We got the Wii!!!!!

We finally got the Wii. After tracking it for more than a few months, and calling stores the last few weeks, we finally saw the Best Buy ad at 11:00 am Sunday morning, and we were in Best Buy at 11:15am! We made it before the 11 Wiis were sold out.

My son was ecstatic. My sister and brother in law played with him for hours. My sister , who is really BAD at real bowling, beat everyone on Wii bowling! My son found that unfair :)

We play tennis the most.And luv Super Mario Galaxy. And now we rent other games from the video store... but its an interesting game, and I never thought I would enjoy it. The whole concept is new and engaging... waiting to see more games come out.

Harry Potter 7 release party

I never thought I would actually go. But my sister was in town, and my son is beginning to become a Harry fan. We had just seen Order of the Pheonix - so then, I decided to go see what would probably be the last time we would see such an event till an equally popular book came along.

We were lucky to find parking at Barnes and Noble. The crowd was unmistakable for 10:30pm. The costumes added to the atmosphere. As we entered we saw characters leap out of the book. The store had everything - Harry Potter tattoos, make your own magic potion, make your own wand, fluorescent round Harry Potter glasses and even a Magic Hat which chose your house. My son was so happy to be chosen for Harry's team - 'Griffindor'! My sis, her husband and me got placed in Slytherin :(

Well, to top it all we got a picture with a huge picture of Harry on the cover of the 'Deathly Hallows' book. We all wore our florescent glasses in the picture. All in all a fun event. As we left just before midnight, I was happy we had come. And my son knows exactly who he wants to be for Halloween this year - who else but Harry Potter!

New York!

Can there be anything as infectious as New York City? The energy, the lights...

In our first trip back after more than 6 years - it was a journey of nostalgia and of creating new memories meeting friends with their children, each one with their own unique personality. We talked for hours from where we had all left off on a long distance phone call; we saw their new houses and new perspectives. We had all grown older, and in some instances wider, with falling hair ... yet the visit was like a homecoming - and I luv to add - without the annoying relatives :)

It all started off with a delayed flight - then a dash for a connecting flight, which we missed even though it was still standing at the gate. This having happened the 2nd time with my son led him to conclude that "airports are places where you have to run alot". I was too tired to attempt to challenge that notion.

Then after a wonderful breakfast due to an upgrade to 1st class (owing to the missed flight), and a wonderful Manhattan view before landing we arrived in what is known as " East Village" at my Brother-in-law's (BIL) aptmnt, a day late. My son was totally unimpressed - "It smells in the hallway" he said as we walked into what must have been a studio converted into a single bedroom aptmnt. The kitchen was half a wall. Well, welcome to Manhattan living!

After he took us out to restaurant to have a 'real' masala dosa for lunch (welcome to Manhattan's authentic international cuisine!) we went home to rest for a while, and then planned a small outing to Times Square in the evening. A cry-athon ensued with my 7 year old refusing to rest, and crying because he was tired. Well... some great vacations begin on a damping note.

The hustle and bustle of the city cannot be missed. As we changed subway trains to get to Times square, my husband and I remembered the route we used to take when we worked there an eternity ago. The subway stations, maps...all seemed familiar, but we were out of practice.

When we reached Times square, I will not forget my son's absolute quietness. He didn't say anything - no 'wows', 'ooohs', 'aahs'. It took me a while to understand he was simply overwhelmed - by the crowds and lighting. We took pictures with a lady dressed up as the statue of liberty, walked into Toysrus (where he seemed to return to his normal self) bought a Star Wars action figure set - and then went home, stopping to pick up food. After a good nights sleep on a wonderful tempuropedic mattress, we were rejuvenated.

The next few days flew by. Meeting friends in Philly, New Jersey and Connecticut. Seeing the Franklin Science Museum in Philly, then the Statue of Liberty in NJ and climbing the Empire State Building. Watching the July 4th Fireworks, discovering a quiet Buddhist temple while walking through crowded China town, taking bus rides and subway rides around Central park and seeing dinosaurs at the Museum of Natural History. My son would sometimes be confused about where we were spending the night - almost every night was at a different friend's house. He would discretely ask me sometimes - "Are we staying here tonight? Should I take my shoes off?" That was funny. On Oak Tree road (in New Jersey) in an Indian 'chat' place when he asked for water and we got him a glass full he reminded us - "But I can't drink tap water here - remember?" - he ACTUALLY thought we were in India!

It was the ideal kid's tour of NYC - and we luved it. Four of us even took the double decker tourist bus for a while. In 2 days we were riding the subway like experts - with my son jumping on and off pretending this was an adventure. He loved New York, and was willing to move to a "bigger place than Chachu's place" with all his stuff :)

On the last day, we visited a friend in the neighborhood we used to live in, and took a relaxing walked along the Hudson river with a view of Manhattan. The view was still striking, yet I missed the Twin Towers. I remember seeing them every day as I walked out of the Path Station, and I knew I was close to home.

It was finally time to go. Sitting on the return flight, I felt a tinge of sadness - it had been a wonderful week back in my favorite city in the world - and it was over.

Of fences and neighbors...

So after discussions with my back-door neighbor we finally decided to build a fence which would enclose both backyards for the kids to play in.

But it wasn't so simple.....

We had to talk to our next door neighbor. We would be sharing the fence with them. Being a retired old couple, they were mostly at home. The lady had saved a special large Hershy's chocolate bar for my son on Halloween - so we weren't expecting any problems. However we were surprised by what looked like their fear of our neighborhood and even US!
"Do you know who throws cigarette buts in our front lawn?"
"Did you know that there is a person with a police record who lives down this lane?"
We politely brushed aside those fears saying that on windy days trash sometimes flies around, and that we didn't smoke.
Then finally....."Why do you have 2 dish antennae with so many wires? Does your job involve communication? "
My husband controlled his surprise, did we look like part of some terror ring? We're not even of the right religion or country. So he replied, "One antenna is for domestic American channels, and the other for International Indian channels. They are both from Dishnetwork"
"Ohhhhhh" they sounded relieved.

Well, they had been informed, and fence construction started.
Then the contractor told us he would have to install it 6 inches inside our property just to avoid any issues.
We decided to again talk to the same neighbor - the old man was outside lawn mowing anyway.
" You see, I'm from Ohio. There we have laws. I don't know what it is here"
"There is no such law in Kansas, why should our backyard be 6 inches smaller?"
"Well, Ok..."
"After you are done we'll get a gate made too."
"Then why don't you share the cost of this one side? We don't want to impose, but..... would you be willing to?"
"Hmmmm..... let me get back to you on that. And please make sure the fence faces the right side."

While we talked to him, we also checked our sprinkler system to make sure they don't come under the fence.
So he asked the postman if it was common to share the cost of a fence. Luckily our postman said yes!
So we got the fence installed on the boundary line. And they agreed to share the cost.

But it wasn't over yet. That evening, we came back from work, and along with our back-door neighbors were admiring the new fence and our big backyard - when suddenly our next door neighbor decided it was time to check his sprinklers.......uh oh!
3 of his sprinkler heads were under the fence! We all watched while he shut them down, and his wife sat very sadly by her kitchen window staring at the fence. He came to us saying we should talk to his sprinkler company. My husband said we would talk to our plumber not their sprinkler company. It was actually funny - he was so concerned about which side the fence would be facing, that he forgot to test his own sprinklers, even though he was there all day with the contractors! And now he wanted to pin this on us?

Sigh! We wondered whether the problem was an easy fix, and if the cost would be reasonable. We couldn't ask them for their share till this was cleared up.
Well, the problem was eventually fixed. The lady called the fence company and asked them to clear up the situation with the sprinkler company. I think its done now. And so now we have to go see if they are still willing to share the cost of the fence ;)

Tae Kwon Do...

I will have to mention my Tae Kwon Do classes. I finally joined. My son was really amused to see me in the white uniform. And the first time I was asked to 'ki hap' or yell I did so very softly. It reminded me of the scene in 'Lakshya' where Hrithik Roshan had to scream 'dhaava' during a military training exercise. While he was punished for hesitating to scream - my teacher just smiled and told me - "this is the only place you can scream as much as you want - so let it out". It took me a few days... and now I scream pretty well :)

Tae Kwon Do was so difficult the first day - she made us do push ups during warm up exercises. I couldn't do a single one. But I tried my best...and later when I reached home my arms ached so badly - I didn't want to pick anything up all evening. My family had a good time laughing at me.

Then came the different kicks - I never knew it required so much balance. We are 3 moms in the class - with all our kids already at a higher belt level. All of us were falling over, and sweating in the first 15 minutes :) And its a great support group - we all encourage each other to keep going. Imagine being the only adult learning with a bunch of kids!

My husband and son had to test for orange belt - the 3rd level. For that they had to break a board with a front snap kick. It was easy for the father, but not for the son. He tried, and was nearly in tears when he couldn't. Another kid cried too - and he was a year older. Our instructor gave them the weekend to think it over, and come back to try again. She kept stating - it was not strength but technique which was required. When they both came back Monday determined to do their best it was amazing to see them both break their boards. We captured it on tape...and we watch it again and again. It is wonderful to watch the boost in confidence which the kids gain, and it makes me wish that I had these activities as a kid too. Maybe I would have turned out more confident and just maybe would have reacted differently to certain circumstances in my past. Oh well...just a thought.

A good start to summer...birthday party!

So the summer is here again. School closed, and my son turned 7 the first week of June. We had a nice small party at home, which was coincidentally attended by 7 kids. We started the day with 'Happy birthday hugs' and his gift - the 'Mariocarts' game for his Nintendo DS handheld videogame and an 'Avatar - the last Airbender' action figure - from the cartoon show we all love to watch together. Then we made one of our few annual visits to the temple, where we had to wait and watch the priest clean up...sigh... Apparently, he didn't expect anybody at that time. Then afterwards we went to pick up the Harry Potter cake - which was not ready :) So my husband had to make another trip just 20 minutes before the party. (What is a birthday party without some last minute hiccups.)

Well, eventually the party went on well. We had a Pinnata - which was broken with a baseball bat by one of the only 2 girls at the party :) . Then we had 'pin the tail on the donkey' [ i kept referring to it as 'pin the donkey' till my friend told me that she was sure she didn't want to 'pin' any donkeys!].

The kids were all very well behaved. I was impressed. It was a good mix - we are Indian, we had kids who's parents were Algerians and one from Pakistan, other than Americans. This might be common for people living on the coastline - so I get happy with a little diversity which I get to see. (It just reassures me that I'm not strange for having moved half way around the world, since where I live, immigrants are few).

The goody bags had water guns and small kaleidoscopes in them - and we had to write names on them after everyone filled them with candy from the pinnata. After blowing out the candles on the cake - 2 times :) - and eating it with ice cream, everyone played in the back yard.

I got to know some neighbors better as they dropped and picked up their kids. All in all a very satisfying afternoon for all of us.

Things kids say...

After hearing 'I want a baby brother' for the umpteenth time, in exasperation one day, I told my 6 yr old that I tried to have a baby ever since he turned 4 - but it just didn't happen. The discussion ended - he seemed to realize it was not totally mommy's fault.
Recently, one of my neighbors had a baby. When her daughter asked my son if he had a younger brother or sister, he replied - "No, my mom tried when I was 4!"
My neighbor couldn't stop laughing

Another birthday...

One more birthday draws near - and I approach the exact middle of my 30s - 35.
When I was 10 - 30 was a long way away - only really old people were over 30. Amazingly this perception remained constant till I was even in my mid-late 20s. Maybe its just an Indian thing - we assume life after 30 is boring, and actually devoid of any fun completely. My younger siblings look at me as if I'm old fashioned and have started clubbing me with my parents. Its amusing - nice not to be clubbed with the immature activities of 20 somethings.

At 25 I thought I had reached the epitome of adult hood. I was smart enough ( so I thought ) to make any kind of decision independently. Part of me felt this way, since I was working, and had job responsibilities. New confidence at the workplace spills over in life too - of course thats the honeymoon period of your career - everyone in your batch starting out together, at the same position. Everything is nice - not much politics at the workplace, no exams and more money than we ever handled before. Its all just one big party.

And now today - I look back and I think life begins only in your 30s. I was married, with a kid - and juggling life - REAL life. Many of the idiocies one thinks are ok, suddenly come into perspective after your child is born. The 30s is when we finally start to contribute to our workplace - bring in changes and are in control. We have the maturity since we have seen disappointments at work and in life and worked hard to move on. And for most of use who are married - we are not obsessed with marriage, peer pressure and crazy ideas based on pop culture. If you ask me - the voting age should be raised to 30!

I am now doing things which I always wanted to, but never did. I got my Masters degree, learnt swimming & yoga(even pilates), took long drives and traveled, even learnt how to play the piano (just the basics - but still worth a mention), bought a new house, learnt better cooking, realized the importance of human history and read alot more - the list is endless. Next week I'm starting Tae Kwon Do, at my son's academy. And romance doesn't disappear... ;)
I still am amazed at the pop culture in which we grow up thinking life ends at 30.

To sum it up - My teenage was boring and overburdened by exams, my 20s was embarrassing - my 30s have actually turned out to be satisfying!

India Week!

Ever since I remember them, I have had a bad time with pimples on or around my nose. In high school I would pinch them, hoping they would go away sooner. My friends would tease me that I look funny - always with a mark on my nose, but once you get into popping pimples, its difficult to stop.

Well, that was 18 years ago. But just last week, I got a pimple (after a longtime) right in the center of my eye brows. So this time I tried to be patient :)....but only for a few days. Finally on a Monday morning I pinched it! It looked like a disaster area. As a cover up plan, I decided to celebrate my heritage. I have NEVER worn a bindi to work in Kansas - where I am the only Indian on staff in my department. But last week I did. I wore short kurtas on pants and a bindi every day for the whole week. I named it India week, and lady co-workers were really encouraging :)

Last year I brought out my glass bangles and wore them to work - 2 or 4 at a time. Even my colorful toe rings come out every summer.....now if only I could wear a saree for casual Fridays - wouldn't that be wonderful :)

The great cultural divide

Going to India for vacations is more than just a vacation. Its an experience. I remember how I felt when I came back last year after spending nearly a month there...I felt miserable. I wrote this huge e-mail to all my friends when I came back - wondering why we felt so homesick in America. We all like our jobs, luv the higher education system here (which allowed us to pursue the degree of our choice, unlike the degree which the system chooses for you in India) - yet we all still miss the infectious atmosphere back home.

I came across an article in the NY times, and thought this explained my plight very well. Its about 4 couples in NYC who moved to the suburbs after they had children - found it extremely lonely and then moved back to NYC - an exception among cities in the US, since it forces social interaction through its public transport system. You only need to read the first page to get the idea. And swap a middle class Indian neighborhood for NYC.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/08/realestate/08cov.html

Its basically the social life which hits us hard - its too lonely here. In India everyone in the neighborhood is outside their house between 5:00 and 7:00 pm. Kids playing outside, adults chitchatting and walking around casually. Everyone relaxing from a hard days work. Everyone stopping to say hi.... its a contrast from the lonely streets here after 5:00. I live in the midwest - in my neighborhood there is a nice little park, but I have hardly seen any kids playing there. And the few who do, are supervised, and when I approach them with my son, their mother/guardian never encourages them to play together with other kids or even ask each others name! The mother never asks me who I am and where I live either.

Why? Is the average American antisocial? Is their a paranoia of some kind? I don't know my neighbors - have NEVER been to their house. We just wave at each other through car windows. There is no or very little neighborhood intermingling. Is it a surprise then that Americans have an increasing rate of depression? I talk to colleagues who reminisce the days they walked to school....but nobody does now. They blame the media for going into panic mode and blowing up all the crime statistics and as a result scaring people. Some conservative ones agree that they socialize only within their church. So do I have to convert to make friends in the US?

If we all were able to socialize more casually within our neighborhoods - and make new friends, wouldn't we all feel more a part of this society - and look forward to meeting our neighbors/friends when we came back from vacation? I have nobody in my neighborhood whom I can share my vacation pictures with...isn't that pathetic! Nobody whom I can relax with. Then why blame anyone when entire families move to the same street.

A house in Suburbia - with no company - and coming back from India - the
loneliness and the cleaning and the household chores pinch even more. In India the milkman wakes you up - and the maid is there at 6:30 am - you make your first cup of tea, and the house is already abuzz - the world is a part of your life. Here you wake up - and start things all alone in silence.

Here, if my son rides a bike - he's the only kid doing so on the desolate street. I have to supervise the entire time....its just too deserted to leave him out by himself. In India , he would run around the lanes, with all the other boys his age - and he was able to assert and experience more independence than he ever had here - and all this without me spending time, effort and money for play dates! In the meantime, I could cook, catch up with friends.... not just sit their bored watching him cycle up and down - it doesn't relax me, rather it builds up tension of not getting dinner ready in time - its more like the stress never gets a release. In India, everyone watches everyone else's kids. I found couples enjoyed more time together - not just entertaining their kids, who didn't have any friends to play with after school. Isn't that what a neighborhood should be?

The great American suburban life is merely a huge lonely journey...where everybody has to do everything alone. Socializing needs real effort, and sometimes, the work involved is more discouraging. I sincerely believe, that I can be robbed in front of my own house, and no one in my neighborhood would know till they saw it in the evening news. It sounds depressing I know - but one day, my son rode the bus home from school by mistake, and I went to pick him up at school. It took me 20 extra minutes getting home...I found him crying in front of our house. Nobody heard him - everyone was inside their airconditioned houses with all their doors and windows closed shut.

This would never have happened in India.

Memories of my childhood

This last month my 6 yr old son and I went to India for my sister's wedding. It was an interesting trip, meeting extended family and observing my son interacting with everyone around. His observations and questions reminded me of when I went back to India at the age of 8.

I never delved into it much in the past, but I vividly remember the day we landed at Delhi International Airport. Our relatives had come to meet us at the airport....people I had seen in pictures, came to life. It was thrilling. I found the airport dirty, and as my parent's cried and met their family after so many years, I stood quietly watching. As we went outside to get a taxi home, i found the streets dirty too. My aunt's and Uncle's gave me chocolate candy bars...I held them, but didn't eat them. I wasn't feeling like it - and it wasn't even a familiar wrapper. I held them most of the way to Meerut, taking a bite only when asked to.

We made a stop at my maternal grandparent's home for a while, and I liked it. They had a huge painting of Shiv-Parvati painted by Mom's sister in the living room. The house was brightly lit up. I met my mother's parents for the first time - since I could remember. Then we went to my paternal Grandparent's home . I remember it room by room. I remember seeing my mother wearing a saree, and then covering her head as we entered - for the first time. I had seen her wear saree before - but never cover her head. As I watched her touch the feet of all the elder women on my father's side, she looked different, and I was just quiet - waiting for her to just be done. The surroundings were alien...and I was confused. The house was not as well lit up or decorated. There was no dining table - it was just old fashioned. I met my Dad's parents for the first time too. But my cousins were the only familiar people there - since they had sent their pictures to us.

As days passed by, I remember asking my Mom question before I went to sleep everyday, as to why we were there, and why she had to do things differently. In that old house, the kitchen was a 'sitting' one. She cooked on coal - even for 1981 it was a really old way to do things. I remember her legs would hurt squatting down all day. In all that time I never saw her complain. She always told me that her legs would finally get used to it. "Our body adjusts to new circumstances" - she would remind me. My Dad had left to join his new job in Trivandrum. It was far away. So it was only Mummy, my sister and me with my grandparents for the first few months.

Then one day, my sister got an ant in her eye! She cried and cried, and finally we had to go to the doctor to take it out. Even I tried to help her, but couldn't. Then another day I left the gate open and she walked out.....all the way to the main road - the neighborhood kids saw her and brought her home when my Uncle went to look for her.

So, I didn't really like India at first - maybe culture shock of going to a small old fashioned city after staying in the US and UK. It was too dirty. The house - especially the Indian bathrooms - were terrible. When I complained, Mummy would just tell me that different places had different ways of living, and we had to live there now. I would be told that I had to see the good side - I was meeting my cousins, and my aunts and uncles, grandparents - everyone loved me so much. That did make me happy. Though I didn't like the place - emotionally I was always sure that everything was fine - I never felt that anything was wrong. I wonder how I would have felt had she been a complaining personality. Aren't we all just as happy as our mother is when we are little?

I look back and feel those first few months set me up in a very different way. My sister was too young to understand, or even remember. I went to school there, and went from being in a classroom of 20 - to a classroom of 60. I was so lost and maybe un-confident/shy in my new environment, that even when a few of my books fell out of my bag on my way to school in a cycle rickshaw - I didn't tell anyone. I was just quiet - wondering how I would tell mummy that she had to buy new books for me. Luckily for me, someone else saw them fall, and told my driver to stop and pick them up!

I think it was from her that I learnt that I had to 'adjust' to new situations in life - to new places and people. We had to respect traditions and blend in with our surroundings. Whenever I complained about anyone we knew or their family, she always analyzed how their experiences must have led them to behave that way. Being a Sociology major in college, she gave me an interesting sociological aspect to every human behavior I talked about. Complaining just wasn't worthwhile - we were all different, and had to understand that it was ok. In the larger world picture, we were just a fragment of a society which was constantly evolving over thousands of years.

Today I do realize that her attitude strongly influenced me at that young age of 8. In such a radically new environment, I was always given positive reinforcements. Till today whenever anyone around me refuses to adjust to any given situation - I remember my mother coming back to India after 7 years, and re-adjusting to life again, in an old fashioned neighborhood, with 2 kids. That image always grounds me.

Wonderful solution to upgrading flash memory...

I wish I had thought of this - i was impressed by the Infinite memory gizmo featured at :

www.yankodesign.com/product_info.php?products_id=1521

I am a follower of the technology gadget news, and luv new updates coming out everyday. I don't have a 1 Gb flash drive, which most people do - simply because I don't want to upgrade. I try to save information online - or on DVDs and CDs. I do not prefer to use and throw CDs if I can transfer large files using other techniques - like pando.com. I even wash and re-use plastic spoons. When I got a new cell phone this December, I was concerned about just throwing the old one away. My old computer mother board just died a few months ago too - and I realised that I need to start considering what I do with the parts. After alot of research i realised that effective electronic recycle is still a long long way off(living in Kansas doesn't help either).

Its always fun to get new stuff ( I bought myself a new delightful Apple iMac) - but what do we do with the old stuff? I sincerely recycle. I hate clutter and am not am not an impulsive buyer. So innovations like these are really thoughtful - and I believe every small step helps.

Another website where I go to often -
www.treehugger.com

This weeks business week also has a main article on how more and more residences and companies are going green. The use of Solar, wind and even ground heat (which I don't know much about) is better available, and hopefully will gain popularity.

My failed attempt for NPR's 'this i believe'

I believe inspiration comes from a sense of wonder and mystery - the feeling we experience when we look at the stars at night, listen to a melody and even watch human achievement be it in a sports event or a skyscraper skyline. It is a spiritual feeling – uplifting, inspiring – and many times, the beginning of curiosity and imagination. But along with the mysticism, I believe in rationality. I believe that true wisdom and progress does not come through blind belief in what we have been told – but through rational inquiry and analysis. As much as we need inspiration to unlock the secrets of the mysteries of our universe, we also need our sense of reason. Therefore, I believe in education.

As a 5 year old, I remember watching Star Trek with my dad. I loved to watch the opening credits – and listen to the voice say “…to go where no man has gone before”. Those words were always stuck in my mind as I looked up at the night sky. I dreamt of being an expert on that starship – discovering the unknown. My parents encouraged me to dream and told me one little secret behind success - I had to first be a good student and learn. Without learning the fundamentals, how could I be a scientist exploring the galaxies? It was very early in life, but I understood an important concept - to value education.

Education gives us the framework for systematic study of past and present knowledge. It enlightens and empowers. It uplifts, and humbles. Once gained, it cannot be taken away. It can show you the harmony in mathematics and the science in music. It is about the opening up of the mind. And that is not all - on a social level, education brings awareness. Awareness makes us question old beliefs, and form new ones. It gives us confidence to stand up and ask for change – even create change. Awareness instills respect for other opinions and brings conviction to our own. If we are curious enough to ask the simple question ‘why?’ and learn to look for answers, we are educating ourselves - a little bit at a time.

Today’s globalized world requires us to be more educated about each other. We have to seek out similarities and respect differences. I have been disappointed by ignorance. At times it is blatantly offensive – it seems to make people more judgmental and condescending not only of the achievements of their peers, but also of history. Their life has no place for curiosity. How can one be inspired if the mind is closed?

The ancients said that knowledge was the way to the ultimate truth. They even conceptualized it as a Goddess (of Education), revered from India all the way to Japan. As each generation stands on the shoulders of their forefathers to explore deeper, they champion the human spirit and its quest for ultimate truth. We all outgrow childhood dreams, but if we try to just understand and delve deep into any small interest or passion, we can lead an inspired life. In this I believe.

Beliefs ...

I have pasted the beginning of the Rig Veda....also the lyrics for the opening of Bharat ek khoj...
I have not included an english translation - its easily available online. Since the Vedas do not claim to be 'absolute', Indian thought developed greatly over thousands of years. Science and religion is not really seperate in India - both evolve, both can be questioned and debated. Salman Rushdie said on Bill Moyers TV program - India is where God lives with his people, he is not seperate, living above in the sky somewhere, passing judgement. ( this is not an exact quote - but what i remember of it)

But I have to say I have become an agnostic with increased buddhist maybe atheistic leanings - maybe time will tell. Basically I do not believe that I am special or unique enough that a Universal creator will be concerned with my daily trials and tribulations. Or for that matter - anyones. The belief has become so deeprooted that even when I am frustrated I do not blame anyone - and just see this whole universe as a cosmic set of events. The genocide in Sudan doesn't make me blame anyone but ourself, history seems to be witness to many large violent episodes...and no God came to help stop them. I am actually calmer now than I ever was in my life - since I would always wonder and waite for when God would step in to help. This combined with astrology made me a 'waiter' not a 'do er'. Now the 'karma' philosophy of Gita is more relevant to me. Whether Krishna was God or not, is not something I dwell on. An Avatar for me now brings more meaning to life - he revolutionised thinking in his own way - I have tremendous respect for that and think it is something to learn more about.
If someone did create this universe - they are far more intelligent than what I can comprehend - and i am fine not knowing. I also admire and get moved by the greatness of the Vedas and creativity of nature - so maybe I just believe in nature...and this satisfies me .
With my son I re-emphasise that a creator 'God' probably did set the Universe in motion. Thats it. Prayer makes our mind stronger - so it is a good thing to do....but we do not get specific favors in return. Our Karma makes our future - and the karma of the whole world will ultimately decide the future of humanity. The Padmanabhaswamy temple is unique - with Universe depicted as Vishnu's dream. I believe in lucky and not lucky circumstances and opportunities - but not in divine coincidence - which I club with superstitions. I teach my son about the concept of re-incarnation - to stop his worrying thoughts on death and heaven and hell. It is a beautiful thought - that nothing in this universe really dies. In the 'Lion King' the father tells the son about the 'circle of life' - how animals die and become nourishment for plants. And the plants are then a source of food for a new generation of animals. Interestingly my son thought that it meant we were reborn as plants and animals alternately
In the book the 'Mountains of Tibet' - a dead woodcutter chooses his next life - from where he will be born to what he will be reborn as. And his luv to fly kites stays on in his next birth. Its a very sweet kids book.
Science vs religion in the US - is more about the organized faiths - and books which claim to be ABSOLUTE truths and therefore time has become stagnant for them. Progress itself is sinful.
As for eastern thought - the Dali Lama recently said that if science proved an ancient teaching to be wrong, the teaching should be revised as per new scientific knowledge. The debate should logically end there.

The beginning of the Rig Veda...

Srushtee se pehle sat nahin thaa, asat bhi nahin

Antariksh bhi nahin, aakaash bhin nahin thaa

chhipaa thaa kyaa kahaan, kisne dekhaa thaa

us pal to agam, atal jal bhi kahaan thaa

Shrushtee kaa kaun hain kartaa

Kartaa hain yeh vaa akartaa

Oonche aasmaan mein rahtaa

Sadaaa adhyaksh banaa rahtaa

Wohin sach much mein jaantaa..Yaa nahin bhi jaanataa

Hain kisi ko nahin pataa

Nahin pataa

Nahin hai pataa, nahin hai pataa

Lyrics for the Ending Titles of Bharat Ek Khoj

Voh tha hiranya garbh srishti se pehle vidyamaan

Vohi to saare bhoot jaat ka swami mahaan

jo hai astitvamaana dharti aasmaan dhaaran kar

Aise kis devta ki upasana kare hum avi dekar

Jis ke bal par tejomay hai ambar

Prithvi hari bhari sthapit sthir

Swarg aour sooraj bhi sthir

Aise kis devta ki upasana kare hum avi dekar

Garbh mein apne agni dhaaran kar paida
kar

Vyapa tha jal idhar udhar neeche upar

Jagaa chuke vo ka ekameva pran bankar

Aise kis devta ki upasana kare hum avi dekar

Om ! Srishti nirmata swarg rachayta purvaj rakhsa kar

Satya dharma palak atul jal niyamak raksha
kar

Phaili hain dishayen bahu jaisi uski sab mein sab par

Aisi hi devta ki upasana kare hum avi dekar

Aisi hi devta ki upasana kare hum avi dekar