Monday, September 19, 2005

Au re voir

I'm not good at goodbyes. I have a long history of this.

When we would go to India, my uncle Prabha would always say "I'll just go and come back" (in Malayalam.) It took me a long time before I ever actually asked where he was, since he'd said he'd be back. That's when my mom explained that you don't actually say you're leaving - you just say that you're going to go...and come back. Like most slightly inexplicable Malayalam things, I think it's a superstition. (And there are many superstitions about exits - my mother gets really upset if you come back in the house because you forgot something. She also gets mad if you leave shoes or a broom by the door.)

Leaving DC means leaving the life I've made there - the family, friends, classmates, etc. I kept meaning to have some kind of party or happy hour. As usual, life got in the way, but more than that, I realised I simply did not want to say goodbye. It's not that I didn't want to move, just that I wasn't up for the gut-wrenching repeated ad infinitum. So, I slipped out like a teen that's been grounded. I apologize, but it's what I had to do.

French is quite similar to Malayalam with regard to taking one's leave. Goodbyes are constructed as "à" (to or until) plus a time.
A bientôt - see you soon
A demain - until tomorrow

Au revoir - until I see you again.

13 comments:

suitablegirl said...

MMMMMMM!

;)

Anonymous said...

I was hoping that i'd be able to meet you in person b4 you leave this coast, but that's not what God intended! Hopefully we'll meet one day...
Untill then..
ummmmmmmmmmaaahh =)

Anonymous said...

Oooh... in Gujarati, the two ways we say goodbye is "Come on over" and "We'll meet." So, clearly, we're also not good with the parting.

I have a friend who, whenever she leaves/moves, will say to you, "Oh yes, I'll definitely see you once more before I go." This is a blatant lie, as she will leave the next day without telling anyone. I still lurve her though. :)

kob said...

Good luck in your travels. Enjoyed your blog. Regards

Anonymous said...

Wait a minute! I missed something. Where are you going? What will happen to your blog? Who will tell me interesting stories?
No seriously, I'm lost!

maisnon said...

My peoples, I'm not leaving the BLOGOSPHERE, just DC.

I'm in the Bay area now - so if you are too, holla at ya girl!

Anonymous said...

When I was leaving home in Dec, my mom wickedly twisted this hallowed ancient farewell from "pinnay kaanam" to "pennu kaanam". Yikes!

oodles said...

You finally made it! Welcome to the better coast. :)

Anonymous said...

now you just have to change your location in the profile :-)

nice blog :-)

Anonymous said...

Welcome to the Bay Area!

Anonymous said...

Ahhhhhhhhh.....I feel so much better knowing your still going to keep us enthralled. Welcome to the bay!

maisnon said...

Excellent point, rani - and since I just signed a lease this morning, I will change my profile now. :)

Anonymous said...

CONGRATULATIONS maisnon!!!!!!!

:)

:)