Second Annual YSA Retreat
May 23th to 26th, 2003
Vancouver, B.C. Canada
The Wild Wild West
By Amar Vaswani
Double click on “Things We Do” at www.YoungSindhiAdults.org and the story goes on as the curtains open in the great Pacific Northwest. Scanning my video camera from atop the penthouse balcony across a vast land, rich in rain and surrounded by water on three sides, emerges a cosmopolitan city which is then abruptly overlooked by a majestic range of mountains along its coast. The British Columbians, Vancouverites, they are a friendly bunch! On the radio in the background is “take me down to the paradise city where the grass is green and the girls are pretty.” Oh yeah, one more fact, Vancouver ranks first in North America, seconf overall worldwide for quality of life. Not bad, eh?! The excitement of The Vancouver Project finally hit. We’re here! Show us your Maple Leaf!
Wednesday seems to be quiet for the quaint little boutique hotel off of Robson Street. But a closer look reveals an intimidating line up for the rest of the week, which includes:
1. YSA Retreat II
2. Playboy Casting Call held in room 2308
3. The filming of the Vigorex infomercial - the herbal version of Viagra
Funny how one remembers details such as the room number for the casting call but takes a while to find one’s way around everything else. Strolling around the lobby are playboy bunny wanna-bees, struggling actors and models, and Young Sindhi Adults. What a sight to witness and a strange combination of people, all of which was unplanned of course, and no one complains. It’s a great way and a positive sign, in my opinion, to start an amazing weekend with beautiful people in a breathtaking city. Yup, YSA is all about value and maximizing your experience.
Throughout the registration process Friday Afternoon, introductions are overheard. “Hi, I’m Dhiren from San Francisco, Mahesh from Philippines, Shalu from Spain, Jaishree from Singapore, Sandeep from New York, Sunil from D.C., Varsha from Atlanta, Manoj from Toronto, Dinesh from Houston, Sonia from Los Angeles... Are you kidding me?! Where did all these people come from? And the Sindhi Story continues. Along with registration is “Chai” to warm-up the YSAers and get them going in a game of Sindhi Taboo. Later that evening, the first night opens with a cocktail reception loaded with food, fun, games, and mingling of the minds took place as if no strangers existed in the world. So comfortable, so fast that Sindhi Thread is weaving its magic once more as we lose track of time. “Wake up call please for 9:00 A.M.”
”Ring, Ring” says the phone.
Off everyone went to the dinning room of the precious little boutique hotel where a variety of food and a special “turon” treat, compliments of YSA Member Tina Aswani from Tenerife, Spain were waiting for us. In the midst of brunch was a silent auction. Gifts and items for sale included dining certificates at local restaurants, a backpack, gourmet gift baskets, a one on one work out session donated by Vijay “V-Fit” Daryanani, and many other things.
One hearty meal deserves another. Renu Sakhrani and Kiran Karamchandani show us the art of making “Sayaal Maani” which is followed by the traditional taste test. Ummm, yummy! And who knew it was that easy?! Looks like we’ll be making more, more often and maybe even have a party! Enough food, the YSAers turn their attention to the never-ending subject of partition. A documentary called “Where Peacocks Dance” has the crowd’s full attention and has the room in still silence. It depicts the harsh reality of the lasting effects of partition on every generation as well as on kids today in Sindh. It also reminds us of how fortunate we are to be alive and to have come so far! Ms. Sandhya Panjwani’s contribution to the weekend festivities included the documentary along with a presentation titled Indus Design - Revisited. Before this presentation, a “chai” and coffee break accompanied by another silent auction. Followed by Sandhya’s exploration of style, color, and creative techniques from the Indus Valley, which has inspired modern day fashion designers and ideas throughout the world.
Before YSAers head off into the night in their own little groups for their “rondez-vouz”, a game of “The Nearly Wed” Game. Five random guys and five random girls are selected to answer random questions to see which pair gets the most right. “What would you say is your partner’s favorite ice cream flavor? “What is your partner’s shoe size?” . The result is an absolute circus filled with childlike behavior and laughter. YOU JUST HAD TO BE THERE!
Day two, routine is sometimes good. Knowing where and when to go gives one a sense of home sweet home and closeness, the kind found within a family. The YSA Family is taking shape inclusive of different characters, personalities, brothers, and sisters. It’s that time of morning that seems too early but really isn’t. Time to get motivated and do something painful and physical that’s good for you. Work on the ever troublesome abs, build that chest and those arms. Ok, I’m awake now and energized for Dr. Derryl MacLean’s Memorializing the Sindh: Text, Image, and Persona on the Indus . He analyses the complexities of memorialization in Sindh through the past lives of three well-known Sindhis. Wow! Mind blowing!
Brunch again, again a silent auction. The star of the auction was an authentic “Sindhi Topi” donated by Nadeem Jamali. The bidding was at a frenzy pace and simultaneously YSAers took turns trying on the “topi”. The crowd the whole time, still admiring its quality and its masterful mirror-work embedded within heavy ornate embroidery. The “topi” received the highest bid of all auctions held during brunch or the afternoon tea breaks.
The heat is on next with a demonstration of “Mithi Sayioon & Masala Patata” generously given by two members of the YSA Vancouver Host Committee, Dinesh Aswani and Narinder Nagrani. The men asked and graciously got two female volunteers to be their assistants. The roles had been reversed unsuspectingly. The fun and the taste samples were off the charts!
Dr. Jennifer Cole, a linguist, gave a lecture on the role and history of Sindhi language. Playing with different Sindhi Sounds was amusing and educational. “Chai kaane aahe”? literally means “there is not tea ?” But it could also mean, “is there any tea?” Sindhi expressions also have a unique way of viewing the world. For instance, if asked “Will you come tomorrow?” “jithe daaNo paaNii huundo” meaning literally “where grain and water will be” but is really a polite way of saying, “not sure”, “maybe” . The Sindhi Language’s survival may be rooted in developing a Roman script to preserve it for the future generations. Most importantly, the sobering news is that Sindhi IS our language, IS our culture, IS our make up and its extinction is possible. We can’t have one without the others and we need to act on preserving it.
Dr. Gul Agha, who spoke at last year’s YSA Retreat about the history of Sindh, now touched on Sindhi Literature and its origins, themes, and trends. It was a tour of classical and contemporary Sindhi Literature illustrated with images and the art of Sindh. A number of classical folk tales essential to understanding Sindhi poetry was related and provided an essential peep into the Sindhi psyche, values, and culture. The lives and works of poets such as Shah Latif, Sachal Sarmast, and Chenrai Sami were highlighted.
The final session was “Paapar and Pizza”. It was hilarious and sobering when we looked deeper than pialo & chinaglass versus brownies and ice cream. How do we deal with growing up Sindhi and manage to keep one leg on each side of the planet? An interactive role playing session that uncovered core issues that face young Sindhi adults today. The exchanging of personal stories touched everyone. Able to relate and knowing we’re not alone in this non-ending struggle was comforting. How cleansing and therapeutic! We feel energized and ready for the final banquet tonight!
One more! “Wait & my camera!” Flashes go berserk like at a sporting event. Just like last year, the crowd was stunning, elegant, and classy. After the acknowledgements, the speeches, just like last year, the standing crowd erupts into a chant “YSA! YSA ! YSA ! YSA!”How about a free “Learn to Speak Sindhi” CD Rom to all those present! Oh yes, good music and great dance moves. YSAers in stereo “Ohh Ohh lal meri pat rakhjai bhalaa Jhule Lalan”, jumping in synchronicity “Hey damadum mast kalandar”. Just like last year, WOW! The long weekend quickly turning into memories, great memories. They say, to have memories you have to make memories. Just like last year, the question persists “Where is it going to be next year? Just like last year, one last thing was missing, the group picture or more accurately, a family portrait. Everyone packed up close to one and other and arms around each other to fit into the lens of 25 different cameras and gadgets. Poof! That, my friends, is the final flash. Freezeframe!
Back at work Tuesday morning, type, type,