The Animal in Me?

It really is confusing..About the real needs of the flesh and soul...on whats true and whats not...For i have started to see the expected behaviour failed to show up for atleast myself...Is it that the expectation was wrong? or am i abnormal? or inhuman? or animal?

Oh come on...though i have a different name, i am indeed an animal in my basics....

The pain really is not being animal, its the inability to be the animal forever or the viceversa...

To put it simple, you cant control when u do not want to be the animal....i mean i couldnt....And i proudly call it being Myself!

Not sure how many succeed in controlling their animal behaviour from their age zero till death.

Example: The so called society expects a man to

Note: This is an incomplete post. I slept off before completing and i dont recollect the complete context to finish it now. Sorries .....

The Invite!

July 11, 09

I invited you

To come in like a breeze

And live like a queen

Ruling myself

You just peeped in!

Infinite dreams inhabited me

Gave me the hope of a bliss

But you dint come in

May be was i wrong

You dint have a choice

Never mind,

i would wait another life

My invite had no expiry!

What next?

Jun 28 09

Am glad and sad as well for one of the doors closed now :):(

Though it was expected, i confirmed now that she is married. Oh yeah, my parrot, sorry, the parrot ? :D...i dunno

Should i take it as something for my good? or should i pledge to revenge the liars who betrayed me giving words?

I need time to think on what next, or may be i would let the time take me to whereever it wants me to, just as it had been doing till now....am blank....But one thing am sure, i cant take the blame on me for what ever had happened and may be even for whatever would happen in the future as well.

My English....

Sat, May 30
English! The language i wish i had conquered! Unfortunately i pity the state of this language in my hands...
The grammar and vocabulary both arent upto the mark, not even in the horizons. Less than average to be honest. I fail to express my thoughts as is because of the lack of vocabulary it needs.....my thoughts would seriously slap me if they can, for my choice of words to express them...:)
I realise it more when i read my own blogs after some days. I guess it would be better if i start reading a lot and write a lot...but you know, if at all i read, i prefer to read spiritual than novels which anyways would help only a little for my language....
I miss the language most when i read some good english anywhere. it is such a beautiful and lovely lang to live with...I miss you my Dear!
Not sure of whom to give the credits....i used to hate this lang in my school days to keep my mother tongue high in my personal thoughts. Now, i pay the price by being a bad broadcaster of my thoughts to the world in its lingua franca.
I wish someone/something save my thoughts from my English ASAP! ;)

Movies....and Me...

May 17, 09
I Watched Angels and Demons today here in AMC (hoffman estates). A gripping movie till the end from the start. Dint feel bored even a second except a few logical flaws...which were too little to be highlighted....
Its a movie am watching almost after 3 months, next to "Naan Kadavul". Am fond of movies from rajini or director bala or shankar or maniratnam and any good english movies too, just like this one "A&D" today.
When i was in S. P. Koil, i used to go for movies very often...mostly to one of the three theatres in Chengalpet. It was saravanan who used to take me to any new tamil film relased there. we watched a lot of them, even when it rains, we never dropped any plans we made.
After saravanan's travel to onsite, my movie trips were haunted in s.p.koil but i made it in my native, my vellore, with friends whom ever is available in the weekends. The new Adlabs or Big Cinemas gave a different and great experience to many families of vellore including me and my friends. I did find a sudden increase in the number of families coming to theatres in the weekends with families even for night shows, which were usually marked only for free roaming youth and jobless. More than the screens and seats, the cleanliness in the urinals/toilets sure needs to be credited for that.
I loved spending time with friends in theatre more than watching the film, especially for the not so good movies. so i can watch almost any film, when am with a company. Have never watched a movie in a theatre alone and i dont want to do it anytime.....
When i got my own pulsar, i started my film trips to chengalpet again with whomever is available. Though the great Sathyam or Inox ambience wouldnt be there in the chengalpet theatres, it really was a different, interesting and relishing feeling in those not so good theatres. your advantages are, you can shout, comment, whistle and do whatever u want to give out ur expression or response for any scene. I do miss those intervals for that watery tea or costly softdrinks.....it was always a lovely thing to do for me....But in the city theatres, its like my hands are tied when watching films
Unfortunately i dont know the whistling stuff...i tried many a times but failed :( I really pity myself for that...
I just roll back myself now to my school and college days....when in school, i still remember the day when i planned for the movie (First mvie with a friend) with Peter for Speed in the Vishnu theatre (Near Katpadi). Though we planned well ahead and i somehow made 15 rupees from my mom, bcoz of peter's usual last minute "caught ups" we started late in our bicycles. We pedalled very fast and infact i gave my everything to reach the movie as fast as we could to go by the start of it. we made ourselves to the theatre in very less minutes, around 10 -15 , which is about 6 -7 kms from sathuvachari. But the movie had started before our start :) we still watched the movie though....
In college days, my friends used to bug me to join them for movies, but i rarely made it bcoz of the financial constraints....i wanted 50 rupees or atleast 30 -40 rupees for a movie to watch peacefully...but that was a very big amount for my family that time i decided myself to ignore calls from friends. Would have been to 5 or 6 films in the four years. Though friends were ready to pay for me, i wasnt comfortable in doing that....many thought i was not interested in movies at all.....:D

And i guess, that was one reason why i started watching movies very frequently and as much as possible when i started getting pay slips :)

I wish i learn the whistling very soon......:)

My Longest Drive....to Mackinac

May 12, 2009
Four of us including myself started by saturday (May 9) morning in a rental car. I joined them in the last minute. I never thought would join them for my code was in QA and had been getting lots of tickets. But since my offshore team showed a great performance the day before, i planned to join the trip banking on offshore. So, dint have any insight of their trip plan. Started from home by around 8 AM, we reached pizza hut after 2 hrs. i decided to take a chicken pizza. No sooner one friend asked me for Buffalo Wings, i replied "No Buffalu, No Steak, no Ham". they were shocked and bursted to laugh. Then i came to know that Buffalo is actually the name of a place and Buffalo wing is actually a chicken dish. he he hehe....After grazing the pizza and chicken we reached the tulips garden. $8 entrance fee. It had 5.5 million flowers. You have to pay a fine of $100 if you happen to damage a flower. Flowers were so beautiful and we did take lots of pics. We started to a near by beach after that. It was the beach of Lake Michigan, largest source of fresh water. It did really look like a sea....amazing waves....i dare not to touch the water....
It was very windy and cold, so packed ourselves shortly with a few snaps.
And then it was a very long drive. I was sleeping most of the time and the 3 others drove alternatively. Stopped twice for gas stations. i picked up delicious coffee on every stop and we reached the Mackinac city by around 10.30 pm. We booked a room for the night for $60.
Good spacious room for 4 of us with two double cots. After a lots of argument and discussion, we planned for a dance club. it was less than a mile away from the room. i was a lil reluctant in the beginning and wanted only food and sleep. but, i joined them finally to give them company and also to see whats there. Dixie's Saloon. It was so beautiful there, it was all made of wood and reminded me of the hotels that i had seen in the chinese movies....great ambience and deafening music...it was all americans inside except we 4 desis. Was nervous too for its my first time in such a place...i was watching guys just going around and starting to hook up with girls around for dance.
I expected two of my friends to start dancing immediately for they were the ones waiting for it so much. I had what i wanted, a plate with lots of delicios chicken pieces, i had atleast 3/4ths. Was so much hungry. There was one song, which shocked me to scream for it had our rahman's bombay tune mixed up. "dhubusubu dhubusubu dhuppu chup..."After an hour, finally the two went for dancing. one of them got a girl, she infact came to him herself and took him for dance. I was also forced to dance finally with her for a short while and she infact commented that i did look cute. Ok ok, I know, she was drunk. Am just telling...He he he....i could have danced better but you know, neither she was that good to impress me nor was i so confident in my first attempt :D
it all ended by around 2 AM and we departed after hugs with that girl....:(
it was all a new and interesting experience for me.
Sunday:
We woke up late and after a short breakfast, vacated the room and went to book tickets to the ferry. it was just over $90 for 4 of us to and fro. Infact till then i dint know that we were about to go to an island, the Mackinac Island. As we had 1 hr for the 12.30 Pm ferry, went for a ride to the Mackinac Bridge. It must have been atleast 4 - 5 miles over the Michigan lake.... for those who wonder how again michigan lake? Please look into the map of US and see how big is Michigan Lake near chicago :)

After the bridge drive. we got back to the ferry. it took us to the island in 20 mins. We all enjoyed the sail sitting in the deck capturing every possible second in the cameras.
I was all amazed at the beauty and freshness of the island. it was very small but so amazingly beautiful. Had a lovely downtown and had a very famous fort. One other interesting thing is, it did not have any cars or any other smoking vehicle but only horse cart and bi-cycles all over for transportation. Bi-cycles were available for free all over and for rent as well. We had a pizza lunch again and gave a long walk climbing over the small mount which had the fort as well. that was too good. we took lots of snaps again on the way amidst the woods and after reaching the peak.

it was time for us to return to catch the 5 Pm ferry back to mackinac city.
On returning, we started our long drive. stopped at mc donalds. chicken was good again :D but the coffee was bad. cant even stand before the gas station coffee which i had again after a while.
we all reached home by around 12.30. i actually felt the difference in the atmosphere between us when we neared our city for every one started to think about their offshore calls :D
Finally it was indeed one of the best trips i had ever and i did improve 200% in my hindi

Sustaining myself...?

May 03, 09
After 5 years, have started eating non-veg. ie, have got a stronger reason than the one for which i stopped. A 5 day fever made it all. May be i guess, all these years i was actually waiting for this, a stronger reason. Though the chicken or lamb here arent that spicy to delight my tongue, am still enjoying.
But its not about eating non-veg, its about me changing mentally. Not just food, have got reasons in lot other things as well like cooking skills, looks, behaviour....etc., now to adapt myself to the situation...Am not sure if am really transforming or if am i exposing myself only now of what i am. But am sure the reasons that were holding me in the past have gone weaker now.

One other thing, unfortunately am being attracted to a girl here as well. Looking back my past, i find myself being attracted to any girl who looks innocent, calm, silent, homely and also fair ;). i couldnt help myself going weaker when confronting her, havent spoken with her till now though. My senses and body lang try to attract her without listening their brain. am seriously afraid of where am i proceeding. my history and my analysis of that history had helped me till now to keep away a bit. I wish it holds me till the end...

Interesting five days

Sat 25 Apr, 09
I felt myself a bit different when i woke up in the monday morning...actually not good...yes i felt myself a bit feverish. Dint take it that serious till the evening as it started to aggravate more. After coming home from office i took Brufen which usually would work for me. It did work for me this time as well, but only for a short period. I planned to work from home the next day. I took the tablets again after a gap, same result :(. So as planned, i stayed home, searched for the prescription email and took Dolo 650 as well, 3 in 6hrs. i could feel the weakness of my body through out the day. I worked very little that day from home, so i decided to go to office next day by any means as my code is getting into IT. Trusting Brufen again i started to office. Nothing changed. Did the same thursday as well. With a bit of fear peeping by thursday evening, i called up my friend's dad, a doctor, for consultation. He asked me to take antibiotic as well with the other tablets i was taking. i couldnt find the antibiotic in the room. i was forced to think of getting an appointment with a local doc. Friday, i slowly reached office, returned home by 2.30PM. At office, my room mate remembered that he had the antibiotics near his comforter. i slept in the afternoon at home. i woke up in the night and since no improvement, took the antibiotic, amoxycilin. Friends started to get concerned and Tarang prepared me lifesaving maggi that gave a peaceful sleep. infact i had not taken bath from tuesday. :D and bcoz of so much of tablets, my own saliva was tasting bitter by then and added to the pain in the throat. i also had pain all over the body. Was totally helpless. With all this, i slept. you wont believe me, when i woke up in the morning, i could feel a difference again, this time i felt better, i mean a real better in the sat morn. yes today morn. wow..felt almost half back. made myself the tea, spent time in youtube and had maggi again for lunch. took the amoxcylin. Had my bath as well finally. No idea what exactly cured me, i could swallow my saliva without pain and the bitterness was very little. Body pain had drastically gone down as well. all good signs after around 15 Brufen 200, 3 -4 Dolo 650, 2 Amoxycilin...all in the last 5 days....:) Hope it doesnt start again...

Remember, Every single day is a gift when you are physically doing good. Celebrate them...dont waste them.....

$15 Hair Cut!

11th April 2009

Its been 2 months now, i had my hari cut. Yeah, yet to have one after coming to US. Left out with no choice had to go for a hair cut in a near by saloon.When I just entered..... it was 'wow' ... never thot a saloon would be so colorful and beautiful. And it was all fair and beautiful girls who do the job. A girl staff their escorted me. She asked for my choice and then she started to short in the sides with the machine cutter. She stopped. Thought she is done and asked her if she can reduce the thickness of my top as well. She replied, she would shampoo my head before touching the top..oh is it? Great!

Was taken to another seat for the head wash. It was a nice massaging wash i had :D and that by the soft hands of a female....ha ha ha.... Ok done. wake up. Now back to the cutting seat, she started to show her skills with scissors for about 5 mins.

Am i done? She replied "Yep, you are done". All in just 10 mins.

She gave the bill for $15. I added $2 remembering the minimum 10% tip.

If i compare my cuts all these years. i had always thought twice before paying Rs. 25, but now i did pay almost Rs. 850 without any thought...

Am not sure of how i look now, but i enjoyed the Hair Cut ;)

In the streets of Chicago...

28 Mar 2009
I was in downtown chicago this time last week. It was the best day for me after reaching US. I felt literally nothing interesting after a couple of days in Hoffman Estates. I thought the excitement about US is over. But no, i was wrong, am in the wrong part of US. The real american life lives in Downtown!
The amazement starts with the tallest of buildings in the world all over...and it continues to excite you in the cleanliness, the people, the beggars, the street performers, the penetrated artificial beauty everywhere u look at, the cars, self discipline....I just couldnt believe that its all possible by just another human like me...i mean ofcourse the americans...You sure would yearn for such things in India.
In my day to day life, the most important and lovely thing i cherish is the drive, the drive to anywhere in US. If you know driving, you can go anywhere in US from North to South or East to West, thanks to the google map and GPS. With sign boards all over and with enough gas in your car, if you drive consciously you can literally drive any part of US. Was surprised to see that no one Honks unless something wierd happens...The toll booths at many places are unmanned, if u miss them , either u pay them online or you will get your fine back home in days, you are watched all over. You should not violate any sign if you dont want to pay that large sum in fine. Dont even think of hitting anyone not even an animal. You will kill yourself to relieve from paying the fine for that. though its a bit harsh, it had actually helped the humans here a peaceful transport (includes walking and cycling as well) atleast 95% of the time. People really are polite , watchful and respect the space and turn for others while driving. Its all so beautiful to see. I do not see just the traffic rules in these things. its about the tolerance level and patience on taking things.
It really is another index of their mind!
You will pity yourself if you do not have a car for you as i do it for me now....i wish i learn driving and buy my Subaru or Audi...

If you smell what am i cooking...

Mar 13:
Its more than a month now...a lot have changed along with time....am now in a new apartment (1 bhk with Den) with a colleague and i now own a new canon 8 MP digicam, i got my SSN and etc.... Three weeks back if you remember, i was so much worried on what my food would be after taking a new apt. things have changed on this front as well.....no more worries....i have started to cook....yep u read it right...i did cook a couple times by now.
And more than all, my roomie, Mr Tarang Pratap is a great cook by himself and cooks atleast once in a week which helps me for a couple of days atleast :D
Now i can make rasam and sambhar and ofcourse rice as well. though it is with the help of ready mix items, the best part is, had overcome my worries.....am doing a great job in making a refreshing Tea as well....join me for a Tea one day and you would praise me, I Bet my Tea here...
And an observation about myself in these 3 weeks is, there is a change in my response to the taste of items... I remember myself of being easily irritated with the slightest of imbalance in the salt level. But now, i see myself comfortable on those things...
Cooking is indeed an art...and when you see your companion satisfied with the Food or even a Tea you made, wow thats a great feeling....
Its all the collated thoughts of a novice cook till now....hope to write more on this very soon as a great chef...

1, 2, 3...in US - continued

Start of Mar 13, 09:
So this is just to add a few more points....
After the 6 items,

7. AR 11 form: This is a form to be filled and posted to US immigration whenever u change ur address in US. Post it with a copy of your visa and I-94. This has to be done within 10 days of your address change. And have to be done for your dependents as well if you have them here. i did it for me after 2o days....:(. you get this form and more info in USCIS website
One more interesting news: After posting the form thru USPS (united states postal service), i came to know that we can submit the AR 11 form online. and this is available in the same USCIS website. Enjoy...

8. This one is of a lesser importance but still good to know. It is about the claims you can do with your company. My company gives an ISA (initial settlement allowance) for the first week of stay. so i can claim for transport and food for the first week. U need bills as proof for transport expense claim and not for food. the max u can claim is around $100 and depends on the state you stay. so why am i telling this? Bcoz i did the claim for my taxi for $65 but i dint know i can add up food expense without bills for claim...hope u understand....
Final line: Be aware of the facilities and claims provided by your company

9. Health: !!!Very Important!!!. Dehydration - You get dehydrated easily here, especially more in winter without your knowledge. Fruits, More juices or Milk will help you.
Mosituriser : If you would want to prevent your skin from drying. Vaseline, to be applied daily. Atleast for face and limbs. If you are alone, you have to take care of yourself very cautiously or be ready to pay falling sick...More than the cost for medicine, its about the real care you would be missing when sick.
Though most of these would come in the advices list from friends when u reach, am putting them here for you to be serious when these inputs come to you. Health is Wealth!

Its about Food!

Feb 19th, 2009
Disclaimer : Below is my personal view only and an experience of just over 10 days...

How much would you give importance to food ? Believe me it becomes the first important thing next to breathing when you are away from home for long where you dont get your home food....to put it straight, food has become my first next to oxygen here in Chicago.

I spend $6 per day on an average for my lunch. My God its Rs. 300 (xchnge rate is over 48 now) for one time food...Hold on.... is it me? spending so much for one lunch? and unfortunately my stomach (or is it my soul?) is no way satisfied with it still...
You get everything to make your indian food and most of our Desi's here prepare and bring their lunch to office. Have decided to start myself soon as well. But frankly, that doesnt satisfy your expectations either. Its becoz we prepared it, we would enjoy it without complaints...he he he. it has the other advantage of cost effectiveness as well. Again, this is totally my observation on people bringing food. Personally, am more sensitive to taste! i need (or was in need of) a perfect proportion of salt and spice and again it is especially the right measure of 'salt' that matters the most for me. In the past one week, am forced to start suppressing my senses :). Hey wait again, it doesnt mean guys here never cook good food, but that happens rarely. Infact, there are only two things when in onsite, one is co-ordination with client or offshore and the other is ofcourse cooking. And so, when we go out to any indian restaurant no one minds to spend dollars or calculate the cost in INR.

And my 4 roomies prepare delicious dinner in turns daily... though you cant compare it with your moms' its the great food you would get in any part of ....bcoz my brain forces the practical experiences to speak over the natural response of my senses....
The ready made mixes brought from home are the saviour for the struggling taste buds....
It is threatening to think that they wouldnt last for long.

You know what? Am supposed to take a new apartment in a day or two with a north indian colleague who claims would cook non-veg. am a pure veg 'till now' fyi. I suppose, even the God is wondering what am i going to eat. Am sure that i would miss the food prepared by my roomies. And I owe them a lot...

This country loves peace and its an unwritten rule that honking is forbidden during driving and so is used only in extreme conditions. But there isnt peace for your tongue that longs for the indian spice :)

1, 2, 3...in US

Feb 12, 09

There are certain things which are to be done mandatorily as soon as reaching US. Just give a thought and what would you think are important ? an accomodation, a phone, a bank account ? But there are more things and the order of execution could matter too at times. Here goes the list below in the Order of importance.
1.) I -9 form - Employment verification form to be done and posted within 2 days starting work in US ideally. Form available in uscis website. (Am told that it can be done within a week :) and i posted it on 3rd day) . I posted it twice as i missed to post it along with the copy of I-94, Visa and Passport. So remember the copies to be attached.
2.)SSN - social security number, an equivalent of ID card in US, though it is of the second highest priority you have to wait for two weeks to apply for one, only then you will find your profile updated to get it. so am yet to apply for it.
3.)Bank Account - On a personal front, the most important for our surviving, you would need to have one and get your employer informed so that your salary gets credited. To my knowledge with inputs from many friends in US, Bank of America (BoFA) is good to have one. you can have easy internet transactions. though you would be dependent on a third party (like sbi or moneytoindia...) to transfer money to your indian accounts, any bank for that matter would depend on a third party. Hey, you need SSN to open a bank account, but dont worry you can initially open it with just your passport and later update the SSN as soon as you get it.
4.)Phone - mm, the fuel for any one living away from his home. to get a connection on contract from any service provider which gives you great phones like black berry or iphone for free, you need your SSN. so one option is to wait till you get your SSN and the other option if its urgent for you, go for prepaid as i have done and you can change it to a contract or even change the service provider without changing the number later getting the SSN. T- mobile is giving better options in "prepaid" than AT & T with a free phone along with the connection. i got a prepaid with basic Nokia phone for around $21. Remember, the minimum contract period is 2yrs and there is high cancellation charges if you break the contract in between. $175 in case of AT& T, but in T-mobile, if the reason is genuine like leaving the country, the cancellation charges are waived.
5.)Accomodation - Though it is of highest need to get one as you step into the country, i assume you would get one easily through your friends for initial days atleast until u get one for you...so in that case you can get this done easily. You would need the SSN here as well to go for the lease agreement, Agreement breaking charges are applicable, but most of the cases, you would have people coming in and going out so that the agreement can be managed. i guess so. You have lots of websites to tell you the available acco (like sulekha...).
6.) Car - To make your life a comfortable one in US, you need this. A car is a very basic necessity in US and i regret that i dint learn driving in India. It is very tough to live without a car especially in suburbs as you will not have any public transportation unlike downtown. You can manage only by being dependent on your friends as i am now. :)

With great help from colleagues here am done with most of the things except items 2 (SSN) and 5 (Acco) and 6 (car) Ofcourse i need to wait for another week to apply for SSN. Have spoken to a colleague from north for taking a single BHK ($885 to be shared). might get that by next week. Until i learn driving i cant think of item 6 :(

Above said things are subject to my limited knowledge and experience. Could vary person to person. Please take them at your own risk ;)

And remember, every one is helping here in US, but you have to ask for!

Note: This post is continued in Mar 13th blog as well....

First day in Client Office!

Feb 09, 09
so many calls in the morning from and to my room mate for car pooling to office. its around 6 miles from our apts and a lot of our colleagues are put up in this appt, Barrington Lakes.
the New Formals, not sure if it did show me good. i reached office enjoying the OC ride.
Had to collect my Visitor Pass, which is a paper stick unlike a non-sticky badge i have seen in my own company.
Resting my Jacket, and Yet to be given a seat, took out my lappy and connected to the "Guest" wireless. First mail from my offshore counter (even i did know this only after this mail) part on the requirements. and then was slowly introduced to many there in our team.

it was completely a different feeling to sit in the client office. i see a lot of white faces. a lot of indian faces as well. and a few faces from across the globe. unfortunately did not find any attractive fig, which is what i usually search for anywhere i go. Most of them were in different shapes. i cant even stand besides....Though there were many mallus in our team, they formed their own gang :(

Have to tell abt this fountain water tap. You know what? i dint drink a drop of water the whole day in office :(.
at around 10 was told i have to join a meeting with client from 1 - 2PM on the requirements. What ? reapeat it...
Client meeting ? Me? oh i started to be serious and went thru the design doc. The requirement wasnt greek and latin after some 30 mins...mm i can manage.

12.30 My manager just came and we thought we should get our lunch from FC before the meeting, for FC closes by 2. on the walk he spoke a lot abt the requirements. Reaching FC, he helped me a lot as he knew am New to US. lots of counters were there, one for sandwich, one for burger....etc. I wanted a sandwich, the easiest choice, wait are u sure easiest? oh no have to make lots of choices and tell that person for the order, i mean, which size ( 6 inch or 1 foot), which bread, which cheese, what vegetables (tomato, lettuce, green pepper).....etc everything. "Manager, please make my order for today! " but he was kind enough to pay ($3.99 + taxes) for it as well :)

Back to the meeting on time. my team mate was going good with in the meeting. I tried to understand what they speak, their slang.....My DM joined in the middle. i had the notes (?) taken in my lappy. there was another new guy in the meeting who looked more pathetic than myself.
was waiting for the clock to hit 2, am hungry, though i could have had my sandwich in the meeting, i had it waiting in the small conf room , where am given a temp seat. Ah its over.
What a sandwich...it was good. i shud have taken the 1 foot long....

what next? i started to sleep and in between had a look at the requirements. i was kept looking at the wrist watch to move on. wah it hit 5, kept bugging my room mate to start. he was waiting for a car which can accomodate both of us. finally we reached home in another colleagues car amidst the drizzle outside.

Reaching home was hungry like Hell. Pepper paste from Grand sweets, Yummy, had my full stomach. now i need to understand the functional docs which my manager gave me....are u ready ??? "Hey...Hey.... wait...you are sleeping...so soon....hey wai.....zzzzzzz"

Chennai -> Chicago by a Vellorian!

Feb, 07, 2009
Have come to Hoffman Estates (IL, USA, 30 mins from chicago) for an assignment. not sure abt the duration. Am excited abt this new journey...things all look different. and hope i start writing my blogs as freq as possible.

And here goes the brief Desc of my Travel:
Just like many others,
First time in life i stepped into a flight. never dreamt would happen ever. Luckily had two connections. Qatar Airlines, Chennai -5hrs- Doha (Qatar)- 14hrs-Washington DC- 2hrs- Chicago, which helped me get acquainted with different customs and checks at different airports...etc. Nervousness accompanied me from chennai - Chicago until i met my friend and colleague sugumaran. Air Hostess were beautiful , but only one impressed me a lot of all in the chennai - doha flight. she smiled at me twice....woahh....:)
My mom, dad, hari, uma and surprisingly Lakshmikanth for my send off in airport.

The first H1-B, first flight, first air ticket, first check-in, first immigration, first customs check, first boarding, first take off, first aerial view, first landing, first ice view, first bath tub, first use of tissue for water.....wow i do not find words to explain those moments...thanks to those window seats in the first two flights. The lights in the night, the painted like clouds, the ice covered mountains, well designed city during landings, ....etc .first flight had one common television for a row, but second one had individual screens with tamil movies as well in its options, i enjoyed the ever green "santhosh subramaniam". was mostly occupied in sleep in the 2nd flight. break fast and meals twice....mm...good. guess i tasted fish as well served with the salad though have been a pure veg for more than 4 yrs now. what ? i asked for veg...no regrets...he he he.

Shopping! - I should tell you all about my shopping. i swear this sure would be the biggest in my life time ...formals, jacket, thermals, shoes, cooker, tava,....etc in spencers and pondy bazaar globus. thanks to Hari for giving his card to swipe everywhere for the purchase which hit approx 40k. most of them who heard about this got paralysed even the new room mate here in Hoffman.....:( Infact hari's whole family did my packing. i just started with the packed baggage to airport by 1 AM on 7th from his house for my flight at 4.45 Am.
unluckily for me casuals is very much fine an accepted formal here in this client office.....i just have brought 3 jeans...have to open an account soon and convert the TCs(travelers checks) to currency to buy more jeans...

I could easily see that it would be very hectic for the next two months as my room and team mate is working here today (sunday) from morning and giving status to client ....God save me....

About accomodation, have got a temp adjustment by the new team mate until i get mine. 4 in our apartment for now....its all great. water and ice outside the room, yet to check more beauty outside....havent gone out in the day yet....heard its 10 mins drive to office from here. have to buy a car and learn to drive asap.

Temp - its between 4 - 8 degrees centigrade. Though i could see the ice almost everywhere, everyone says am lucky for coming in at the right time. 3 weeks back it was in minus 20 to 30.

Finally, the tension of last two weeks abt my onsite travel ended by yesterday. Am onsite :)

Am sure this country is packed with surprises all over. starting from $3 for using a trolley cart in airport .....am all set to experience the surprises...

And yes, would miss my pulsar.....my love.....