A Sunday well spent

Taco and Chilly

I don't know why, but I've always found mentors around me.People who have been there, done that - always are eager to show me the way to walk.And one such person is Abhrodita.I hate her other name - Aby, so much in contrast to the beautiful,long Indian name she has.But for the ease of typing, I will call her Aby.So Aby was hell-bent on spending the whole day with me.She has to teach me to live life - that was her agenda of the day.I find it hard to believe that she so selflessly keeps on pushing me forward - always motivating me to push myself beyond my limits that I had set for myself.I often wonder why! I find no answers.Its hard to believe in this self-centered world, there are people like Aby who love helping others be their best.Aby has more confidence in me than myself.(I know I should not brag about lacking it - but!)

Anyway - so Aby decided to take me under her wings today, guiding me through the streets like an elder sister,opening my eyes to oncoming traffic and opportunity, literally and otherwise.

We ate in this amazing Malaysian restaurant, and Aby made sure I sipped "Bubble Tea".I wonder why it is called so!Its no tea in the first place!Actually what we would call a mango-shake, and then there are these funny things which feel like bubble when they end up in your mouth through the straw.Funny!

Wikipedia:"Bubble tea is a tea beverage with tapioca balls mixed in. The Taiwanese name for bubble tea translates to "pearl milk tea" (珍珠奶茶). When tea is shaken, a thin layer of bubbles forms on the surface. Due to the foaming process, any tea that is shaken during preparation can be called bubble tea. "Foam black tea" (泡沫紅茶; or bubble black tea) and "foam green tea" (泡沫綠茶; or bubble green tea) are also common drinks made by shaking sweetened tea. After pearl milk tea was brought to non-Asian countries, it was given the name "bubble tea". Since the most notable difference between bubble tea and other tea is the tapioca at the bottom of the drink, some assumed that the "bubble" in "bubble tea" referred to the tapioca. The pearls in "pearl milk tea", however, do refer to the tapioca "pearls".

Bubble tea is generally split into two types: fruit-flavored teas, and milk teas. Milk teas may use dairy or non-dairy creamers. Originating in Taiwan, bubble tea is especially popular in Asian countries such as China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore. The drink is also popular in Europe, Canada, and the United States."



The other end of Nicolet is a very different neighborhood - sign boards change from English to Spanish to Chinese to Somalian on this street.Our motto of walking down all the way from 1st to 26th Street was to visit those many Chinese departmental stores that punctuate the entire length, and find shrimps!Aby is a great cook - and she promised me the most delicious shrimp cooked in Bengali style.I was excited.So I voted to carry her grocery all the way back for the treat in the evening.

On the way back I met - who else but these two absolutely cute Jack Russell:Taco and Chilly!!The names are absolutely a match!Spent some time coochi-cooing with them.While the good-byes were said, their dad said something very striking,"Hope you enjoy your stay here.(Aby told him I was here from India for a short time.)Sorry about Bush."That statement left me quiet for quite sometime.The people of this nation are so humane - so unlike the person who rules them.

In Aby's cozy den, we watched Bridget Jones, had typical Bengali-style adda over cuppa chai, and eventually cooked shrimp.Now Aby does a neat job out of it.

We went for a stroll to E-Block, in and around the famous 1st Avenue.I've hardly had company in Minneapolis, and I thank Aby for the wonderful times.We went to the famous Hard Rock Cafe.Got my chocolate shake in a souvenir glass.Oh yeah! A graduation party had just got over in the Target center across the street,and hence Hard Rock Cafe was full of cloak wearing teenagers, and their family.The result - Aby and I got two chairs to sit,but no table.Instead there was this empty stand for the table.The ash-tray made up for the absence of the table though.

We walked back to home once done with the drinks.Madhu - a friend of Aby joined us for dinner.Aby wanted me to meet Madhu.I found out why - Madhu is the kind of girl I had always dreamt to become.She did her school in University Of Minnesota, and at her age is an over achiever.She appeared to be a completely focused girl in life.I mean she is so organized and oriented to her goal.Another lesson learnt.Madhu helped Aby in her attempts to give a direction to my struggle to break free from the rut, and become someone.She helped me draw Plan A and Plan B of making my dreams happen.

Madhu dropped me home.Once left alone - my thoughts started spinning.Why should totally unconnected(with me) people like Madhu and Aby try and drive sense into me?Why should they try and make me believe that I'm capable of much bigger things?Why should they bother at all? I don't have any answer.May be Red River you're right.Our generation has compassion - in abundance.They are a bunch people who are happy to see others happy.Long live the likes of Aby and Madhu.



Bubble Tea