Seems like there is bad news everywhere these days. The only good piece of news that I have heard in the last month or so is that of the eight co-workers who won the $365 million powerball. Good for them. I feel happy for them, even though I wouldn't mind being the ninth member in the group :-)
But all the other stuff around us in the world seems not so good. There is the guy Entwistle who has allegedly killed his wife and nine month old baby, which if true is abominable. And then there is the U.S. VP shooting a co-hunter by mistake; come on, give me a break. And of course, there is the ongoing killing and rampage in Iraq, where they say a civil war could start anytime. Then there are the cartoon protests and killings, the DUI-ed coach who wouldn't resign, the doping athletes at the Torino Olympics, so on and so forth. For its part, in India, there is the omnipresent moral police who want to take us back to the 18th century. Then there is the big hoopla about an article on celebrity pets. And some serious issues such as killing infant girls and dowry related deaths.
I have had enough of the bad news, and so I don't even want to watch or read the news anymore. Sometimes, it can get hard to maintain a positive outlook when all one hears is bad things. What do I do then? I go deeper into my own little world where there are only good company, good coffee, good books (not magazines though) and good blogs. It helps to do things that don't involve lot of thinking - like walking the dog, watching sitcoms on TV, listening to music (sappy romantic songs would help a lot), and cooking some good spicy Indian food. These are the times when good friends and close family members seem invaluable.
In spite of all the bad news around us, we need to remember that life is good, as there are still small wonders all around us, if we take the time to pay attention. It is easy to get bogged down with work, everyday chores and the bad-news-hungry media. But then there is that occasional phone call or email from a long lost friend. There is the letter I can write to another long lost friend. There is the weekday get-together with friends like I had last night. There are those times when I laugh so hard (at something that is really not that funny) that I have tears in my eyes and my stomach hurts, but I can't stop.
So, life is good....still, in spite of everything. What good does it do us or others if we are miserable, in addition to all the bad stuff around?
On a different note, check out this very thought provoking post by Amit Varma, Do not draw my unicorn.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Sunday, February 19, 2006
But You Talk Like a Man
It happened again yesterday and so I want to vent here this time. I want to go on top of a building and shout that I am not a man. But that will only make it worse for me. Keep reading and you will understand what I am talking about.
I know that my voice is not as sweet as Norah Jones or S. Janaki or Lata Mangeshkar, but if it were, I would be a professional singer, right? But still, it is a little too much when people assume that I am a man (especially since I am not one), just because I sound like one on the phone. Yeah yeah, I realize it is not their fault for thinking that way, but look at it from my perspective. People in USA can't figure out from my name whether I am a man or woman. And my name is used for both men and women in India and so that doesn't help either.
This has been happening for quite sometime over the years now. The first few times, I made the effort to correct them, only to wonder who is the more embarrassed party - me or the person (I am not going to run the risk of assuming it is a man or woman) on the other end. And then, I stopped telling them, as long as it is an one time conversation and/or we won't be meeting face to face. A few times, even someone I know, would think it is my husband when I pick up the phone (oh boy!) and then I have to tell them it is me, which will be followed by profuse apologies. Most of the time I am able to laugh it off but there are a few instances like the one below that makes me mad.
I called my brokerage service one time to place an order (as their online service was not working that day) and the representative I talked to said that according to my account I am a female but that I don't sound like one. So he (yeah, I am pretty sure about it) thought that I was trying to impersonate (myself?) and would not let me place the order. Needless to say, I was upset about it and told him that it is not my fault that I sound like this and that he can ask me all the security questions they have. He asked me a few of those and I answered them correctly but still he said that once they get suspicious, they can't let any activity in the account till I fax them a copy of my driver's license. I was furious at this partly due to the confusion because of my voice and partly because I could not place the order (after all it is my money) and wanted to talk to his supervisor. The supervisor assured me that they take all these precautions for the safety of their custormers' money and tried to convince me that it is all for some good. Then I had no choice but to accept their decision and fax my driver's licence. But still the whole episode left a bad taste in my mouth (about my voice?!).
This happened again yesterday. I was talking to someone on the phone and they referred to me as a guy. At that point, I had to point out that I was not (only because I may meet them one day). And the response I got was, "but you talk like a man". I had no way of responding to that. But then, I got to thinking that we all tend to identify patterns in things and people as it makes it easy to comprehend and remember. Taking it too far makes us stereotype. Although I try not to stereotype, I still can't avoid it all the time.
So there is a pattern in people's minds about voices and since mine is not shrill enough, they think I am a man. Some other common assumptions are that a man should earn more than a woman and that a man should be older than a woman, in a relationship. When there is an aberration to the pattern, some of us can understand and accept it easily. Some of us can't understand it but will still accept it. Some diehards will have nothing to do with those people (these are the scary ones).
This takes me down memory lane to when I was growing up in India. I liked to sing along with the songs on the radio but was always told not to as it was not a womanly thing to do. Once I was even told that I needed to change the way I walk to look more feminine. Needless to say, I abided by those at that time (at least tried), as I did not know better or have the nerve to talk back. When I wanted to go to a different city to do my engineering degree, one of my relatives asked my parents why a girl needs an engineering degree. The other thing in India is it is ok for guys to smoke but not for girls (at least that is how it was when I was growing up). I think that smoking is harmful, period. But how is it that the society accepts men who smoke but not women? Based on these examples, do not think that I was oppressed in India. Regardless of what people will say, I still had the freedom to choose. The point I am trying to make is that the scales are not balanced right when it comes to women and men.
All I can say is that I am not assuming someone is a guy or a gal based on how they sound, after all this. Will you?
I know that my voice is not as sweet as Norah Jones or S. Janaki or Lata Mangeshkar, but if it were, I would be a professional singer, right? But still, it is a little too much when people assume that I am a man (especially since I am not one), just because I sound like one on the phone. Yeah yeah, I realize it is not their fault for thinking that way, but look at it from my perspective. People in USA can't figure out from my name whether I am a man or woman. And my name is used for both men and women in India and so that doesn't help either.
This has been happening for quite sometime over the years now. The first few times, I made the effort to correct them, only to wonder who is the more embarrassed party - me or the person (I am not going to run the risk of assuming it is a man or woman) on the other end. And then, I stopped telling them, as long as it is an one time conversation and/or we won't be meeting face to face. A few times, even someone I know, would think it is my husband when I pick up the phone (oh boy!) and then I have to tell them it is me, which will be followed by profuse apologies. Most of the time I am able to laugh it off but there are a few instances like the one below that makes me mad.
I called my brokerage service one time to place an order (as their online service was not working that day) and the representative I talked to said that according to my account I am a female but that I don't sound like one. So he (yeah, I am pretty sure about it) thought that I was trying to impersonate (myself?) and would not let me place the order. Needless to say, I was upset about it and told him that it is not my fault that I sound like this and that he can ask me all the security questions they have. He asked me a few of those and I answered them correctly but still he said that once they get suspicious, they can't let any activity in the account till I fax them a copy of my driver's license. I was furious at this partly due to the confusion because of my voice and partly because I could not place the order (after all it is my money) and wanted to talk to his supervisor. The supervisor assured me that they take all these precautions for the safety of their custormers' money and tried to convince me that it is all for some good. Then I had no choice but to accept their decision and fax my driver's licence. But still the whole episode left a bad taste in my mouth (about my voice?!).
This happened again yesterday. I was talking to someone on the phone and they referred to me as a guy. At that point, I had to point out that I was not (only because I may meet them one day). And the response I got was, "but you talk like a man". I had no way of responding to that. But then, I got to thinking that we all tend to identify patterns in things and people as it makes it easy to comprehend and remember. Taking it too far makes us stereotype. Although I try not to stereotype, I still can't avoid it all the time.
So there is a pattern in people's minds about voices and since mine is not shrill enough, they think I am a man. Some other common assumptions are that a man should earn more than a woman and that a man should be older than a woman, in a relationship. When there is an aberration to the pattern, some of us can understand and accept it easily. Some of us can't understand it but will still accept it. Some diehards will have nothing to do with those people (these are the scary ones).
This takes me down memory lane to when I was growing up in India. I liked to sing along with the songs on the radio but was always told not to as it was not a womanly thing to do. Once I was even told that I needed to change the way I walk to look more feminine. Needless to say, I abided by those at that time (at least tried), as I did not know better or have the nerve to talk back. When I wanted to go to a different city to do my engineering degree, one of my relatives asked my parents why a girl needs an engineering degree. The other thing in India is it is ok for guys to smoke but not for girls (at least that is how it was when I was growing up). I think that smoking is harmful, period. But how is it that the society accepts men who smoke but not women? Based on these examples, do not think that I was oppressed in India. Regardless of what people will say, I still had the freedom to choose. The point I am trying to make is that the scales are not balanced right when it comes to women and men.
All I can say is that I am not assuming someone is a guy or a gal based on how they sound, after all this. Will you?
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Homebrew
It all started when I visited Portland, Oregon during 2004 Labor Day Weekend. Well, you could say that it all started when I had my first beer (which was when, I don't remember). But regardless of when it started, I am a homebrewer now.
I had started to develop a taste for beer (yes, it is an acquired taste) some years ago and have been toying with the idea of making some. I have heard that Full Sail is an employee owned brewery and liked their beer and so included a visit to Full Sail Brewing Company during the Portland trip. Full Sail is in a place called Hood River and there is a strategically located homebrew store right next door to the brewery. The atmosphere was cheerful inside the brewery as they had a pub (have you noticed how people get happy (or peaceful) after a few beers?). Even the employees were very happy - maybe because they own a piece of the place?!
I went on a tour of the brewery and the tour guide was very informative and interesting. While I walked through the brewery, I thought that making beer is like part being in the kitchen and part being in a chemistry lab. Since I like both of those most of the times, it looked like something worth trying. So I asked our tour guide how to get started, and he suggested that I read a book called "The Complete Joy of Homebrewing" by Charlie Papazian. He also encouraged me by saying that it is not difficult and that several people do it. So, off I went to Powell's Books (another swell place in Portland) and got that book. As I am notorious for starting something enthusiastically, and losing interest after a while, I wasn't even sure I was going to read the book.
But surprisingly I read the book and still thought that it is possible to make beer at home. The book is very good at making things sound very simple and mistake proof. If anybody is even remotely thinking of homebrewing, I would highly recommend reading this book. So, I still wanted to brew after reading the book. The more I learnt about brewing, the more I wanted to try it, and that is a very good sign that something was actually going to happen.
After some searching on the internet, found a homebrew store nearby that has a starter's kit. With the help of a few enthusiastic friends, I managed to get there and buy it. The starter's kit comes with a 5-gallon fermenter (which is just a plastic bucket with a spigot and lid), hygrometer (to measure the density), capper for the bottle caps and some other miscellaneous things. We have made 3 batches so far and they have been well consumed. All of my friends seem to like it, and some of them really do know their beer. And so, I managed to brew the fourth batch two weekends ago.
This time, decided to try German Oktoberfest beer. I wanted to make it last October but did not get to it. One of these days, I want to make beer from a recipe and not a kit, but for this one, kit it is. The brewing process itself is relatively simple - put the different ingredients at different times and stir once in a while. The key thing about brewing is to make sure the containers are clean - cleaning them takes much more time than actually making the beer.
Once the brewing is done, the "wort" (which is the brewed liquid shown above) is mixed with some water and allowed to ferment in an air tight container for a few days. The recipe specifies a certain density before and after fermentation, but ours has never matched them, but still our beer has turned out good. Once the fermentation is over (you will know that when the bubbling stops), it is ready to be bottled. Some homebrewers I know don't bottle their beers but keep them in airtight containers but bottling seems to work well for us. The back breaking activity is cleaning all the bottles before putting some cerveza in it. We collected some empty bottles from here and there and it was interesting to see how some bottles are easy and some are difficult to cap (the resident capping expert thinks Corona is the best). It took a first hand experience of filling to realize that dark colored bottles are difficult to see through - one just doesn't think about these things before hand, duh! We have a highly technical method of putting a tube into a bottle and one person watching the bottle level and the other person having a hand on the spigot (fancy word for faucet?). When the level reaches a certain point, the hand holding the spigot needs to close it immediately. That is when you appreciate the consistency in the bottles of beer you buy.
Anyway, after the bottling process, the bottles will have to be stored in a dark place (accomplished by covering with a blanket) for 2 weeks and then allowed to age for about 3 weeks. Then fresh tasting, one of a kind, homebrew is ready to be savored. We are now 2 weeks into the waiting process and have 3 more weeks to go before we can try this batch, but we can feast our eyes till then (see below).
It is an interesting hobby and a very productive one as well, that will get you lots of friends! It is mainly due to the support and encouragement from some friends (you all know who you are) that I am continuing it. There is an extra bit of bitterness in our homebrews so far that I don't care for. Hey, that is why I have a different day job, right? For now, the plans are to keep brewing in 5-gallon quantities as and when the mood hits. But there is a dream - to have a microbrewery one day. Who knows, it could very well happen!
After reading this, if you are wondering about the name of this beer, you will have to keep wondering as we don't have a name yet. There have been some suggestions but none that have stood out and captured the essence of it. So, if you have any ideas, shoot - it may one day be known world wide when we open our brewery. Or at least, go try a microbrew instead of a Bud or Coors (ok ok, I couldn't help it!).
Yes, Guinness is one of my favorite beers. I am waiting for the day I can go try one in Ireland, and say BRILLIANT!
But for now, Cheers!
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Yet another Love Story - Chapter 4
They both met with his sister the following week in a restaurant. It was a bit awkward in the beginning but they had a nice meal. She thought that considering the occasion, it went well.
The following day, he called her in the evening after work.
“Hi” she says, “What did you think about last night’s dinner?”
“It was not bad” he said without much enthusiasm.
“Not bad? I was patient the whole time in spite of your sister’s probing questions.”
“I appreciate that, but ….”
“But what? What did your sister say?” she was losing her patience now.
“She said that you were alright, but that she has some reservations”.
“What? Let us remember that I met with her for you even though I was not keen on it. And now I am being treated like some student taking an exam.”
“I understand, but I am not willing to commit to anything until my sister is fine with you.”
“I love you, and not your sister and your sister need not love me. Out of curiosity, what are her reservations about me?”
“Firstly, she did not like the fact that you drink. Secondly, she said that you are too independent and so she is not sure how well you will adjust to married life”.
“Well, do you agree with her?”
“I don’t mind your drinking and I think that the more we get to know one another, the easier it will be for us to compromise and live together.”
“I agree. So why are you still hesitant to commit?”
“I told you already. I got burnt quite a few times in relationships where I tried to make all the decisions by myself.”
“So, what do you want to do now?” she asks.
“I want you and my sister to get to know one another better. Why don’t you two spend some time shopping and going places?”
“Let me remind you that this relationship is between you and me” she said angrily.
“Yes, but I want my sister’s buy in as well”.
“Why? Why are you afraid to take responsibility and make decisions?”
“Because my decisions have not worked in the past. Also, remember that arranged marriages work very well in our culture.”
“Yes, but arranged marriage is not for me. I want to know the person I am marrying before I marry. Not after I marry.”
“Then we are not on the same page. As I think it is better if more than two people are involved in making a decision about a relationship. After all, we don’t know everything.”
“We are not on the same page? Looks like we are not even in the same book”.
“Just remember that most of the marriages where people know one another before the marriage do end up in divorce.”
“I am not going to live my life based on statistics. I am going to live my life based on my feelings.”
“I think that we do need the odds to work in our favor. Listen, I like you. But I just can’t marry you. I need some more time and input into this.”
“You can get all the inputs you want for some other girl. As I am not going to sit here while different people evaluate me”.
“Will you reconsider?”
“No, I have done some things already that I don’t agree with, and I don’t want to keep doing them. So, it is good bye then.”
“Good bye. And good luck.”
“Same to you.” She says and hangs up the phone.
She wonders what is going on with the current generation. Aren’t we supposed to be more independent and progressive? Did she make the right decision? Was she too hasty in making up her mind? She told herself that she did the right thing as she does not want to live with someone who can’t make up his mind. She switched on the TV and started watching a rerun of Friends.
He could not believe he had lost her. But he knew that this was the right thing to do as otherwise he would be in love and get hurt more when the girl rejects him. Now at least his sister will understand his plight. He picks up the phone and dials his sister's number.
- The End
The following day, he called her in the evening after work.
“Hi” she says, “What did you think about last night’s dinner?”
“It was not bad” he said without much enthusiasm.
“Not bad? I was patient the whole time in spite of your sister’s probing questions.”
“I appreciate that, but ….”
“But what? What did your sister say?” she was losing her patience now.
“She said that you were alright, but that she has some reservations”.
“What? Let us remember that I met with her for you even though I was not keen on it. And now I am being treated like some student taking an exam.”
“I understand, but I am not willing to commit to anything until my sister is fine with you.”
“I love you, and not your sister and your sister need not love me. Out of curiosity, what are her reservations about me?”
“Firstly, she did not like the fact that you drink. Secondly, she said that you are too independent and so she is not sure how well you will adjust to married life”.
“Well, do you agree with her?”
“I don’t mind your drinking and I think that the more we get to know one another, the easier it will be for us to compromise and live together.”
“I agree. So why are you still hesitant to commit?”
“I told you already. I got burnt quite a few times in relationships where I tried to make all the decisions by myself.”
“So, what do you want to do now?” she asks.
“I want you and my sister to get to know one another better. Why don’t you two spend some time shopping and going places?”
“Let me remind you that this relationship is between you and me” she said angrily.
“Yes, but I want my sister’s buy in as well”.
“Why? Why are you afraid to take responsibility and make decisions?”
“Because my decisions have not worked in the past. Also, remember that arranged marriages work very well in our culture.”
“Yes, but arranged marriage is not for me. I want to know the person I am marrying before I marry. Not after I marry.”
“Then we are not on the same page. As I think it is better if more than two people are involved in making a decision about a relationship. After all, we don’t know everything.”
“We are not on the same page? Looks like we are not even in the same book”.
“Just remember that most of the marriages where people know one another before the marriage do end up in divorce.”
“I am not going to live my life based on statistics. I am going to live my life based on my feelings.”
“I think that we do need the odds to work in our favor. Listen, I like you. But I just can’t marry you. I need some more time and input into this.”
“You can get all the inputs you want for some other girl. As I am not going to sit here while different people evaluate me”.
“Will you reconsider?”
“No, I have done some things already that I don’t agree with, and I don’t want to keep doing them. So, it is good bye then.”
“Good bye. And good luck.”
“Same to you.” She says and hangs up the phone.
She wonders what is going on with the current generation. Aren’t we supposed to be more independent and progressive? Did she make the right decision? Was she too hasty in making up her mind? She told herself that she did the right thing as she does not want to live with someone who can’t make up his mind. She switched on the TV and started watching a rerun of Friends.
He could not believe he had lost her. But he knew that this was the right thing to do as otherwise he would be in love and get hurt more when the girl rejects him. Now at least his sister will understand his plight. He picks up the phone and dials his sister's number.
- The End
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Yet Another Love Story - Chapter 3
Over the next three months, they go to lunch or for coffee/drinks after work, at least a couple of times a week.
Once during lunch, “Are you free this friday night?” he asks.
“Yeah, I think so” she says.
“Would you like to go to a friend’s birthday party with me?”
“Sure. Who is the party for?”
“An old college friend of mine. I keep in touch with him sporadically. But he is in the same town and so I thought it would be nice to go to his party.”
“I am game. We can do that” she says.
So friday comes, and they both go to the party. There are about 20 people there but he didn’t know anybody other than his friend and she didn’t know anybody other than him. So they find themselves talking to one another most of the time. After a few drinks, she decides to bring up THE topic.
“uh um, I have been meaning to tell you something” she says, almost like a whisper.
“What is it?” he asks, gently (as if he knew what was coming).
“I really like spending time with you. The more time we spend, the more time I want with you. Does that make sense?”
“Well, it doesn’t make sense, but I understand” he says teasingly.
“I think I am in love with you” she says with lot of emotion and expectation in her voice.
“Thanks. I like you as well, but don’t you think it is too early?”
“I can’t really time my feelings, can I?”
“No, you can’t. But I think that I could fall in love with you eventually but would like to get to know you more. Right now, I like you, and that is it.”
“That is a start, I guess”, she says, somewhat disappointed.
“I haven’t told you this but I got burnt pretty badly in my last two relationships. So I am taking things very slowly” he says.
“I can appreciate that. As long as we keep moving in the same direction, I am alright”.
“Also, I want you to meet my sister”.
“I can, but I don’t understand what that has to do with our conversation here”.
“Since my last breakup, I am not so sure about my judgments when it comes to girls. I used to be sure but not since the last two breakups. So I talked to my sister a lot about it and she has volunteered to help me with my relationships.”
She could not believe what she was hearing. But she wasn’t going to act rashly, at this point.
So she said “If you want to discuss with your sister about me, that is your thing. But what do you expect me to do with her?”
“I want you two to spend some time together. That is all. Her opinion of you would help me a lot.”
“I am not sure I understand this” she says, a bit angrily. “I believe that we should take control of our lives, as much as we can, and not let others run it for us.”
“I used to be like that, till I went through relationship after relationship that did not work”.
“But all relationships are not the same. I am a totally different person than any of your previous relationships. How can you use the same yardstick without even giving us a chance?”
“I am giving us a chance, right? That is why we are sitting here talking and spending all the time together” he says.
“Ok, so what is it that you want me to do?”
“I would like us to meet with my sister and then I would like you to spend some time with her by yourself.”
“So you want me to spend time with someone I don’t know at all!” she says incredulously.
“It won’t be too bad, as she is my sister”.
“Ok, even though I don’t understand why you want this, I will give it a try, as I want to give us a chance.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it” he says.
“Shall we go now?” she says, a little impatiently, as she wants to stop this and go home and lie on her favorite couch to do some thinking.
- To be continued
Once during lunch, “Are you free this friday night?” he asks.
“Yeah, I think so” she says.
“Would you like to go to a friend’s birthday party with me?”
“Sure. Who is the party for?”
“An old college friend of mine. I keep in touch with him sporadically. But he is in the same town and so I thought it would be nice to go to his party.”
“I am game. We can do that” she says.
So friday comes, and they both go to the party. There are about 20 people there but he didn’t know anybody other than his friend and she didn’t know anybody other than him. So they find themselves talking to one another most of the time. After a few drinks, she decides to bring up THE topic.
“uh um, I have been meaning to tell you something” she says, almost like a whisper.
“What is it?” he asks, gently (as if he knew what was coming).
“I really like spending time with you. The more time we spend, the more time I want with you. Does that make sense?”
“Well, it doesn’t make sense, but I understand” he says teasingly.
“I think I am in love with you” she says with lot of emotion and expectation in her voice.
“Thanks. I like you as well, but don’t you think it is too early?”
“I can’t really time my feelings, can I?”
“No, you can’t. But I think that I could fall in love with you eventually but would like to get to know you more. Right now, I like you, and that is it.”
“That is a start, I guess”, she says, somewhat disappointed.
“I haven’t told you this but I got burnt pretty badly in my last two relationships. So I am taking things very slowly” he says.
“I can appreciate that. As long as we keep moving in the same direction, I am alright”.
“Also, I want you to meet my sister”.
“I can, but I don’t understand what that has to do with our conversation here”.
“Since my last breakup, I am not so sure about my judgments when it comes to girls. I used to be sure but not since the last two breakups. So I talked to my sister a lot about it and she has volunteered to help me with my relationships.”
She could not believe what she was hearing. But she wasn’t going to act rashly, at this point.
So she said “If you want to discuss with your sister about me, that is your thing. But what do you expect me to do with her?”
“I want you two to spend some time together. That is all. Her opinion of you would help me a lot.”
“I am not sure I understand this” she says, a bit angrily. “I believe that we should take control of our lives, as much as we can, and not let others run it for us.”
“I used to be like that, till I went through relationship after relationship that did not work”.
“But all relationships are not the same. I am a totally different person than any of your previous relationships. How can you use the same yardstick without even giving us a chance?”
“I am giving us a chance, right? That is why we are sitting here talking and spending all the time together” he says.
“Ok, so what is it that you want me to do?”
“I would like us to meet with my sister and then I would like you to spend some time with her by yourself.”
“So you want me to spend time with someone I don’t know at all!” she says incredulously.
“It won’t be too bad, as she is my sister”.
“Ok, even though I don’t understand why you want this, I will give it a try, as I want to give us a chance.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it” he says.
“Shall we go now?” she says, a little impatiently, as she wants to stop this and go home and lie on her favorite couch to do some thinking.
- To be continued
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Yet another Love Story: Chapter 2
This place is not bad, she thinks as they walk in to Everest Coffee Company. There is a nice aroma of coffee and there are lots of cartoon posters on the walls. The girl at the counter seems to recognize him and even knows his name. He does some small talk with her and smiles the whole time. She is not sure she likes that, but what can she do, she has just known him for a week.
They both order their coffees – she gets a cappuccino and he gets a mocha with a double shot of espresso (she notes that he likes his coffee strong), and go find a table for two. He offers to pay for the coffees and she likes that and also that he says that she can get it the next time. She is glad that he likes her too and wants to go out with her again.
“How do you like this company?” he asks.
“So far so good, but then this is my first job out of school”.
“Oh really, where did you go to school?”
“University of Chicago. And you?” she asks.
“Not to such a good school. I went to Rice.”
“It doesn’t matter now, does it? We are both working in the same company” she says, trying not to sound condescending.
He laughs and says “Well, that is a consolation. But I’ll take it”.
She really likes that he smiles often.
They talk about where they are from and their immediate families, but those things don’t have to do anything in this love story. At least, not yet.
“So, what do you do in your spare time?” she asks.
He says that he likes to bike, listen to music and go on hikes. And he has a dog (a chocolate Labrador) that he likes to spend time with.
“And what about you?” he asks, taking a sip of his coffee. She has finished her coffee by now and is thinking that he likes to take things slowly, at least when he is drinking coffee.
“I like to read a lot. I am trying to learn to play violin. I am also learning Spanish” she says.
“It is pretty cool that you are learning different things. I am impressed” he says with genuine appreciation in his voice.
“Also, I have a German shepherd at home. His name is Rocky. Maybe we should have a play date for our dogs, huh?”
“Yeah, that would be nice” he agrees.
They spend another twenty minutes at the coffee place talking about the most recent political scandal. They both seem to be of the same opinion on what the right thing to do is and how strange the whole scandal is.
As they are leaving, she says “It was nice having coffee and talking with you. We should do it again sometime” and he says that he had a good time as well and would like that. They both part ways after saying their goodbyes.
As she is going back home, she is thinking about how unreasonable and illogical it is to feel so strongly about someone that she met only recently. She thinks that she is in love and feels weird about the feeling, as this is the first time she has felt that way. She has several good friends who are guys, contrary to what people say about a guy and a girl not being able to have a platonic relationship. But then she has never worried much about what other people think or talk about her. She has always tried to do things that make her happy as long as it doesn’t hurt anybody else. She wonders if she should tell him about how she feels, but decides to wait for some more time as this is too early.
As he is driving home, he thinks that it is nice to spend time with her. He is glad that they have so much to talk about and have some common ideas. But he reminds himself that he does not want to go too deep into this relationship because of his previous experiences. He has had two girl friends in the last six months and they both did not end well (of course, no breakups would go well). He is a very sensitive person who was hurt by these breakups, especially the most recent one as he had thought that things were going well and liked her a lot. Coming back to the present, he decided to not get too carried away with her.
- To be Continued
They both order their coffees – she gets a cappuccino and he gets a mocha with a double shot of espresso (she notes that he likes his coffee strong), and go find a table for two. He offers to pay for the coffees and she likes that and also that he says that she can get it the next time. She is glad that he likes her too and wants to go out with her again.
“How do you like this company?” he asks.
“So far so good, but then this is my first job out of school”.
“Oh really, where did you go to school?”
“University of Chicago. And you?” she asks.
“Not to such a good school. I went to Rice.”
“It doesn’t matter now, does it? We are both working in the same company” she says, trying not to sound condescending.
He laughs and says “Well, that is a consolation. But I’ll take it”.
She really likes that he smiles often.
They talk about where they are from and their immediate families, but those things don’t have to do anything in this love story. At least, not yet.
“So, what do you do in your spare time?” she asks.
He says that he likes to bike, listen to music and go on hikes. And he has a dog (a chocolate Labrador) that he likes to spend time with.
“And what about you?” he asks, taking a sip of his coffee. She has finished her coffee by now and is thinking that he likes to take things slowly, at least when he is drinking coffee.
“I like to read a lot. I am trying to learn to play violin. I am also learning Spanish” she says.
“It is pretty cool that you are learning different things. I am impressed” he says with genuine appreciation in his voice.
“Also, I have a German shepherd at home. His name is Rocky. Maybe we should have a play date for our dogs, huh?”
“Yeah, that would be nice” he agrees.
They spend another twenty minutes at the coffee place talking about the most recent political scandal. They both seem to be of the same opinion on what the right thing to do is and how strange the whole scandal is.
As they are leaving, she says “It was nice having coffee and talking with you. We should do it again sometime” and he says that he had a good time as well and would like that. They both part ways after saying their goodbyes.
As she is going back home, she is thinking about how unreasonable and illogical it is to feel so strongly about someone that she met only recently. She thinks that she is in love and feels weird about the feeling, as this is the first time she has felt that way. She has several good friends who are guys, contrary to what people say about a guy and a girl not being able to have a platonic relationship. But then she has never worried much about what other people think or talk about her. She has always tried to do things that make her happy as long as it doesn’t hurt anybody else. She wonders if she should tell him about how she feels, but decides to wait for some more time as this is too early.
As he is driving home, he thinks that it is nice to spend time with her. He is glad that they have so much to talk about and have some common ideas. But he reminds himself that he does not want to go too deep into this relationship because of his previous experiences. He has had two girl friends in the last six months and they both did not end well (of course, no breakups would go well). He is a very sensitive person who was hurt by these breakups, especially the most recent one as he had thought that things were going well and liked her a lot. Coming back to the present, he decided to not get too carried away with her.
- To be Continued
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Yet another Love Story: Chapter 1
She saw him by the elevator and her heart skipped a beat. Although she has not thought much of her prince charming, he looked like one. She didn’t like feeling so attracted without even talking to him, but one can’t really choose how to feel, right? He was tall, had thick dark hair and a nice moustache. His ears and nose looked perfect to her and his eyes had a mix of sharpness and softness to them. She stopped herself from thinking any more about him and decided to go talk to him, as he was walking by her now.
“Hello” – she said.
“Hi” – he said and started to walk past her.
“Do you have a minute?”
“Yes, how can I help you?”
“I am new to this company and this is my first day. Can you tell me where the HR department is?”
“Sure, but it would be easier if I took you there as this building is not straightforward.”
She couldn’t believe he was doing this for her.
“How long have you been here?”
“It will be two years soon.”
“What department are you working in?”
“I am in the Mergers and Acquisitions group.”
“I will be in the investment banking division” she says noting that he doesn’t ask her any questions.
“Here we are” he says pointing to a room. “Nice meeting you. Good luck in your job.”
“Thanks for your help. Really appreciate it”.
“Bye-Bye” he says and leaves.
She stands there looking at his back for sometime before she remembers that she needs to focus on starting her job.
After a week in the company, she calls him and asks if he would like to have coffee with her. He is not sure why she is doing this but says yes out of courtesy.
They meet after work one day to go get coffee. She suggests the Starbucks nearby but he says that he prefers smaller coffee places and suggests a place called Everest Coffee Company which is out of the way. She reluctantly agrees to go there as her tastes in coffee are very exclusive (read picky).
“Hello” – she said.
“Hi” – he said and started to walk past her.
“Do you have a minute?”
“Yes, how can I help you?”
“I am new to this company and this is my first day. Can you tell me where the HR department is?”
“Sure, but it would be easier if I took you there as this building is not straightforward.”
She couldn’t believe he was doing this for her.
“How long have you been here?”
“It will be two years soon.”
“What department are you working in?”
“I am in the Mergers and Acquisitions group.”
“I will be in the investment banking division” she says noting that he doesn’t ask her any questions.
“Here we are” he says pointing to a room. “Nice meeting you. Good luck in your job.”
“Thanks for your help. Really appreciate it”.
“Bye-Bye” he says and leaves.
She stands there looking at his back for sometime before she remembers that she needs to focus on starting her job.
After a week in the company, she calls him and asks if he would like to have coffee with her. He is not sure why she is doing this but says yes out of courtesy.
They meet after work one day to go get coffee. She suggests the Starbucks nearby but he says that he prefers smaller coffee places and suggests a place called Everest Coffee Company which is out of the way. She reluctantly agrees to go there as her tastes in coffee are very exclusive (read picky).
- To be Continued
Monday, January 30, 2006
Remembering Mahatma
Today was the day Mahatma Gandhi (fondly known as Bapu, meaning father) was killed fifty-eight years ago. There is an excellent article, Remembering Gandhi by Uma .This article is very moving and well written. All I can say is that I wish I had written it!
Having grown up in India, I used to hear about Gandhi a lot, especially at school. When I was in sixth grade, some organization sponsored a contest where we had to read the book “My Experiments with Truth” and then take a quiz. My school made it mandatory for us, and that in itself made the task laborious. Anyway, I read the book and did not really appreciate him much then. During the quiz, some of the students (including yours truly in a small manner) did not maintain high ethical standards (let us just say that we were too helpful to one another than we should have). This made our teachers very mad. One of the teachers (who was a big inspiration to me throughout my school life) was deeply saddened that we would do something like that in something related to Gandhi.
The one thing I remember vividly about the book is how one night he heard the animal making sounds inside his stomach, since he ate some meat, that he was not supposed to. I was not mature enough to understand the hidden meaning behind this. I also was not impressed then that he did not fight against the British but did fasting and marches.
As I grew up though, my understanding and admiration for Gandhi grew as well. Here is a guy who got freedom for a country as diverse as India without resorting to arms. To me, this statement by Gandhi (shamelessly stolen from Uma’s post) summarizes everything that is so great about him.
“I am prepared to die, but there is no cause for which I am prepared to kill”. Wow!
Just the words make it a profound statement but his following it up with actions all through his life makes it even greater.
Working out issues through peace seems like the best approach to me, which is not something people seem to be doing these days. It would do them good to remember Gandhi’s sayings and life. Violence begets violence (as we are seeing in a certain country right now) and there is no end to it. No cause justifies killing thousands of people. I will stop here, as this post is not about non-violence, although it goes hand in hand with Gandhi.
Let us all remember what this day is about – practicing what one preaches, patience and tolerance, and what this day is not about – world dominance, killing and wars.
Mahatma Gandhi ki jai (Victory to Mahatma Gandhi)!
Friday, January 27, 2006
Amado Mio
The first time I heard this song (which was by sheer accident), I was enchanted. Some songs make me very happy whenever I listen to them (regardless of where I am or what my mood is) and I don’t really know why. There are quite a few tamil songs that do this to me (theeraadha vilayaattu pillai is one) and that is a topic of a separate post. There are some hindi songs (Kabhie Kabhie is one) that do this as well. The other English song that do this is Uptown Girl by Billy Joel – I just start tapping my legs when I hear it – anywhere anytime.
So, I ended up listening to this song three times in a row. I learnt that the song is performed by a group called Pink Martini , whom I had never heard of. The group is not a mainstream one but is described (by themselves) as “Somewhere between a 1930s Cuban dance orchestra, a classical chamber music ensemble, a Brazilian marching street band and Japanese film noir”. The more I found out about the group, my interest and admiration just grew. It looks like this group got started by a Harvard-alum with some of his friends and is based in Portland, Oregon – how cool is that?
I am not big on analyzing music, as I think that some things should be left unexplained to retain their mystery. If we examine everything, things either lose their charm or we cease to wonder. But I cannot get this song out of my system. Some days I play the CD just to listen to this one song. What is it about this song that is so enthralling? The lyrics are good but not extraordinary. I don’t know Western classical music and so I can’t talk about notes here. It is the combination of words, music and voice in this song that transports me to somewhere else.
After all this, you can imagine my glee when I found out that Pink Martini is performing in a nearby city, also by accident. I got the best tickets and made a grand date out of it. It was a surreal experience for me to listen to them in person. Of course, they opened the concert with Amado Mio, and that gave me goose bumps and I was at the edge of my seat. Everything that happened after that was anti-climactic. But this group is good – if you like variety in your music. They can sing in different languages – French, Spanish and even Serbian. Even though I don’t speak any of these languages (and maybe because of that), they all sounded authentic to me.
After the concert, the band was meeting with the audience and signing the CDs. I went and got some cash and stood in line for about an hour to get it autographed. The whole band was there and talking to audience (yes, that includes me!) and they were all so nice. It was an experience that I will remember forever.
If all this has made you want to listen to this song, check out the Pink Martini radio on their webpage (under Sympathique album). Better yet, find out when they are playing somewhere near and go see them in person. I tried to attach an audio link to an mp3 file I have on my computer but could not figure out how to do it. If anybody can help, it would be appreciated.
Do you have songs like this? Care to share them?
Some truly random thoughts to justify the title (I am going to start doing this once in a while as a friend pointed out that the blogs don’t seem random enough. See, I do pay attention to suggestions once in a while!).
Kutti Update: Kutti (our pet dog) has not been letting me sleep in peace the last couple of nights. One of our neighbor’s dogs is barking a lot at night (don’t know where the neighbors are) and that seems to agitate Kutti. So she starts barking in the house and yours truly has to take her out. It is very touching to see Kutti run towards that neighbor’s fence and bark with that other dog as a show of support. But it is disturbing (literally) to wake up a lot in the middle of the night. Because of this, I have been snoozing my alarm and getting up later than I planned to.
Love Monkey: I read somewhere that Love Monkey is like Sex and the City (SATC) with guys. Sex and the City is a show I love to watch (again and again) and so I decided to watch Love Monkey this week. Sorry to say that it didn’t even come close to SATC but was interesting in its own way. I like Tom Cavanagh from the show Ed, and thought the subject matter on recording artists and scouts was new.
James Frey Drama: I find the whole James Frey episode to be silly. If you haven’t heard about this, James Frey is the author of a memoir called A Million Little Pieces, which is about an addict going to rehab and all that follows. Apparently, this book was first sought to be published as fiction but the publishers did not want it. Then the book was described as a memoir and published, but we don’t know what changes were made to the book itself. I don’t understand how a book can be changed from fiction to memoir just like that. But it is an example of how a book is judged only by its cover. And why would anyone say that they went to jail, when they really didn't?! This underscores the reason why I don’t like to read non-fiction (memoirs included) as there will always be an embellishment when one tries to put something in writing. So, for now, I am sticking with fiction and expect everything written to be subjective and biased and tweaked (we are human, after all, aren’t we?).
So, I ended up listening to this song three times in a row. I learnt that the song is performed by a group called Pink Martini , whom I had never heard of. The group is not a mainstream one but is described (by themselves) as “Somewhere between a 1930s Cuban dance orchestra, a classical chamber music ensemble, a Brazilian marching street band and Japanese film noir”. The more I found out about the group, my interest and admiration just grew. It looks like this group got started by a Harvard-alum with some of his friends and is based in Portland, Oregon – how cool is that?
I am not big on analyzing music, as I think that some things should be left unexplained to retain their mystery. If we examine everything, things either lose their charm or we cease to wonder. But I cannot get this song out of my system. Some days I play the CD just to listen to this one song. What is it about this song that is so enthralling? The lyrics are good but not extraordinary. I don’t know Western classical music and so I can’t talk about notes here. It is the combination of words, music and voice in this song that transports me to somewhere else.
After all this, you can imagine my glee when I found out that Pink Martini is performing in a nearby city, also by accident. I got the best tickets and made a grand date out of it. It was a surreal experience for me to listen to them in person. Of course, they opened the concert with Amado Mio, and that gave me goose bumps and I was at the edge of my seat. Everything that happened after that was anti-climactic. But this group is good – if you like variety in your music. They can sing in different languages – French, Spanish and even Serbian. Even though I don’t speak any of these languages (and maybe because of that), they all sounded authentic to me.
After the concert, the band was meeting with the audience and signing the CDs. I went and got some cash and stood in line for about an hour to get it autographed. The whole band was there and talking to audience (yes, that includes me!) and they were all so nice. It was an experience that I will remember forever.
If all this has made you want to listen to this song, check out the Pink Martini radio on their webpage (under Sympathique album). Better yet, find out when they are playing somewhere near and go see them in person. I tried to attach an audio link to an mp3 file I have on my computer but could not figure out how to do it. If anybody can help, it would be appreciated.
Do you have songs like this? Care to share them?
Some truly random thoughts to justify the title (I am going to start doing this once in a while as a friend pointed out that the blogs don’t seem random enough. See, I do pay attention to suggestions once in a while!).
Kutti Update: Kutti (our pet dog) has not been letting me sleep in peace the last couple of nights. One of our neighbor’s dogs is barking a lot at night (don’t know where the neighbors are) and that seems to agitate Kutti. So she starts barking in the house and yours truly has to take her out. It is very touching to see Kutti run towards that neighbor’s fence and bark with that other dog as a show of support. But it is disturbing (literally) to wake up a lot in the middle of the night. Because of this, I have been snoozing my alarm and getting up later than I planned to.
Love Monkey: I read somewhere that Love Monkey is like Sex and the City (SATC) with guys. Sex and the City is a show I love to watch (again and again) and so I decided to watch Love Monkey this week. Sorry to say that it didn’t even come close to SATC but was interesting in its own way. I like Tom Cavanagh from the show Ed, and thought the subject matter on recording artists and scouts was new.
James Frey Drama: I find the whole James Frey episode to be silly. If you haven’t heard about this, James Frey is the author of a memoir called A Million Little Pieces, which is about an addict going to rehab and all that follows. Apparently, this book was first sought to be published as fiction but the publishers did not want it. Then the book was described as a memoir and published, but we don’t know what changes were made to the book itself. I don’t understand how a book can be changed from fiction to memoir just like that. But it is an example of how a book is judged only by its cover. And why would anyone say that they went to jail, when they really didn't?! This underscores the reason why I don’t like to read non-fiction (memoirs included) as there will always be an embellishment when one tries to put something in writing. So, for now, I am sticking with fiction and expect everything written to be subjective and biased and tweaked (we are human, after all, aren’t we?).
Sunday, January 15, 2006
The Clock Story
During my recent trip back home to India, I got a digital clock for my parents that had LED display on it, to help them see the time at night easily. My parents thought it was a great gift and my dad went and got a converter for the power right away. When my dad was at the store buying it, apparently the store guy told my dad that American clocks will show a different time and will not work in India. We were laughing about it all the way through setting up the clock.
After much discussion on where the best place for the clock was, we set it up. Everything was fine for the first five minutes. After that, the clock started slowing down (or at least we started noticing it after that). We kept checking it every so often, and the clock just kept losing more time with time. My parents could not believe that an American clock was not working properly. So they kept checking the time aganist Sun News and Jaya News as they are polar opposites. Still the clock was losing time. After about ten hours, our great clock was four hours behind. Go figure!
Based on somebody's idea that there was a 30-minute difference between American and Indian time (whatever that means) and that there was only one store that could adjust for that in Chennai, my dad made a trip all the way to Mount Road to take the clock to the best clock store in town (did you know that it is P.Orr & Sons?). The guy at that store said that we had to have a battery installed and that would take care of this problem (even though the manual says that the battery is only needed for power backup). So my dad purchased that battery in a store next to P.Orr & Sons (apparently this battery is not available everywhere). My dad was short by fifty rupees but the battery guy was trusting enough to let him bring it later.
So, we installed and "charged" the battery and then set the time and started watching it again. It came to a point when I thought that my dad was going to start recording the time like in a lab experiment. Still the clock was losing time like before (if not more!). My mom would keep unplugging the clock as it was showing the wrong time and interrupting my dad's experiment. Meanwhile, the battery guy would call us up asking for his fifty rupees; and my parents would tell him that the battery he gave us is not working properly. At this point, I was ready to give up on this clock and get them a different one in India. But they did not want to give up and so upon my mom's instruction, myself and my dad made our follow up trip to the best clock store in town (we both had to go to get the story right).
The guy who had told my dad to get that battery was nowhere to be seen. So we went to a different guy and he wouldn't even look at this clock as he thinks all digital clocks from America don't work. The service was so poor that I did not even want to stay there. So I told my dad that we can get another clock and we went to the battery store to pay up the fifty rupees. What I really wanted to do was return the battery but it seems that you can't return it once you have opened it. After having been used to returning anything that you don't want in US, this was a little hard to get used to. We went to the battery store around 11.30 am and the store was closed. My dad went to the next store to ask about this store and they didn't know anything about it. My dad (against my wishes) asked the other store if he can give them the fifty rupees and they can give it to the battery store and they said that they don't talk to the battery store people. So we left that store. The highlight of this trip was the sugarcane juice we both drank before coming back home and the quality father-daughter time we spent together.
By this time, I was blaming myself for bringing this clock as my parents were feeling sorry that they are not able to use the gift I got for them. But anyway, we went on a search for a similar clock, and apparently LED clocks are rare to find in India. But finally, we found a store with a few different kinds of digital clocks. One was with seconds and the other one was without. I thought we should get the one without the seconds but my mom wanted me to call my dad. So I called and asked him and he immediately said we should get the one with the seconds. I asked him why and he said that is how we will know immediately when it stops working. I did not have any response to this and so we got the one with the seconds. We set it up and it works fine and most importantly, doesn't lose time.
I told my parents that I will return the clock after I get back to US but that I will set it up and check once before that. So here I come back and set the clock up and lo and behold, the clock works fine. That was not what I had expected. I was speechless after all the things I had to go through with this stupid clock. The theory is that it had something to do with the converter (by someone who knows more about electronics than I do, as that did not occur to me at all) and I guess that could be.
We decided not to return the clock and keep it in our home in US, as now we have a history with this clock. I told my parents that the clock works here and they didn't seem as surprised as I expected them to be, but my dad wanted me to spank it for not working there. But they seem to like the other one though.
The moral of this story (at least for me) is not to buy electronic stuff from the US to India. For one it is very difficult to find a place to repair it and the other thing is that there are lots of affordable electronic stuff in India now. They are all made in China, right?
Regardless, this clock turned out to be one of the funniest episodes during my trip and is still making for interesting and laughable conversations. I only wish this was a fictional story, but sometimes, life is more interesting than fiction. Hope all your clocks show the right time!
After much discussion on where the best place for the clock was, we set it up. Everything was fine for the first five minutes. After that, the clock started slowing down (or at least we started noticing it after that). We kept checking it every so often, and the clock just kept losing more time with time. My parents could not believe that an American clock was not working properly. So they kept checking the time aganist Sun News and Jaya News as they are polar opposites. Still the clock was losing time. After about ten hours, our great clock was four hours behind. Go figure!
Based on somebody's idea that there was a 30-minute difference between American and Indian time (whatever that means) and that there was only one store that could adjust for that in Chennai, my dad made a trip all the way to Mount Road to take the clock to the best clock store in town (did you know that it is P.Orr & Sons?). The guy at that store said that we had to have a battery installed and that would take care of this problem (even though the manual says that the battery is only needed for power backup). So my dad purchased that battery in a store next to P.Orr & Sons (apparently this battery is not available everywhere). My dad was short by fifty rupees but the battery guy was trusting enough to let him bring it later.
So, we installed and "charged" the battery and then set the time and started watching it again. It came to a point when I thought that my dad was going to start recording the time like in a lab experiment. Still the clock was losing time like before (if not more!). My mom would keep unplugging the clock as it was showing the wrong time and interrupting my dad's experiment. Meanwhile, the battery guy would call us up asking for his fifty rupees; and my parents would tell him that the battery he gave us is not working properly. At this point, I was ready to give up on this clock and get them a different one in India. But they did not want to give up and so upon my mom's instruction, myself and my dad made our follow up trip to the best clock store in town (we both had to go to get the story right).
The guy who had told my dad to get that battery was nowhere to be seen. So we went to a different guy and he wouldn't even look at this clock as he thinks all digital clocks from America don't work. The service was so poor that I did not even want to stay there. So I told my dad that we can get another clock and we went to the battery store to pay up the fifty rupees. What I really wanted to do was return the battery but it seems that you can't return it once you have opened it. After having been used to returning anything that you don't want in US, this was a little hard to get used to. We went to the battery store around 11.30 am and the store was closed. My dad went to the next store to ask about this store and they didn't know anything about it. My dad (against my wishes) asked the other store if he can give them the fifty rupees and they can give it to the battery store and they said that they don't talk to the battery store people. So we left that store. The highlight of this trip was the sugarcane juice we both drank before coming back home and the quality father-daughter time we spent together.
By this time, I was blaming myself for bringing this clock as my parents were feeling sorry that they are not able to use the gift I got for them. But anyway, we went on a search for a similar clock, and apparently LED clocks are rare to find in India. But finally, we found a store with a few different kinds of digital clocks. One was with seconds and the other one was without. I thought we should get the one without the seconds but my mom wanted me to call my dad. So I called and asked him and he immediately said we should get the one with the seconds. I asked him why and he said that is how we will know immediately when it stops working. I did not have any response to this and so we got the one with the seconds. We set it up and it works fine and most importantly, doesn't lose time.
I told my parents that I will return the clock after I get back to US but that I will set it up and check once before that. So here I come back and set the clock up and lo and behold, the clock works fine. That was not what I had expected. I was speechless after all the things I had to go through with this stupid clock. The theory is that it had something to do with the converter (by someone who knows more about electronics than I do, as that did not occur to me at all) and I guess that could be.
We decided not to return the clock and keep it in our home in US, as now we have a history with this clock. I told my parents that the clock works here and they didn't seem as surprised as I expected them to be, but my dad wanted me to spank it for not working there. But they seem to like the other one though.
The moral of this story (at least for me) is not to buy electronic stuff from the US to India. For one it is very difficult to find a place to repair it and the other thing is that there are lots of affordable electronic stuff in India now. They are all made in China, right?
Regardless, this clock turned out to be one of the funniest episodes during my trip and is still making for interesting and laughable conversations. I only wish this was a fictional story, but sometimes, life is more interesting than fiction. Hope all your clocks show the right time!
Monday, January 09, 2006
Going Home
I went back to Chennai (aka Madras), India end of last year to visit family. Going back home is always a very introspective period for me. I have lived away from home for the last fifteen years and away from India for the last eleven. So there are a lot of mixed emotions about going home, but the strongest one is of anticipation - of the changes since the last time I visited and the similarities to the way I remember things (note that my memory is not that great!).
Check out this website at www.ilovechennai.com for some pictures and details on my hometown.
I tried to make the most of the long flight trip by eating, drinking, sleeping and watching movies. It was interesting to sleep through the movies and watch them intermittently, but that is no different from what I do at home. My flight reached Chennai around 1 am and the first thing that caught my attention was the bad smell in the air. Even though I could not believe that an international airport couldn't be better, I reminded myself that I should not be judgmental and moved on. I had checked in two suitcases and it took more than an hour for my second suitcase to show up. Since they don't let visitors inside, there was no way for me to let my family know that I was there till I got all my suitcases and came out. And then I had to walk through scores of people before I identified my family, and went home with them.
I did not have too much of a jetlag and was fine with just a few hours of sleep the first night. It always takes me a few days to get used to the people and things there. So I decided to keep mostly to myself and my immediate family for the first few days. I was surprised to see a lot of coverage on US related items in newspapers like Hindu and tamil magazines like Vikatan and Kumudham. It was disappointing to see the amount of coverage movie actors and actresses get in the tamil magazines. My memory tells me that there were more stories and articles by authors (and not by movie celebrities) that were more interesting. I can't believe that people are interested in Vijay's new car, but maybe they are. But those magazines were page turners for me.
When I watched TV, it was mostly Sun Music. It was interesting to see DJs (or comperes, like my mom likes to call them) talk in a mix of tamil and english and trying very hard to be cool. But I enjoyed watching Sun Music as I am a sucker for tamil movie songs - both new and old. My dad was even asking me if I could get Sun Music in the US and watch it. The only thing that I did not care for was the abundance of SMS messages people send during some shows - most of them were droll but some of them were vulgar. It was funny to see the DJ telling most of the callers to turn down the TV volume, not see the TV, but just talk on the phone. In spite of that, the callers kept saying "hello hello" a lot. In a moment of weakness, even I called Sun Music as my mom dared me to, but hung up when they put me on hold.
I did not watch any news on TV as the channels are owned mainly by politicians. The overlap between the media and politics in India is just too much. Movie stars move on to politics and then the political parties run the TV stations - since it is all in the open, there is not even an expectation of unbiased news. Everybody was talking about the Kushboo story but then when I asked them what she said, they didn't know or were not sure.
There is a lot of western influence in Chennai - malls, megamalls, mega movie theaters, pizzas, fast foods and so on. But the thing is that all of these have been changed to suit the people there. I think it is a good thing as it adds variety to life. There are a lot of restaurants in Chennai now and one can even taste different cuisines. In spite of that, due to my dad's loyalty to Saravana Bhavan, we ate there mostly. In fact, the first week I was in Chennai, we ate at three different HSBs (Hotel Saravana Bhavan).
I bought a whole lot of churidhars and nighties and was very impressed with the colors and designs. I think Chennai Silks rocks. There are cell phones everywhere. I used to think that people in the US use a lot of cell phones, but looks like the people in India use them more. There are several ring tones and everybody seems to be on the cell phones all the time. But it makes sense to have one when you are in such a big city.
I had a wonderful three weeks savoring all that is Chennai - the sounds, the smells and the sights. And came back to my other home just before Christmas. Once I got here, I realized how different and interesting Chennai is. US seemed very quiet and grim after the always bustling city of Chennai. I think that I will always be a Madrasi (Chennaiite just doesn't have the same ring to it) at heart, no matter how long I have been away. I love Chennai, after all!
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
From Asia to America
I think everybody should go live in a different country for some period in their lifetime. It will give them a new perspective on a lot of things. I was originally born in Madras (now known as Chennai) in India and lived there for 17 years. Then I moved to a smaller city called Coimbatore in the same state for college and lived there for 4 years. After that, I moved to the US in 1994 and have lived in the US since then.
I have always liked the US since I moved here (that is why I am still here, right?), but it took a lot of adjustments. Contrary to what lot of Americans think, it is not that big a deal to go live in a different country (if it is, would so many people do that?). There is a saying in Tamil that goes something like the whole world is your place and everybody is your friend. I try to live by that motto. My first flight was my trip from Madras, India to Kingsville, Texas. I had to clear the customs in Dallas and had to change terminals there to catch the domestic flight - I thought it was a little too much to have trains inside the airports to go from one terminal to another (I still think so but at least I am used to it).
My flights were delayed and I was fairly sure that I am going to get lost as nobody will be there when my flight finally gets to Corpus Christi. But somehow the airlines had notified the people who were going to pick me up and they were there. My first stop in the US was a 7/11 where we stopped to get a drink. I got a big cup of Coca Cola and having used to drinking a little bit of it out of a bottle in India, I thought this was heaven.
I came to this country with $2300 and no real source of income, and with the plan of going back home after two years. Thinking back, it seems like a pretty crazy thing to do. But luckily, I got an assistantship to University of Louisville and transferred there after one semester in Kingsville. Since then, things have worked out for the best. Surely, this is the land of golden opportunities, where somebody can come up very well from nothing.
Initially, there were lot of culture shocks. In India, adults don't kiss in public (at least, not when I lived there) - so that was a big deal and I could not help stare (no, I don't do that now!). Eating meat and drinking was prohibited in my society but here people do that so casually. That made me wonder what is right and what is wrong. Is that all purely geographical? If so, then why bother?
Language is another thing. I had to really really concentrate to understand American people talking, and they had to do the same with me (they thought I talked too fast). But now it has got easier, but still I have my moments.
The best thing I like about the US is the presence of various cultures. I have made good friends with people from Germany, Sweden, El Salvador, Japan and of course, different places in the US. I also like the personal freedom in this country a lot although lately it seems to be getting curtailed.
Most of the times it feels like I have two homes and that feels good. However there are some times when I feel like an outsider in both the countries and that feels like limbo. I am planning on visiting India next week and that will be very interesting as I think India is changing (and looking more like the US) a lot everytime I visit (but writing about India is for later).
Last but not least, I want to thank my parents for letting me go to the US against all odds and my uncle for helping me at the right time against everybody's better judgment. I also want to thank the innumerable folks in the US that have made me feel right at home. Here's to the Land of Opportunities!
Nithya
I have always liked the US since I moved here (that is why I am still here, right?), but it took a lot of adjustments. Contrary to what lot of Americans think, it is not that big a deal to go live in a different country (if it is, would so many people do that?). There is a saying in Tamil that goes something like the whole world is your place and everybody is your friend. I try to live by that motto. My first flight was my trip from Madras, India to Kingsville, Texas. I had to clear the customs in Dallas and had to change terminals there to catch the domestic flight - I thought it was a little too much to have trains inside the airports to go from one terminal to another (I still think so but at least I am used to it).
My flights were delayed and I was fairly sure that I am going to get lost as nobody will be there when my flight finally gets to Corpus Christi. But somehow the airlines had notified the people who were going to pick me up and they were there. My first stop in the US was a 7/11 where we stopped to get a drink. I got a big cup of Coca Cola and having used to drinking a little bit of it out of a bottle in India, I thought this was heaven.
I came to this country with $2300 and no real source of income, and with the plan of going back home after two years. Thinking back, it seems like a pretty crazy thing to do. But luckily, I got an assistantship to University of Louisville and transferred there after one semester in Kingsville. Since then, things have worked out for the best. Surely, this is the land of golden opportunities, where somebody can come up very well from nothing.
Initially, there were lot of culture shocks. In India, adults don't kiss in public (at least, not when I lived there) - so that was a big deal and I could not help stare (no, I don't do that now!). Eating meat and drinking was prohibited in my society but here people do that so casually. That made me wonder what is right and what is wrong. Is that all purely geographical? If so, then why bother?
Language is another thing. I had to really really concentrate to understand American people talking, and they had to do the same with me (they thought I talked too fast). But now it has got easier, but still I have my moments.
The best thing I like about the US is the presence of various cultures. I have made good friends with people from Germany, Sweden, El Salvador, Japan and of course, different places in the US. I also like the personal freedom in this country a lot although lately it seems to be getting curtailed.
Most of the times it feels like I have two homes and that feels good. However there are some times when I feel like an outsider in both the countries and that feels like limbo. I am planning on visiting India next week and that will be very interesting as I think India is changing (and looking more like the US) a lot everytime I visit (but writing about India is for later).
Last but not least, I want to thank my parents for letting me go to the US against all odds and my uncle for helping me at the right time against everybody's better judgment. I also want to thank the innumerable folks in the US that have made me feel right at home. Here's to the Land of Opportunities!
Nithya
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Kutti (The Little One)
I have never had a pet before and so I was very hesitant about getting one seven months ago. But once I finally got myself to do it, we came home from the Humane Society with a Labrador Retriever - Jack Russel mix. We named her (after much deliberation) Kutti (which means "little one" in Tamil). And without further ado, I present Kutti to you.
The first few days were very different as I was not used to such an energetic creature in the house. She likes to bite everything - she even bites her own bed. A few days after we got her, she ran out the door to chase a squirrel and we had to run after her and bring her back. But in those few minutes, I realized how much I like her. The thought of losing her was so overwhelming that it changed my perception of dogs.
Dogs are amazing creatures. How can a dog be so satisfied with just a belly rub? There is a spot next to Kutti's ears that if we rub for a few minutes, she seems hyptonized. How can she get so excited to see us that she has to jump up and down, even though we were there with her two hours ago? There is a lot human beings can learn from dogs. Kutti does not hold a grudge. If I had scolded just a minute ago for not letting me type, she forgets that, and comes and interrupts me once again. Loyalty is another thing that we could learn from dogs.
Kutti seems to like all kinds of food - even spicy Indian food. She likes buttermilk rice with very spicy pickle - so she fits right in our household. I speak to her both in english and tamil - so we have a bilingual dog now! As I am driving back from work, I think of what she has been doing all day (I have no idea what she does while we are not there) and about playing with her. Every day when I leave, she comes standing by the gate to say goodbye. Yesterday, I forgot to wave her goodbye and so came back to do that, but she was not around (must be busy looking for a squirrel).
Our neighbors have two chihuahas and Kutti likes to race with them all the time (it is so fun to watch all three dogs go back and forth by the fence). There is another dog across the street that gets so mad that he can't participate. Someone said that when dogs bark they are actually talking to one another. I thought that if that is the case, they are saying the same thing again and again (isn't that funny?!).
I could go on and on about Kutti but I will stop here now. But I can assure you that there will be more entries about her. Also, she will not be the last dog we have. I am already thinking of having about 10 dogs when I retire. Many thanks to the person who brought Kutti into my life.
Nithya
Sunday, November 06, 2005
My Very First Blog
Welcome to anybody who is reading this. Please bear with me as this is my first attempt at blogging and writing.
Why am I writing a blog?
Here are some of the reasons...
1. I recently read a friend's blog and found it very interesting. Thanks, friend!
2. I have always wanted to write something and thought this would be a good start. And I can go on to publishing lots of books!
3. Just wanted to try something new.
4. Wanted to share some of my views with whoever is interested.
I am not really sure what my postings are going to be about but am planning on writing about things that interest me, general events and whatever else goes through my mind.
Nithya
Why am I writing a blog?
Here are some of the reasons...
1. I recently read a friend's blog and found it very interesting. Thanks, friend!
2. I have always wanted to write something and thought this would be a good start. And I can go on to publishing lots of books!
3. Just wanted to try something new.
4. Wanted to share some of my views with whoever is interested.
I am not really sure what my postings are going to be about but am planning on writing about things that interest me, general events and whatever else goes through my mind.
Nithya
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