as follow on to my previous post – as some realized instinctively - the post was only partly about being a ‘language purist’ and having low tolerance for non-professional behavior. after all, we are who we associate with.... thus mused confucius. it’s about the energy that people bring into our lives. the direction the winds blow in – they have the power to either carry us some or set us back a few steps, if you know what i mean.
to be fair, i believe everyone we associate with will have some redeeming factor, yet what matters is how important that factor is to us at this present moment.
my post was thus more a reaction of an anxiety-ridden mind. oftentimes, i do wonder about my life. it is a contented life alright but i do wonder how things would’ve turned out had i been braver? while, we all set benchmarks and invariably compare ourselves with some of our peers, the fear of inadvertently setting very low benchmarks, settling for less, or giving up easily horrifies me. as about benchmarks, well, people’s yardsticks may be different but, yes, money, designation, work satisfaction, life balance, overall prosperity and the works still remain important factors.
i’d like to believe a lot of us go through this emotion at some time or the other. :)
it’s at these moments that i try to shush myself. perhaps, i’m a moderate dreamer when compared to some. perhaps, i’m also only moderately ambitious. leading the life i lead, have led, isn’t such a bad thing. but, yeah, if i aspire to globe-trot, an odd trip to delhi is hardly likely to lead to much contentment. ho hum!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
if you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas
with this great truth, both the universe and I agree.
at this moment i can’t tell whether people rogering the language because of their strict inability to string together a few words to form a grammatically correct sentence is causing me more stress or their pronunciation laced with regional flavors -
come hair (they mean - here)
I want some braid (bread, duffus)
you attended the seshan (obviously, they aren’t referring to the election commissioner, T.N. Seshan)
where do you leave (live)
he was angry because he didn't get any importance, see (pronounced together as - impotency)
aarrrrrggghhh!
this is not all..
the overuse of buzz words, referring to people as though they're objects - I spoke to the monica..
'momento' substituted for 'momentum' - good going, guys.. let's keep the momento.' huh? :-)
16 of years of formal education, some 10 odd years of work ex and you're still struggling. and, then you call yourself quick learners in appraisal forms? huh?
and, with this kind of hold on the language, you address a large number of people, assaulting their senses, and expect to be heard? huh? *rolling eyes in disbelief*
a couple of months back when we were filling up appraisal forms, what this person had to say left me stumped. this person penned down as one of their achievements – ‘worked on so and so project that saved the company big money. they'd have to pay much more to get it done from a contractor.’
I couldn’t keep from commenting – if you think that's an achievement, what's really your job?
this person wasn’t too pleased with my comment and I kept thinking – wow! if someone in a corporate, in a recession-hit market can think like this, people in government jobs thinking the world owes it to them is no big deal. people have the audacity to think they’re being paid for their time and not their work.
what's more - they have gall to pen it down and demand they be considered for a promotion/increment.
but what’s this got to do with the idiom? it is possible that I was thinking about some people when I was reminded of the aforementioned idiom. never mind! at this moment, am wondering about benchmarks set.
as you may have guessed, my feelings at this point are rather genial. :/
at this moment i can’t tell whether people rogering the language because of their strict inability to string together a few words to form a grammatically correct sentence is causing me more stress or their pronunciation laced with regional flavors -
come hair (they mean - here)
I want some braid (bread, duffus)
you attended the seshan (obviously, they aren’t referring to the election commissioner, T.N. Seshan)
where do you leave (live)
he was angry because he didn't get any importance, see (pronounced together as - impotency)
aarrrrrggghhh!
this is not all..
the overuse of buzz words, referring to people as though they're objects - I spoke to the monica..
'momento' substituted for 'momentum' - good going, guys.. let's keep the momento.' huh? :-)
16 of years of formal education, some 10 odd years of work ex and you're still struggling. and, then you call yourself quick learners in appraisal forms? huh?
and, with this kind of hold on the language, you address a large number of people, assaulting their senses, and expect to be heard? huh? *rolling eyes in disbelief*
a couple of months back when we were filling up appraisal forms, what this person had to say left me stumped. this person penned down as one of their achievements – ‘worked on so and so project that saved the company big money. they'd have to pay much more to get it done from a contractor.’
I couldn’t keep from commenting – if you think that's an achievement, what's really your job?
this person wasn’t too pleased with my comment and I kept thinking – wow! if someone in a corporate, in a recession-hit market can think like this, people in government jobs thinking the world owes it to them is no big deal. people have the audacity to think they’re being paid for their time and not their work.
what's more - they have gall to pen it down and demand they be considered for a promotion/increment.
but what’s this got to do with the idiom? it is possible that I was thinking about some people when I was reminded of the aforementioned idiom. never mind! at this moment, am wondering about benchmarks set.
as you may have guessed, my feelings at this point are rather genial. :/
Sunday, November 1, 2009
But Dude..
Met anyone who makes reckless, extravagant, meaningless use of the word ‘dude’? I did, this evening. Everyone from men, women, children, kutta, biili, bakri, machli were conferred the ‘title’ without any prequalification.
‘Such magnanimity,’ I asked after much abuse by him.
The fellow guffawed, ‘You noticed, dude?’
‘Arrrrgghhh! Used judiciously, it may have even been flattering to some,’ I said, smiling.
‘What you saying, dude’ he muttered.
And, then, there was this other fellow who didn’t have no time or patience to wait for such bestowals. He was happily referring to himself as ‘dude’.
We were talking about Chinese food places in the area when this fellow piped in - ‘Yes, I know about that place. The team of coders from my ex-organization met up last weekend. Most of us dudes live this side so….’
huh!
At that moment, I excused myself and went to get myself some more wine.
It’s no different anywhere than it is in the office I was thinking. Perhaps, people think it's hip to use catch words/phrases all the time.
To arrive at time estimates, we’re required to get acquainted with/work our way through the application. I guess, people think the impact will be greater when they say - ‘Play around in the application’ and ‘Get your hands dirty’.
And, for some strange reason it always reminds me of the Surf Ad - 'Daag acche hain'
Dear lordy!
‘Such magnanimity,’ I asked after much abuse by him.
The fellow guffawed, ‘You noticed, dude?’
‘Arrrrgghhh! Used judiciously, it may have even been flattering to some,’ I said, smiling.
‘What you saying, dude’ he muttered.
And, then, there was this other fellow who didn’t have no time or patience to wait for such bestowals. He was happily referring to himself as ‘dude’.
We were talking about Chinese food places in the area when this fellow piped in - ‘Yes, I know about that place. The team of coders from my ex-organization met up last weekend. Most of us dudes live this side so….’
huh!
At that moment, I excused myself and went to get myself some more wine.
It’s no different anywhere than it is in the office I was thinking. Perhaps, people think it's hip to use catch words/phrases all the time.
To arrive at time estimates, we’re required to get acquainted with/work our way through the application. I guess, people think the impact will be greater when they say - ‘Play around in the application’ and ‘Get your hands dirty’.
And, for some strange reason it always reminds me of the Surf Ad - 'Daag acche hain'
Dear lordy!
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
What have they done to Ken and Barbie?
Tsk Tsk! They look dressed for a K serial.. ugh!
Sundari Gujarati reads the box .. So, Baa, Bahu, aur Barbie?
*Spotted in a toy shop in town
**Please spare Superman, Dora and the likes!
Sundari Gujarati reads the box .. So, Baa, Bahu, aur Barbie?
*Spotted in a toy shop in town
**Please spare Superman, Dora and the likes!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Can we increase the brightness, the contrast, but lower the volume please?
Recently, a friend posted something on FB that amounted to saying that the typical reaction of most globetrotters is delight at what they experience in other countries and dismay at the discourteous attitude of people here.
Having traveled some, and more so recently I would tend to agree. The differences in people’s behavior anywhere abroad and here is so stark that even the most obtuse register some shock when they return.
So, it was Diwali last weekend. The course of events got me thinking.
Why does every festival in India have to become such a nuisance? The pounding of drums, prayers said using loud speakers, loud, obnoxious firecrackers on the streets, housing societies till really late in the night, food and goodie stalls extending to the streets, processions during peak-hour traffic hogging half the street causing traffic jams? Really, is all this necessary? Do festivals give revelers the right to violate rules in public and private places, disturb the lives of other people?
Well, that’s how it is here.
And, I wonder why despite all this nuisance a lot of friends in foreign lands long to travel to India around this time so they can celebrate Diwali here. It amazes me. I sincerely hope for a near-perfect Diwali celebration here someday; one that takes in the best of how it is celebrated here and any place abroad.
What motivates people to break the 11 pm deadline, for instance, and burst firecrackers till like 2 am on Diwali night? Or, for that matter, play loud music till really late in the night because they have a party at home?
How would you suggest such behavior be looked at if not inconsiderate, obnoxious towards other people living in the building? Surely, this behavior doesn’t stem from their fear of having nothing to brag about if they didn’t break any rules.
Then, someone tells you they’d like to meet up with you. They don’t call you and or even text you. Have I missed out something or has this become socially acceptable, normal behavior? Good on them!
And, then there are those that do not greet others with the universally accepted ‘Hi/Hello. How are you?’ Awfully jarring and discourteous behavior when coming from an adult especially because even my 2 year old nephew knows when to say ‘Hello’, ‘Thank you’, ‘No thank you’, and ‘Bless you’.
Surprisingly enough, people like such suddenly become prompt, attentive, and courteous when they either need to transact some business with people or are on a visa in some foreign land. Perhaps, they know that if they didn’t do the right things, they’d get kicked in the rear.
So, yes, these things are more blazing when one returns. Why accept such obnoxious behavior under the garb of being ‘chilled’. How I hate this word!
I'd like to remain this way.. predictable! bah!
Having traveled some, and more so recently I would tend to agree. The differences in people’s behavior anywhere abroad and here is so stark that even the most obtuse register some shock when they return.
So, it was Diwali last weekend. The course of events got me thinking.
Why does every festival in India have to become such a nuisance? The pounding of drums, prayers said using loud speakers, loud, obnoxious firecrackers on the streets, housing societies till really late in the night, food and goodie stalls extending to the streets, processions during peak-hour traffic hogging half the street causing traffic jams? Really, is all this necessary? Do festivals give revelers the right to violate rules in public and private places, disturb the lives of other people?
Well, that’s how it is here.
And, I wonder why despite all this nuisance a lot of friends in foreign lands long to travel to India around this time so they can celebrate Diwali here. It amazes me. I sincerely hope for a near-perfect Diwali celebration here someday; one that takes in the best of how it is celebrated here and any place abroad.
What motivates people to break the 11 pm deadline, for instance, and burst firecrackers till like 2 am on Diwali night? Or, for that matter, play loud music till really late in the night because they have a party at home?
How would you suggest such behavior be looked at if not inconsiderate, obnoxious towards other people living in the building? Surely, this behavior doesn’t stem from their fear of having nothing to brag about if they didn’t break any rules.
Then, someone tells you they’d like to meet up with you. They don’t call you and or even text you. Have I missed out something or has this become socially acceptable, normal behavior? Good on them!
And, then there are those that do not greet others with the universally accepted ‘Hi/Hello. How are you?’ Awfully jarring and discourteous behavior when coming from an adult especially because even my 2 year old nephew knows when to say ‘Hello’, ‘Thank you’, ‘No thank you’, and ‘Bless you’.
Surprisingly enough, people like such suddenly become prompt, attentive, and courteous when they either need to transact some business with people or are on a visa in some foreign land. Perhaps, they know that if they didn’t do the right things, they’d get kicked in the rear.
So, yes, these things are more blazing when one returns. Why accept such obnoxious behavior under the garb of being ‘chilled’. How I hate this word!
I'd like to remain this way.. predictable! bah!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Grace in small things, I say
So, I’m back, completely rejuvenated from this short vacation that lasted only about 2.5 weeks. Only! Sigh! Don’t say ‘welcome back’, ‘that’s a lot’ etc. etc. just yet for this one time I wanted to stay on.. stay on longer ..
For two and a half weeks I soaked in *silence pollution*.. no honking ..:) gazing out into vast lush green, well-manicured expanses, clumps of trees, taking in the fall colors et all. Awfully blissful, I tell you!
Bombay now feels like a close cousin of Soho village (NYC) - cramped and dirty. And, so friggin noisy!
Need I mention how awesome it all was - spending time with family and some close friends, driving to far-flung places simply enjoying the view? :) Outstanding moments – well, far too many. You know what I’m talking about. :) Moments that reaffirm that one is doing just what one should be doing with one’s life. Travel, that is. ;) And, that one is fortunate to have such kick-ass family and friends around.
The weather, thankfully, remained quite awesome during the course of my trip.
Spent the first few hours sitting around with family in the backyard.. some Zinfandel to go with barbequed corn, veggies, and chicken.
Our date with the Statue of Liberty - We made a full-day trip out of it, relaxed, executed at our own pace - Drove to Liberty garden from where we took the hop on, hop off ferry first to Ellis island and then another one to Liberty island. An awesome experience!
Another day, I caught with old friends, took the open bus ride and the NYC Ducks tour combo. Although, I had been to various parts of NY before, sitting atop an open, double-decker bus as it drove us through uptown, downtown, and Brooklyn was a pleasant enough experience. All the buildings look so grand! Central Park was unanimously selected as the hop-off destination to spend a few hours.
Bank of America tower - I just had to get this one ;)
Chrysler tower..
I had to get this one too ;)
Before getting off at Central Park, we took the NYC Duck tour. The open bus, essentially a hovercraft, took us through the streets of Manhattan and then made way into the Hudson river. Exhilarating experience!
The NYC skyline from the Hudson river
NJ in the far distance
We spent a couple of hours walking around in Central Park. I could so easily live in some area close by. :)
Having been on the World Trade Tower a couple of years back during the day, Empire State building it was one evening. Awesome view of the city from the observation deck on the 86th floor.. Didn’t click pictures that evening but had one of the Empire State building clicked during the open bus tour.
I’m a theatre enthusiast and Broadway is something I wanted to experience. For once, I have FaceBook to thank ;) Asked friends for suggestions and based on those sat through ‘Phantom of the Opera’. It is truly a magnificent show. Immense production value!
I miss y'all, it all and think I'll be visiting often now. :)
For two and a half weeks I soaked in *silence pollution*.. no honking ..:) gazing out into vast lush green, well-manicured expanses, clumps of trees, taking in the fall colors et all. Awfully blissful, I tell you!
Bombay now feels like a close cousin of Soho village (NYC) - cramped and dirty. And, so friggin noisy!
Need I mention how awesome it all was - spending time with family and some close friends, driving to far-flung places simply enjoying the view? :) Outstanding moments – well, far too many. You know what I’m talking about. :) Moments that reaffirm that one is doing just what one should be doing with one’s life. Travel, that is. ;) And, that one is fortunate to have such kick-ass family and friends around.
The weather, thankfully, remained quite awesome during the course of my trip.
Spent the first few hours sitting around with family in the backyard.. some Zinfandel to go with barbequed corn, veggies, and chicken.
Our date with the Statue of Liberty - We made a full-day trip out of it, relaxed, executed at our own pace - Drove to Liberty garden from where we took the hop on, hop off ferry first to Ellis island and then another one to Liberty island. An awesome experience!
Another day, I caught with old friends, took the open bus ride and the NYC Ducks tour combo. Although, I had been to various parts of NY before, sitting atop an open, double-decker bus as it drove us through uptown, downtown, and Brooklyn was a pleasant enough experience. All the buildings look so grand! Central Park was unanimously selected as the hop-off destination to spend a few hours.
Bank of America tower - I just had to get this one ;)
Chrysler tower..
I had to get this one too ;)
Before getting off at Central Park, we took the NYC Duck tour. The open bus, essentially a hovercraft, took us through the streets of Manhattan and then made way into the Hudson river. Exhilarating experience!
The NYC skyline from the Hudson river
NJ in the far distance
We spent a couple of hours walking around in Central Park. I could so easily live in some area close by. :)
Having been on the World Trade Tower a couple of years back during the day, Empire State building it was one evening. Awesome view of the city from the observation deck on the 86th floor.. Didn’t click pictures that evening but had one of the Empire State building clicked during the open bus tour.
I’m a theatre enthusiast and Broadway is something I wanted to experience. For once, I have FaceBook to thank ;) Asked friends for suggestions and based on those sat through ‘Phantom of the Opera’. It is truly a magnificent show. Immense production value!
I miss y'all, it all and think I'll be visiting often now. :)
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Where some people are concerned:
It's highly liberating to let go.
To free up space..
There’s little point in holding on.
What was.. no longer is..
So, what's to salvage?
Is often that people enshroud and not bury grudges.
And, sooner or later repeat behavior patterns.
To free up space..
There’s little point in holding on.
What was.. no longer is..
So, what's to salvage?
Is often that people enshroud and not bury grudges.
And, sooner or later repeat behavior patterns.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
If there’s the Statue of Liberty, I’ve got to see it!
It’s impressive. Everyone must visit it at some point.
If there’s the Niagara Falls, I got to see them too.
So, after much travail, I finally got a multi-entry visa for the US. Sadly, school will have started by the time I make the trip. I did want to spend a lot of time with my nephews. But then, what the heck - we’ll make the most of the time we have. (OK boys? ‘Yes’ assumed.)
Boy! Getting a visa for the US was like working on a mini project. Admittedly, the consulate guys are very methodical, yet I have to say this - no other country makes it so difficult for people to get a visa. :/ It took me about 4 weeks from paying the visa fees, filling the online visa form after 2 days of paying the fees, submitting documents at the consulate, setting up the interview date, and then finally going for the interview. phew!
From the time, Rinku and I first discussed the trip, Ronak, my nephew, had asked me several times – ‘So WHEN are you coming to the United States?’
Each time he’d ask, I’d say soon till one day he asked ‘So is it really so difficult to get a visa for the United States? My holidays are getting over, y’know. ‘
At the consulate during the interview, I asked the officer about the visa I being given. I was told later that I shouldn’t have asked because that spikes their suspicion.
He answered my question and then posed another :) – ‘Is it important?’
Me: ‘YES. The tedium of the whole process.. hmmm.. I don’t think I want to go through it again for a few years at the very least.’
I guess their ‘fears’ are kind of justified. Every second IT professional at least till a few years back dreamed of working in the US and hoarding on greenbacks.
I’m quite looking forward to this holiday; looking forward to doing touristy things, sitting through a Broadway show, and some shopping too. I can already imagine raiding shelves lined with Sally Hansen nail polishes in the prettiest of shades, some interesting stuff for the house from Ikea, and a donut at least from Dunkin’s. I’m allowed to forget about calories that one time at least. ;)
If there’s the Niagara Falls, I got to see them too.
So, after much travail, I finally got a multi-entry visa for the US. Sadly, school will have started by the time I make the trip. I did want to spend a lot of time with my nephews. But then, what the heck - we’ll make the most of the time we have. (OK boys? ‘Yes’ assumed.)
Boy! Getting a visa for the US was like working on a mini project. Admittedly, the consulate guys are very methodical, yet I have to say this - no other country makes it so difficult for people to get a visa. :/ It took me about 4 weeks from paying the visa fees, filling the online visa form after 2 days of paying the fees, submitting documents at the consulate, setting up the interview date, and then finally going for the interview. phew!
From the time, Rinku and I first discussed the trip, Ronak, my nephew, had asked me several times – ‘So WHEN are you coming to the United States?’
Each time he’d ask, I’d say soon till one day he asked ‘So is it really so difficult to get a visa for the United States? My holidays are getting over, y’know. ‘
At the consulate during the interview, I asked the officer about the visa I being given. I was told later that I shouldn’t have asked because that spikes their suspicion.
He answered my question and then posed another :) – ‘Is it important?’
Me: ‘YES. The tedium of the whole process.. hmmm.. I don’t think I want to go through it again for a few years at the very least.’
I guess their ‘fears’ are kind of justified. Every second IT professional at least till a few years back dreamed of working in the US and hoarding on greenbacks.
I’m quite looking forward to this holiday; looking forward to doing touristy things, sitting through a Broadway show, and some shopping too. I can already imagine raiding shelves lined with Sally Hansen nail polishes in the prettiest of shades, some interesting stuff for the house from Ikea, and a donut at least from Dunkin’s. I’m allowed to forget about calories that one time at least. ;)
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
change..
they say 'change is the only constant'.. yadi yada. but really, methinks, change happens so slowly that most times one gets the feeling that things aren't really moving at all. all one is doing is wishing, striving, hoping, striving, believing, striving, and striving some more.
and, then one day, without any forewarning, almost magically things change. voila! what was the real trigger? was there a button, well concealed from view, that one hadn't pressed?
the time doth cometh.. 8~)
and, then one day, without any forewarning, almost magically things change. voila! what was the real trigger? was there a button, well concealed from view, that one hadn't pressed?
the time doth cometh.. 8~)
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
fly on the wall
sometimes, i wish i could magically transform into a fly on the wall, for a brief while, just when i want. i'd be able to hear all that's being discussed when i'm not in the room.
what usually happens is one's mere presence changes the chemistry, energy, and slant of the discussion. and, then in case of people like me, who always have something to say, it changes even more.
what usually happens is one's mere presence changes the chemistry, energy, and slant of the discussion. and, then in case of people like me, who always have something to say, it changes even more.
probably, it’s extreme nature of things that i detest
sometimes i’m stifled in this terribly pretentious, euphemistic world and at other times i bemoan the loss of manners and etiquette.
and, I forget to brood
when life is sorta treating me well, miseries bog me down but for a few seconds. anger quickly gets imbrued with all things in the present moment, the wave carrying me forward with force, erasing all remnants of irritation.. almost effortlessly.
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