A Primer on Indian Head Shakes
We’ve all heard about the Indian head shake or head wobble, but I was not sure if it was something real or just a caricature that was invented by the colonial Europeans. Find out the truth!
Holi Festival in Stanford
Asha Holi is one of my favorite events on the Accents are Sexy calendar. Holi is an Indian spring celebration festival. In short, it’s a time where you throw color at complete strangers – and ruin some clothing. These days, participants are mistaken for color run participants as they walk home covered in more colors…
British Slang as Guessed By Americans
Slang was something cool, when I was a kid. It was the way the older kids spoke – their special, cool, grown up, mysterious way of communicating. As I learned a new slang word – usually from my only older cousin – I was trying to plug my new acquisition into every phrase imaginable – …
Rumi and Hafiz, My Favorite Sufi Poets
Sufism is one of the four main branches of Islam and what sets it apart the most is its mysticism. I learned about it when I studied Islam after my trip to Egypt. I was fascinated by how the Egyptian culture was laced with religion, much more so than I’ve seen in the western world.…
Why I Travel: Loss of Bearings
For most people, travel equates with vacation – getting away from something, like work or the cold winter of Montreal. However, for me, it’s about seeking a powerful yet fleeting feeling, loss of bearings, a place where all my sense are reset. I am forced to disengage from the autopilot that is daily life: going…
Childhood Nightmares of Pompeii
Have you ever visited a place that gave you nightmares for months? That was Pompeii for me. I was six years old, and we visited the historical site with my parents on our way from Hungary to Algeria. I have no regrets, and it remains one of the most fascinating places I’ve seen. Nowhere else…
A four-year-old’s disappointing first flight
I was very excited on the eve of my first-ever airplane flight – probably like any four year old on a sugar high. I imagined how it would be, exciting sounds, big airplane, flashing lights, but most of all, I imagined whom I would meet – and I’m not talking about the other passengers. I…
Favorite Restaurants – Palo Alto, California
Palo alto has two downtowns, they each have their gems. Here are some favorite restaurants and cafés. Let us know how you like them. University Avenue Evvia – http://www.evvia.net/home/ Greek restaurant, know for their grilling, especially for Lamb Shank. You either have an entré or have a number of appetizers. Their galaktoburito is out of…
June Events – San Francisco Bay Area
The summer is here, while if you consider places like Montreal, Canada, it has never left. The weather is nevertheless more pleasant throughout the Bay Area and even San Francisco gets some unusually sunny days. We continue our weekly dinners in the South Bay. In addition to those, check out these cultural events: San Jose…
Afghanistan in the 1950s and 1960s
These beautiful photographs of Afghanistan in the 50s remind me of Beirut in the 70s. I look at them both with fascination and sadness. I’ve visited Beirut after the civil war, in the summer of 2001. I had the privilege of making many Lebanese friends and live among them for over a month. They are…