The most unpredictable thing in life is "LIFE" itself. Just imagine you are walking on the streets and some terrorists start firing and you become the victim, you are sitting in a cafe hanging out with friends and blast- cafes not there any more, you are on your bike and bang - accident with the truck and all over.
Due to the unpredictable nature of life, it is very important to live it to maximum as long as it is with us. Steve Jobs said, "Live every day of your life as if it is the last day. This way, you keep aside the fear of death and you get the courage to do things that you would not have done otherwise."
One of my very good friends lost her father on 5th dec due to an accident with the truck. This was a very unfortunate incident to have taken place. The loss of very close ones is irreparable but things move on and so do people. That's the way of life!!!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
State of mind
This post is all about how weird a person can get without knowing the reason of him/her being weird. I prefer to call it the state of mind.
It rarely happens but I guess it happens to everyone when a person doesnt know why he/she is behaving in a certain abnormal way. My guess is that at times, vacuum gets created in the brain when the brain deviates from its normal thought process and thinks of weird things that one may have not even dreamed about. Then, the person doesnt even realize if any one is around him or if he/she is with someone. It happened to me on my recent trip to Chicago. I was the one who planned the trip and was keen for the trip. But when the trip was on, my sane mental state went for a ride somewhere. I was totally out and I failed to realize that I had a group with me. It becomes really difficult to explain to people what you are thinking about during such state of mind because you end up thinking about things which are so trivial and which cannot be discussed as they are hard to understand.
I guess I need to spend some time with myself.
It rarely happens but I guess it happens to everyone when a person doesnt know why he/she is behaving in a certain abnormal way. My guess is that at times, vacuum gets created in the brain when the brain deviates from its normal thought process and thinks of weird things that one may have not even dreamed about. Then, the person doesnt even realize if any one is around him or if he/she is with someone. It happened to me on my recent trip to Chicago. I was the one who planned the trip and was keen for the trip. But when the trip was on, my sane mental state went for a ride somewhere. I was totally out and I failed to realize that I had a group with me. It becomes really difficult to explain to people what you are thinking about during such state of mind because you end up thinking about things which are so trivial and which cannot be discussed as they are hard to understand.
I guess I need to spend some time with myself.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Narrow escape
It was 5.30 am on Monday morning and I was on my way from New Jersey to College Park. I was very tired, slept for only 5 hrs in last 4 days and was driving a red chevrolet cobalt at 80 mph. Very close to reach the destination, I became a little complacent. For first time during my driving career my concentration lapsed and what followed after that was a narrow escape. An escape from the inevitable.
I took an exit from I 95 S to MD 219. The exit was a very sharp curve. Due to sheer tiredness, I wanted to reach home as soon as possible. As a result, I entered the ramp on right at 80 mph without reducing my speed. The car lost the control. It lost the grip over the road and the car skid. It went directly out of the road on to the shoulder. There were construction pillars on the side. I slammed the brake as hard as I could. The car turned 180 degrees and stopped about couple of inches from the pillars. The best part was that there was no vehicle coming behind me otherwise collision would have been certain. Had the car not stopped on time, I would have been a goner. For the first time in my life, I felt as if it was the last day of my life. I felt as if I was facing death.
I was lucky to avoid terrible incident. Though, it was a narrow escape..A very narrow escape indeed!!!
I took an exit from I 95 S to MD 219. The exit was a very sharp curve. Due to sheer tiredness, I wanted to reach home as soon as possible. As a result, I entered the ramp on right at 80 mph without reducing my speed. The car lost the control. It lost the grip over the road and the car skid. It went directly out of the road on to the shoulder. There were construction pillars on the side. I slammed the brake as hard as I could. The car turned 180 degrees and stopped about couple of inches from the pillars. The best part was that there was no vehicle coming behind me otherwise collision would have been certain. Had the car not stopped on time, I would have been a goner. For the first time in my life, I felt as if it was the last day of my life. I felt as if I was facing death.
I was lucky to avoid terrible incident. Though, it was a narrow escape..A very narrow escape indeed!!!
Spirit of Mumbai
Mumbai was under fire since 26th November 2008 due to the terrorist attack on luxurious Taj, Oberoi and other places. The battle between the Indian army and terrorists continued for over 60 hrs with 215 people reported dead. This was the worst thing to have ever happened for India.
Mumbaikars are known for their so called Mumbai spirits. Be it the bomb blast of 93 or the riots of 92 or the natural disaster of 26h july, Mumbaikars have always stepped up to help one another during the demanding days. This time again, Mumbaikars came together united to help one another during the series of terror that shattered Mumbai. On the contrary, I feel the so called Mumbai spirit is a very coward way of accepting disasters and moving ahead. Mumbaikars have a very short memory. They tend to forget things very fast and in the name of Mumbai spirit, they tend to let go any thing that is instore for them. Also, it needs something like riots or blasts for the people of Mumbai to restore the sense of togetherness almost every time. Many disasters could have been avoided if this sense of togetherness prevailed without the catalysts like blasts and riots.
I urge the Mumbaikars to ACT. Stop accepting whatever is made available to them and start acting. Mumbai is a paradise and each Mumbai-ite is truly in love with the place. Please get together and give this place what it deserves.
Mumbaikars are known for their so called Mumbai spirits. Be it the bomb blast of 93 or the riots of 92 or the natural disaster of 26h july, Mumbaikars have always stepped up to help one another during the demanding days. This time again, Mumbaikars came together united to help one another during the series of terror that shattered Mumbai. On the contrary, I feel the so called Mumbai spirit is a very coward way of accepting disasters and moving ahead. Mumbaikars have a very short memory. They tend to forget things very fast and in the name of Mumbai spirit, they tend to let go any thing that is instore for them. Also, it needs something like riots or blasts for the people of Mumbai to restore the sense of togetherness almost every time. Many disasters could have been avoided if this sense of togetherness prevailed without the catalysts like blasts and riots.
I urge the Mumbaikars to ACT. Stop accepting whatever is made available to them and start acting. Mumbai is a paradise and each Mumbai-ite is truly in love with the place. Please get together and give this place what it deserves.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Summer of 2008
With Fall setting in, I understand how necessary it is to enjoy the summers. That's exactly what I did for summer '08.
Summer commenced with a surprise trip to India. Was back to Home sweet home for a brief period (20 days to be precise). Came back (had no intentions though, but had no options either) and compensated for my 20 day leave. Had a short trip (for a day each) to Phily and Baltimore in early part of summer. Got lucky with internship @ GEICO (may prove costly in the future though). Details about GEICO experience would come as another post later.
My next trip was to Point Pleasant beach and Atlantic City in NJ. The reason - celebrating my birthday (need no reasons though). Then was the chance of Ocean City. One of the most beautiful beach towns I have seen. With bay on one side and beach on another, ocean city is the place to go to during summers. A beautiful stretch of 2 miles of boardwalk makes the place even better. The best part of the trip - Jet Ski.
After this trip, my course started and got busy with internship, GA, course and above all, exploring new places. Next in turn was Pocono White water rafting. Rafting was a fun experience. Love to do it again if I get a chance. Then came the turn of Marthas Vineyard and Boston. Marthas Vineyard is a very pretty place and a place where you can lay back and relax a bit. Beautiful beach towns, wonderful beaches, Greek Revival houses is what Marthas Vineyard is all about. Whale show, quincy, MIT and Harvard is Boston for me.
Summer ended with a perfect Roger Federer vs Djokovic semi finals at Arthur Ashe. I see why people envy me so much..LOL!!
Summer commenced with a surprise trip to India. Was back to Home sweet home for a brief period (20 days to be precise). Came back (had no intentions though, but had no options either) and compensated for my 20 day leave. Had a short trip (for a day each) to Phily and Baltimore in early part of summer. Got lucky with internship @ GEICO (may prove costly in the future though). Details about GEICO experience would come as another post later.
My next trip was to Point Pleasant beach and Atlantic City in NJ. The reason - celebrating my birthday (need no reasons though). Then was the chance of Ocean City. One of the most beautiful beach towns I have seen. With bay on one side and beach on another, ocean city is the place to go to during summers. A beautiful stretch of 2 miles of boardwalk makes the place even better. The best part of the trip - Jet Ski.
After this trip, my course started and got busy with internship, GA, course and above all, exploring new places. Next in turn was Pocono White water rafting. Rafting was a fun experience. Love to do it again if I get a chance. Then came the turn of Marthas Vineyard and Boston. Marthas Vineyard is a very pretty place and a place where you can lay back and relax a bit. Beautiful beach towns, wonderful beaches, Greek Revival houses is what Marthas Vineyard is all about. Whale show, quincy, MIT and Harvard is Boston for me.
Summer ended with a perfect Roger Federer vs Djokovic semi finals at Arthur Ashe. I see why people envy me so much..LOL!!
2 yrs with TCS
August 8, 2005, 6.00 pm: I get a call to join TCS ILP on 10th August at Pune.
August 9, 2005: I start buying formal clothes and get ready with all the paper work and other formalities
August 10, 2005: 7 DJ ites get together early morning at Dadar stn to catch the bus to Pune to begin a new phase of life - life @ TCS.
Thereafter:
There was no looking back back thereafter. My life @ TCS can be divided in 3 parts - ILP, GE Plastics and GE Capital Solutions.
@ ILP (Initial Learning Period) - One of the best time of life. Experienced full freedom for the first time in life. Loved it. Was busy like hell but made the most of freedom I got. Parties, movies, hangouts, had all possible fun. Made few very good friends and got to know few who were already friends. Overall, fun experience - paid vacation is what people call TCS ILP to be.
@ GE Plastics - The era of "P" gang. Got into my first live project and my team members were - Prakash, Pradeep, Purna and Priyanka. We formed a successful "p" gang. Once "p" era was over, tough times started. I moved into a project of crisis and a weak PL made the matter worse. Some how dragged for 3 months until this project was over and I was transferred to GE Capital Solutions with the tag of under performer.
@ GE Capital Solutions - The only thing in my mind was to change my impression. It started with me taking the responsibility of one critical project for the account. Things worked out well and with some support of team members, project was a success. I earned respect for handling this crucial project. Then, there was nothing that could stop me. From team member to project leader to project manager in a span of 6 months was something that I achieved. Just to give some credit to myself, that was some achievement.
A special mention about the snacks, lunch and fun we (Megha, Purna, Priyanka. Shruti, Vikrant and myself) had at TCS canteen, Sudha Vihar and Tunga.
The 2 yrs of TCS were glorious years of my career which helped me shape my thoughts and my career options.
August 9, 2005: I start buying formal clothes and get ready with all the paper work and other formalities
August 10, 2005: 7 DJ ites get together early morning at Dadar stn to catch the bus to Pune to begin a new phase of life - life @ TCS.
Thereafter:
There was no looking back back thereafter. My life @ TCS can be divided in 3 parts - ILP, GE Plastics and GE Capital Solutions.
@ ILP (Initial Learning Period) - One of the best time of life. Experienced full freedom for the first time in life. Loved it. Was busy like hell but made the most of freedom I got. Parties, movies, hangouts, had all possible fun. Made few very good friends and got to know few who were already friends. Overall, fun experience - paid vacation is what people call TCS ILP to be.
@ GE Plastics - The era of "P" gang. Got into my first live project and my team members were - Prakash, Pradeep, Purna and Priyanka. We formed a successful "p" gang. Once "p" era was over, tough times started. I moved into a project of crisis and a weak PL made the matter worse. Some how dragged for 3 months until this project was over and I was transferred to GE Capital Solutions with the tag of under performer.
@ GE Capital Solutions - The only thing in my mind was to change my impression. It started with me taking the responsibility of one critical project for the account. Things worked out well and with some support of team members, project was a success. I earned respect for handling this crucial project. Then, there was nothing that could stop me. From team member to project leader to project manager in a span of 6 months was something that I achieved. Just to give some credit to myself, that was some achievement.
A special mention about the snacks, lunch and fun we (Megha, Purna, Priyanka. Shruti, Vikrant and myself) had at TCS canteen, Sudha Vihar and Tunga.
The 2 yrs of TCS were glorious years of my career which helped me shape my thoughts and my career options.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
My journey in US so far
On 10th August 2007, I left India to come to US of A. I was a little apprehensive about my decision to leave so called high profile job of TCS. It needed a lot of courage for me to take this decision for the fact that I held a very respectable position at TCS. But now, here I am in US already completed one year and at this phase of life, not aware how many more years to complete.
Life in US has been full of experiences - good and bad. Made some really cool friends and on the other hand, met people whom I wish I never met. The utmost competitive atmosphere that prevails in India has started affecting the US grounds as well. People are ready to do whatever they can for their own benefits. This is what I learn during my journey so far.
When I reached US, I was totally shocked to find US totally opposite of what I had expected it to be. As a new comer, I stayed as a temp acco. at one of the seniors place. It was my first day in US and I had to cook my own food. I was jet lagged, tired, emotionally stressed and then I went in the kitchen to cook for the first time without anyone's help. That was the time when I realized that I am in US. This is US. All good notions that I had disappeared in less than 15 mins. Fortunately, I had a permanent acco available from the second day of my stay in US. I shifted to my new house with 3 strangers (actually I had met them once) to begin a new phase of my life. Few decisions I made then will be cherished by me lifetime and few will be regretted. Then came the next phase where in I was hunting for a job. After leading a team of 20 in TCS, I was working at UMD Dining cleaning tables. I was in the state of semi depression when I had to go through all this. But it is now I realize that this was one of the most important period of my life where I learn to respect all professions and all people. I taught me to be humble. Life is such a leveler. I somehow managed to get through this rusty phase of life. I was not aware that this was just the beginning. Life could be still worse. During the winter break, I lost my job at dining. I was sitting at my house jobless. This was the phase when I moved from semi depression state to depression state. But I knew at the hindsight that if I could come out of this, then I would be much stronger as an individual. I did that exactly. Then life took a turn and things started falling in my bucket. I got a GA and life was smooth after that.
I took some interesting courses in my spring semester. I overburdened myself during the spring. However, I did have a lot of fun activities also during that time like Cherry Blossom festival and of course my 3 visits to DC on 3 consecutive weekends. Was fun though!! Spring sem got over and it was time for surprises. Went to India without informing my parents. They were stunned when they saw me. These are the golden moments of life. I am happy I could create such moments. India trip was a short 20 day trip which got over in no time. Then again had to come to the place where I was destined to come. Got fortunate again when I got a decent internship @ GEICO.
On this day, I have finished one whole year in US and I am still at step 1. Not sure whether my decision to come to US is a worthy one. Life still stands at the point where I don't know how to move ahead.
Life in US has been full of experiences - good and bad. Made some really cool friends and on the other hand, met people whom I wish I never met. The utmost competitive atmosphere that prevails in India has started affecting the US grounds as well. People are ready to do whatever they can for their own benefits. This is what I learn during my journey so far.
When I reached US, I was totally shocked to find US totally opposite of what I had expected it to be. As a new comer, I stayed as a temp acco. at one of the seniors place. It was my first day in US and I had to cook my own food. I was jet lagged, tired, emotionally stressed and then I went in the kitchen to cook for the first time without anyone's help. That was the time when I realized that I am in US. This is US. All good notions that I had disappeared in less than 15 mins. Fortunately, I had a permanent acco available from the second day of my stay in US. I shifted to my new house with 3 strangers (actually I had met them once) to begin a new phase of my life. Few decisions I made then will be cherished by me lifetime and few will be regretted. Then came the next phase where in I was hunting for a job. After leading a team of 20 in TCS, I was working at UMD Dining cleaning tables. I was in the state of semi depression when I had to go through all this. But it is now I realize that this was one of the most important period of my life where I learn to respect all professions and all people. I taught me to be humble. Life is such a leveler. I somehow managed to get through this rusty phase of life. I was not aware that this was just the beginning. Life could be still worse. During the winter break, I lost my job at dining. I was sitting at my house jobless. This was the phase when I moved from semi depression state to depression state. But I knew at the hindsight that if I could come out of this, then I would be much stronger as an individual. I did that exactly. Then life took a turn and things started falling in my bucket. I got a GA and life was smooth after that.
I took some interesting courses in my spring semester. I overburdened myself during the spring. However, I did have a lot of fun activities also during that time like Cherry Blossom festival and of course my 3 visits to DC on 3 consecutive weekends. Was fun though!! Spring sem got over and it was time for surprises. Went to India without informing my parents. They were stunned when they saw me. These are the golden moments of life. I am happy I could create such moments. India trip was a short 20 day trip which got over in no time. Then again had to come to the place where I was destined to come. Got fortunate again when I got a decent internship @ GEICO.
On this day, I have finished one whole year in US and I am still at step 1. Not sure whether my decision to come to US is a worthy one. Life still stands at the point where I don't know how to move ahead.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Changing trends about coming to US
A totally different image of US exists in India. For people in India, US means a country with ultimate power. US means a country that controls the world. With this notion in mind, the genius brains of India dream to come to US to achieve what they percieve. This has led to enormous brain drain in India. You ask half the Engineers from Mumbai about what they want to do after finishing their under grads and the answer would be - "I want to go to US for my masters". You ask them why and very few actually have the answer. I feel the answer is TREND. There is this trend of coming to US inspite of you performing well in India. I would not say I am different from them as even I followed the trend to some extent.
There exists a misconception about US in the minds of people there in India. They some how feel that US means more money, easy money, fast money. But once you land up here, the feeling takes a U-turn. More than 75% of the people end up saying - "Is this US? Why the hype?" This is because they realize that life in US is much more difficult than in India. Some of them may disagree when I say that life in India is much more luxurious than in US. The amount of hardships that grad students face in US is much more than the struggle in India. People end up losing more than they gain here in US.
But now, the trend is changing again. People now prefer not to come here as India is on the path to success. There are lots of opportunities available in India as compared to US.
http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/
Infact people are moving from US to India for more prospects. This is my first attempt to write a blog. Feedback and Comments appreciated.
There exists a misconception about US in the minds of people there in India. They some how feel that US means more money, easy money, fast money. But once you land up here, the feeling takes a U-turn. More than 75% of the people end up saying - "Is this US? Why the hype?" This is because they realize that life in US is much more difficult than in India. Some of them may disagree when I say that life in India is much more luxurious than in US. The amount of hardships that grad students face in US is much more than the struggle in India. People end up losing more than they gain here in US.
But now, the trend is changing again. People now prefer not to come here as India is on the path to success. There are lots of opportunities available in India as compared to US.
http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/
Infact people are moving from US to India for more prospects. This is my first attempt to write a blog. Feedback and Comments appreciated.
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