CULINARY SHOCK !!! And of course, my Eating Habits have gone for a sixer !!!

. You realize something's worth only when it is not around . A very cliched beginning to this post , you might say. But , yes a very appropriate one at this point of time . I still remember the last meal i ate in India. Vendakkai Sambar , my favourite Aloo Roast , Milagu Rasam and Semiya Payasam . I would give a leg to eat something which tastes as brilliant as that now. I miss my mom , who dished out that amazing meal . I miss a lot more . But thats not the point of this post. Before , i start getting sentimental and emotional , let me gather myself up and move on.

. FOOD ??????????? Thats probably the biggest question mark that hangs over every Indian's head when he/she goes abroad. And it becomes a even more painful issue when u realize that you dint know a kitchen existed in your house . Thankfully , i took my mothers advise and charted my own path of wisdom towards culinary exploration . People who follow my blog , will know about my escapades such as the CORNFLAKES DOSAI and , through such learning experiences, i was all confident and pumped up ,that i was ready to bear the brunt of the storm. Little did i know ,that i was heavily misinformed.

. The rude awakening started off with the long flight journey. A few dumplings of rice and meat ,served with horse food (read : Lettuce , Cucumber , Spinach Leaves ) does not really fill your stomach . You tend to argue with the wisdom of the cabin crew , especially when they serve breakfast and lunch when its 2 AM and 5 AM IST . Realization slowly dawns on you that , this is the beginning of the so called "FILL IT UP YOURSELF " Shock Period. I would rather term mine as Culinary Shock .

. More grave situations lay in waiting . With my stomach grumbling and protesting , i set foot upon USA . Not the way i had expected . Even though my mind was excited and my heart was pumping ,my stomach was waging a battle of its own. I was exploring JFK ,the whole morning for options and finally spotted a familiar sight in a McD in Terminal 7. With hopes high , i raced ahead . It dint take a long time for them though, to go into free fall. All i could see was pork, beef and red meat everywhere. I am no vegan , but this was still difficult to digest. Finally , i had to settle down for a chicken sandwich and coffee . And no , i swear that i am not going to talk about the cost or how much it is when converted into rupees.

. Lunch was substituted by Coke and Pepsi ,and finally we reached Gainesville. Two seniors were kind enough to buy us pizza from Papa Johns. Yes, its high time you get used to the several outlets that serve you "American" Food.

.The next two days were almost an exercise in despair . It took us that much time to set up everything and start cooking on our own. We knew that this was the only way out of this hole. One , you minimize your expenses and two, you get a chance to eat proper ( or whatever you cook ) Indian food. Rice and vegetables , were never an issue ,as saviours such as Walmart and Publix are stacked with the above. Armed with an army of pickles , pastes from home and a whole gamut of cooking vessels ,we set about cooking .

. Breakfast mainly tends to be either noodles or flakes with milk and honey or omelette or fruit and off late oatmeal . Though hardly filling , it keeps your stomach from ringing the alarm bell. I have spent most of the days so far in the University. In that case you have three options . One , eat at places like Taco Bell ( serves rolled up chappathis with horse food inside ) , Subway ( bread with horse food inside ) , Starbucks ( serves coffee at exorbitant prices ) , Panda Bowl ( The Chinese even have a restaurant of their own ) . Second option , pack your lunch . This is only possible if you wake up at 7 in the morning , rummage around the kitchen , take initiative and cook both breakfast and lunch for 4 people !!! Naangala 830 class ku 835 ku enthirikara case , so this option goes for a toss. Third option, skip lunch. I have been sticking to the third option so far . I would not recommend it and i too am searching for other viable solutions.

Ofcourse , when i do not hit the road on weekdays , we generally cook ( appadina sollika vendiyathaan ) . My kitchen resume is ever growing and becoming longer and longer with an ever increasing impressive list of dishes . The highlights cover a broad spectrum right from hot water to chicken curry. Somewhere in that list you will also find carrot poriyal , fried rice ,bindi masala , mashed potatoes and so forth . Of course there have been mild side effects. But , yes MILD !!! Some accidents have occured on the way. Mostly we forget the salt , and sometimes the tamarind in the sambhar . But , believe me when i say , there is nothing as satisfying as eating the food you cooked. I do not know whether in two years , i will be a graduate , but i would have definitely taken a few steps in the direction of being the Gainesville version of our own Sanjeev Kapoor.

Weekends . Hmmm !!! Mostly we dine out . There's this amazing Pakistani restaurant on Western University Avenue - Kabab House. Strings attached -- It tends to leave a hole in your packet . But ,the food is worth the price tag it bears. I would especially recommend paying a visit to them during their Happy Hours : 3-5 PM on all days . There is also the ISKCON 's Hare Rama Hare Krishna Trust on the same road , which serves dinner on 7 PM Fridays . They say its free ,but you need to pay a meagre donation of 3 $ . I am not even sure whether its one time or not .

And of course, there are GatorNights ,every Friday !!! Friday dinner or Saturday breakfast is never an issue .UF for nothing is ranked in the top 10 Party Schools of USA . To start off , the movie comes with popcorn and drink . And to top everything off , there is the midnight breakfast . Bread , sausage , scrambled eggs , oatmeal and chocolate milk . The best part is everything is free !!! There are more options to look out for , if you are on the hunt for "OC Saapadu " . Other than the GatorNights , there are also the different sessions of student organizations and the Fraternities !!! We just dined on the IGSA 's dwindling ( thats what they say always ) coffers today . The Graduate Student Council which meets every month, offers you free food just to come and attend their sessions . Talk about perks !!! So you just need to keep your eyes and ears open , and be at the right place at the right time.

David Letterman once quipped that , the best place to start understanding and respecting a person's culture is from their food . Make sure your taste buds are tuned up , if you are heading to the USA!!! Face it , even though you cook , you cannot survive solely on it . When you head out and eat outside , invariably you come up across stuff that are terribly bland and on the wrong side of the spice-meter . But , you need to live with it . It might be quite difficult to start with , but you do need to adjust to it . Trust me , if you are going to be a closed book when it comes to cuisine , you are shutting down a lot of avenues . And yes , a word of caution for vegans . Options here are non-existent , so its better if you guys sharpen up your skills , before you land . God, i sound preachy.

. But, yes the moral of the story is , none of the above even come close to being a substitute ,for your mom's cooking . Guys and girls , if you haven respected what she puts on the dining table daily , its high time you started . And for those who do , its high time you started celebrating her cooking and learning from her . There are some fathers who cook to . With due respect to them, i haven come across many . As i said , you realize somethings worth , only when its not around .

PS : I want my idly and dosa.

Poo Poovai Punnagaikum Ival Engal Veetu Puthu Kavithai !!!

An amazing song. Lilting and melodious music .Few songs have moved me like this . Its from a little known Tamil movie "BALA" staring Shaam and Meera Jasmine.

The lyrics are simply brilliant. Here is the link to the song on Youtube :- "Poo Poovai Punnagaikum Ival " .

Just to help those who read, i have also pasted the lyrics below . Beg pardon to those who dont understand Tamil.

"" Poo Poo vai Punnagaikum Ival engal veetu puthu kavithai
Thalata thottil mattum illai ival engal kai kuzhanthai
Pulvezhigal neerponaal pen panithuli kaal keerum
Nam ithayangal naal thorum irupathellaam oru thudipu

First 2 lines repeat again

MUSIC

Engal illathile inba nadagam thaan ,inge thevaillai tholaikaatchi
Engal ulathile thinum poomalai thaan, naangal selvathillai malarkaatchi
Mazhai vanthaal athil nanaivom , annai thuvattum sugamum kidaika
Veyil vanthaal athil azhaivom, thanthai adhatum inimai rasika
Kaal konda roja thulli thulli vanthu , thoonuku pinnaal nindru sirikiradhe


Poo Poo vai ....

MUSIC

Thaai katugindra nool selaiyile en porvai endru adam pidipom
mottaimadiyile oru thattinile nei soru veithu uyir rusipom
Ore ore minvisiri ,athil adiyil thoongi kidapom
en uyir thanthai thozhil , siru kuzhandaiyaga irupom
Bhoomiyil sorgam ,uzhathendru sonnal
Vaer engum illai, athu engal illame

Poo Poo Vai ... ""

Its a shame i dont know who the music director and the lyricist are . Kudos to them for coming up with such a brilliant song !!!

My First Impressions of Amreeka!!!

Before i start, Independent India is 63 years old. May her flag always fly high and may shall we always hold our heads high as its proud citizens. Independence Day wishes to every Indian out there .

So now that i am finally in the US of A , many misconceptions have been cleared and many new impressions have been etched. Frankly speaking, the experience so far has been mixed. While i have been awed at certain places , i am doing my best not to get carried away, as every inch out here is a fight.

First things first . The only way to survive in America is to ask and demand . Otherwise you can either end up being lost or being taken for a ride. Every dollar you spend out here is worth its weight in gold. Its normal for every Indian to convert prices into equivalent rupees. However, thats a strict no no. If you do so, all you will end up doing is Window Shopping . So spend your time , searching out for alternatives , scouting for places where you feel your value for money is fulfilled. This applies to everything right across the spectrum , right from a haircut to your laptop. Every penny saved is worth the effort. Demand for what is right and ask why you are wrong. There is nothing wrong in doing so. Whether it be the cheese in your sub or the memory card in your digicam , ask for it and get to know about it .You are paying for it and you better do so. Americans are not necessarily smart , but they are definitely streetsmart. One look and they will know that you are way out of this place. The best way to survive here is put up a confident front and be vocal and aggressive when you need to be. As i said , ask and demand.

Dont hesitate to establish a rapport with Americans. Whether it may be a white, African-American, Hispanic or Latino , they generally prefer small talk. It may range from a "How are you doing " to a lengthy discussion on gay rights and abortion. Most of them are upfront . The fact that they want to talk to you and know more about you and your country is a sign of respect they have for you and your nation. So its best served ,that you treat them with the same respect. And yes get used to their lingo . When they politely enquire whether you can take up a task , it means that they want you to do it and that you do not have an option . And there's nothing called Xerox , cheap and costly over here. It's photocopy ,affordable and expensive. These are small , small things that you will pick up on ur way.

Never wear a pink shirt over here. It definitely sends out the wrong signals. Dont put your arm around another guy . Its considered downright offensive unless the person is a gay. You cant share an umbrella with a guy . Dont give a second look at couples kissing in public. Its against their privacy ,however ironic it may sound . Say a "thank you " to every American who helps you and every bus driver . A small extension of courtesy.

Most people here are nice . And they expect you to maintain eye contact. They look at it as a sign of engaging in conversation . Feel free while you speak to them . And yes , remember S.T.E.P. Sorry, Thank You , Excuse me and Please . You are in a foreign nation and its expected that you be courteous to people who are nice to you .

Dont use black. Its downright rude. You better get used to "African American" . And yes you will realize that your fashion sense is way off target and outdated . You either learn to live with what you have or stop cribbing about what people here wear. Dont show off. Americans like people who are original . Showboating and recommedations dont get you anywhere over here. True talent matters and is recognized over here, atleast in the educational system.

But , yes there is a downside to everything . Beneath those layers of artificial humour and slapstick that some Americans put on to make you at home , they still look at you as that "Brown Weasel from the Far East " ,robbing them off opportunities. If you do come across people like these ,you are well off by keeping away and not instigating them and not giving them opportunities. But , yes ,if some drunken guy or girl zooms past in a car , shouting expletives at you ,your country and your family , it doesn hurt to flip the finger. A mild satisfaction if anything. Its a universal language everybody understands. Stay away from troubled and notorious neighbourhoods. And its always good to move as a group till you get used to the place. And yes dont venture out too late in the night . Guy or girl , a foreigner is always a soft target.

Leaving the generic stuff aside, the place i live in is called Gainesville in the southern state of Florida . Its a small , peaceful and green University town. Its buzzing with activity throughout the day and the place is always alive. Its a wonderfully planned town with its amazing scenery, lakes , red bricked buildings and crocs. Modernization still has not left a great mark over here and it still retains its vintage charm. And ,yes it has unpredictable weather to boot . One minute its blazing sunshine and the next its torrential downpour. The weather here is manageable though, it does tend to get sticky sometimes. Everybody has a car over here . Nissan's and Toyota's rule the roost and you will also find loads of Bentleys , BMWs and Mustangs. The city is well served by its buses through the Regional Transport System ( RTS ) . They are basically modern AC buses which run in circles . Cycle lanes and walkways are aplenty and its a haven for trekkers and joggers. Parks and greenery are aplenty ,and its a far cry away from the concrete jungle of Manhattan and Chicago.

Learn to live and adapt here quickly . But that doesn mean that you need to step down from your ideals. Yes, you might be forced to compromise or give way on certain issues , but never loose your identity. Be proud of what you are and hold your head high and walk . You are here for one thing , and keep that in mind . You will meet people of different ilk along the way . Learn to sift through them and select the ones you need. Given a choice , exercise it , because you wont get many such opporunities here. And yes , do try to contribute in whatever way you can. As an ambassador of your nation , its best to conduct yourself in the right spirits and be genuine . This is a land of opportunities and people . You just need to find the right ones.

Being Sporty In No Small Way !!!

Yes, the Football World Cup's finally over and a new season of La Liga, English Premier League and Serie A is upon us. The Indian Cricket Team is currently touring Srilanka, and many of us have the Airtel Champions League T20 and the 2011 World Cup to look forward to. Rafael Nadal looks to claim the only Grand Slam that has eluded him in the US Open and Tiger Woods attempts to start again from scratch. The NBA Draft pick is just over and ,so , daily come and go these zillions of tidings in the World of Sports and the associated industries. But, tell me how many of you gave a thought for those games we used to play as kids ;in the past one month or so. Chi Ku Li Ba , Paandi , Book Cricket , Round Toss, Pen Fight , Rubber Fight and so on. This entry in a way is a tribute to those , moments of frivolous and innocent indulgement we shared in these activities.

Games like the above ,were omnipresent during our school days. Days ,when, innocence stemmed from our spirits and days in which our present materialistic outlook was an unknown entity. We have lost our innocence as we progressed through life ,and in a way our shedding of all these games ,is an indication of the above.

To start off ,Paandi has always been a game that had fascinated me . Partly, due to the fact that i never understood it and partly due to the fact, that the girls never allowed the boys to play with them . It had a major rural audience and found a huge following among these children ,especially girls. Paandi is also known as "Nondi " ,and you will understand why as you read on. A more traditional game , it mainly involves a grid 4*2 in size (eight squares of equal area) and , more importantly a stone. As far as i could understand from what my cousin sisters used to play, the game is as follows. The girl throws a stone onto one of these squares , then hops to that particular square ("Nondi":- Hop) and then, picks up the stone with her feet and then hops back to the start. I know its not a great explanation , but as i had already admitted, i never understood the intricacies of this sport. Probably the following link might throw some light :-

http://www.traditionalgames.in/home/outdoor-games/nondi-nonti-pandi-panti

Now , to a game, that held mine and many others attention, throughout my primary and middle school. CHI KU LI BA (click here to view a demo of the game ) is the Desi/Tamil version of the STONE PAPER SCISSORS (click here to view a demo of the game) game . It's a very simple game ,but one which contained amazing levels of entertainment,fun and frolic. The basic concept is the structure of power. For example , the paper exerts more power over the stone as it can cover it ,whereas the scissors exerts more power over the paper , as it can cut through and so on. So the two players basically , need to form the respective symbols using their hands, and whoever has the symbol of the higher precedence ,wins the tie. A simple game decided by the moment, but one which epitomized those fun-filled and no holds days of our life as kids. I dont think i need to explain further on this, as most of you should be familiar with this game. If you are not ,you have missed out on your childhood. Below is the link ,for the Chi Ku Li Ba official page on Facebook :-

www.facebook.com/pages/Chi-Ku-Li-Ba/111163662235911

. Moving onto games which required a bit more agility and ability with numbers, Book Cricket is the first which comes to my mind. Again , a game most of you should be familiar with. I will explain ,though for those poor souls ,who lost their way during their childhood. Book Cricket is a game solely reserved for class hours, which makes it all the more spicy. All you need is some textbook, a classmate who is as disoriented with the proceedings of the class as you are, a not too smart teacher and a place in the last bench (preferrably) . The score is read by every single flip of the book. The catch here is the fact, that only the last digit of the right hand side page number is taken into account . So, invariably you end up with numbers 0,2,4,6 and 8 and the batsmen end up with even numbered scores. The toss is won by the guy who gets the highest even number at the first run. Then the game starts. 2,4,6 and 8 are valid scores and 0 is considered out. So the score adds up till, you get a zero. This case is repeated for 10 wickets. Finally , the target is set , and your opponent has to follow the same process and try beat your score. Simple enough, is it not. No sponsors, no cheerleaders, no late night parties, no Lalit Modi ; just happiness, innocence and childish fervour. The man of the match turns out to be those moments we share , while we play this game.

Finally, a game i should not miss out. ROUND TOSS. A game we discovered during, our XIth and XIIth and especially during our IIT JEE classes. Its basically a variant of doubles in tennis. Lets start off with a simple example. Imagine a tennis court , with four players ;P1,P3 on one side and P2,P4 on the other . My explanation will be better elucidated if i can add illustrations to support them. But , its already 11 in the night ,and i am feeling too lazy and tired after , a long day in the saddle :P . Coming back to the game, the basic principle behind the game is "MOVE AS YOU PLAY". Lets look at why is it called so.

.P1 serves and moves to the other side of the court. If we freeze the court at this point of time, P2,P4 and P1(in that order) will be on one side and P3 on the other . Now, P2 hits the return and moves to the other side. If we freeze again now, we will have P4 and P1 ; P3 and P2 on opposite sides of each other. Now, P3 returns and moves to the other side. Following the freeze cycle ; P4, P1 and P3 will be one side and P2 on the other. Now , finally P4 hits the return and moves on. So ,now a single cycle is complete. Similar to tennis , a person is out if he/she misses the return and ,slowly , one by one is ousted till the final 2 compete against each other , over a normal game of single point tennis ,to decide the winner. This game can be extended to several players. I remember once playing with 30 people during the IIT JEE Classes. This game had a huge following amongst the students of P.S.Senior and PSBB schools. Again , a simple enough invention of a game, but ,as you can see ,it gets a bit complicated and a wee bit difficult to understand on paper . The purpose of explaining this game is better served, when i add illustrations to this post ,and i promise i will get back to this post soon ,and edit and add illustrations.

.There are many more i can think of ; and many will be there , of whose existence i would have forgotten or i never would have been aware off . If you can name a few of them in your comments to this post, i will be forever grateful and indebted to your sporty and kind hearted souls.

. This post is a fond remembrance of all those amazing days we shared, as kids ; running and laughing ; holding hands together and playing our way into each other's hearts and mind . Life was truly a Bed of Roses then . God, can i have those days back again, please.

And Now For Something Completely Different !!!

This post is inspired by my admiration for Monty Python and the beauty and effectiveness of various languages around the world. Got this idea ,when i was replying to one of my friend's tweets.

Most of you will find this attempt stupid. Those who do not ,and are, willing to read through, keep Google Translate handy.

'N taal is so' n kragtige medium vir die vervoer van menslike emosies, gedagtes en meer.Sprachen haben einheitliche Ländern verursacht Kriege und rewrittend das Leben der Menschen.të tillë e saj një të mesme të poweful, dhe ngjall emocionet, të cilat ndonjëherë mund të kufirit në fanatizëm.الكلمات ، قد تكون هي نفسها ، عندما نفكر والكلام ، ولكن اللغة المحكية يأخذ هذه الكلمات الى المستوى التاليBai, ahal duzu batzuk, hizkuntza horretan bakarrik ez du sortzen intentsitatea argudiatu ditzake, baina hizlariaren ahotsa eta bere intentsitatea ere handia papera.Аднак, многія выступалі пагадзіліся, што мова прыносіць на іх, да гэтага часу невядомых пачуццё, што яны не могуць назірацца з думкамі.

No és que el seu impacte en pau, que els fa tan ric.它的歷史，使他們這樣一個有趣的研究。
Jezici kao što su sanskrt su stariji od mnogih civilizacija i nose sa sobom iznenađujuće povijesti.Deres udvikling og attributter er så svært at forstå. Languages by themselves are a riddle, many have found difficult to have.

Malgré une histoire aussi riche, les langues de nos jours sont de plus en plus utilisés dans les connotations négatives. Divisións de base en linguas, e do fanatismo que se seguen, dilacerado nacións.लोगों भाषाई कट्टरता में अंधा हो गया है और गलत कारणों के लिए अपनी भावनाओं . Tá sé seo scaipthe ar fud gach shraitheanna den tsochaí agus ar fud na ranganna ar fad i measc na maiseanna.3最近の例では、私の心に、インドのコンテキスト特にれています。첫째, 타밀 나두 다 끝났어, aradhana는 타밀어로 진행 될수하는 사원에 대한 청원있다.Aš niekada suprasti, kas nulėmė tokią varomąją, todėl aš nenoriu pastabas šiuo klausimu.Второ, адвокати се петиција дека Тамилски биде јазикот кој се користи во courtrooms во Тамил Наду.Vtoro, advokati se peticiJa deka Tamilski bide Jazikot koJ se koristi vo courtrooms vo Tamil Nadu.Ja, hvis rettferdighet kan utlevert raskere, hvorfor ikke.Terceiro, o ensino técnico foi convidado para ser comunicado em tâmil em muitas faculdades em todo o estado.Kama mhandisi mwenyewe, sijui kama ni hatua katika mwelekeo sahihi.

Bu konu hakkında daha fazla yazmak istiyorsunuz, ancak bu giriş zor olmuştur.Більшість з вас знайти цю спробу нерозумно, але, в деякому розумінні, її моя належне Мови світу.Tôi đã cố gắng để kết hợp như nhiều ngôn ngữ càng tốt. Bydd eich sylwadau, boed yn gadarnhaol ac yn negyddol cael eu derbyn yn llawen.

اور ہاں ، ایک خاص کے لئے شکریہ ان تمام لوگوں ، جو اس لائن تک پڑھنے کے درد

A Case of Been There, Almost Done That !!!

. Four years in college ,was a great learning curve. Its slope was never constant ,so that should tell you something ,about how things must have been. I went through a number of experiences ,good and bad . I came out of most of them , as a stronger individual and as a more mature person ,realizing and repenting for my mistakes ,and at some instances , feeling happy for the right choices i had made. Some had left me emotionally drained . These were the most difficult to come out off . This is an account of one such experience.

. Most of us ,who land up in engineering colleges, either by will or force ( I belong to the second) , dream of going out ,with a plum and high paying job in their hands. I was no different !!! An Electronics and Communication Engineer by trade, i was left surprised at my lack of interest in core subjects such as Signal Processing, VLSI blah blah blah .... These were the subjects on mastering and understanding, which will land you in dream companies like Texas Instruments, Analog Devices ,Intel , Qualcomm and other behemoths . Our placement season is an around the year process and starts in July and ends in May the next year. NIT Trichy is one of the premier engineering institutes in the country , and you are almost assured of a job ,when you enter . What and which job, is upto you ???

. The placement season is coordinated by the Department of Training of Placement and involves some commited effort and genuine hardwork put in by the Department Placement Representatives ,whom we refer to as "CIC ( Campus Incharge of Companies ) REPS " . Most of the students , atleast those who were serious about jobs ,sat down at the end of third year and started preparing seriously for placements. But, i had already set my sights on higher studies and given my lack of interest in core concepts, i had decided to sit only for management jobs. By the way , i detest coding and programming, so did not want a software job . Naturally, my parents were shocked. Convincing them ,took me the better part of one month. Enough of the background, lets get to the point.

. It was the second week of placements ,and this British based Management and Product Rights company ,was the second on campus after Adobe. It was the first management company on campus, and obviously i decided to try my hand at it . So , i registered for it . Another sop in sitting for a management job , is that you hardly require any prior preparation . As i found out later , all you need is a quick mind, the ability to think on your feet, the ability to hold an audience and convey your thoughts in a focussed and captivating manner .

. The day the company was on campus, i went for the usual power point presentation ,any company puts up before the process starts. I was in formals for the first time , and the blazing July heat did not help at all . I still remember cursing the guy ,who invented formals. They are just not made for the heat. So, i sat in the AC auditorum and was listening to the droning voice of the HRs . They almost put me to sleep. The usual riff-raff about the jobs, workplace , compensation ..... zzzzzz.. zzzzzz.... My friend woke me up after the presentation was over.

. As usual , the next round was a written test. This test was the first instance of the many changes in attitude i went through during the process. The paper though simple was devious and brilliantly set. It thoroughly explored your fundamentals . One simple mistake, you are dead. I came to accept that these guys meant business and ,unknowingly, started to appreciate them and their employers. Lo behold, i qualified the written and the next round was a personal interview.

. So, i had to rush to the aforementioned Training&Placement Department for my interview, next day morning. And , YES , i was wearing a TIE . The first time in my life :D .. It was almost a royal feeling . I experienced a smug satisfaction when , i saw those envious looks , my batchmates were giving me .A few wishes later , i was sitting in the T&P ,waiting for my turn.

. Time stood still ,while i was waiting. For the first time, i was actually feeling nervous during the whole process . I was appearing for my first interview. It was a small step into a professional life, but ,still a significant one. People who went in and came out , displayed emotions across the spectrum. Some were exuberant and happy, some quietly confident, some had the look of horror and some gave away nothing. It made me even more nervous and increased my tension. Finally , my turn came. I drank some water to quench my parched throat and went in.

. Time flied inside. I came out , i had to say smiling and confident that i had done well. It would have been understatement ,to say, that i would have disappointed not to have been selected for the next stage. Again ,another significant change in the attitude.

.So, i went to my room .The results were expected in the evening. I sat nervously, pacing back and forth, twiddling my thumbs, restless and shuffling ,akin ,to an expectant father :) . The results did come finally , and , yes, i was selected for the next stage. It was an on-the-top-of-the-world feeling and i was jumping for joy. Many congratulated me , but ,somewhere within me , a voice whispered that , there was one more stage left. I decided to mute it out and jump for joy. The first mistake and the probably the first sign of complacency beginning to creep in .

.Six of us (3 from my department ) ;3 guys and 3 girls ; were selected to go to their India Operations Office in Bangalore (where else). All we know ,was that we would be spending a day there . We were not informed about what will happen there and, they specifically told us not to prepare anything. It was going to be a first for me in many ways , and i was planning to enjoy it to the maximum . The sweethearts, they were , they were paying for our whole trip. My respect for them ,was growing by the minute :)

. So finally the day came. Again those feelings of nervous anticipation and a fear of negotiating the unknown ,came rushing back. It was as if god had taken a spyglass and was looking at me through them. But , i was confident that i could give my best , and, i was sure that i was primed for the challenge . I still dont know whether this was a feeling bordering on overconfidence .Dont think i will ever be able to figure that out.

. I will never forget that day in my life. It was an exhilirating and amazing experience . Everything about them oozed invention and innovativeness. It was a company that i could relate to and see myself in . As an inquisitive person and as somebody who loves research and innovation ,i found them and their work ethics amazing. I so so badly wanted to get placed there . Again , a huge change in my attitude . A total extreme to the one i had started off with.

. Late in the evening ,we three guys , sat discussing the events and happenings of the day over pastries and coffee at La Boulangerie. The girls had gone for some shopping. All of us were singing their praises ,and i found out that i was not the only one ,who had undergone this sea change in attitude . All of us badly wanted to make it . I was even willing to give up my dreams of ,higher studies to take up this challenging and wonderful job.

.The HRs said they would mail the final results to the T&P , the next day morning. So, all of us returned to Trichy ,that night . I could not sleep that night on the bus . Dont know whether it was because of the cold air-conditioning, but , i attribute it more to the excitement that was flowing through every nerve in my body. I was already dreaming about making it big in the company ,dreaming of drawing my own salary, splurging it and living an amazing life . It was an exhilirating feeling , and i dint sleep a wink on the bus ,that night.

. Morning finally arrived ,and we reached Trichy. Everybody at the hostel , was asking me about how it went, and ,i did not know what to reply , but i just smiled. I think most of them took it ,as , that i had done well . Yes i knew i had done well and was expecting to make the final cut. Overconfidence??? I dont know !!! I just could not wait.

. I still clearly remember the moment. It was during the second hour . The results are first sent to the Department CIC REP ,who then forwards it to the whole class . My name as you know, starts with a 'V' , so i am the last ones to get these group texts. It was a boring Mobile Communication class, and i could suddenly see ripples , in the otherwise dull class . Two girls , one of them ,who had come to Bangalore along with me ,started hugging each other . I knew ,at that instant itself that , it could not be without a reason and every nerve ending in my body, starting firing with anticipation. The guy ,sitting next to me ,was my best friend , and his name started with 'A'. He got the text before me . He just tapped me on my shoulder, and i still clearly remember the exact words he said , " I AM SORRY THAT I HAVE TO BREAK THIS TO YOU" and passed on his mobile.

. There were the ,roll numbers of the people who had been selected from my department. There were two . Mine was not there . The other two had qualified. I just went numb . I was not feeling anything even though the nerve endings were still firing . I just calmly ,gave back the mobile to him and went back to taking notes. The class finally got over. There were hoots and cheers of happiness and screams and peals of joy and excitement. The two who had got through ,quickly came to me and said a cursory sorry and the usual... I cant blame them , can i . On the day, they were better than me .The guy was taken out and his ass whipped. The girl was whisked away to the snacketeria for the treats she owed.

. I just went out of my classroom calmly ,and headed to my room. There was no class, the next hour. I was so suprised at this calm disposition of mine. I slowly walked past hordes of students , their chatter and activities blind to me. I was temporarily deaf, dumb and mute. Then it started. A trickle from my eyes, slowly and slowly , increasing in intensity , until i started crying out in frustration , disappointment and more . My best friend ('A' ) came upto me and put an arm around me ,and i just started crying on his shoulder, in plain sight and in front of everyone. I did not care, i just wanted to cry. He quickly took me to my room . I just kept on crying. I could not think of anything else . He stayed with me till i got back to normal and then left me.

. I opened my laptop and started listening to my favourite song of Coldplay " Where do we go , nobody knows " . I concentrated on the lyrics, never had they seemed so full of life and never could i relate to them this much . For the first time in my life, i actually understood , what people meant by "A calm before the storm " .

.Truly , a case of "Been There, Almost Done That ".

.Dedicated to all my juniors ,who are appearing for their placements this year . I hope this does not happen to you ,but if it does , do take it as a learning experience and try to come out of it stronger.

STRANGERS

"Everybody starts as strangers ; some fall by the wayside and some stand by you ,till your last breath ".

. Life is a long journey ,where friendship is the only transport that is always bankable. We are not born with friends, are we. We see millions of people around us everyday , but we relate to very few of them . We interact with even fewer and an even lesser amount ,have the right and ability to impact us . But , there's a common thread running through all of them,everybody started as a stranger.

We would have come across million opportunities in our life , till date, to meet strangers. Be it your first day in kindergarden , your first outing with a group, your first day in college,travelling in a bus or train, going to a cricket match or even dining in a hotel.

Well , in most cases, its those first few words and sentences ,which breaks the ice. The conversation may be minimal , the words not so great or thoughtful ; but more importantly they should be right . If the two are generally able to sustain a conversation ; it generally develops into an intuition to know more about each other .The conversation may vary across a wide range of topics and issues ; but the ability to sustain it and make it interesting is very important . Its even more so in a fledgling friendship, as words are the only medium through which strangers can relate to each other.

It does not stop there . Getting to know each other is just the beginning. Friendship is something that thrives on one's respect for the other's opinions, likes and dislikes. The ability to relate to each other's attitudes and outlook becomes very important . Not everybody's a mirror image of one another. But in a way , this acts as a essential ingredient for a thriving friendship. Two people with , totally different attitude's and outlook , do find it sometimes , difficult to bond together and relate to each other. But ,even if one shows the genuine commitment and interest to get to know the other person , foundations for a healthy friendship can be easily built.

Some friendships loose their verve , when, a period called "Saturation ( a psychology term ) " ,starts to cast its shadow over the relationship. Generally, in such instances, one of the two begins to find the other a bit uninteresting and the warmth in the relationship ,gradually wanes. Its almost like a cancer . This is the most crucial period of any relationship. Building and burning bridges is very easy, but to sustain the faith in its safety and credibility is the most important .

Many do ,try and work out their differences and sort it out. And its always better to have a conversation , not a talk. Some dont take the effort , move on and try to leave their past behind them. Trust me, the second option is very painful and takes a long time to heal. Though ,some might find the first a bit impractical , because of the feeling that you have been let down and taken for a ride, still, making an effort is something we have to consider. But , yes, if you are thoroughly disenchanted with a person ,who was once your friend and has really left you in despair with his or her attitude and activities, then , definitely , its not worth the effort. He or she is not worthy of it .

Generally , relationships which somehow meander around these upheavals and differences , blossom . Some transcend into an even powerful emotion in love and some become pals for life. There's no prescribed tonic to get over troubles in a friendship. A genuine attitude, the ability to hear the other person out and warmth and trust are the threads which weave this wonderful fabric.

Friendship also thrives on the space, understanding and independence one gives the other. But , its not something to be granted , but rather something that should be an innate feeling . Greater this feeling ,better the depths of understanding .

I cant end this post without a reference ,to the movie " The Bucket List " . I do not know ,how many of you have seen it . Its a beautiful and poignant movie of two strangers who meet each other on their deathbeds and progress through a world of fun ,laughter and tears to become thick friends. Its an amazing depiction of this wonderful relationship . Superb potrayals by Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman ,go a long way in making this movie , one of my favourites. I have watched it many times, but still certain scenes leave me teary-eyed. Do watch it if you have not .You will not regret it :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucket_List

Friendship is an emotion, we need to cherish and celebrate. It comes with no expectations . It just requires time , effort , trust and warmth .

Dedicated to all those strangers ,who have taken the pain to get to know me better.