(Click to enlarge pic) L-R: Xiao, Mustansir, Tony T, Tony K, Sylvia, Zhongtao, Prof. Apsel, Rajeev, Paul, Me.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Good bye time
Today was my last group meeting with this group that was a total stranger to me just 3 months back, but are really good friends now. Thank you all for a wonderful summer at Cornell!
(Click to enlarge pic) L-R: Xiao, Mustansir, Tony T, Tony K, Sylvia, Zhongtao, Prof. Apsel, Rajeev, Paul, Me.
(Click to enlarge pic) L-R: Xiao, Mustansir, Tony T, Tony K, Sylvia, Zhongtao, Prof. Apsel, Rajeev, Paul, Me.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Swati
I was busy for the whole last 2 weeks figuring out what can I buy as a gift for myself from this USA trip. I figured out a cheap thing but a good one that can fit in my budget would be a Bose speaker set. I was navigating through various sites to find one when I came across many good deals. Then I figured out that I can spend a few bucks more and buy myself a laptop instead.
So I sat down and narrowed down on 3 choices - an AMD single core Turion for 449$, a Toshiba intel core2duo for 580$ and an acer intel core2duo for 550$. After consulting with many of my friends and cousins, I decided on the third one. The deal was on best buy, and said the laptop was not available in stores, but only available online. I nevertheless went to the best buy store here on Friday to ask about warranties and battery issues. It was there that I found out that the scheme expired the next day. So that was it. I decided this is the laptop that I want, so I asked Sasikanth if he could accompany me there to buy it the next day. He too wanted a laptop so he agreed to come along and have a look at one for himself. We went and bought that laptop the next day then.
So this is my swati, my new laptop. Many people ask me why I have named her Swati. Well, there is no specific reason as such, just that I like the name Swati a lot. Here's the config I got for 550$ (features):
It comes with a 1GB DDR2 RAM, expandable to 2GB. So what say, good deal eh? :)
Meet Swati: (Click to enlarge)
So I sat down and narrowed down on 3 choices - an AMD single core Turion for 449$, a Toshiba intel core2duo for 580$ and an acer intel core2duo for 550$. After consulting with many of my friends and cousins, I decided on the third one. The deal was on best buy, and said the laptop was not available in stores, but only available online. I nevertheless went to the best buy store here on Friday to ask about warranties and battery issues. It was there that I found out that the scheme expired the next day. So that was it. I decided this is the laptop that I want, so I asked Sasikanth if he could accompany me there to buy it the next day. He too wanted a laptop so he agreed to come along and have a look at one for himself. We went and bought that laptop the next day then.
So this is my swati, my new laptop. Many people ask me why I have named her Swati. Well, there is no specific reason as such, just that I like the name Swati a lot. Here's the config I got for 550$ (features):
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It comes with a 1GB DDR2 RAM, expandable to 2GB. So what say, good deal eh? :)
Meet Swati: (Click to enlarge)
Friday, July 6, 2007
Weather
I was looking up my igoogle home page today morning, and checked out the weather comparison between Ithaca and Mumbai.
The Ithaca climate is probably as humid, if not more than Mumbai in summers. Just that the temperature scales are different though; I would say an Ithacan summer looks more like a Mumabian winter of sorts to me.
Nevertheless, I still miss that muggy hot and humid weather of Mumbai... however incovenient that may seem, that's where I have grown up and that's what I have grown to love... and would love to live...
The Ithaca climate is probably as humid, if not more than Mumbai in summers. Just that the temperature scales are different though; I would say an Ithacan summer looks more like a Mumabian winter of sorts to me.Nevertheless, I still miss that muggy hot and humid weather of Mumbai... however incovenient that may seem, that's where I have grown up and that's what I have grown to love... and would love to live...
Monday, July 2, 2007
What do I miss most?
What/who do I miss most in USA? I decided I should make a list of things I am most attached to and those I miss a lot here, and finally the thing I miss most.
I miss my family, my friends, the food my mom makes, my mess food, IIT, H2, Phoenix wing, GG building, WEL lab, Mumbai in general, local trains and BEST buses in particular, bus number 524 specifically, Laxmi restaurant, my comp, my cellphone, my room at IIT, bhandari's room at IIT, the squirrel who lived in my room at IIT, Mumbai rains (or floods, whichever way you prefer it), mangoes, Britannia Bourbon, Amul tricone, the nimbu paani and aloo paratha we get in H2 canteen, Dominoes 180 for 4 scheme, my tabla, tabla classes, the idli wada that I ate in our department canteen, Rin supreme, Lamington road, Lan ban, 8.30 lectures and plenty more...
More importantly I miss myself. I miss the way I was when I was at IIT just about 2 months back. I can't wait to get back.
I miss my family, my friends, the food my mom makes, my mess food, IIT, H2, Phoenix wing, GG building, WEL lab, Mumbai in general, local trains and BEST buses in particular, bus number 524 specifically, Laxmi restaurant, my comp, my cellphone, my room at IIT, bhandari's room at IIT, the squirrel who lived in my room at IIT, Mumbai rains (or floods, whichever way you prefer it), mangoes, Britannia Bourbon, Amul tricone, the nimbu paani and aloo paratha we get in H2 canteen, Dominoes 180 for 4 scheme, my tabla, tabla classes, the idli wada that I ate in our department canteen, Rin supreme, Lamington road, Lan ban, 8.30 lectures and plenty more...
More importantly I miss myself. I miss the way I was when I was at IIT just about 2 months back. I can't wait to get back.
Greyhound - I wonder why??
Here's the deal - take a Greyhound from Ithaca to DC and book a ticket 14 days in advance and it costs you just 36 bucks. But try booking a ticket from DC to Ithaca, no matter how many days in advance, the fare is 89 bucks. I wonder why??
Then again. Book a ticket from DC to NYC and it costs you about 50 bucks, with a journey time of about 5 hours. Fly instead within an hour and half for just 60 bucks or so. I wonder why??
Ithaca is closer to NYC than DC is. But the fares from Ithaca to NYC for Greyhound are more than from DC to NYC. I wonder why??
The shortline buses from NYC to Ithaca are cheaper than the Greyhounds from DC to NYC. But they are way better, when it comes to wider seats, more legspace, cleanliness and the service offered. I wonder why??
But still I love Greyhound for their kind of service in this otherwise anti-public-transport country :) I wonder why??
Then again. Book a ticket from DC to NYC and it costs you about 50 bucks, with a journey time of about 5 hours. Fly instead within an hour and half for just 60 bucks or so. I wonder why??
Ithaca is closer to NYC than DC is. But the fares from Ithaca to NYC for Greyhound are more than from DC to NYC. I wonder why??
The shortline buses from NYC to Ithaca are cheaper than the Greyhounds from DC to NYC. But they are way better, when it comes to wider seats, more legspace, cleanliness and the service offered. I wonder why??
But still I love Greyhound for their kind of service in this otherwise anti-public-transport country :) I wonder why??
Saturday, June 30, 2007
A retrospection
Was planning out my return trip back to India today morning, when the thought hit me - I shall be leaving Cornell within a month's time, and if I have my way, never plan to return to USA, well at least never plan to settle in USA I mean; sightseeing, maybe I might. Just one more month to go before I return to the land I love, but also just a month more to go in this place that has taught me so much in such a short period of time. I had never felt I could make such good friends here as I have, never felt my views on what I want I should do after IIT would change so much after I come here, never imagined that I could get to see life here beyond what I thought of on day one, never felt that maybe 20 years down the line I can tell my kids that there was a time when I was at Cornell, maybe watch some of my pals here make it big in the future and yell out to others - 'I know this guy!'
I hated beer when I came here; this place taught me to love it, and now even though I don't drink anymore, I still respect beer for its power :P I loved the luxurious life that USA promises when I came here, but go back feeling that a luxurious life in isolation is nowhere comparable to a great social life, with a compromise on the luxury aspect. I came here as a devout follower on the 'Tech' path, but leave with a feeling that being an IITian isn't all about tech - it's about being smart, and there are other fields where I feel I can bring out my smartness (if any) in a better way. I came here unsure of how to adjust to live with people who were just strangers about a couple of months back, but are dear friends now - I have learnt to trust people while I was here, and have learnt to earn their trust as well - I have learnt that strangers are just friends waiting to happen. I came here thinking that IITians may be the smartest people out there, but now leave realising that even though it is so, there is a lot of scope for improvement.
Most importantly I feel though, I was taking India for granted all this while long, and now when I was weaned away from her, did I realise how much she meant to me. She has given us all that we have all this long, isn't it time we give something back? Something that matters.
I hated beer when I came here; this place taught me to love it, and now even though I don't drink anymore, I still respect beer for its power :P I loved the luxurious life that USA promises when I came here, but go back feeling that a luxurious life in isolation is nowhere comparable to a great social life, with a compromise on the luxury aspect. I came here as a devout follower on the 'Tech' path, but leave with a feeling that being an IITian isn't all about tech - it's about being smart, and there are other fields where I feel I can bring out my smartness (if any) in a better way. I came here unsure of how to adjust to live with people who were just strangers about a couple of months back, but are dear friends now - I have learnt to trust people while I was here, and have learnt to earn their trust as well - I have learnt that strangers are just friends waiting to happen. I came here thinking that IITians may be the smartest people out there, but now leave realising that even though it is so, there is a lot of scope for improvement.
Most importantly I feel though, I was taking India for granted all this while long, and now when I was weaned away from her, did I realise how much she meant to me. She has given us all that we have all this long, isn't it time we give something back? Something that matters.
The best thing
The best thing that could have ever happened to me while I am here in Cornell is that Suresh has gone to Caltech for a fortnight. Logic: He has taken away his laptop for the time being, and this gave me a chance to realise how addicted I was to the laptop in general and to the internet in particular. It's been just 2 days since he's away, meanwhile I have realised how much time I actually have in hand if I am weaned away from the internet. I had about 3-4 John Grishams lined up for the summers, but hadn't started any till day before. Completed 2 in 2 days. Man! I think I really was a slave of the internet; good thing this that I have only restricted access now.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
My life is a waste
Coz:
1. I waste lots of time on the internet.
2. I have decided what not to do after IIT, but haven't yet decided what I should do.
3. I have plenty of people to tell me my life isn't a waste, but none so truthful to tell me that it really is.
4. I like blogging.
5. I like organising my points carefully even though I know only a handful of people who I force to read my blog are going to read this.
6. I still haven't finished this post, which shows that I am truly a waste.
7. 2 months back I hated beer; a month back I loved it and now I hate it again - fickle minded.
8. I loved the song 'What I've done' by LP so much that I cried the first time I heard it - what a waste!
9. To skip my turn of cooking, I suggest my roomies that we go out for dinner.
10. I came here for a 'research project' and now I am uninterested in researching.
11. This post still hasn't ended.
12. I think I have discredited myself enough - any more and you will think that I am a masochist. :P
Good bye!
1. I waste lots of time on the internet.
2. I have decided what not to do after IIT, but haven't yet decided what I should do.
3. I have plenty of people to tell me my life isn't a waste, but none so truthful to tell me that it really is.
4. I like blogging.
5. I like organising my points carefully even though I know only a handful of people who I force to read my blog are going to read this.
6. I still haven't finished this post, which shows that I am truly a waste.
7. 2 months back I hated beer; a month back I loved it and now I hate it again - fickle minded.
8. I loved the song 'What I've done' by LP so much that I cried the first time I heard it - what a waste!
9. To skip my turn of cooking, I suggest my roomies that we go out for dinner.
10. I came here for a 'research project' and now I am uninterested in researching.
11. This post still hasn't ended.
12. I think I have discredited myself enough - any more and you will think that I am a masochist. :P
Good bye!
Saturday, June 23, 2007
What should I do after IIT? - 3
This is step 3 in a job search. Step 1 was visualising the accomplishment and step 2 was narrowing down. Step 3 is staying focused.
Around this time of the year, most of your friends get placed already, and many face rejection. It helps to stay focused at this time and not let yourself be carried away by what they may have got. You should always remind yourself of what your strategy is and what your goals are. Don't be distracted.
Step 3 for me is easy too; all of my friends who are into the placement game now are back in India - can't distract me :)
Around this time of the year, most of your friends get placed already, and many face rejection. It helps to stay focused at this time and not let yourself be carried away by what they may have got. You should always remind yourself of what your strategy is and what your goals are. Don't be distracted.
Step 3 for me is easy too; all of my friends who are into the placement game now are back in India - can't distract me :)
Friday, June 22, 2007
Good food
June 22 - a day I shall remember as the day I ate good food. The day started out on a wrongish note though, if I mention good food here, as I had to cook myself Maggi noodles, coz we were out of cereals and other food fit to be called breakfast. Then I had a sub at noon, which is good alright. Then evening meant a time for some good pasta and beer.
What's so good about that you may ask... you see, today I realised what makes food good. As Suresh rightly pointed out, good food is that which has a subtle taste and that is good for your health. The sub - however tasteless it may seem, does have a subtle taste, waiting to be discovered. The pasta - you have to eat it slowly and enjoy it at leisure to realise it's great taste. What's more - I also realised today that even beer has a taste - it isn't like what I always felt it is - isn't just something to unwind one. It has a taste of it's own too.
Good food. When was the last time you ate it? Was a long time for me before today.
What's so good about that you may ask... you see, today I realised what makes food good. As Suresh rightly pointed out, good food is that which has a subtle taste and that is good for your health. The sub - however tasteless it may seem, does have a subtle taste, waiting to be discovered. The pasta - you have to eat it slowly and enjoy it at leisure to realise it's great taste. What's more - I also realised today that even beer has a taste - it isn't like what I always felt it is - isn't just something to unwind one. It has a taste of it's own too.
Good food. When was the last time you ate it? Was a long time for me before today.
Maths
This is for any of you high school kids reading this, if any.
There was a time when I used to be quite good at Maths. If I remember correctly, I did make it to some level in the Mathematics Olympiad, national mostly, when I was in school. But then I slowly started losing interest in maths. I felt it was too abstract - the number theory part and all, and felt I should be more practical in my orientation. And so I became what I am today.
Not that I am sad now. I am very much happy with who I am. Just one thing though - I feel I could have been this even if I hadn't given up my interest in maths. Now on the look out for a job, I feel that might have helped me more.
So just one advise for my juniors, in case any of them are reading this - never give up on your interests; you never know when they may help you.
There was a time when I used to be quite good at Maths. If I remember correctly, I did make it to some level in the Mathematics Olympiad, national mostly, when I was in school. But then I slowly started losing interest in maths. I felt it was too abstract - the number theory part and all, and felt I should be more practical in my orientation. And so I became what I am today.
Not that I am sad now. I am very much happy with who I am. Just one thing though - I feel I could have been this even if I hadn't given up my interest in maths. Now on the look out for a job, I feel that might have helped me more.
So just one advise for my juniors, in case any of them are reading this - never give up on your interests; you never know when they may help you.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
What should I do after IIT? - 2
My last post in this series talked of step 1 - visualising the accomplishment. Now let's move on to step 2.
Step 2 in a job hunt is narrowing down your options. You can't row happily in more than one boats at the same time. Sooner or later you have to leave the comfort of plenty of open options and start narrowing down. This is where proper planning and envisaging the near future become important. Your judgement is what counts. At the same time, you should also be cautious and be careful so as to not go all out at this stage. A wrongly left out option shall only lead to disappointment in the end.
So this is step 2 in short. Step 2 for me was a bit easier I feel than step 1. As of now, I have cut down on my options by 1. I shall not take the GRE.
~Ta tas.
Step 2 in a job hunt is narrowing down your options. You can't row happily in more than one boats at the same time. Sooner or later you have to leave the comfort of plenty of open options and start narrowing down. This is where proper planning and envisaging the near future become important. Your judgement is what counts. At the same time, you should also be cautious and be careful so as to not go all out at this stage. A wrongly left out option shall only lead to disappointment in the end.
So this is step 2 in short. Step 2 for me was a bit easier I feel than step 1. As of now, I have cut down on my options by 1. I shall not take the GRE.
~Ta tas.
Social security
In USofA:
USA has the concept of social security. So be it old age or handicap, you never have to worry about making ends meet.
In India:
If you are disabled, some people will feel for you and praise greatly even any menial tasks that you may do. It is as if you are respected for your disability. But you can't approach anyone for social security; you have to earn your own livelihood. Or you may choose to be dependent on your family, much to the discomfort of both of you, but shrug away the thought of it being a discomfort; you both prefer to call it love instead.
Why doesn't India have the social security thing? If we do go for such a system, parents needn't depend on children for security in old age, disabled persons can live a much better life on their own, and I see India to be in a much better shape than what it is today. When will we start?
EDIT: Just came to know from my cousin, Krishnanand Dada, that the SS fund is slowly going bankrupt because more people are taking out money than those putting in. He says that it might so happen that there would be no more SS system in another 30 years. Maybe India has too many dependents for the system to be implemented as it is here. We need a differently planned out system to be implemented in India.
USA has the concept of social security. So be it old age or handicap, you never have to worry about making ends meet.
In India:
If you are disabled, some people will feel for you and praise greatly even any menial tasks that you may do. It is as if you are respected for your disability. But you can't approach anyone for social security; you have to earn your own livelihood. Or you may choose to be dependent on your family, much to the discomfort of both of you, but shrug away the thought of it being a discomfort; you both prefer to call it love instead.
Why doesn't India have the social security thing? If we do go for such a system, parents needn't depend on children for security in old age, disabled persons can live a much better life on their own, and I see India to be in a much better shape than what it is today. When will we start?
EDIT: Just came to know from my cousin, Krishnanand Dada, that the SS fund is slowly going bankrupt because more people are taking out money than those putting in. He says that it might so happen that there would be no more SS system in another 30 years. Maybe India has too many dependents for the system to be implemented as it is here. We need a differently planned out system to be implemented in India.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Yeh jo Des hai tera
Here. Never before I appreciated this song as much as I do these days. Maybe it's just now that I can relate myself to this song in a better way than before.
Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera, tujhe hai pukaara…
Ye woh bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahin sakta
Mitti ki jo khushboo, tu kaise bhoolaayega
Tu chaahe beh jaaye, tu laut ke aayega
Nayi nayi raahon mein, dabi dabi aahon mein
Khoye khoye dilse tere, koyi ye kahega
Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera, tujhe hai pukaara
Ye woh bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahin sakta
Tujhse zindagi, hai ye keh rahi
Sab toh paa liya, ab hai kya kami
Yun toh saare sukh hai barse
Par door tu hai apne gharse
Aa laut chal tu ab diwaane
Jahaan koyi toh tujhe apna maane
Awaaz de tujhe bulaaye, wahi des
Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera, tujhe hai pukaara
Ye woh bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahin sakta
Ye pal hai wahi, jis mein hai chhupi
Puri ek sadi, saari zindagi
Tu na poochh raaste mein kaahe
Aaye hain is tarha do raahein
Tu hi toh hai raah jo sujhaaye
Tu hi toh hai ab jo ye bataaye
Chaahe toh kis disha mein jaaye wahi des
Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera, tujhe hai pukaara
Ye woh bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahin sakta
Read this again and again and I realise every word is true... a truly well written song!
Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera, tujhe hai pukaara…
Ye woh bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahin sakta
Mitti ki jo khushboo, tu kaise bhoolaayega
Tu chaahe beh jaaye, tu laut ke aayega
Nayi nayi raahon mein, dabi dabi aahon mein
Khoye khoye dilse tere, koyi ye kahega
Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera, tujhe hai pukaara
Ye woh bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahin sakta
Tujhse zindagi, hai ye keh rahi
Sab toh paa liya, ab hai kya kami
Yun toh saare sukh hai barse
Par door tu hai apne gharse
Aa laut chal tu ab diwaane
Jahaan koyi toh tujhe apna maane
Awaaz de tujhe bulaaye, wahi des
Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera, tujhe hai pukaara
Ye woh bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahin sakta
Ye pal hai wahi, jis mein hai chhupi
Puri ek sadi, saari zindagi
Tu na poochh raaste mein kaahe
Aaye hain is tarha do raahein
Tu hi toh hai raah jo sujhaaye
Tu hi toh hai ab jo ye bataaye
Chaahe toh kis disha mein jaaye wahi des
Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera, tujhe hai pukaara
Ye woh bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahin sakta
Read this again and again and I realise every word is true... a truly well written song!
News? Are you kidding me?
In India:
Turn on any news channel and within a matter of minutes, you are updated with the latest on what's going on in your city, country and the world. To have a wider view on some specific news, you log on to the internet and visit cnn, ndtv, bbc or google news (your pick) and read what other people have to say about that. You share news bits with people you know and stay well informed. Your peers and fellows are also quite conversant with the latest on what's up with the world in general and India in particular, and you grow ever more in a healthy atmosphere.
In the USofA:
Turn on any news channel and trust me you don't get any news beyond your neighbourhood. The best the channel can offer you is on what happened last night out in your neighbourhood, who got robbed, whose car was vandalised, whose dog got hurt in an accident, what the kids did last evening etc. Such silly stuff. And odd updates on what is going on in iRaq - the way they want you to see it (If you don't trust me, go to NDTV site and compare their presentations of the same news event). You are not shown any world news (is this to keep you ignorant and fearful of 'the all powerful government'?) You may argue that you get all the news you want on the internet, but let's be serious now - how much time do you spend watching news and how much time do you spend blogging and reading others' blogs? Or does the whole of USofA spend quality time reading news off the net? And to top it all, the people here believe they are well informed.
How apt - God save America!
P.S. My views may be extreme, and you may be offended, but sorry, I don't care if you are.
Turn on any news channel and within a matter of minutes, you are updated with the latest on what's going on in your city, country and the world. To have a wider view on some specific news, you log on to the internet and visit cnn, ndtv, bbc or google news (your pick) and read what other people have to say about that. You share news bits with people you know and stay well informed. Your peers and fellows are also quite conversant with the latest on what's up with the world in general and India in particular, and you grow ever more in a healthy atmosphere.
In the USofA:
Turn on any news channel and trust me you don't get any news beyond your neighbourhood. The best the channel can offer you is on what happened last night out in your neighbourhood, who got robbed, whose car was vandalised, whose dog got hurt in an accident, what the kids did last evening etc. Such silly stuff. And odd updates on what is going on in iRaq - the way they want you to see it (If you don't trust me, go to NDTV site and compare their presentations of the same news event). You are not shown any world news (is this to keep you ignorant and fearful of 'the all powerful government'?) You may argue that you get all the news you want on the internet, but let's be serious now - how much time do you spend watching news and how much time do you spend blogging and reading others' blogs? Or does the whole of USofA spend quality time reading news off the net? And to top it all, the people here believe they are well informed.
How apt - God save America!
P.S. My views may be extreme, and you may be offended, but sorry, I don't care if you are.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Allergic to AC
Yes I believe I am. I feel sleepy and lazy in an air-conditioned environment. I don't feel the urge to keep talking too. I also get this strange feeling that I am an old person, needing controlled surroundings to facilitate what I may call life. I feel I am best made for my Mumbai heat. Give me the life I love...
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Life in USA and life in India
EDIT: Life as seen by an Indian in both countries, and also an NRI perspective on it
Life in India: Active social life, traffic and pollution, get to spend quality time with friends and family, neighbours are always there to help you at all times, it takes a long time to get your official work done, you get to eat Ratnagiri Alphonso mangoes as much as you want, you love it when it rains after the terrible summer heat, you rarely ever feel you are alone, you like listening to old hindi songs and say the new ones are nowhere close, money decides your social status, you can employ people to work at your home for cleaning/dusting etc., get togethers aren't rare, you crib all the while, you ask people to conserve water, you are surprised if you don't see mangoes on the next corner, you complain about the population rising all the time, you complain that the government is neglecting its people, school life is fun as you realise you end up learning something, college education is a necessity, you complain that life in USA would be better but are unable to make it there, you can say fearlessly that you are proud to belong to your country.
Life in USA: High standard of living, AC/microwave/heating aren't luxuries, dead social life - each man to himself, you get all that you want under one roof in the supermarkets, you feel insecure even with trivial issues, you can't distinguish much between old and new songs, no matter how much you earn, you are always the average joe, it's so costly employing household help, you would rather go work for someone else's home instead, you have so many cuisines and so many cultures around you that you start liking other cultures, you enjoy pursuing your hobbies whenever you get time, get togethers are luxuries, you crib all the while, you ask people to conserve paper, you are delighted when you see mangoes in the mart, you complain that the government is busy invading oil territories and that it's neglecting its people, school life is fun as you realise you should learn something after it ends, college life is a privilge, you say that life in India would have been better but are not sure if you can adapt to that if you get back, you start believing that borders and man-made territories are unimportant.
Any more points? I am open to including more.
Life in India: Active social life, traffic and pollution, get to spend quality time with friends and family, neighbours are always there to help you at all times, it takes a long time to get your official work done, you get to eat Ratnagiri Alphonso mangoes as much as you want, you love it when it rains after the terrible summer heat, you rarely ever feel you are alone, you like listening to old hindi songs and say the new ones are nowhere close, money decides your social status, you can employ people to work at your home for cleaning/dusting etc., get togethers aren't rare, you crib all the while, you ask people to conserve water, you are surprised if you don't see mangoes on the next corner, you complain about the population rising all the time, you complain that the government is neglecting its people, school life is fun as you realise you end up learning something, college education is a necessity, you complain that life in USA would be better but are unable to make it there, you can say fearlessly that you are proud to belong to your country.
Life in USA: High standard of living, AC/microwave/heating aren't luxuries, dead social life - each man to himself, you get all that you want under one roof in the supermarkets, you feel insecure even with trivial issues, you can't distinguish much between old and new songs, no matter how much you earn, you are always the average joe, it's so costly employing household help, you would rather go work for someone else's home instead, you have so many cuisines and so many cultures around you that you start liking other cultures, you enjoy pursuing your hobbies whenever you get time, get togethers are luxuries, you crib all the while, you ask people to conserve paper, you are delighted when you see mangoes in the mart, you complain that the government is busy invading oil territories and that it's neglecting its people, school life is fun as you realise you should learn something after it ends, college life is a privilge, you say that life in India would have been better but are not sure if you can adapt to that if you get back, you start believing that borders and man-made territories are unimportant.
Any more points? I am open to including more.
Bowl
Ever tried bowling? I am sure you might have, and as expected, I never had till yesterday. As I pointed out to my 9 yr old nephew Nilesh, the good thing about playing with me is that you always get to win, irrespective of your age/skill etc. One advise for amateur bowlers and eager starters though - never try spinning a bowling ball - it would rather spin your shoulder instead. Another point worth noting is that it's even more painful blogging with only your left hand - no the right one isn't injured by bowling; just that I have got addicted to biscottis and can't do without munching them occasionally.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Dome
Have you ever realised the beauty of IMAX? Have you been to one? Well, maybe you have, but I had never been to one till yesterday. Visited the one at Fort Worth in Texas yesterday. It was a totally different experience for me, who is habituated to either watching movies at PVR inMulund, Mumbai, or worst, pirated flicks on my comp. I am not sure if it's the dome, or the size of the screen that gives the pic the realistic effect (gyaani junta can contribute here in case they wish to). Had a little picnic too after the show, the credit for the amazing sandwiches going to Neha, my niece.
Trust me when I say that Texas is great.
Trust me when I say that Texas is great.
Monday, June 11, 2007
Road trip
An experience that goes beyond words - hence I choose not to write on this topic. Album uploaded here.
Just a word that I have to say here - living in another country as a tourist is different from living there as one of its people. A road trip for someone like me, who is visiting this country just for a short time lies somewhere in between; where I am just a visitor to this country, but I get to live my life here as one of its own.
EDIT:
A slideshow of all the pics:
Just a word that I have to say here - living in another country as a tourist is different from living there as one of its people. A road trip for someone like me, who is visiting this country just for a short time lies somewhere in between; where I am just a visitor to this country, but I get to live my life here as one of its own.
EDIT:
A slideshow of all the pics:
Sunday, June 3, 2007
A good weekend
It all started out with me going for an early morning jog yesterday following the night out. Then we went for a game of TT in Duffield yesterday, following which we went out for icecream at Vivek's insistence. To our dismay, the dairy was closed, and Krishna suggested going to Cornell plantations for a walk. En route, we decided to go to a stream that flows there, and followed a trail there that led us to a dam that supplies water to Cornell. We had a wonderful time playing in the water there, against the strong current; it was amazing to feel the pounding force of water coming at you incessantly. Vivek cooked a wonderful dinner later, and Krishna and I then set out for our routine walk at night at about 1am, returning at around 2.30 am, chitchating all the way along. Later, we went to P&C foods at 3.30 to grab a bite of donuts, only to find that they would take an hour more to be baked fresh. So we ditched that and returned home to cook ourself french toast which we enjoyed while watching 'The Mummy'.
Sunday was even more fun; we visited the mall in the evening where I had a bit of shopping to do. Then we ate Chinese food at the usual place we always eat out there. Coming back home, I tried my hand at cooking Rasgullas from scratch - no precooked mix and crap; started out with plain old milk and came up with this -
Work again tomorrow onwards :( That's all for the weekend..
Sunday was even more fun; we visited the mall in the evening where I had a bit of shopping to do. Then we ate Chinese food at the usual place we always eat out there. Coming back home, I tried my hand at cooking Rasgullas from scratch - no precooked mix and crap; started out with plain old milk and came up with this -
Work again tomorrow onwards :( That's all for the weekend..
Plans in Dallas
Trust me when I say I am going to have a great time in Dallas. Neha and Nilesh are having their summer vacations now, which means that I get to spend a lot of time with them. Besides, Sheetal tai told me they are planning a visit to IMAX and Main Event (bowling and arcade games), and also miniature golf and bumper cars. Besides, with plenty of malls nearby, shopping goes without saying. All this in Dallas, a huge and beautiful city. And the fun doesn't stop here; I then go to Washington DC where Ronak would have just reuturned from summer camp, and there would be Gayatri too. Besides, we are planning some sight seeing in Washington DC that weekend. Then I return to Ithaca, via New York city, where I plan to spend about an hour at Times square (I have to wait there for an hour to catch my bus to Ithaca). Man, I am going to have the best time of my life :P
Meanwhile, all's not dead with my project, the primary reason for me being in USA. The circuit that Sylvia and I came up with is working fantastically in our simulations, and Prof. Apsel is also quite supportive of it. We plan to send one of our novel circuits for fabrication on the 11th of June (I won't be here then, but I shall complete that work before leaving), and shall also send a few more differential ring oscillator topologies that I have looked at alongwith.
What more can one ask of an internship? Lots of sight seeing, great work and good results, a happy peaceful life with great apartmentmates and friends.... all this in the calm and serene city of Ithaca... life was NEVER this good.
Meanwhile, all's not dead with my project, the primary reason for me being in USA. The circuit that Sylvia and I came up with is working fantastically in our simulations, and Prof. Apsel is also quite supportive of it. We plan to send one of our novel circuits for fabrication on the 11th of June (I won't be here then, but I shall complete that work before leaving), and shall also send a few more differential ring oscillator topologies that I have looked at alongwith.
What more can one ask of an internship? Lots of sight seeing, great work and good results, a happy peaceful life with great apartmentmates and friends.... all this in the calm and serene city of Ithaca... life was NEVER this good.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
What should I do after IIT?
Not PhD - that's for sure. I have seen the pros and cons of a PhD student's life here over the last month, and I don't think I am made for that kind of struggle. I am someone who needs a dynamic environment to grow in, and I am not sure a PhD program can afford me a good stage for honing my skills and developing my personality. Also, I believe in a world where new fields can spring up within a couple of years, it would help me to diversify myself as much as possible early on in my career. Till now I have had a look at an Electrical engineer's job (during my internship at Philips Electronics), the work ethics and nature of a job in IPR (during my internship at Pangea3), besides this experience at Cornell. I believe I have seen well, and I can be confident of the decision that I shall make).
I think I should go into a consulting job. Such jobs, as most of us know, offer excellent pay, challenging work and a steep learning curve. The catch in most such jobs though is long work hours and more often than not, lots of traveling on account of client responsibilities. Such a job may help me though in becoming a proficient speaker, and also help me to build strong contacts early on in my career. I believe it will give me the leverage to have a look at a professional life and then decide on long term plans. For a short term job, I believe such a job shall help me more than a technical job, as I get to diversify myself and also earn more.
And so it is - I have seriously started thinking about getting a good job. There are 10 steps in a planned out job hunt. This is stage 1 - Visualising the accomplishment.
I think I should go into a consulting job. Such jobs, as most of us know, offer excellent pay, challenging work and a steep learning curve. The catch in most such jobs though is long work hours and more often than not, lots of traveling on account of client responsibilities. Such a job may help me though in becoming a proficient speaker, and also help me to build strong contacts early on in my career. I believe it will give me the leverage to have a look at a professional life and then decide on long term plans. For a short term job, I believe such a job shall help me more than a technical job, as I get to diversify myself and also earn more.
And so it is - I have seriously started thinking about getting a good job. There are 10 steps in a planned out job hunt. This is stage 1 - Visualising the accomplishment.
To beer
Here's to beer. Beer is simply amazing. Wikipedia calls it the World's oldest and most popular alcoholic beverage. Not till long ago, I used to be totally disgusted just by its mention. But things have changed since. I now respect beer for its sheer power to free you of all tensions, to relieve the mind, to soothe the soul. I have also heard that beer destroys your liver in the long run, but occasional drinking isn't bad I guess. I should advise everyone to try Beer at least once in their life, and try to respect it for what it is. No point cursing it just coz someone you know does so too.
A beautiful sunrise
My first night out in USA; no work, no specific reason for a night out too, just that we all again partied last night (pizza, beer, chips, coke, pakodas (tallur made :P), garlic bread etc etc), partied till 3, after which all the others went off to sleep. I wasn't feeling sleepy, so spent time chatting with folks and listening to music and watching Family Guy. Good thing though, as I got to capture these lovely pics of a beautiful sunrise (5am shots from my window):
It's 6.30 am now, and am still not sleepy. I am off for a hike now. No fun as hiking alone in the wilderness here on such a beautiful day. Enjoy the pics meanwhile :P.
~Ta tas.
It's 6.30 am now, and am still not sleepy. I am off for a hike now. No fun as hiking alone in the wilderness here on such a beautiful day. Enjoy the pics meanwhile :P.
~Ta tas.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Texas road trip - US cross country
Yahoo! Take this - A road trip to Texas, 3 days, 1500 miles, and here's how we are going to do it.
I shall leave Ithaca with Krishna on Swati (the Mazda Protege) on the 8th of June. We shall drive over to Cincinnati on day 1, stopping by at Erie, Cleaveland, Columbus on the way. Cincinnati is where we shall stay for day 1 (night 1 actually). Here's our roadmap for day 1:
Cities en route (except some spots that we don't know now, but shall stop by in case we feel like :P - that's the charm of a roadtrip anyways) - Erie, Cleveland and Columbus. Total expected drive time for day 1 - 9 hours.
Day 2 starts at Cincinnati and ends at Memphis. Places en route - Louisville and Nashville. Total expected drive time for day 2 - 7.3 hours.
Day 3 - Memphis to Dallas. Total drive time - again 7.3 hours. No major cities en route, but a great ride through the Texas countryside on offer :P
3 days - States that we pass through: New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Texas. All this followed by a 4 day stay at Arvind Bhaiya and Sheetal Tai's place in Dallas with my cute little nephew Nilesh and my dear niece Neha. Then I go to Washington DC to meet Krishnanand Dada, where my dearest cousin sis Gayatri and Mhavu would have come over too. A good weekend to spend with them all and Viju Vahini and another of my sweet little nephews, Ronak. Then another cross country trip from Washington DC to Ithaca (albeit via bus :P ) en route New York city.
This is how a trip to the USA should be - not visiting big cities and clicking photos of majestic buildings and hot chicks, but carrying out a cross country trip and absorbing the true spirit of American life and getting to learn and experience their culture. Sad that some people do not see this.
~Ta tas.
I shall leave Ithaca with Krishna on Swati (the Mazda Protege) on the 8th of June. We shall drive over to Cincinnati on day 1, stopping by at Erie, Cleaveland, Columbus on the way. Cincinnati is where we shall stay for day 1 (night 1 actually). Here's our roadmap for day 1:
Cities en route (except some spots that we don't know now, but shall stop by in case we feel like :P - that's the charm of a roadtrip anyways) - Erie, Cleveland and Columbus. Total expected drive time for day 1 - 9 hours.
Day 2 starts at Cincinnati and ends at Memphis. Places en route - Louisville and Nashville. Total expected drive time for day 2 - 7.3 hours.
Day 3 - Memphis to Dallas. Total drive time - again 7.3 hours. No major cities en route, but a great ride through the Texas countryside on offer :P
3 days - States that we pass through: New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and Texas. All this followed by a 4 day stay at Arvind Bhaiya and Sheetal Tai's place in Dallas with my cute little nephew Nilesh and my dear niece Neha. Then I go to Washington DC to meet Krishnanand Dada, where my dearest cousin sis Gayatri and Mhavu would have come over too. A good weekend to spend with them all and Viju Vahini and another of my sweet little nephews, Ronak. Then another cross country trip from Washington DC to Ithaca (albeit via bus :P ) en route New York city.
This is how a trip to the USA should be - not visiting big cities and clicking photos of majestic buildings and hot chicks, but carrying out a cross country trip and absorbing the true spirit of American life and getting to learn and experience their culture. Sad that some people do not see this.
~Ta tas.
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