APOLOGY

Ever since when I started blogging, I had been using this medium to mourn and scream and most of the public forums that I participate in I had always been a little sarcastic and trying to be a little too funny. Though many of my friends and my readers seem to enjoy my expressions, suddenly when I look back at the time that I have spent in sarcasm I started getting the feeling that I am committing a mistake and may be losing trust with my friends.. I was fond of such funny acts, but I never realized the implications of my expressions.. Though Im sure that I always played around in my limits during this time.. Consciously I never crossed a point which causes frustration or irksome feeling to others..

Today I recall most of this stuff and I have a sudden apprehension that I should have acted better.. And I have never been able to act with a sense of assurance to any one so far.. I will do things in my way.. You may be one of them who have faced this, but you will appreciate that I have started realizing what I have been doing..

Henceforth I will face criticism in the right way from now on and will not take anything in a wrong sense at all..

Whenever I get an opportunity to interact to others I will speak in a Uplifting manner.

I shall try to speak in a motivating tone always with every one..

There has always been those words by the great Covey stating controlling the response to a stimulus is purely one's decision and the way you control decides the future implications..

Im sure you all would have read enough of this stuff. Since I don't want to turn you off with this un-interesting stuff I m bringing an end to this.. And for the first time I am writing something very sincerely to you all and not at all afraid to ask for

A P O L O G I E S!!!

Conversion Syndrome..

As they say all roads lead to rome, all NRI’s lead to a unique conversion syndrome when they are making money in alien currency.. I have heard this from many of my relatives and friends who have had that privilege.. Having said this, I too have that numb feeling and was really trying to convert everything which I spend over here.. My previous blog would have been illustrative of this attitude..

Why am I writing all this.. I had been worried since I came here, though had no effect on my spending which is as haphazard as it can be.. There was a sudden apprehension today, and started playing with my good old mate EXCEL.. I love this piece of software from Microsoft and have helped me many times to grow in confidence.. Started putting values and did a small calculation.. Whatever expenditure which I had been making so far, was always less than the okay kinds.. Though I go with some pre-concluded notions about one time expenditure and recurring costs including everything and I think my budget does not have a big margin for error.. And had there been a variation it was always downwards..

Guys I think it’s a good idea to forget rupees once u get to another geographical location and spend like the Indian money.. In fact I apprehend that the purchasing power here is awesome compared to the Indian Markets.. So I have decided to stop cribbing about the converted value of my savings..

Lets see how does it go…

Tomorrow is a black day..

Tomorrow seems a real black day for me.. This ruthless dentist is heading for taking my trip over a root canal treatment.. I am awestruck by this stupid policies of the government and my own stupid software corporation.. The pains that I have undergone to get my health insurance which is mandatory for my permanent residence permit are more damaging to hear..

Look at the policy

Residence permit is mandatory for staying for a long period of time and for that the following are necessary.. House Registration for which a rental contract with my stamp of signature and for that I needed to take a house on rent and for that they requested for a stupid credit bureau report and for that I had to have a mandatory bank account and for that a House Registration is required.. What an irony?? Somehow managed to make the house registration, now its time for insurance for which a general physician’s report and a dentist report are necessities.. And for that appointments are necessities.. And for that german conversation is needed..

And it doesn’t stop with this.. After accomplishing these items the dentist has denied to give a go ahead for the insurance since he claims there are certain issues with my teeth, so he needs to do some agriculture on my jaws so that I deem fitness to this dim-witted private insurance agency.. And yo dentist before submitting my bill, better keep me posted on the damage.. I realize so soon that I have not insured so need to shell out for your experiments..

Lord Muruga save my savings…

Obsession for cuisine

The germans call it Kuche! Though on-site experience has not contributed towards professional expertise in a big way, I had developed a strong taste for cooking over the last few months I have been here.. Living as a bachelor at an outlying spot really helps developing some soft skills like these.. Its really hard to deem that I have become a descent chef these days.. I had enjoyed preparing some dishes this weekend..

By now I can prepare a countable number of dishes for a small crowd of people and I hope to catch up with a few guests here so that I can serve them with my delicacies.. Though I have not helped my mom in a great deal in cooking I had the blessing of Meenakshi Ammal which was gifted to me.. I vouch that it’s a real treasure that one should have to become an expert in south Indian cooking.

I hope my US counter parts (cousins) would strongly agree to this viewpoint.. Mentioning a few dishes which I can prepare with ease..

Potato Curry – Nice and spicy south Indian style.
Beans Curry
Sambar - (Onion Sambar, Murungakkai Sambar, Kathirikkai Sambar)
Vengaya Vatha Kuzhambu
Peas Pulao - I don’t mind wasting money on cashewnuts…
Veg Biriyani
Rice Pongal – I will quickly progress towards Sugar pongal as well
Cabbage Curry
Rasam
Thakkali Satham
Elumichai Satham
Dosa – Would require some help with preparation of pre-requisites
(All varieties – Masala, Onion, Rava etc)

So my beloved readers, this blog would be a big motivating factor to many of you who are geared up for a vacation to my spot.. Shall update u with my other proficiencies in the upcoming blogs..
Your comments are welcome on this..

Boom Boom @ Paris

There has been a strong liking for bikes in me for some years starting from my college days.. Any time I see a new bike, I want to ride it instantly.. Not though after this little incident..

The first time ever traveling to europe, and in busy street of Paris, I had found a Kawasaki bike which I would love to be in possession of.. It was looking great from a distance.. As the distance decreased, the desire increased.. Was thinking all the way that I can take a couple of photographs of this wonderful beast in front of me.. Driven by this thinking, I gave my camera to one of my colleagues and prepared myself for the clicking..

The first shot of photograph was taken and was good enough, I was standing and holding the hand bar of the bike.. Then I wanted to take the second one, so kept the luggage aside and got ready for the second one.. This time I wanted to sit on the bike and get a snap.. So just tilted a little bit and tried to sit on that.. OUCH!!! It started yelling Boom Boom…… The entire street was staring at us in a strange fashion.. Without much delay, Local Polizei came, and we had a embarrassing situation.. Then the owner came to our rescue and said that he was watching us take snaps and there was no further problem..

Solluvaangale, 'Pattikkaattaan muttai kadaiya paatha mathirinu’ athu sariya pochu...

My Batting Exploits @ Panchapatti

I thought most of us would have played cricket in their lifetime either during their school or during their time at the college. I had always been a good admirer of the game and have a lot of taste for batting. Though I cannot blow my own horn,I knew descent batting. After this brief preamble I hope I can narrate the circumstances of this little incident which every one of our relatives will be amused at hearing.

I remember it was a great occasion in our family and almost extended for a couple of weeks. It was the occasion of our great Kulitalai Swaminatha Iyer's Sathabishekam and I remember at least around 400 to 500 people would have treasured the occasion. The entire MBS Agraharam had festive spirit and most of our relatives were present for a whole week at this juncture. Being an adolescent, I didn't understand the values of such social gatherings and never really appreciated these things at that age.

This time there was a tournament held in PANCHAPPATTI a miniature village near lalapettai, Karur District. There was a guy called balan, who in my opinion is a great batsman and I have seen him hit huge sixes. I used to stay in Trichy and was never a part of the local teams. But this guy used to play for all the teams across the villages. Since he was a good player, he used to go to any team and ask for a place, he would get that instantly. This time he promised that he would get me a opening slot and I was a good partner to this guy because he can face lot of balls, I used to get lot of singles and never attempted for a boundary unless situations ask for..

So I was keen to play and I dodged many relatives and went to play this tournament, without realizing the importance of the occasion. I never knew that it was a remote village and there was no real transport to the place.. We had to walk for almost half a kilometer and then we started playing.. Though I didn't fair well in the match, I enjoyed playing after a long time.. And the result .. We lost the match.. So I was waiting for this guy to come so that we can go back to Kulitalai, but I heard that he wanted to see the next match.. TO my surprise he went and played the next match and had a great knock in that match.. He silently collected the man of the match award of Rs 50 and by then it was already 10 PM..

We had food in the near by roadside joint and when we started in a Bus it was 11:00 Pm.. We somehow managed to reach Kulitalai by 11:30 and I realized that my cousins, dad, uncle (Periyappa & Sithappa) and the great VCM Lee have been hunting for me left right and center.. I thought I will get a broom stick welcome at home and was silently roaming around in Agraharam.. I was vastly afraid of my dad, since he is known for bombarding and I have had the experience many times.. I thought entering now would be a big trouble and thought of sleeping in the thinnai only.. But somehow I made up my mind and entered the verandah of our house.. To my surprise my dad did not show any reaction over this and was busy playing cards.. And I never expected this to happen, Patappa (Sitaraman) who never even used to be any harsh started exploding.. He called my mom, padma manni to bring arathi for me to have played wonderfully.. I attained the feat of making my uncle angry which most of our relatives would not have seen otherwise… Though I was really offended that time, when I recollect, its a funny nostalgic experience which was worth a blog

Goa Trip

This was one of the unforgettable moments when I went back to India. I had a gala time with my youger brothers and cousin and friends. This was one of the instances wherein we proved that we can plan and execute something..

Arranging the Logistics : Credit Goes to Srikanth

Initiative and Planning : Of course myeslf

Execution of Plan : Sankar

Stay (Hotel) : Courtesy Nirmal Moosa

Entertainment : Bondu poosa Special mention goes to him because he entertained us all through the trip

Anand : Avan vanthathe periya vishayam (Late'a Vanthaan)