All about Al Rawabi's and Disco Chai....

Yesterday as I was walking to class, I was passing by Gerstien Library and I happened to see some one drinking juice from Al Rawabi !!! I was really surprised and being myself, I had to go and ask that person how come he was drinking Al Rawabi orange juice! He said that he got it at a store near his house which gets some products from the Middle East..

To fill those who have no clue what I am talking about, Al Rawabi is a famous beverage company dealing with dairy products and fruit juices. Why is it so important to me? It was a part of my childhood..it was a part of growing up for me and in a weird way, its a memoir of my life in Dubai and in my school...

Maybe thats the reason I was very upset during my last visit to school when I found out that they got rid of the Rawabi vending machine! I mean to all it might seem like JUST a machine, but to me and a lot of people it was a part of our schooling.. those fruit cocktails just before Chemisty extra class with Suma ma'am, Orange Carrot before going for dispersal duty, mango juice because its just mango juice.. apple juice as we wait for Esther Praveen to drone more about Integrals.. lemonade after PE with Indu.. I mean a juice for an occasion...

And then, it was a hot spot.. right in the middle of the canteen, it was a place to talk to people from other classes..catch up with old friends and make new ones..

My fondest memories of Al Rawabi and the Canteen as such were probably during the dispersal time, remembering Prashant and Jomy doing their level best to get some order there but failing miserably! And ofcourse the number of love stories that began there, too many to count and more to tell!!

Its funny how sometimes simple simple things like juice can make u so nostalgic.. I got back to res thinking about how great my school life was. People often tell me that university life is the best you will get and you know that from day 1. I wouldn't say that my university lfie is depressing, its as good as it gets, but to me what I did in school, I dont think I can replicate that fun at university.

It might sound odd saying that I had fun studying almost 14 hours a day.. with school, tuitions, personal study an ofcourse the whole extra curricular work load.. I dunno how we squeezed in fun, but we did.. always... I've seen more movies during my grade 12 with my friends then I have seen after coming here to Canada! It was a weird sort of fun and enjoyment and bonding in a different way, how else can studying for a physics final or sitting and working in a chemistry project be 'fun'? But it was..

Its not just friends, it was the teachers, Be in Jessie's cool words or Esther's cold stares or Suma ma'ams smiling face or Rajgopals' forgetful looks..they all added up to something so memorable and magical... Its hard to believe that its already over 2 years since I passed out.. it seems only like yesterday we had the farewell..and the boards..and then the glorious summer after...


Today, all of us from '04 batch are sitting in different parts of the world from Vancourver to Australia.. but one thing bonds us all... we will share fond bitter sweet memories about school.. knowingly unknowingly OOEHS had bonded us all together in a way that its hard to break that bond and even though you wanna keep telling yourself that it doesnt exist, the fact is, it does..

Here is an ode to all the wonderful memories and to all the great times I've had..rather all of us Our Own freaks had at OOEHS DXB !

The Wind - Poem 2

An older poem which I wrote last year... Comments awaited..

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The Wind

I started this journey on the sands of time,
barefoot...
alone...

Knowing yet ignorant of the obstacles going to be in my way...

As the journey went on the stones pierced through my skin deep and the salt cold water stung...

It was at that time I saw a shell,
a shell as pure as white, that produced a sound a sound so beautiful...
that the heavens swayed to its sound while the hell envied those who were listening to it...

As I blew the shell, a divine voice sang...

'I see you are in pain and yet alone... I will gift u a wind...

A wind when blown from behind pushes you forward to achieve success in your life...

A wind when blown from front pushes you back reminding you that you have never reached the zenith of success...
because there is no such thing as that..
for to succeed is in each step you take and for each breath you take.. for yourself and others around you...

A wind when blown from the side supports you through the journey taking with it all your pain and suffering...

Most of all, this wind is your special wind, bringing a smile to your face as it blows right through the eternity of time'

As the voice dimmed, I could see the wind...

Lo behold, it wasn't a wind, it was you my friend...

You, who were going to be the wind in my life pushing me ahead, daring me to dream and making me believe in them...

You, who were going to smile in every smile and yet hold the hand to protect my tears...

You, who were going to support me if I was right, and punish me if I was wrong..

You, who were going to be there at every walk of mine, at the beginning of every journey I began, and at the end at every walk I finished.

I started this journey on the sands of time...
barefoot...
alone...

but today I have you, my wind, and this journey doesnt seem so alone anymore...