Photo Credit: Kevin N. Murphy
Without doubt this blog has been far more successful than I ever imagined it could be when I started it. Today, just a little over 18 months since I started writing at Gori Girl, we passed the mark of over two thousand comments written here by individuals other than Aditya & I. Two thousand comments, most of which have been detailed, thoughtful contributions to the post I’ve written. I hope you guys understand how thankful I am for your participation here – the discussions and, yes, disagreements have contributed much to my thoughts on things intercultural and India.
Appropriately enough, a post by Normis in the forums yesterday reminded me that we never got around to holding a “Gori Girl” meet-up for everyone in the Mid-Atlantic region (of the US – i.e. near Washington D.C.) this past summer. (What can I say? Summer is always a busy time for us.) So – who’s interested in hanging out somewhere in the DC or NoVA area? I promise you can mock my Hindi pronunciation. *grin* More details below the fold.
When: We’re thinking the first weekend in December – either December 5th or 6th. But I’m open to suggestions if that weekend is particularly bad for the majority of people who are interested in coming.
Where: This would depend on how many people are interested in coming, where they’re traveling from, and how many (if any) are Metro-dependent. I’m thinking either a large coffee shop (a Cosi’s, perhaps?) or a low-key restaurant where people can come and go at their leisure. Suggestions appreciated, if anyone has a good idea.
Who: Anyone who’s in the area and reading this is welcome. Don’t feel like you can’t come if you’re not in an intercultural relationship or any garbage like that. Bring friends if you think they’d be interested in chillin’ with the two coolest people in all of the DC Metro Area. (‘Cause, you know, Aditya and I super-cool. I mean, as I write this, I’m watching MythBusters while studying Hindi flashcards and rubbing the dog’s belly with my foot. If that’s not the epitome of cool, I don’t know what is.)
Let me know in the comments if you’re in!
Added: Aditya and I (and some friends) will be at this weekend’s BollyB!end 2 in Siliver Spring, if anyone in the area is planning on going.
5. November 2009 at 1:54 am
I thoroughly enjoy reading your blog even though I’m not in an intercultural relationship and in a different demographic than your average poster (older and male). What first got me interested was reading how Aditya (and sometimes you too) identify as atheistic Hindus, and I thought I was the only one. Anyway, I kept reading and have been hooked ever since.
5. November 2009 at 10:28 am
I’m glad to hear that you enjoy the blog, despite not being in the “key” demographic, AmericanDesi.
I keep telling Aditya he should write a follow-up to that religion post, but he’s at a lost of what, exactly, to write. Any suggestions? (Oh, and how do you identify as atheistic Hindu? Do you have a blog discussing it?)
7. November 2009 at 9:04 pm
No, I don’t have a blog discussing Hinduism and/or atheism. Maybe I will when I get to the fourth stage in the life of a Hindu
Hinduism provides me with a framework to live my life but doesn’t really enforce a single set of beliefs. It says that there are many different paths to the same goal (the goal, whatever it is, is another subject on it’s own) and I happen to choose the path of rational thought. Any more serious discussions on religion will require me to be drunk. 
5. November 2009 at 6:57 am
You know we’d love to join you guys, even though we’ve already met you, we’re way overdue for another meetup
.
5. November 2009 at 10:50 am
Yup, haven’t seen you guys in awhile. Notice how I cleverly scheduled the meetup post-NaNoWriM? (I just noticed
)
5. November 2009 at 8:23 am
Sounds good to me, although we’ve got another event going on that Saturday evening.
5. November 2009 at 10:54 am
Noted.
5. November 2009 at 9:59 am
I didnt get exactly where the place was.
5. November 2009 at 10:52 am
Hey Doli – sorry I buried the lead! Aditya & I are in the Washington DC metro region, so we’ll want to meetup somewhere around there. Technically, we’re in the Northern Virginia suburbs of DC (in Fairfax) but we’ll willing to travel a bit to get to whatever is most convenient for the majority. Are you in the area?
5. November 2009 at 7:15 pm
Ohhhh I stay in Iowa area. Too far! But hope you meet many people during your get-together. Have fun!
5. November 2009 at 12:01 pm
I have been reading your blog regularly for the last year or so. I live in the UK and I am married to an Indian man. He was actually born in Kenya and moved to the UK when he was 8 years old and we met at university in 1999. We have been a couple for 10 years (!) and married in January this year. I am now pregnant with our first baby. It is fascinating reading about your experiences; some of which I can really relate to! I find your commentary on intercultural issues very insightful. Funnily enough, we are planning a trip to DC to see some family (another intercultural couple!) in December – probably not until the week after your planned meet up though.
Anyway, keep up the good work.
5. November 2009 at 12:54 pm
Congratulations on your recent marriage & pregnancy, UK Gori! I’m glad that this blog has been useful/interesting for you.
If we shifted the meeting to the next weekend, would you be able to come? Don’t worry if you can’t – I know that international visits to family can be pretty packed!
10. November 2009 at 8:57 am
Hi Gori Girl
Thanks for the congratulations. Please go ahead and arrange your meet up to fit in with what everyone else can make. I’ll keep an eye on posts to see which date you eventually fix, and me & my husband will definitely try to make it.
5. November 2009 at 12:19 pm
DC is a leetle bit far for me. Boo. I hope you guys have lots of fun at your meetup!
5. November 2009 at 12:39 pm
My mother lives in VA about an hour south of DC so we are occasionally in the area. I don’t think P and I could make it in Dec… but perhaps at some point. It would be fun to meet up for tea sometime
Actually the AAGs (American Association of Geographers) meeting is in DC this… hmmm, mid April. But I think you guys are in India then?
5. November 2009 at 12:44 pm
We’re only in India for three weeks – mid-February to early March. Maybe we can schedule another meetup for mid-April…
5. November 2009 at 12:45 pm
We would love to come down (3 hr drive for us) and meet you guys. We get back from India the week before, so early December won’t be good for us. Next time perhaps? Great idea!
5. November 2009 at 12:51 pm
Would the week after be possible? It sounds like UK Gori could also make it then…
5. November 2009 at 12:58 pm
Would have loved to meet you guys, but the travel from India would be too complicated!
12. November 2009 at 3:33 pm
Perhaps we could meet you in India… you’re in Delhi, right?
5. November 2009 at 2:19 pm
Oh man! I wish I could go; that sounds like so much fun.
Ji’s family lives in MD, but we’re only around there 1x/year, usually summers. Perhaps you could consider a quarterly meetup?
12. November 2009 at 3:34 pm
Ha- sounds like a good idea. If this first one goes off well, a quarterly meet-up is certainly a possibility.
5. November 2009 at 3:21 pm
I’d have to miss a December meetup due to an India trip. Perhaps there could be another meetup in the spring?
Americanepali–AAG meeting! Nice to see a fellow geographer. So we have two votes for mid-April.
5. November 2009 at 5:39 pm
Well… I’m just an amateur geographer, but P is doing his phd in geography… so he is the one you should high five
I went to the AAGs in Boston two years ago, and DC is closer than Las Vegas (last year), so I’m up for a few days off from work in April!!
5. November 2009 at 4:19 pm
Woo! I’m in! Just hope I can convince the husband (he might think I’m a big dork).
5. November 2009 at 10:00 pm
Sigh… I live in Southern CA… and even though I only recently started posting, I’ve been reading for awhile and feel like I know you two
I am sure it will be awesome.
Oh, and as a result of your blog posting about that livemocha site, I have caused a large number of people to sign up (or at least swear up and down that they would). I told approximately 160 people about it (as a teacher that was all in a days work). A good number of my kids actually took out paper and wrote it down! A lot want to learn more than the standard French and Spanish we offer. So it is a really great resource. Thanks again!
12. November 2009 at 3:36 pm
That’s great to hear, Joy – it’s always awesome when kids are motivated to learn another language. (What do you teach?)
Aditya and I both have family in Northern CA, so perhaps we’ll see you out there at some point…
6. November 2009 at 1:14 pm
I’m in cali too, but do travel quite a bit. Can’t wait to see final date/locale/time…potentally there is option for west coast meet up too
12. November 2009 at 3:36 pm
Where are you in CA, Sanzi?
12. November 2009 at 9:45 pm
I’m in Santa Barbara
6. November 2009 at 4:33 pm
We’d be into it, but that date doesn’t work for us. I’ll let you know. We’re fine for April, too.
7. November 2009 at 1:01 pm
I have not posted much, but I have been following your blog for a while, and like it very much. My boyfriend and I would love to join the get together. Let me know if it is still on.
12. November 2009 at 3:37 pm
Yup, it’s still on. I’ll send out an email to everyone who expressed interest in a meetup this weekend to schedule something more definite.
9. November 2009 at 12:07 am
I’m sad to say that I’ll be in India at the time, but I’m looking forward to joining in on the next get-together.
12. November 2009 at 1:33 pm
I have been following your blog for quite some time now and left comments a couple of times here and there. I was secretly thrilled when you guys moved to the DC area:-) I’ll most probably be able to meet you in Dec., but with a 2-year old kid in tow, can’t tell for sure. I’ll keep following this to know what’s finally being arranged.
12. November 2009 at 3:38 pm
Sanju, I’m going to try to pick a place (probably a coffee shop) that is kid-friendly, and also good for people to wander in & out as their schedules permit…
18. November 2009 at 4:05 pm
I’ll be up for this if it is still on…
27. November 2009 at 8:43 pm
Still on – check out the latest post for details.
27. November 2009 at 9:55 pm
Congrats on the blog success! We’ve really all come a long way… you, CaliforniaTransplant, D, myself and others…
I’m around Arlington and have free time tomorrow!! I’ll message you & Aditya tomorrow!! Would be fun to meet in person!!