Kaapi and Coffee......

"Bhattare two by three kaapi kodi; swalpa strong erali"....
"Can I have medium regular coffee with cream and sugar".....

Ordering a coffee in US is a pain. All I want is just kaapi but no I will be pounded with tons of questions. What flavor?? extra cream?? extra sugar??....
come on what do u mean by flavor, I just want kaapi. Who cares for "Latte" "French vanilla" "cappuccino" "Hazel Nuts". One fine day I had "French Vanilla" and trust me that was not at all kaapi... it was an ice cream!!! Ya vanilla tastes good only with ice cream. Worst part is there is "two by three" system also.......

I am just waiting to get back to Brahmins cafe and say
"Bhattare two by three kaapi kodi; swalpa strong erali"....

Relations...!!!!!

Like most others even I was also under the impression that there is no much importance is given for family in western countries... I used to think people don't value relations... Emotional bondings is pretty week here. It just took one simple incident to prove me wrong.

I was on my RSA shift during the closing. Semester was coming to an end; all residents were packing up and getting ready to go home and enjoy summer holidays. As usual I was sitting at the front desk with my radio and playing some game on my laptop. A lady aged 40-45 walks to me and asks can she go into the dorm to meet her son. 'Absolutely madam but I need your son to come down and sign you in'. "I am trying to reach him but he is not answering his mobile, his room number is XYZ". She no where looked like a trespasser. 'Yes madam; you go straight and take left for the elevator'. She smiled and left.

After around 3hrs she came down along with her son. Her son was walking in front carrying just a little back pack. She was pushing a trolley loaded with luggage, she was also carrying bags on her shoulders. Sitting at my desk I saw her really struggling carrying the luggage. I was little confused 'hey what kind of a son are you... common look at your mom carrying all your stuff'. Shocked, confused, a little upset I went to the lady and asked 'Madam let me help you'. 'No Sir I am absolutely fine I can handle this, thanks'. I went back to my desk looking her pushing and carrying all that stuff alone. I told my self boy thats a rude son..!!!!

After couple of minutes she came to me and told 'My son is not rude. He is really a nice kid. But has this problem with his back. He is not allowed to carry heavy weights. I just don't want you to think bad or wrong about my kid'. I was dumb found and speechless!!!! Felt really embarrassed and all I could say was "I am sorry".

No matter where you are... No matter what your culture is.... I realized everyone cares for their family and relations..... Its these emotions that keep us going....

I know.....

"Never listen to your Manager. They always show illusions to you so just nod on what ever they say"

All the management institutes are just a bunch of places where people are taught how to fool others... There is absolutely no reality!!!! Managers know how to speak sweat words and show dreams to their subordinates. They know very well how to exploit the faith a person have on them.

Learning --- "No matter what your manager says always have an alternative plan and stick to it"

Corporate Lessons

- No one is here to do charity; its all about business you work we pay and we pay that's why you work. Simple!!!

- Don't love your company you never know when your company will stop loving you!!! (NRN)

- We are way too emotional.....!!! be opportunists don't get struck in emotional intricacies!!!

- There is a thin line between Need and Greed... Now how to define them is up to you

- If want to have a good sound sleep leave work just in the office may be take it with you the gates of the office but not beyond that.

These are some of the things I was told by some big figures while I was working.

I got used to it....

Its the nature or the servival that makes us get used to anything. There were times when I have fallen sick when the temprature was just as low as 15 degrees. There were times when I used to wear thick cloths just to keep myslef warm when the temperature was just 18 degrees. Never Ever in my life I imagined I will say I got used to -15 degrees!!!!

I landed in Syracuse Newyork on Jan 5th 2006 10:45pm. My journey from Bangalore to Frankfurt and Frankfurt to Philadelphia and then Philadelphia to Syracuse was pretty warm. No doubt every Boeing that I took and all the airports were very well airconditioned. I knew its winter and Syracuse is gonna be cold but had no idea how cold or how its gonna feel. I collected my bags and went out of main entrance to meet my friend who was there to receive me. Thats when I realized what real cold means!!!!... It was -10 degrees that night and I was speachless!!!... yes a new experience, new feel. Next day morning I started my walk towards University dressed up like an Eskimo I was shocked to see the reality of winter. There were not even a single leaf on any of the trees... Entire place was covered with just the white stuff... I cribbed & cribbed a lot... Got really bored and psyched of looking at just only ONE colour for 3 months. But hey it was my choice to come here.

Seriously its my second winter here in Syracuse and the things are not much different. B I don't crib so much I used to do last year. I dont wear even as many layers I used to wear last year. I dont feel any major difference let it be 0 degree of -17 (yep that was last night). I act as if I am used to snow & such winters since I was born.... Whats all this... Hey I got used to it.