A Non-Native English Speaker Jobseeker

You will come from an agency-background, or have worked in a consultancy capacity, therefore used to working on more than one brand/project at a time - Check
You will be at Senior Account Manager level, able to work autonomously and with the gravitas to instil confidence in the clients you work with - Check
You will have a well-stocked portfolio of written pieces, able to send samples of your work, and be genuinely passionate about writing - Check
Unfortunately only native English speakers will be considered for this role, given the amount of English writing that is involved - a) You are kidding me! b) I want to respond to this. Actually no, I want to react to this and I did. 

Dear Concerned at xxx xxx xxxx xxxx Agency,

My name is Ancy Alexander and I am a communications professional with over nine years of experience in Dubai.

This is not an application for the PR Manager role advertised on xxx xxx jobs board, but I am forced to express my concern about the tone of disdain in the sentence 'Unfortunately only native English speakers will be considered for this role, given the amount of English writing that is involved.'

It is understandable that the agency specifically requires a native English speaker; however, this sentence implies that a non-native English speaker lacks the aptitude to handle the English language. This is either a severe developed world ignorance or arrogance both ill befitting the multi-cultural pulse of Dubai or any other cosmopolitan city in today's world.

The agency had the option of indicating that only native English speakers will be considered for this role. Assuming that other nationalities do not know how to write or speak as well as a native-English speaker is quite distasteful especially in the 21^st century.

This letter might not be a professionally genius step for my career here, but as an expat born and raised in Dubai embracing cultures and people from around the world this job post was not the most pleasant read. English has travelled and is used extensively as well as efficiently way beyond the land of native-English speakers.

Wish you a pleasant day and weekend ahead.

Regards,

Ancy Alexander

Is that you?

Is it your voice that I heard?

a baritone that kissed my soul

Was that a wave of your cologne?

scintillating tug as I breathed in 

Did I catch a glimpse of your smile?

a wonderful curve that tickled my pulse 

Was that you in pale blue and jeans? 

locking my world as you brisked past

Did I see you hold the door?
stirring a whirlwind with that act
Was that the sound of your laughter?
causing the heart to beat faster
Was that your shadow that passed?
even silhouette as glorious as the morning sun
Are you too thinking of me?
what else would thus kindle the core of my being!

Romancing a dilemma

wish I could run into your arms, not scarred by your philandering 

but should I be longing for this? 

wish I could be intoxicated at your lips, not caring about imperfections

but should I ignore your vices? 

wish I could demand comfort on your chest, with no worry of confusions

but should I be blind to your indifference?

wish I could melt in your love, with no ache about repercussion

but should I hold on to those few moments of lies? 

wish there was a better version of you, for me to celebrate 

but, I fear that is more than a fair prayer...

To: you From: me Subject: us

I am a part of you, but it is the hardest truth that I deal with
There is more than just acceptance of your existence
but love I am unable to find
I see the reasons for your heart aches
Know of your anguish struggling through a dreary childhood
but cope with the result which is YOU, I am unable to do
Your ways, words, gestures, thoughts ignite such fury!
At times there is sympathy for you
Then unavoidable proximity hurts my skin
I know I am yours, but every cell in my being resists it
Occasionally the heart and mind wants normal for us
but what is normal?
Ridiculous that I find it in our incoherent, loud verbal feuds
I wish you could undo a few things
Walk into the past, erase those moments
How I wish I could forget and maybe, just maybe even forgive!
but the scars from our past, Ahh! such painful open wounds
I know your wounds too, perhaps like no one else does
but you found ways to heal that pushed me further away
At times I feel your regret in loosing what we could have been
My inability to just speak to you shocks me
I wish we could share space without feeling such strain
but the hurt, fear, anger from our shaky past cripples my intention
We could have been different with each other, maybe even friends
but we are not, can't or won't...I don't know anymore
Someday we might be content with each other, even have some wine together
And maybe never!

Blog post for Fifth Ring

http://blog.fifthring.com/what-im-looking-forward-to-in-2014/

Thumri – curtain raiser for Art Nights by Pali Chandra

I am a biased Kathak audience and with justifiable reason for being so, the reason is Pali Chandra. She is my guru, mentor, friend, mother and above all an exemplary dancer and choreographer. This is by no means a first time description about this individual, just that some people like her can never be described enough.
 Going back to what makes me, at the risk of sounding arrogant, say that I am a biased Kathak audience. On Friday, 21^st of June Art Night was premiered at the Gurukul studio in Dubai. Art Nights is a series of lecture cum demonstration sessions by Pali Chandra where she presents the genetics of an aspect of Kathak to art lovers in a close-knit setting.
 Personally the lead up to this much awaited evening was more sweat inspiring and stomach churning than exciting since in an almost usual fashion the evening’s director Shruthi Rameshan, her creative crew and ushers like me were ordered by Pali Chandra to turn up looking nothing less than dames from a marriage celebration song in a Karan Johar movie. The evening was about Pali Chandra presenting Thumri and she effortlessly infused a bunch of girls, especially me, who had to practice sitting and getting up in a sari 10 times and try to loose at least 5 kgs of prosperity accumulated at the waist area before being able to perform a piece as a part of the evening’s demonstration.
 Moving on…as her student I am all ears when she explains the origin of an element of Kathak and its renaissance. As an aching-to-be dancer my eyes compete with the Ganges every time I see her teach or present an abhinaya (expression based) piece. Attending a lecture and demonstration on Thumri meant a marriage of both these effects on the audience and this is no surprise when in the presence of the recipient of the prestigious Lachhu Maharaj award for mastery of abhinaya.
 Starting with a brief introduction about Thumri, which arose in popularity during the 19^th century in the Lucknow court of Wajid Ali Shah, and its journey through different eras Pali Chandra unfolded a mystic evening demonstrating the eight nayikas (heroines) through a medley. Accompanying her with the vocal and weaving a durbar like ambience was Mohd Mehboob Ali.
 The audience was engulfed in a wave of soft smiles, glistening eyes and prickled skin as she presented each nayika dressing up for her lover, quarreling with him, distressed by her love, enraged with him, deceived by him and anxious and excited about going to meet her love.
 Submission was the only option available that evening as Pali Chandra expressed and explained each emotion effortlessly. Everyone present in the studio was basking in the beauty, warmth and creative intelligence of this artist during the evening and the unanimous vote is WE WANT MORE!

Sunethri

My two weeks stay at Sunethri Ayurvedashram & Research centre had only one agenda, any physical improvement or conditioning to be able to dance better. My soul's biggest ache is not being able to reciprocate with my body what I seem to be able to do in my head during Kathak training sessions and dance rehearsals.

The immense support that I get from my guru Pali Chandra, friends and the audiences that I have performed in front of till date has been my biggest encouragement. However, I must confess that I am quite mercilessly critical about myself when it comes to dance. The struggles of the dancer locked in my body can perhaps be a different post.

Mum's agenda was straightforward too, any improvement to get more points in the pitiful (according to me) Kerala marriage market.
 Anyways, I had reached Sunethri and it was supposed to be two weeks of treatment, plenty of reading time, me time, more importantly zero work time. By the time I left the Centre I had met so many people and made lovely friends from all age groups. My respect for Dr. Prasad and his wife Dr. Sheniya multiplied exponentially during my stay there. It is fantastic to observe how this couple operate as highly proficient doctors and wonderful people at the same time. 

Dr. Prasad and Dr. Sheniya also attract lovely people who make up the brilliant team at the Centre. The therapists are unfortunately missing from this picture. 

Please note: visiting staff - my baby Hannan (she only reports to Pages aka Dr. Tejas) and Vani akka (Colgate smile in white and red) who manages the entertainment division when she is at the Centre. 

Not to forget Dr. Shadia...

The time spent at Sunethri was a lot more than holistic health time and I can't think of words to describe how I have been touched and inspired by the people I met here. The simplicity of the easily-lovable people that I got to spend time with and the incredible emotional strength with which they handle their own or a loved one's health/mental condition is enviable. 

Missing here are pictures of Indira aunty, Pooja, Jessy and her kids. You all are missed and I can't wait to see everyone again.

Pali ji I would have never met these people if you wouldn't have twisted my arms to meet Dr. Prasad. Thank you is too small a word to express my gratitude for your presence in my life and everything that you think and do for me, but THANK YOU.

Immense gratitude to Dr. Prasad and Dr. Sheniya for connecting with the dancer in me and for making my treatment period seem like a family holiday.