Reasons for being here.

1. Find self.
2. Get a tan.
3. Try to be a nice person for 6 months,
4. OK, pretend to be a nice person for 6 months. Acting Practice.
5. Save 2010-11 from being the Chinese Year of the Cock-up.
6. Work out what 1. means.
7. Oh no, it doesn't mean anything.
8. Make many, many lists.
9. Help others. (I died writing that).

My flat is in a place called Villivakkam, which is about as geared up for tourists as Batley or Penge. This makes the 10 minute walk to the shop a bit of a tiresome task because I would hazard an informed guess that i'm the only non-Indian within at least a miles radius and this means I get a lot of unwanted attention from people on the street. I no longer make the mistake of stopping for everyone anymore because answering the same three questions (Country? How long in India? Father's job?) is a bit repetitive. If i'm feeling generous i'll shout the answers to them as I walk past but most of the time my mind is so focused on the task in hand (buying instant pasta) that I ignore them completely.

The question that proves a bit of a poser is 'what are you doing here?'.

'pfft, I dunno' and 'shit happens' are popular answers.

Having said that, apparently there's snow in Britain and that's a headache best avoided. Oh, and enjoy hearing Shakin' Stevens for the 48th time by December 3rd.

p.s. I am actually having a fantastic time, it's just moaning fits me like a glove.