Namesake

Our names play a great role in our lives, It has been a favorite, interesting subject for me. New interesting names with unknown meaning arouse my curiosity.

But, here my topic of concern is the role of a name in females lives. When a girl gets married, first thing changes is her name. She adopts the family name of her husband and with this her identity changes. And in today's global world, it is not just about the name change, this change needs to be reflected at so many places like your identity card, driving license, etc., and it is an expensive affair.

And, in today's modern society, where relationships are so fragile, that if someone gets divorced or remarried, again need to change the name and go through so much paperwork. So who says, what is in the name...

Money is such a crucial player in all these processes. When you date a boy or girl, you spend money on your loved one. Again at the time of marriage, and nowadays, breaking a relationship is an equally expensive affair.
 

I mingle with people of different nationalities, so get to know many stories or customs related to the name. In southern India, people have usually long names as it is customary there to include the names of their father, and grandfather as well. Recently I came to know that this is also true in some German regions as well, where instead of the father, mother's name is included.

When you get to know oriental people from China, HongKong or Thailand, they do have 2 names, one Chinese or Thai and the other English name.

Headache

Headache seems a very common problem. We all experience it. Popping down the medicine for headache it is not a wise decision until it is a very severe one. Many things may cause headache, but there are some easy techniques that we can try to relieve from it. And one of that technique is head massage, reflexology point on our hands and feet and pressing the pressure points.
 Share with me your tips and tricks to get instant relief from the headache.

Are you a meat lover

Different cuts of meat:

1. leg cut of Pork:
1. Ham: Back of thigh 
2. Bacon: sides, belly or back of the pork; it is usually the belly cut.
3. steak: a thick, flat piece of meat, usually from a cow. I always believed steak is only from the cow. But, it is not. We can get the steak from the fish as well like Salmon, Swordfish, Tuna.
4. Fish Fillet: 

Doneness of meat:

1. Rare: very red
2. Medium rare
3. Medium
4. Well done
5. Overcook

My experiments with Swimming and Bicycling

I learned swimming a decade ago and now I am revising my skills on my own and with friends by practicing in the lake or pond. I will keep you updated step by step process which I followed and observed while these practice sessions.

1. Sculling: keep your palms open and all fingers held close to each other without any gap. Move your hands at 45 degrees under the water without disturbing the surface. The wrist should straight and stiff, without any bend.
2. Floating on your back: do the skulling, keep in mind do not disturb the water surface. and keep your toes together and pointed out.
3. flutter kick: toes pointed out and kicking one after another. The only foot can come out while kicking, but knees should always be underwater. Hands should be up backward and touch the ears, this is called the streamline position. 
4. Lungs filled with air always add to the buoyancy
5. For back float: bring your shoulder blades back, tighten your stomach, engage your rib-cage. ear in the water
6. finning:
7.  Eggbeater kick: circling the water with legs, one leg in clockwise direction and another in anticlockwise direction.

When you are beginner learning swimming, you might need the assistance of some personal floating devices (PFD) like a kick-board, floating dumbles etc.

When you go swimming in the pool or in open waters like a lake, sea, ocean, then there are a few things that we need to understand:

1. There might be a water snake
2. If there are green or blue fungi on the surface of the open water like a lake, so avoid better going into it.
3. If the pool is not clean and clear, not go swimming in it.
4. If the outside temperature is very high, so there is a high probability that the water in the open pool or lake would be equally warm, and it attracts some kind of flies, so better avoid going into the water.

Bicycling: When you are in Europe, you need to experience the riding the bicycle. And, if you are in Switzerland which is surrounded by the Alps and small hills here and there, then a bicycle with gears is a must.

Baby ko Bass pasand hai

Music is one of the gateway to the soul. And, when life is so stressful, listening or playing music makes us calm and helps to release the stress.

You might have got the chance to attend a music band. Guitarists play a very important role in the band. There are different types of guitars(ranging in the pitch) like

1. Electric Guitar
2. Classical or acoustic Guitar
3. Steel Guitar
4. Bass guitar
5. electric bass guitar

The major contributors of a band are a lead guitarist, rhythm guitarist, drummer, keyboard player, and a vocalist.

The important element of any pop or rock music are:

1. Percussion or drumming
2. chords/String: Guitar
3. Vocal: singing, screaming, spoken words, rapping 
4. Bass line
5. Wind instruments: saxophones, trumpets, flutes
6. Orchestral string instruments: violin, cello, viola 

Other musical instruments:

1. Handpan

There are different styles of music

1. Jazz
2. Blue
3. Dub
4. Funk
5. Electric
6. Classical
7. Acapella: without a musical instrument. 

There are a few important things to understand

1. Melody
2. Rhythm
3. Harmony
4. Improvisation

Musical Genre

1. pop (popular) music
2. Rock
3. Blues
4. metal
5. jazz
6. rap
7. R&B: Rhythm and Blue

Dance genre

i. rock and roll
ii. hip-hop(rock, jazz, soul)

iii. disco music
iv. Salsa(Cuban dance): Social dancing
v. Kizomba
vi. Zumba
vii. Bachata
viii. Rumba
ix. Latin American dance
x. Cha-cha-cha
xi. Ballroom
x. Ballet: Swan Lake

Singers

1. Eric Clapton
2. Toni Braxton
3. 
   

Exercising and gym

Being healthy not only makes you look and feel good, it is the gateway to a happy life. There are various ways that can keep you healthy and happy.

1. Walking/Hiking/Trekking
2. Running/Jogging
3. Exercising in the gym
4. Cycling/biking
5. Sports
6. Swimming
7. Strength training
8. muscle training
9. weight training
10. resistance training
11. dumbles
12.  Pilates: muscle relaxation and strengthening
13. PIIT(Pilates intense interval training)
14. Yoga: muscle flexibility
15. BBP(belly, legs, buttocks)
16. CX WorX: An efficient workout that strengthens the entire trunk area and activates the deep muscles.
17. kickboxing/TosoX
18. BodyPump
19. 
    
20. 
    

Common Facebook trends

If you ever happen to attend a motivational talk, the most common question they ask the audience is that 'close your eyes and think what are your passions' what is that thing that comes first to you. It seems very easy but I have encountered many people, including myself, who find it challenging to answer what interests them the most, what are their passions. I am gifted with this trait that I am good at analyzing the things. I have observed what we want to show the most is the thing that attracts us the most, and social media is one such platform where we portrait our happiness, our proud, our resentments, our realizations, our reflection, and learning. And, what matters us the most, which we want to show, to protect, and to cherish are actually the things of our passion. Passion is not an out-worldly thing that will appear in our life one day, it is right here in our hearts, we just need to recognize it. Following are the common FB trends which I have observed on social media over a period of few years:

1. Relationships: 
1. Birthday and Aniversary wishes: It seems quite superficial, but nobody feels bad to see the birthday wishes on Facebook. It takes time and most importantly intention to stop and write a word. 
2. Children: No matter how much money we earn or save, irrespective of our social status, family earnings, there are a few feelings of happiness that are priceless and precious, like our children, their well-being and achievements. 
3. Friends
2. Sports and games
3. Movies
4. Books:
1. Born to run by Christopher Mcdougall 
5. Online games
6. Travel
7. Festivals:
1.  Holi
1. Puran Poli
8. Seasons.
9. Get-togethers
10. News
11. Money
12. Cooking
13. Gardening
14. Baking
15. Tips and tricks
16. Wisdom, motivational talks and quotes
17. Patriotism
18. Religion
19. Spirituality
20. Marketing
21. Music
22. Health and Fitness
1.  Yoga
2. Reiki
3. Gym
23. Mobile
24. Technology
25. Food
26. Art and craft
27. Adventure
28. Nature

Chess game: is it only meant for intelligent people

I don't know from where I got these things. But, I have this strong assumption that intelligent people play chess. No one plays chess in my family. But, I always wanted to learn and play.

Recently, I was invited to the birthday party of a Bengali boy. I was in a toys store and looking at the potential gifts. My husband suggest for a 5-6- years-old bengali boy, the most appropriate gift would be a Chess. Again, it reaffirmed my belief that Chess is the game of intelligent, strategy planners. Because, West Bengal, India is known as the Cultural and knowledge capital of India.

Patiala Peg

I belong to a Punjabi family. And, drinking alcohol comes naturally to us. Every person has their own story of drinking or non-drinking alcohol. Many people don't drink alcohol for health reasons, some for religious reasons.

In a few religious scriptures, we do find mention of wine and alcoholic beverages. Whereas other scriptures totally forbid the use of alcoholic drinks.

In India, many argue that Lord Shiva used to drink and smoke. Also, Alcohol is offered to the mother Kali. In the Bible, we also find mention of making wine from water by Jesus. While Islam totally forbids the use of alcohol.

But, when drinking alcohol became the status symbol or virtue of riches, I don't know.

Alcoholic drinks and beverages are very common in Europe. They are everywhere. Whether you go to a grocery store, shopping mall, pub, restaurant, hotel, and in newspaper flyers. You will find a huge section of menu drinks dedicated to alcoholic beverages.

While living the life of an expat, it becomes very important to have a good idea of this stuff. Many people argue if I don't drink then why should I know about all this stuff. True, I do agree. But, when I go to buy the crystal wares, buy glasses for my dinner set. I find such a huge variety of glasses. As I am personally a non-drinker, so I find it consuming what glasses are meant for what. So, to make an informed decision and to do wise shopping, I should have an idea about all these things.

I love to cook and eat food. When people argue that you do not drink then why do you eat 'Panta baat', it is a fermented cooked rice delicacy served in Bengal, India or also known as congie in China and Hong Kong region.

Fermented things are good for the body, so how drinking wine can be bad for health.

Alcoholic drinks or beverages are made from ethanol, a type of alcohol which is made from the fermentation of cereal grains or fruits or other sources of sugar.

There are mainly three classes: beer, wine, and spirits.

Spirits are hard liquor or distilled beverages. As it is distilled and has an increased proportion of alcohol i.e. ABV(alcohol by volume).

1. Wine: It is fermented alcohol made from grapes(i.e. fruits). E.g. 
1. Red wine
1. Syrah (or Shiraz)
2. Merlot
3. Cabernet sauvignon
4. Malbec
5. Pinot noir
6. Zinfandel
7. Barbera
8. Sangiovese
2. white wine
1. Sauvignon Blanc
2. Chardonnay
3. rose wine
4. rice wine(sake)
5. fruit wine: made from any fruit other than grapes.
6. honey wine
7. Dessert wine
2. Beer: It is made from cereal grain starches like barley, wheat, rice etc.
3. Spirits:
1. Whiskey: It is aged and made from grain mash. Brand: Golfer's shot; Signature
2. Vodka: It is also made from cereal grains or potatoes. It is usually not aged.
3. Rum: It is made from sugarcane.
4. Gin: Made from Juniper berries. It is also considered a ladies drink.
5. Brandy: It is made from the distillation of wine.
6. Tequila: It is from the city of Tequila in Mexico.
7. Amaretto (Italian for "a little bitter") is a sweet Italian liqueur that originated in Saronno, Italy. 
8. Campari is an alcoholic liqueur, considered an apéritif, obtained from the infusion of herbs and fruit in alcohol and water.

Common Cocktails:

1. Martini: It is made from gin(or vodka) and vermouth(aromatized, fermented wine flavored with various botanical).
2. Margarita: It is made from tequila and any citrus fruit juice like orange.
3. Mojito: It is made from white rum, lime or lemon juice, sugar, mint, ice and carbonated or soda water.

Wine Classification:

1. Table wine: ordinary wine which is neither fortified nor sparkling(with a significant level of Carbon dioxide in it e.g. champagne from France ) nor expensive. This often does not specify the grape variety used or the region of origin.
2. Still wine: no carbon dioxide.
3. Dessert wine: are sweet wines typically served with pudding. In the UK, a dessert wine is considered to be any sweet wine drunk with a meal, as opposed to the white fortified wines (fino and amontillado sherry) drunk before the meal, and the red fortified wines (port and madeira) drunk after it. 

Single malt Whiskey: It is unblended with any other malt.
Single malt Vs Blended.

How I started blogging

I strongly believe change is the only constant. We realize it or not, every moment we are learning and growing for good or bad, that only time will decide.

Learning new things have always excited me. I always find people around me who find their lives very boring and uninteresting. I did not want to be the part of that gang. One thing to realize is that be accountable for yourself and your activities. Our brain is very strong. Many times we complain that we forget the things very easily. One of the most common reason is that the things are not registered in our mind at first place. To make a memory in our brain, first we need to make a strong neural connection. For this, it is very important to observe things attentively and also to reflect back. 

We encounter many things everyday. But, the thing is that we do not pay enough attention to it to get it registered. 

If I reflect back on my life, there are few things that I have always found interesting. I have started them and left in between as and when I encountered another important thing or event.

So, I determined to keep track of all the interesting things, events, and activities that have amazed me. This is how I started writing the blog. It gives me glad that my life is so full and colorful. I find it so interesting that my life is so worthy. Many a times people don't know what interests them or what might others be interested in. You may know few people who are good at throwing parties, one who are always the hero of the party, the one you always look forward to meet to.

Cheese and Chocolate or Coffee and Wine

One change I strongly found in my lifestyle after moving to Switzerland is that the inclusion of cheese in my diet. If you want to experience real Cheese, then no place is better than in Europe.

Cheese captures a fairly good section of any grocery store and farmers market. There is such a huge variety of cheese in Europe that I was amazed to see. Following is the categories of cheese based on the moisture content:

1. Hard or semi-hard cheese: Cheddar(UK), Gruyere
2. Medium-hard cheese
3. Soft or cream cheese: Brie
4. Semi-soft cheese
5. Fresh cheese: Cottage
6. Processed cheese
7. Brined cheese: Feta, Halloumi
8. String cheese: Proteins are lined up in this.

There is another division of cheese based on the source of milk like cow, sheep, goat, moose etc.
It could further be classified based on the bread of the sheep. E.g., Manchego is a cheese made in the La Mancha region of Spain from the milk of sheep of the Manchega breed. Official manchego cheese is to be aged for between 60 days and 2 years. Manchego has a firm and compact consistency and a buttery texture, and often contains small, unevenly distributed air pockets.
If you get the opportunity do visit a Cheese grotto (cave). 

There are yet another three categories of cheese in which the presence of mold is an essential feature:

1. soft-ripened cheese: Brie, Camembert: The white rind outside the cheese is actually the white mold to protect the cheese from potentially harmful microorganisms. And, eating this white rind is a matter of preference. 
2. smear-ripened cheese: Tilster
3. washed rind: 
4. Blue cheese

Category of cheese based on aging:

1. Fresh cheese: Cottage
2. whey cheese: Ricotta
3. stretched cheese: Mozzarella/pizza cheese

Originally, I do not belong to a cheese eating country. So, I did not know how to properly eat cheese. The common mistake what I was doing, was that I was not eating the cheese at the room temperature. I would take out the cheese directly from the fridge and serve it immediately. I come from a tropical country, which hits one of the hottest summers. So, I have this strongly in my unconscious mind that any milk product kept outside of the fridge will ruin sooner, so better eat and finish it quickly.

I often found myself challenging whether I should cut or peel off the rind of hard cheese. Yes, the rind of hard cheese is usually hard and wax. And, it should not be eaten. 

Feta cheese is a crumbly, grain textured cheese made up of sheep or goat milk or a mixture of both. No summer is complete without a plate of watermelon and feta cheese. 

When I was in Canada, I did not notice such a large variety of cheese. I mostly used cheddar and mozzarella. Every cheese has an interesting origin and associated story. 

1. Cheddar cheese was originated in the English village of Cheddar, UK.
2. Brigante pecorino It is a sheep milk cheese from the Italian island of Sardinia. Manufactured by Fratelli Pinna, a cheese-making company located in the north of the Island, this pecorino cheese is semi-soft in texture with a pale, ivory color. Matured for about three weeks, it has a mild and creamy flavor with citrus undertones.  Its texture is smooth, moist, and fairly elastic. This is a delicious table cheese that is manufactured in wheels that are approximately three pounds. 
3. Burrata

Swiss cheese:

1. Appenzeller(secret herbal brine)
2. Emmentaler(has holes in it i.e. perforated)
3. DER SCHARFE MAXX
4. KALTBACH GRUYÈRE
5. MAXX EXTRA
6. ALTER SCHWEIZER
7. FUURTUFEL(i.e. fire devil, real spicy)
8.  TÊTE DE MOINE(i.e. monk's head; uses cheese curler for making cheese flowers)

Chocolate is like the national identity of Switzerland. I never thought I would start buying chocolate by looking at the cocoa percentage in it. 

1. White Chocolate: It should have at least 20% cocoa butter in it.
2. Dark Chocolate
3. Milk Chocolate: it has dairy in it.
4. Cocoa Powder: Cocoa beans are roasted and grounded to make the unsweetened chocolate. When unsweetened chocolate is pressed into a hydraulic press, then it separates the cocoa powder from the cocoa butter.

Ferrero Rocher: Michele Ferrero is an Italian Chocolatier and Rocher means in French rock or boulder.

And, you can easily locate the big shops of chocolates in Switzerland. There are different levels of chocolates like retailers chocolates and handcrafted chocolates.

And, blue cheese and chocolate is a classic combination. And recently I discovered that both of these items share the many common molecules and the reason behind their successful combination, isn't it amazing?

Another thing that you find quite common in European lifestyle is Coffee. European are so fond of coffee. Common coffee drinks are:

1. Expresso
2. Macchiato stained or spotted with milk usually foam milk.
3. Latte
4. Cappuccino

Beer and wine: In Europe, the evening is not considered complete without having a glass of chilled beer or a glass of wine. I was amazed to know that they used to get the daily quota of their beer in ration during military training.

It is a common presumption that girls drink beer. And also European people are very sport enthusiastic and every soccer match is accompanied by rounds of cigarette and beer in sports bars.

 I see a common trend these days in India as well that drinking alcohol is no more a taboo. Indian society has also become very progressive and liberal in this regard. 

Cheese and wine are a perfect combination for any party. 

Cheese is a good source of protein and calcium. Cheese, butter, bread, honey, coffee, and eggs make a staple breakfast. 

Are pets my cup of tea

Pets have always attracted me and it is also true that I always found them very scary as well. There is no doubt that our beliefs and assumptions play a very important role in establishing all our relationships whether it is with us or the animals.

I always believed that having a pet is an affair of rich people. In poor countries where it is a challenge to feed our own kids, having a pet is a luxury, which is kind of true. That is why I mostly encountered stray or street dogs, which are usually uncivilized and sometime violent too.

Recently, I have been struggling with keeping my home clean, as I found the main culprit in my house is the hairs. It made me think that my hair fall is giving me so much challenge, then those who have cat and dogs at home, how do they keep their homes clean and maintained.

Cats and dogs seem like a good companion, but they need seriously good care and also you have to figure out whether these pets are really for you.

1. The first thing to take care is that dogs and cats shed a lot of hair.

2. Recently, I came to know about the ticks. And, when your dogs and cats go out, then they may come in contact with flies (and bring a disease called heartworm) and ticks and can bring bad bacteria or infection at home. So, it is very important to take care of their hygiene and also be specific to give them regular injections to keep them as well as yourself healthy and happy.

3. Another thing with pets is that they expect a lot of appreciation from their owners, so don't be amazed if an outdoor cat brings a mouse or small birds or other small creature at your doorstep and expects an appreciation tap at her back.

4. A few days ago, I was passing through a garden, and one lady was going with her small dog and another big dog attacked on the little dog. Not only the little dog and her owner, but I was also equally shocked. So, if you think of keeping a pet dog, so be prepared to protect your pets and also groom them so they behave properly in public.

5. Off lately, I saw the facebook post of one of my dog lover friend sharing that the sudden death of her dog and reason was a severe Cardiac arrest. So, when your dog dies, you sorrow its death as well.

Anyways, whether you have a pet or not, it is always good to know about their breed as this way you can know some of their traits. And also pets are a good topic to discuss or start a good conversation with strangers and know your community a little better.

So, the following are the most common and popular dog breeds, which everyone should know about:

1. German Shepherds or Alsatian
2. Doberman
3. Labrador
4. Pug: This one is a kind of celebrity dog and one of the oldest breed of dogs from China. I called this breed celebrity as Vodafone used this dog breed in its advertising campaign.
5. Bulldog
6. Pit Bull
7. Pomeranian: Poland and Germany origin
8. Spaniel
9. St.Bernard: Italian and Switzerland working and mountain rescue dog.
10. Siberian Husky
11. Golden Retriever

In my travels in various countries throughout the world, I have encountered many different breeds of dogs and are used for different purposes. Recently, we were at a farm in Switzerland and it was evening time and the farmer was busy moving his hens inside the farmhouse. We were asking the farmer whether we could get some fresh eggs. While the farmer was talking to us, we found that two dogs were busy herding and moving the hens inside the farmhouse. And, in Switzerland, usually, every farmer has a dog or better say a working dog to help them manage the cattle or livestock usually cows.

1. Herding dogs: These dogs are very intelligent are used for herding livestock and sheep.
2. Hunting dogs: Golden Retriever
3. Carriage dog: Dalmatian: very distinct black spots on their skin
4. Earth dog: Dachshund: Germany
5. Fighting dogs/Police dog: Pit Bull
6. Working dog/service dog/ Assistant dog 
7. Companion dog

Recently, I encountered a dog bakery and got to know that dogs like sweet treats. And, cats enjoy fruits like oranges.

English Songs and Singers

1. Sean Paul
2. Justin Bieber
3. Shakira
4.  Sia Cheap thrills
5. MJ
6. ABBA
7. Cold Play
8. AQUA
9.