In what would be my last post this year, I've got quite a few things to share. Since Aug, I have not blogged and that is quite a long time and so, have a lot to type.Here are a few...

September : Was a month of joy for me as I successfully completed my certification and it was like accomplishing a mission impossible in the first attempt. Though it is not a mission impossible thing, it seemed so because of the minimal assistance and less exposure to the subject. After completing the exam, it was time to pack our bags back to India. Everything had to be done in a span of 15 days from vacating the house, buying stuff and packing things and sending our baggage to India, to painting the house and handing over in right condition. It was tedious and everyday was fun filled with nightmares. The painting part had to be done as a huge sum was with the landlord as a security deposit. Had we not handed it over in proper condition, we would have lost some amount in that for repair purpose. But the last fews days were fun. My husband and I were happy since we shared a passion to paint!(sigh! since it was not our own house that we were painting (wink)). And we also had an additional task of disposing all our items as we were relocating. We started selling items and many visited our messy house to buy things. I must say at this juncture that everybody was amazed by the painting and cleaning work. The painting work was close to perfection. Even the agents who came to inspect our house were taken aback and applauded our effort to hand over the house in a very neat condition. All said and done, the after effects were ready to follow ;)

It was a month to celebrate and enjoy. In my earlier post I had mentioned about the wonderful set of friends that we have got. We all got together for the last time for a dinner and had a lot of fun. London is not devoid of Indian hotels. But this one was special as it was designed like a railway coach and each seat was designed in the form of berth. Nice thought I must say. We were gifted with a big portrait that had a collage of all wonderful events that we all were a part of. That was so nice of them and we preserve it as a treasure! 

October: Came October 1st and it was time for us leave for India. We were so touched by our friends' gesture as most of them made to the airport to bid adieu. All was well and happily landed here in India on Oct 2nd. It was a nice feeling to back again in our motherland and one can only enjoy it when he/she goes through the same phase in life. Families waiting eagerly to meet us made the enjoyment all the more joyous and wonderful feeling prevailed. Meeting every member of the family followed and everything went on smoothly then on.

It was a series of mixed feelings to follow since Oct 3rd as I was down with chicken pox from that day and it made everyone in the family upset. We had a series of plans and everything went for a toss. It was then I realized that what is destined will surely happen even when man proposes a lot! Uhhh.. So much to say. It was hell for the next 1 and half month's time as I could not eat properly and had my food track affected due to  infection. In the mean time, I had started applying for jobs in Chennai.

November: Jobs in India are abundant however, from what I have seen, people operate in a very so called "SYSTEMATIC" way. They operate with blinkers put on like that of the race-horses. I dont see many considering exceptional cases(I am one). I was disappointed to see that nothing was coming my way. I guess it all happened to me, to prove a point by the God. That instance proved to me a saying in Tamil "வெளுததேலம் பால் இல்லை" which means whichever seems white is not always milk. You bet. I was called for an interview one day and was told that I needed to work for them under their payroll for a about three month and after that I would be placed in one of the top MNC's. People were so convincing that I fell into a trap of cheaters(how dumb of me).They even promised that I would work on live projects until I get a job. And like any other consultancy they wanted money for that. I had agreed to pay them in instalments ( I was lucky enough to pay only half the amount). At least God had so much consideration and I was not insane to believe their words blindly. By then, I was still in the recovery phase. I joined the company on Nov 8th only to realize that they were frauds. They were ready to do anything from cheating to faking experience for money. The day I landed there was an eye opener for many as well. I had the knowledge of how it looks like on a live environment and how people teach and work in a big MNC. There were not many projects coming in and everyday when we asked about this, they would say that they project would come at a particular time from Banglore(God only knows what they actually meant) and that I would surely work on a live project. I realized that people were cheated left, right and center including me.

 I took the opportunity to teach everybody else about this and also how it would be like to work on a real time environment. None of them how it would be like to work in a bigger environment as they had this wrong notion that every company had some project rooms like the ones here. I decided to ensure that they understood what it is like in a bigger environment. Knowledge sharing is always fun and it was nice to share the knowledge that I had gained due to the certification I had completed a month back. I could also learn from the questions asked. It was a new environment and I learnt to adapt to the situation and had an opportunity to meet some nice persons there. I could also befriend a few and my fascination to admire different shades of different people had multi-folded. To tell about a few here - there was an angry young man fresh out of college, who could not stand people cheating and a friend of his who was happy go lucky guy who dint bother much. Everybody was fresh blood and naughty young men enjoying and misusing the internet facilities provided yet serious to learn something and ready to kick start their career. One another interesting person who comes to my mind is a girl who is multi-faceted and knows A-Z about the company. Yet due to her own personal commitments she has come to these folks. That is her personal wish. Another person who was also stunned as I am was a girl who has worked on a different platform and wanting to start afresh due to her passion. She was naive enough to pay all the amount. Poor girl and I found a cribbing partner in her(no offense intended) In all these, I managed to get the positive thing out and understood my strength that I could teach well.

December : Finally a project was offered and I was made to work on it and they tried to create a situation as though it had a deadline. I managed to deliver it on time and had it reviewed by the so-called testers and exactly one month later, not willing to continue I quit the company of cheaters.(Still had some 2 more months to complete) I could not stand that! Period.I understand from others that these frauds have told the other students that I have been placed in a big MNC as a back-door entrant paying a huge sum(which I have not and neither am I working in that company). I am surprised and have told people create such rumours and have warned that I would sue them. I guess this is how they would woo people into their company and they are actually quite good at it in making people fall for this!! Given an opportunity, I would like to rip them apart on the internet. I shall soon reveal who those people are.

I am also awaiting my hubby's transfer to Chennai. Until then, I am enjoying my life at my mom's place! My p-i-l have been sweet enough to make me stay in my dad's place. Everything has been good so far and am enjoying my stay there and with my cousin's son around, it is all the more fun.Not to forget, I also attended a reunion with friends and had good fun. Everybody seems to have changed and it is nice to see that people have matured over the years. Health wise this last quarter has been a roller coaster ride for me as I am just out of a surgery- no-surgery trauma since last week and for now, it has been decided that I shall not undergo any surgery(reason is personal though ;) )

This year has been wonderful and sorrowful in its own right. Wonderful, as I completed my certification   and am back to India. Sorrowful as I had lost a few of my relatives.

Putting everything aside, let us all hope that the coming years be joyful and blissful as ever. Wish you all a Merry Christmas and  A very happy new year!

Cheers!

Intriguing

I needed a break from my whole-day studying schedule! I was looking for something that could energise me and make me happy. As I was going through various people's status messages, I came across one of the videos posted. I was a bit skeptical about opening as my mood was already down. However, I decided to give it a try. 

I was very much moved by this video and watched it a couple of times more. The subtle message in the video actually reflects the state of the current generation. I was intrigued by this video and started wondering about how I would have felt had my child done this to me. I had an array of questions in my mind. And here it goes. 

How many of us

 i) have ever thought about our parents and given them some time in a day? 

 ii) realise that it is time for them to relax and enjoy their life rather than running behind something  or the other?

iii) thought they need attention and love rather than just money from our end?

iv) have taken them out for a walk on a sunny evening to a park?

v) have thought of sending a small Thank you! card as a gesture to show how grateful we are?

vi) have given them a thoughtful gift?

vii) have understood what our parents need without them coming to us and telling?

And the list goes on.. Not many would have done this. 

With the advent of the technology and the boom in various sectors, we youngsters are busy chasing our dreams forgetting the life that we need to live today. Today is real and the moments we spend with our parents are more precious than the moments when we achieve something when our parents might not be there to witness. It could be our parents' dream that we are living today. But that doesn't mean that they shouldn't be a part of it. Dreams and goals can be achieved with parents around and not by living away in some remote country. 

It is all about loving and being little more considerate and not taking people for granted even if it is going to ones' own parents. I vowed not to behave in such a way in my life time.

Love you Amma and Appa! 

Been to London

I am reminded of the poem "Pussy cat pussy cat where have you been?" Yes, I am talking about my London experience. I have a lot of experiences to share and today being Friendship day, I've all the more reason to pen down my experiences.

The last 6 months' period has been a journey in its own right. It all happened in a matter of a week's when my husband was asked to shift his base to London and was forced to move out of a house that was just occupied for 1 and 1/2 month by us. We had planned a lot of things for our stay in Manchester. But it was not meant to be that way. We vacated the property and came down to London taking all our luggage and household goods jam packed in a car and that was the last day of our Manchester stay.

London beckoned us with hands wide open and here we are till today. There is always a thing about this city that has amused me."Cosmopolitan". I,sometimes wonder whether the natives feel out of place in their own country. March 6 was the day when we relocated to London and there has been no looking back since then. As they say, friends are your family when you live outside one's motherland. How true it is!! There was this generous couple who accommodated us in their  apartment for a whole month. Wonder what we would have done had we been in  their position. Meeting people whom I have never known or heard of from friends has become a daily affair. Be it an Iranian, a British or a Ghana national!! There is so much to learn and they love to learn from us as well. 

I am amused by the different shades people. There are friends who have been so good to us till this day,who have always been willing to help us. There is a person who is down to earth even though he is a great achiever and his wife, a talented girl who is a professional and supports him so well, there is a happy go lucky couple,  and there is a couple who organise get to gathers and love helping others and the list goes on.  The birthday celebrations, the late night chit-chats, the bhajans, the lunches and the dinners, the cricket matches and the football matches... It has been an enjoyable journey and  every weekend has been eventful.

 Today, I had been to a Gurudwara to attend a Langar organised by one of our friends. It was a nice feel to attend such an event outside my country. It would have been like any other event if it was organised in India since it is very common there. But when I attended this one, I could realise the importance of it and how such events help numerous people who are not able to afford a 3 course meal everyday including students. I met so many people there dutifully helping out to do their bit. There was no difference amongst people. A person from any caste,creed, colour could enter and do his/ her bit. It was a friendly atmosphere and I could sense a feeling of oneness. I could interact with people whom I had never met before in my life and could connect with them easily. We were happy sharing our stint . The mood was light.How I wish it was the same back there in India too. I have learnt one thing after staying away from my country-- Respect! Though, I have never looked down upon people, now-a-days, I have consciously developed this attitude to Respect people for what they are. Every individual around us has something in him/her to offer to this world and we need to respect that. 

It is not only about meeting people here but also about finding a place that pretty much makes you feel that you are staying in your own place. Yes, when I was introduced to this place called East Ham, I dint feel like I was in London. I could here people talking my mother tongue and smiling and understanding what I was looking for. Wow, the world has shrunk so much. From vegetables to fresh Jasmine flowers, Tamil weekly magazines and what not. You name it, you get it. I am not missing anything as far as the food is concerned. 

The journey has so far been very nice. I might not be in this country after a few months's time. But the memories and learnings I carry are for a lifetime!!