Where is the joy?

Is it me? Or are people actually irritating. I mean, I'm not a misanthrope or anything (or am I?), but then beyond a point, I just can't seem to tolerate certain people. Well, its not the people per se. But the way they behave. I mean, come on, you're out of college now. Please behave like you are civilized. Is that too much to ask from a grown up adult? Or am I just a boring old man?

Just today we were having a conversation with a certain someone on whatsapp about how we both are starved for intelligent conversation. Meaningful dialogue. I have been crying about the same thing. And I was shocked to see that the certain someone was speaking the exact same language. Well, this rant has been going on since we were in Goa. At least there we had Mr. G, B&B and the rest of the troupe (O, I shouldn't forget good Doctor, who's adorable, but in his own little world, which is also adorable). Over here, there's nothing. Nobody. Zilch. Zero. Shunya. And the other night. We took AJ to Nerd Nite. There was a lot of potential to connect to intelligence there, right? But then we didn't even strike a single conversation with the so-called intelligentsia. Why? Diffidence? The fear of rejection? Or am I just too proud to approach someone. I mean, come, I am soooooooooo intelligent. Shouldn't it just flow from my visage and shouldn't people just gravitate to me? Wasn't that how it was supposed to play out? Oh sorry, I think that was a dream.

So, another meaningless rant today, born out of the frustration that we are going through. There aren't any outlets. There isn't any joy. I mean, I could've talked about the helicopter ride that we went for. Or the other nice stuff that we have been doing. Like attending weird American documentary event with free popcorn at Ushahidi / ilab or attending Nerd Nite at the Boulevard Cafe. But no, this post isn't for them. Its just a paean to the frustration that we so love to love.

Iss Sheher mein....

I listen to 'sheher mein, hun main tere', the song from Rockstar, as I sit at my laptop and contemplate (nay, fantasize) about going to tomorrow's TED talks session at Ushahidi. The child in me says I'll meet interesting people. I'll make lasting friendships. I'll finally meet some nice people here. But the adult in me knows, I might not even go for it. I'll let you know how it goes. I must get out of this compound. Its getting suffocating. The same people everyday. Night and Day. You live with them. You work with them. This is what happens when work and home are in the same building, nay, on the same floor.

So, well, my first post in a long time. First post from Liberia, from Africa. And I don't have anything interesting to report.

Kenyan Giraffe

Or, do I? Actually, yes. Upar dekho. Thanks to Kenya Airways, who decided to take off from Mumbai 3 hours late, I missed my flight onward to Monrovia. And had to spend 2 days in Nairobi. And it is there that I got to go to the Nairobi national park. And we saw giraffes, zebras, wildebeests and lots of other animals. Pity we didn't have a good camera. the E72 served its purpose though. Not bad, that photo above, is it?

But since then? Nothing interesting to report. We've just been vegetating intellectually. Not that we haven't been doing anything at all. Work-wise, life has been busy. But aside from work, there's hardly anything we have done this last 1 month plus that we have been in Liberia. Its high time we do something. Kuch kiya jaaye, kya boltaay?