Web Definitions :
Adaptation : the process of adapting to something (such as environmental conditions)
Adjustment : making or becoming suitable; adjusting to circumstances
Understanding : characterized by understanding based on comprehension and discernment and empathy; "an understanding friend"
Important virtues, when you are far from home !!
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Totally texan!!
Howdy guys and gals!!
Yeah right !! I saw the true Texas yesterday :)
A social organisation called "Big Howdy" organises this cool things for international students to get a real feel of America, rather TEXAS.. They are the ones who organised the welcome party for us, where they brought yummy home cooked food and dessert and taught us some Texan style dancing.. They are the ones who organised free trips to the nearest Walmarts to familiarise us with the shopping.. And THEY are the ones who took us for a tour to Dallas-Arlington-Fort worth area yesterday :D
We assembled there at 9 in the morning.. For some reasons, I didn't get to board the bus and got stuck ( or so I thought) with a local volunteer.. It was just two of us, me and Sameer ( totally fun guy, reminds me of ally) and our guide-cum-chauffeur. He was a guy called Richard B Grisham aka R.B :) He was a very fatherly figure.. And had amazing experiences. For one, he is 54 yrs and has had a heart transplant.. So he always says " I am 54 but my heart is 34" :)
He took us to his house and showed us around.. He introduced us to his family.. His younger daughter Madison aka Madi wanted to come along with us, and she did.. She was so cute.. I was sitting at the back seat with her for a while.. But I'm not very comfortable in company of kids.. It was almost like sitting beside a nuclear bomb.. I hardly spoke to her.. Later Sameer sat with her, and boy, did they have fun!! They were like two long-lost pals, giving hi-fi's to each other n all :)
RB took us to Fort Worth downtown. It has such narrow streets compared to Arlington, that one would wonder which one is a bigger town (FYI, Fort Worth is bigger :-p) But there are really cool buildings.. Each one has a different kind of architecture.. One is really old and another is totally modern.. Then we went to the Stockyards.. On the way, we came across a TV reporter.. A hot Mexican babe.. RB stopped by there and Madi was screaming " WOW!! would we like come on TV??" :) We took a picture with her.. Then we went to stockyards.. TOTALLY AMAZING!! You feel like you have gone back a 100 yrs.. Ppl dressed as cowboys, old Texan style houses, bars and restaurants.. There's a famous pub called "Billy Bob's". It was closed, but we got perm to go in.. The owner's wife herself gave us a tour.. Whoa!! it was amazing.. A typical cowboy pub.. With music and dim lighting.. A big dance floor for Texan line dancing, with a silver saddle hanging from the ceiling.. There was an arena for rodeo feats.. Was a grt experience !!
http://www.billybobstexas.com/
He took us to a typical Texas style barbecue restaurant.. We had chicken barbecues and a popular drink called Dr. Pepper ( which i didn't like :-/ ) A waitress was bringing freshly baked sooooft bread to our table every now and then.. It was yummy!!
R.B was supposed to take us only to Fort worth, but he drove us down to Dallas too.. The architecture of buildings is amazing out there.. The tallest building is the one which houses the Bank of America and trust me, u will break your neck if u try to see the highest point!!! There's a street called the "Elm Street", which is flanked by verrrrrrry tall buildings.. They call it the Canyon :D We also saw the place where President John Kennedy died.. R.B explained to us exactly how the assassination had taken place..
Then we got back to our university in the evening.. He hugged us before leaving.. We really had had an awesome day, Thanks to R.B :)
Yeah right !! I saw the true Texas yesterday :)
A social organisation called "Big Howdy" organises this cool things for international students to get a real feel of America, rather TEXAS.. They are the ones who organised the welcome party for us, where they brought yummy home cooked food and dessert and taught us some Texan style dancing.. They are the ones who organised free trips to the nearest Walmarts to familiarise us with the shopping.. And THEY are the ones who took us for a tour to Dallas-Arlington-Fort worth area yesterday :D
We assembled there at 9 in the morning.. For some reasons, I didn't get to board the bus and got stuck ( or so I thought) with a local volunteer.. It was just two of us, me and Sameer ( totally fun guy, reminds me of ally) and our guide-cum-chauffeur. He was a guy called Richard B Grisham aka R.B :) He was a very fatherly figure.. And had amazing experiences. For one, he is 54 yrs and has had a heart transplant.. So he always says " I am 54 but my heart is 34" :)
He took us to his house and showed us around.. He introduced us to his family.. His younger daughter Madison aka Madi wanted to come along with us, and she did.. She was so cute.. I was sitting at the back seat with her for a while.. But I'm not very comfortable in company of kids.. It was almost like sitting beside a nuclear bomb.. I hardly spoke to her.. Later Sameer sat with her, and boy, did they have fun!! They were like two long-lost pals, giving hi-fi's to each other n all :)
RB took us to Fort Worth downtown. It has such narrow streets compared to Arlington, that one would wonder which one is a bigger town (FYI, Fort Worth is bigger :-p) But there are really cool buildings.. Each one has a different kind of architecture.. One is really old and another is totally modern.. Then we went to the Stockyards.. On the way, we came across a TV reporter.. A hot Mexican babe.. RB stopped by there and Madi was screaming " WOW!! would we like come on TV??" :) We took a picture with her.. Then we went to stockyards.. TOTALLY AMAZING!! You feel like you have gone back a 100 yrs.. Ppl dressed as cowboys, old Texan style houses, bars and restaurants.. There's a famous pub called "Billy Bob's". It was closed, but we got perm to go in.. The owner's wife herself gave us a tour.. Whoa!! it was amazing.. A typical cowboy pub.. With music and dim lighting.. A big dance floor for Texan line dancing, with a silver saddle hanging from the ceiling.. There was an arena for rodeo feats.. Was a grt experience !!
http://www.billybobstexas.com/
He took us to a typical Texas style barbecue restaurant.. We had chicken barbecues and a popular drink called Dr. Pepper ( which i didn't like :-/ ) A waitress was bringing freshly baked sooooft bread to our table every now and then.. It was yummy!!
R.B was supposed to take us only to Fort worth, but he drove us down to Dallas too.. The architecture of buildings is amazing out there.. The tallest building is the one which houses the Bank of America and trust me, u will break your neck if u try to see the highest point!!! There's a street called the "Elm Street", which is flanked by verrrrrrry tall buildings.. They call it the Canyon :D We also saw the place where President John Kennedy died.. R.B explained to us exactly how the assassination had taken place..
Then we got back to our university in the evening.. He hugged us before leaving.. We really had had an awesome day, Thanks to R.B :)
Sunday, August 19, 2007
First adventure in Texas !!
An event called "Anand Bazaar" happens here every year, around independence day. It is organised by India Association of North Texas, for independence day celebrations. The Indian association from UTA (called FSI) also participates and volunteers for it. In return, they get publicity and funds.
So yesterday, even I volunteered for this. Hidden motive was free entry to the event and free food :D Saved almost $15.
I had sent a mail the previous day, to volunteer for the event. But one of the guys we know from FSI, told us there are more than enough volunteers and there's no place for us. So we were totally disheartened n all.
But when the pick-ups started, to take ppl to the event, we just stood around to see wat's happening. Suddenly, one of the FSI members we knew, waved at us and told us to get in a car. Advantage of having important contacts :D
When we reached there. They gave us caps and T-shirts, so that we are identified as FSI volunteers. We were deployed at the ticket counter. $8 per ticket. Whoa man!! Handled soooooooo many dollars :-O I sold the maximum tickets :) We sat at the counters from 5.30PM to 8.30PM. Saw so many cute guys. Total hunks and all :sigh !!
At 8.30PM we asked for replacements and pushed off to see the fair. It was literally a fair as in India. Since most were Indians. There was also a live band singing Hindi music songs.. They were pretty ok. Lots of stalls were there and lots of Indians trying to pass off as Americans. Quite disgusting. We had chaat, burf ka gola, and coconut water n all. Then we sat and listened to the band for some time. We showed our faces back in the ticket place only at 5 mins to 10 :-p Cos we knew that the counters are to be closed at ten :D
After that, there was a firework show. Amazing!! Reminded me of diwali :) Then we listened to the band for some more time. Me and my friend went in the front and danced with the crowd, till 11.30 PM Total masti..
Then we met the FSI guys and one of the fellows dropped us home. Was a total bindaas day. The kind of thing I couldn't have done back home, cos of time constraints. Enjoyed a lot !!
So yesterday, even I volunteered for this. Hidden motive was free entry to the event and free food :D Saved almost $15.
I had sent a mail the previous day, to volunteer for the event. But one of the guys we know from FSI, told us there are more than enough volunteers and there's no place for us. So we were totally disheartened n all.
But when the pick-ups started, to take ppl to the event, we just stood around to see wat's happening. Suddenly, one of the FSI members we knew, waved at us and told us to get in a car. Advantage of having important contacts :D
When we reached there. They gave us caps and T-shirts, so that we are identified as FSI volunteers. We were deployed at the ticket counter. $8 per ticket. Whoa man!! Handled soooooooo many dollars :-O I sold the maximum tickets :) We sat at the counters from 5.30PM to 8.30PM. Saw so many cute guys. Total hunks and all :sigh !!
At 8.30PM we asked for replacements and pushed off to see the fair. It was literally a fair as in India. Since most were Indians. There was also a live band singing Hindi music songs.. They were pretty ok. Lots of stalls were there and lots of Indians trying to pass off as Americans. Quite disgusting. We had chaat, burf ka gola, and coconut water n all. Then we sat and listened to the band for some time. We showed our faces back in the ticket place only at 5 mins to 10 :-p Cos we knew that the counters are to be closed at ten :D
After that, there was a firework show. Amazing!! Reminded me of diwali :) Then we listened to the band for some more time. Me and my friend went in the front and danced with the crowd, till 11.30 PM Total masti..
Then we met the FSI guys and one of the fellows dropped us home. Was a total bindaas day. The kind of thing I couldn't have done back home, cos of time constraints. Enjoyed a lot !!
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Difference !!
Things which are different here in UTA as compared to India :
1. There are either cars or people on the road. Few cycles. Saw a few cool motorbikes though.
2. Have to wash and dry clothes in the washing machine. No clothes line.
3. Electric stove. Can't prepare phulkas. What a pain in the neck X-(
4. Only shower in the bathroom, no dear old balti :-(
5. You dont have to boil milk once you buy it.
6. Every building is fully air-conditioned. And its like a furnace outside. So you get cold and hot alternately.
7. The whole apartment is carpeted. What will happen when it rains ?? Dont even wanna think about it :sigh
8. Lot of wastage of electricity.
9. I get to use lot of tissue paper in the kitchen bindaas :D Dont have to go through the trouble of cleaning with the cloth and then cleaning the cloth.
1. There are either cars or people on the road. Few cycles. Saw a few cool motorbikes though.
2. Have to wash and dry clothes in the washing machine. No clothes line.
3. Electric stove. Can't prepare phulkas. What a pain in the neck X-(
4. Only shower in the bathroom, no dear old balti :-(
5. You dont have to boil milk once you buy it.
6. Every building is fully air-conditioned. And its like a furnace outside. So you get cold and hot alternately.
7. The whole apartment is carpeted. What will happen when it rains ?? Dont even wanna think about it :sigh
8. Lot of wastage of electricity.
9. I get to use lot of tissue paper in the kitchen bindaas :D Dont have to go through the trouble of cleaning with the cloth and then cleaning the cloth.
Friday, August 10, 2007
YAY!!!
Finally landed in US of A.
A senior came to pick us up from the airport. The first thing which confused me were the traffic rules. Sat in the front seat on the way from the airport and it took some time for me to realize that, there's a free right. Basically, since all the directions are opposite, i got confused big time :D Roads are wide and smooth. Cars run faster. The system of crossing roads is cool. You have to press a button and wait for the signal to cross :) Got the plastic ID card made in a jiffy. People are pretty helpful. I realised that my experience working in HP gives me advantage over others. The confidence while talking to americans, understanding their accent comes from there :) Some others are suddenly taken aback when someone smiles out of the blue and says "How are you doing" :D
Like many others I compared US with India instinctively. I observed some good things about US, those which I've mentioned already. But felt that India is rather better in many ways. Public transport for one. Here, you either have to own a car or depend on someone else for a ride. Thats sucks. And there are no street lights here on the university. There are few streets like that in Indian cities I guess !!
Not missing home right now. Lots of things to do and observe. Everything is new to the eye. When the eyes will get used to it, they will automatically remember home :)
A senior came to pick us up from the airport. The first thing which confused me were the traffic rules. Sat in the front seat on the way from the airport and it took some time for me to realize that, there's a free right. Basically, since all the directions are opposite, i got confused big time :D Roads are wide and smooth. Cars run faster. The system of crossing roads is cool. You have to press a button and wait for the signal to cross :) Got the plastic ID card made in a jiffy. People are pretty helpful. I realised that my experience working in HP gives me advantage over others. The confidence while talking to americans, understanding their accent comes from there :) Some others are suddenly taken aback when someone smiles out of the blue and says "How are you doing" :D
Like many others I compared US with India instinctively. I observed some good things about US, those which I've mentioned already. But felt that India is rather better in many ways. Public transport for one. Here, you either have to own a car or depend on someone else for a ride. Thats sucks. And there are no street lights here on the university. There are few streets like that in Indian cities I guess !!
Not missing home right now. Lots of things to do and observe. Everything is new to the eye. When the eyes will get used to it, they will automatically remember home :)
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