Love in Other Cultures

I've been hearing about, reading about, thinking about and writing about love in other cultures. Here in India, arranged marriages are still very relevant. And if you do want to choose your mate, you better choose someone your family will approve of. Someone of the same class, same religion, same background. To me that seems so limiting. Surely I wouldn't be able to be with my boyfriend if the same rules applied to me.

After the marriage, the bride goes to live in the grooms house. With his parents. A very patriarchal society. Having spent a lot of time with my boyfriend's family by now, I would really hate to live with them for the rest of their lives. No offense of course, I'd hate to live with my parents too. Independence is a drug I've become addicted to.

This day in age, why do Indian girls put up with these old fashioned rules? Because it's a part of their culture of course. It's as normal to them as spicy food! It's easy to assimilate if their groom is from the same background. Of course they should take care of their parents in old age, they took care of them in youth. Many girls don't trust themselves to choose their own mate. And they certainly don't want to go through the heartbreak that comes with Western dating. All the power plays and games seem like such a waste of time to them. How to do they learn to be in relationships if they don't have that trail and error? What if their husbands, whom they've only just met in some cases, turn out to be terrible people? They shut up and bear it. Divorces are very frowned upon. Quite a difference compared to America's 60% divorce rate.

So who's right? Quite simply, everyone. Love manifests itself in so many different ways. Who is anyone to judge how others go about finding their life partners? Soul meets soul on lovers lips, no matter how they come to find each other.

Monsoon Madness

I have never seen so much rain in my life. It comes and goes with no warning and the intensity is beyond measure. The sound of the drops hitting the rooftop is enough to wake you from the deepest slumber.

My productivity has skyrocketed due to the torrential downpour. Never in my life have I written so many pages of a script so quickly, especially while simultaneously prepping a major production. So despite the restlessness the rains can cause, it has served a significant purpose already in my stay in Bombay.

The moments when the rains subside are that much more enjoyable. When the rain stops, the city seems to really come alive. What's best of all is the cool breeze that accompanies the showers. I've been told that before the rains came, the heat was unbearable. So for the monsoons, I am thankful~

 

Tips for Anti-Malaria Medication

The worst part about traveling to India has been the anti-malaria pills. Being pumped with vaccines was bad enough, but to take a pill everyday that gives you stomach and head pains is a whole other story. The thought of ditching these pills has already crossed my mind. A lot. But then my boyfriend's voice echoes in my mind, the lectures he gave me about being safe and taking all the health precautions. So I'm left with no choice but to take the stupid pills.

Trail and error has taught me valuable tricks to taking these horrific pills. A few tips:

1. Take them at the same time everyday so you don't forget.

2. Take them immediately after you eat dinner! If you take them before you eat, nausea sets in quickly and lunch is lost. If you eat them hours after you eat, headaches consume you and dinner is lost.

3. Why after dinner and not lunch? They make you kind of sleepy and lazy, so best not to waste the day's energy.

4. Carry them around in your bag so you have them wherever you are. If you eat out and don't have them, you'll have to take them later and trouble ensues.

I hope these tips can help other travelers along the way. I learn these lessons the hard way so you don't have to. If nothing else, they are helpful for me to reinterate to myself so I can stop the anti-maleria madness inside my body! It's really not pretty~

Mumbai at a Glance

The last few days in Mumbai have been wonderful. I didn't know what to expect and came with a completely open mind. Thus far, it seems like such a unique, dynamic city. There are people everwhere you look, the city streets are crowded and chiaotic. The people are humble, generous and so welcoming. I have not met one person I didn't like. The food is delicious and eclectic. The monsoon rain is calming and clearing. The traditions are rich and the movies are touching.

I can't wait to explore the city further. Although I have only been here for a few days, I know that it is not a city that you can catch in a glance. It's one you must experience fully and feel deeply. So explore I shall! Stay tuned for what's surely to come~

Musings from Grasse

This place has so much history.

We stand on the shoulders of others --

   

-- Building on what was built before us.

     We create lives, so simple --

Yet full of so many pleasures...of every kind.

Food, drugs, art, music, sex; luxury indulgences that please
on oh so many levels~

Leaving a lasting impression on those that come after so that

they might stand on these shoulders of progress...

~Musings from Grasse~

French-isms

J'aime France. C'est un place super. C'est ma maison loin de la maison~

Life here seems more simple. Food is more natural and fresh, people don't move as fast and life seems overall pretty quiet. Except for the loud bickering that you inevitably hear coming out of every house you pass. I can't wait til I can actually understand all the eloquent tongue lashings. Health care is simple, there's history in the cobblestone, and love is in the air.

Maybe that's just because I am so lucky to have such an amazing tour guide. Ben is an inspiring man who is so fun and so kind. It's heartwarming to see him take pride in taking care of everyone and everything. He dispells the rumor that all French people are rude with his warm smile and honest candor. As long as you don't cut him off dans le rue. He shows glimpses of that French fierceness, which only adds to his charm and appeal.

Inevitably there are some things that I miss about America. Starbucks, my dear friends, and those trashy reality shows that became my guilty pleasure. Bad Girl's Club on TF1? Impossible! But instead I've gained Ice Tea Peche, an affinity with the Mediterranean Sea, and chocolate for breakfast.

It's the subtle differences in culture that make life unique all over the world. Even the ambulances sound different. But it's the similarities that bind us as a globe. The sound of children laughing is the same all over the world. The significance of exploring the global village is profound beyond comprehension. I have no more words, just feelings~

Greetings from Cannes

I finally did it! I quit my job, got rid of my apartment and sold my car! I got rid of my comfortable life in sunny LA in pursuit of my dreams. My dream to be my own boss, my dream to pursue my own creative projects, my dream to spend more time with my French boyfriend.

The first week abroad was a whirlwind. I stepped off the plane and went directly into sales mode to promote my short documentary, The Meaning of Life, at the Cannes Film Festival. Thanks to all who submitted videos.

So now what? Now is the time to take my dreams and my project to the next level. I'm currently raising money to film the feature length version. To expand on this theme, the Meaning of Life. Shooting begins in August and I couldn't be more passionate about exploring these ideas with people from all over the world.

But I need your help! If you think this theme is a valid one, contribute as little as $1 to help see the film to fruition. In return, you will be given copies of the film, movie posters, executive producer credits, etc.

Find out more here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jpifproductions/burning-man-and-the-meaning-of-life

Thank you for your continued support and check back often for updates from abroad~