A year…or something like it!

July 24th 2008.

Flash back – A not-so-young Indian, with a good enough salary, peaceful life, passionate about few things was leaving his home country for the sake of realizing his academic dreams.  Reality check: In comes the call for boarding the flight and he rushes into the flight after a funny little tryst with the Air India officials.

At that moment, this fellow didn’t realize what he is going to do all alone.  There was only a gut instinct that pushed him towards anything until then.  He thinks that gut instinct is going to the grave along with him for good enough reasons. That’s his belief though!

Well, his journey was tailgated with a number of memorable moments, and best wishes.  After all, not everyday you want to stay away from your home for a period of atleast two to three years.  Be it living away from home or living at a distance from home – Its a case of an entirely different magnitude especially with many factors like time, distance, and ‘importance’ come into the picture.

July 25th 2008.

New place and new friends started trickling in.  New hobbies and ways to pass the time came into picture.  Getting acclimatised to the country which is completely opposite in thoughts and even simple daily activities like locking the door and switching on the light..to name a few. Jet lag took away the interest of walking out and running madly in the city.  I should confess, its not a great city – the one which I am living right now.  It’s just what the doctor ordered for me though

July 28th, 2008.

Hitting the road for the first time.  The routene involved – roaming around the vast campus in the name of searching a job crept in.  Not to mention the days and energy lost in searching for an apartment. It was a case where easily, I realized later – I would have done few wonders.  Lesson learnt – Trust your instinct.

July 29th, 2008.

Got the connection that makes this world smaller. A Phone with a 2 year contract.  Result: Loss of valuable private time.  Few times it rings and rings out the peace of mind in you.  Lesson learnt – Switch OFF your cell phone when you don’t want to use. Yeah! I am having little control on myself – I can’t help it.

August 4th, 2008

The most important gadget in my life from then on was lying on my laps from that evening onwards.  It was definitely an important thing in one’s life – especially with the internet and when boring people are around. Chat is perhaps the best invention.  Lesson learnt – Never think that whoever is in your friend’s list on messenger, is not your ‘friend’.  They are just acquaintances. Do not denigrade the noun ‘Friend’ for such jerks.

August 8th, 2008

24th Birthday on 8/8/8 – the day that coincided with the gala event of the inaugaration ceremony of the Olympics started in Beijing, China. It was a small event – with few ‘acquaintances’ wishing me and few good friends congratulating me for the ocassion.  I was ‘happy’. Lesson learnt – Do not judge the book by cover.

August 25th, 2008

Started taking classes from the prestigious MIS program at the Eller College of Management. Understood, what exactly professors do at the Graduate college. They ‘inspire’. Lesson learnt – I am in the wrong place.

August 30th, 2008

Watched my first american football game amidst huge fanfare, crazy crowds, thunder storm.  It was a crazy 70-0 victory for the home team, Arizona Wildcats.  I didn’t understand the seriousness in such lopsided contests. Lesson learnt – Listen to your mind, in making decisions.

October 8th, 2008

Nothing interesting and exciting hapened for few weeks. Until suddenly, I realized my job hunt efforts paid off. I landed up with a part time job for 10 hours per week with a decent pay. I took up this job that day.  Lesson learnt and practiced one – You cannot and do not want to do the work, which you are not capable of. Capacity here is the function of ‘interest’, ‘ability’ and ‘motivation’.

November 27th, 2008

Had a chance to have a Thanksgiving dinner in Indian style. It was a fun-filled evening and realized that the semester is ending.  Arranged for few funds by myself and managed to buy a digital camera and an ipod. It was remarkable in the sense, I had these two accompany me from then on to almost everywhere. Needless, to say – they are good things to have.

December 12th, 2008

End of the semester not technically, but brunt of the work done.  Had an awkward moment when forced to dance. I hate to say this, but I don’t want to keep it hiding. I hate dancing and hate when every human in the room asks for me to dance. Lesson learnt: Avoid such situations however they come and be prepared to take your phone and pretend you are calling someone

December 17th, 2008

Technically Semester ends and still waiting anxiously for the moment of truth.

December 23rd, 2008

Got the chance to collaborate and work for a prestigious project under a professor with high regard and respect in the industry and the academic circles too.  Was over the Moon. This was the moment, I was anticipating when I was in India to be honest. Lesson learnt: Should have listened to the professor’s words and taken few things seriously. I repent now, for taking few things trivially

December 24th, 2008

Planned to go to New york all of a sudden.  Booked the tickets and even managed to put the bad semester (on the memo I meant) behind.  Lesson learnt: Never plan for anything, things will be pretty nice – if its left to the flow.

However, this lesson – I keep on forgetting for various reasons.  The bolded text is for memorising it.

December 26th, 2008

Started the vacation by taking a flight from Tucson to Phoenix and then to Philadelphia and then finally reached ‘New York’.  Took a train to New jersey and reached Manna’s home. It was a great 1 week from then on.

December 31st, 2008

Spent the new year’s eve in a cafe watching friends sip alcohol and me sipping coke once in a while.  Realized this country hates people who do not drink C2H5OH or its cousins.  Went to the Times Square for the New year at 16 degree Fahrenheit.

January 2nd, 2009

Saw snow flakes for the first time in life. Was thrilled for a while, but soon realized it was irritating.

January 6th, 2009

End of the New york adventure.

Lesson learnt – A camera is always good companion wherever and whenever.

January 14th, 2009

Another semester starts, high hopes and expectations. This was the semester I had planned for about a year I guess.

January 26th, 2009

Second time I hated myself, when somebody asked me to ‘Dance’ again. I am gonna learn some martial arts to deal this requests from now on.  Lesson learnt: Never, ever learn Dance in my life again.

February 15th, 2009

Bought a nice piece of jewelry and few goodies to send it to India. This was with my money earned in USD. It was a happy feeling I had. Lesson learnt: Think of satisfying people, who are always there to support you

March 12th, 2009

Realized Smoking is a good stress buster. Smoked like a chimney for some weird reason, I can’t admit to.  I was feeling out of place and had to something to come back.  Smoked nearly 15 cigarettes in the span of 4 hours and tasted Jack Daniel’s Whiskey and what not. Again another instance, where the maniacs press for me to shake a leg – God! I hate that. Lesson learnt: Smoking is a stress buster. Smoking is also injurios to health.

March 13th, 2009

Spring break – Seriously can’t comprehend, the idea of a break in the middle of a semester …. that too for a Week.

Woke up to a heavy hangover with the nicotine in my blood stream. Realized that getting on a ‘high’ is something similar to losing control over your mind. Doing ruckus alone is not getting a ‘high’ – Maybe some drunkards should know that.  They are such a pain in unsaid regions, when they do all the nonsense after getting ‘drunk’.

NOTE: Some jerks seriously think that getting drunk is something an achievement, they don’t understand the time of the others they kill with their stupid talks ranging from their life ambition to the buffoonry they did in their respective home towns.  I have to confess, that I laugh a lot later looking at them when they are in senses. That is a sadistic pleasure I indulge myself sometimes.

Realized that I had lost quite a bit of appetite by now. Was losing weight seriously at an alarming rate that too

Off to the Sin-city for the first time. Had a nice time roaming around Casinos. Made some profits and losses. It was all Mathematics ringing in the minds – until the Grand Canyon National park removed and took away my camera’s battery(it was a rechargeable one so no worries) and the terrific view under the scorching Sun.

March 16th, 2009

Received a pleasant surprise that evening after returning to Tucson. Cleared the final round for one of the companies that planned to offer me a position. End of the Spring break for me.

Had to deal with a sudden shift in attitudes towards life and career. Lot of questions, am I going for the right choice or planning in the right direction….dealt with many lesser mortals and gave a bit of their own medicine to them.

April 1st, 2009

The time I realized that I was a big fool to start believing in few things. Had difficulty in understanding the reality and ‘realized’ not many are like me.

April 14th, 2009

The day that changed the whole dynamics of atleast this Summer. I started to Kansas city, MO for the final round of interview at one of the firms that planned to offer me an internship.

April 28th, 2009

The puzzle that kept me quizzed, opened up that morning. Woke up (you may say, not from sleep, but from some power nap) to a ‘ding’ from outlook. Received an email with a ‘Regrets’ in the signature line. It swept away that last bit of sleepyness in me. ‘Reality’ hit me under the belly.

Had to plan for earning my bread and butter for this Summer now.

Lesson learnt: Don’t be complacent. There is something called as Fate and that sick fellow God plays an awesome game with it keeping you as the pawn.

May 8th, 2009

A small hope in the tunnel of solitude, I was stuck in. Got another job interview call for the Summer.

May 15th, 2009

Got the job. A different experience blew me for a while. I ended the semester with another heart breaking scoresheet. Went a step below, what I planned for and disgustingly in the area I wanted to excel at.

Lesson learnt: No matter what the situation is, do not doubt your beliefs. You are good.

Searched for really good motivation. But Not with Success. Friends for once I thought are meant to desert you (Reality: That was too cynical, maybe I didn’t mingle too much, as I found none trust-worthy)

May 18th, 2009

Started working for full time in the University campus itself for this Summer. Have a nice and sweet time at work, like tastes for Coffee and Movies and Music too. Not everytime you get that combination right.

May 23, 2009

Second trip to Sin city. Realized that the company with which you mingle and travel and interact can work wonders. Lesson learnt: Always mingle with people who are clean and straight(by Straight – I ain’t talking about the sexuality).

First time in my life went to a Gentlemen’s club, and it was strange and a different experience altogether. One of those traits of this city I guess. No wonder the alias it enjoys – Sin City!

May 30th, 2009

Started off for a hike in the city of Flagstaff, AZ. It was a terrific experience just because it was an entertaining, exciting and above all – the best place I have seen in my life till now. It was fantastic to hike at an altitude of 12000 feet. You feel like you are very close to death and also life seems satisfied. I didn’t know the logic behind the hikes until then. It’s a sense of achievement and multitude of expressions turn on your face.  Lesson learnt: Never wear Running shoes for a hike. Should buy a good hiking shoe soon….maybe on Amazon I should book one.

June 13th, 2009

Early hours of that day, started off to San Diego. This time with a different group of friend altogether. Realized by now, that whatever plans I had for summer – in terms of places to see and things to do was going topsy turvy.

Enjoyed the Beach, Sunset view and the Sea world filled with antics of Shamu( a majestic trained KillerWhale) and few Dolphins and few other acquatic animals.

It was a great way to release off the steam and it was a welcome change to go to a place which is cooler and better. I liked California a lot.

June 21st, 2009

Was on top of the world. Jumped out from a moving aircraft at an altitude of 13500 ft. Tied myself to Tandem jump instructor  and did a crazy dive from that height. Conquered the skies and with that the fear for my heights was lost, probably forever. I want to do a Roller coaster ride now. I avoided that all the while till now.

July 3rd, 2009

San Diego calls again. This time went on a Kayaking tour on the La Jolla beach. I loved the first 15 minutes where the rowing pushed us into the ocean. FYI – I don’t know how to even float in Water, so it was an adventure to believe in one of the close buddies here and ofcoures the life jacket. Totally, a good experience and worth the bucks spent on it. It gives you a sound sleep that night, as your hands will be badly tired.

July 4th fireworks in Sea world. Along with Shamu. By this time, Shamu was cursing me for clicking around 500 photographs of him and his friends in total. I stopped using burst mode from then on.  Lesson learnt: Stop living with an artificial lens. Start experiencing the joy for yourself and only for yourself.

July 18th, 2009

Arranged for camping at a national park in Flagstaff area. Drove around for 250 miles(honestly, Sat in the backseat when another friend was driving) reached the destination at 3am. Put on the tents and later went for a walk in that darkness.  Slept for an hour and woke up to see the brilliance of the Sun and clouds playing with the trees. I was glad, that I forgot my Camera for that walk.  It was brilliant and majestic and I am happy to have my memory with me. It can fade, only when I want it to.

One thing I forgot. It was much required to bust the stress. Fired 3 rounds of live ammunition on a dummy target at a premium rate of $20 per round containing 50 bullets. Worth the experience. God! this country you can do anything for a damn money!!

July 19th, 2009

Barely a week left for me to complete a Year’s stay in the United States of America. As I sit to reflect my last year, it has taught me many things. Professionally and Personally. I treasure the experiences and the innumerable memories each day has, I tried to weblog all the important ones…

Maybe, I should have waited for 24th of July……but who cares

Have fun and Adios until next time……..

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