for taking pictures throughout the evening.

4 days left.

This post is dedicated to my charity event I am holding on for an organization called One! International Poverty Relief. They are an amazing organization, filled with awesome people that strive to teach literacy to children living in the slums of Mumbai!

Tonight We Are One! is a night filled with awareness, entertainment, great food and a way for you to be part of ending poverty and educating the youth!

Come out and experience it all at the Norwood Community Centre, Friday January 25, 2013,
6:30 p.m. !!!

when will it stop.

4 days ago another article was written about a 29-year old woman who was gang raped on a bus in Punjab. The woman pleaded to get off the bus but no one said anything or did anything except stop at a secluded area where six men raped the woman throughout the night.

The six men have been arrested.

This is another of the many cases, women are being victimized, tortured and objectified. When will our culture get it in their heads that women are not born to be sex objects! When will the media stop objectifying women in the first place?

All I see in magazines is women wearing products after products, starving themselves to look more appealing to who? To themselves? Or to the eyes of others? It's sad to think when I have children they will be growing up in a materialistic, fake- alistic WORLD.

Let's work together to educate the people in our life to not think/be like that. Because if we have more people loving, instead of conforming then maybe, just maybe it will stop.

 

so much to say.

So much has happened this past holiday in the news. First the Connecticut shooting and secondly the Delhi rape victim.

I have a lot to say about both but this post will focus on the Delhi rape victim. My ma was the one who told me about what happened. My first reaction wasn't shocking as I've heard many stories in India where women are raped and abused and there's no cry out, except this time. It's very unfortunate what happened but it's important that it did- to teach a lesson.

When I'm in India, especially in smaller states like where I was born- Allahabad- population of 1.74 million, I feel very cautious of how I present myself. This is because whenever I go out, my sister and I get stared at like vultures. It's quite disgusting but it's something we have taught ourselves to ignore. And, that's just it. We teach ourselves to ignore the wrong to protect ourselves when we shouldn't even have to.

It's time India changes their way of thinking and it's time they talk about sex. First, educate children at a younger age about sex. It's still very hush, hush there and if it's understood at an earlier age of what's wrong and right then maybe such problems wouldn't arise so often. If I understand correctly sex education isn't taught at most high schools in India or at all?

And in all honesty it's time citizens of India get taught about sex because come on,  India has a population of 1 billion or more so it's time they open there eyes to that option. It will leave less children in poverty, it will help the overall culture and hope to free the country as a whole into an open-minded way of thinking. - That's purely my thought on it.