My family and other animals

(My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrel is an AWESOME book, just saying)

I don't know if its too soon to introduce you to my family...I know, its a big step. Oh, don't worry about thaaaat, I know they'll love you! My mum will stuff food down your throat, and my dad will talk to you about everything under the sun...and my brother, well you won't see him, he's studying in his cave.
Nah shame, I'm being too harsh, its just that he stresses a lot about these things. And since he's doing his honours, I guess he needs to study and all of that. You see, we're both studying the same thing. He's just two years ahead of me - which to some people (not me) makes me the luckiest girl alive!, and to others (me) not so much. I mean, yes, I'm lucky I have his notes and guidance etc etc, but looking at the amount of work and effort he has to put in, its a little off-putting. Who needs a science degree anyway, housewives are probably the happiest people alive!
Probably.

Anyway, my family loves to travel - in a last-minute kind of way. The kind of way where we go all the way to Kashmir and starting hunting for a hotel to stay in. Of course, at the time, it was super fun. Trying to find accommodation for 9 people, I mean. Now, I realise how disturbing it is. You can't just travel halfway across the world with nowhere to stay!!! What if everywhere was booked?? Would we have to sleep in the van (that smelled of coconut hair oil) with the driver? I never realised how eccentric the adult members of my family are.

Of course they never listen to the children because they are always right. Ha! Sometimes, in small matters, its not too bothering, but when you're hiking up Table Mountain and all my cousins and my brother and I are explaining that we're walking on the wrong path to my parents, uncles and aunts, its a different story. Especially if that small deviation took us about 2 hours to get back on the path. While trying to lug up jackets and roll up your long sleeves because "Its going to be cold! You will FREEZE in what you're wearing now!" Fun times with the family.

Even though my family is a little crazy - yes, I have the odd cousin who cuts off her eyebrows by mistake - I really couldn't have asked for a better one! My mum is the most hardworking, loving, AMAZING person on the earth; my dad, the most funny -both intentionally and unintentionally and my brother, well, he's one of the coolest and most irritating! Ag I love you guys! :D

Okay, okay, no need to get emotional, mum.

My name is Shreeya and this is FWMIF, yo.

[PS I wrote this ages ago...just forgot to post it, sorry!]

The Dreaded First Post

The dreaded first post. Yep. Shreeya and I actually called “nigs” (like calling dibbs on the last can of coke or on the front seat for a really long road trip) on who would not write the first post... I won :D

So although this isn’t technically the ‘first post’ it is my dreaded first post.

It’s kind of weird talking to the internet masses right? You never really know how many people are reading or judging.

But hey, it is our blog and thou can judge it how thou wouldst!

So,story of how our blog idea began.

*Cue title music*

Once upon a time, Shreeya and I decided a blog would be a cool thing to do because you know, as science undergrads we have so much free time on our hands and we like to keep ourselves busy.

Ok who am I kidding, we hardly have time to spare, but we do have a lot to say... or so we thought.

We started bouncing ideas around, Bucket list-type blog, foodie blog, fashion blog, photography blog.

There were just so many options to choose from... and we chose none. Why specialize right?

So this is a freestyle blog.

Music, what’s happening in the lives of BSc students at Wits, food pics – ok maybe not those... They weird me out. Why would you take pictures of food if you’re not going to add in a recipe or a cool comment about the food/place you bought or ordered it from? – scientific discoveries (which would make good talking points if you’re ever in a room full of intellectuals or if you just want to sound smart in front of your friends), cool cafés – which we decided we needed to visit more of and maybe even a concert or two.

Basically any daily happenings/interesting things which happen in the lives of two South African undergrad science students at Wits.

[Awkward silence while I think of what to write next]

*scrolls down page on what makes a good blog*

Ah yes, interesting events of the week.

Well it’s more of an observation rather than an interesting event.

You notice the weirdest things when other people occupy your living quarters and turn things upside down.

Case and point being: my aunt and cousins occupied our house for about a week and let me tell you, although I love them dearly, I was glad to see them go! Mean I know, but the joy in typing this from the privacy of my own room is indescribable.

Yes, I said it. I don’t enjoy sharing my living quarters! It messes up the delicate balance which is my life.

For a start, having guests staying in your house means you constantly have to be vigilant of their needs. Sleeping patterns, eating times, even what to watch on tv is suddenly a huge affair where before it was a set thing.

My mom perpetually runs around the house like a headless chicken, forever fussing over every small thing: what to cook at meal times, what to do, where to go. Balance disturbed.

Although, there is plus side to it. I got to spend some good quality time with my cousins, catch-up on all the news since I last saw them and let’s not forget laughing at our mothers who argue about who doesn’t do things right. Classic comedy without having to do a single thing!

Well, that's my first, totally random blog post, stay tuned for more awesomeness/free-style blogging soon :)

This is FightsWithMyImaginaryFriend and I’m Neelam (the real one).
Let the blogging begin!

So...um...this is awkward

I never realized  that blogging is so awkward. Or maybe that's just me? Other people don't seem to have this issue. There must be a Blogging font that I haven't installed yet. Or it must be that I'm not double-jointed. Damn me for being so awkward.

Wait, what? I mean, I am not awkward!! Its just that weird things happen to me. Like having my foot tangle itself in my Jasmine-pants which caused me to fall down the stairs with my keyboard under my arm, in my own home, while some visitors were following me to the car. I was real smooth about it. This was about two days ago and I still have a graze on my back and a bruise on my ego. But I'll be okay, don't worry. 

Anyway, so my imaginary friend (Neelam) and I decided to start a blog, but we were a bit confused as to what to write about...she, obviously, is not good at anything - except for being an awesome friend (kidding, she plays the piano and can blow bubbles that float in the air with her spit)...I can't cook awesome food, draw or make crafty things - which is all that anyone blogs about. So we were stuck. Then we said "Stuff it, we'll write about whatever the heck we want to!!" (at exactly the same time)

Being the awkward person that I am, talking to people can be a bit disastrous...I shake in fear now that I'm talking to no one in particular...

So I have been given the big responsibility of doing the FIRST POST [cue: dramatic music] (Neelam "nigs"ed first). How does one's first post in a blog go? Is it like the first day of school where everyone introduces themselves and describes their holiday in 5 words? (Hi, I'm Shreeya, um blog-inspiring, music-filled, a-lot-of-time-wasting, waking-up-late, no-varsity :D) Or is it a "Welcome to my world!!" type post??

From what we researched (we are so serious about this) people just started randomly and pretend as if they've been doing it forever. Aaawwwwkwwwwaard.
So following that criteria, I'm sure this is good enough, right?... Well, except for the part where I make it clear that I have no idea what I'm doing. Whatever, it shall have to do!

Damn, I never thought about how these things are meant to end...err, "have a good night!"? "Adios Amigos!"? "Peace dawg!"? "Ciao!"? "That's all folks!"-for now..."I'll be back!"?(you know you were thinking it too)
(Note to self: find out how to end a blog)
PS. I don't understand why people announce their "note to self"s. Its stupid, don't do it people!

Oh! And - My name is Shreeya and this is Fights With My Imaginary Friend!