Abhay Deol arranging sweets…

Diwali is almost synonymous to sweets to any Indian. Thus, at NYU during this international student week there was an event “United Sweets of the World”. This was a chance for international students to share a part of their culture with U.S. students and for all to enjoy desserts from different parts of the world.

As you know how much I eat and that too FREE SWEETS, from all over the world. Timings were from 7-9pm and hungry people like me reached sharp at 7 pm and thus saw organizers arranging the tables for you. I just waited there, khane ke liye kya kya karna padta hai ;-) Few of them were “wa-gashi” from Japan, “Soo Jeung Kwa” from Korea, “LIQUORICE” from Australia, “Pineapple Custard Rum Cake” from Cuba(South America) and “Pumpkin pie” from North America. All of them were so delicious…..ymmmmm. If u get a chance try them.

But why Abhay Deol came in the title. Its because I saw some guy who was arranging sweets, I thought I saw him somewhere but was not able to recall where I saw him. He just introduced himself to some GORI (nothing new all Indian guys flirt around GORI babes), as Abhay. I just interrupted and completed it as ”Abhay Deol”!!! He smiled and said yes. Then we chatted as a normal DESI buddies. He is a nice guys, very down to earth. Rather he is a kid, I just conversed taking his first name. In fact just for sheer satisfaction I said, “Hey Abhay I know it is a bit awkward but can u give me an autograph as a proof ;-) “. He smiled and said “Hey Cristina don’t believe him this is all set up, I just paid him to do that ha ha”. I am sure he must be happy to do that as I was the only one there who recognized him. And may be helped him to get that babe.

Then, I realized there is too much stardom associated with these on screen characters. They don’t deserve so much attention. He is a very average guy, you have better looks then him. Just another guy on the block, but son of Dharmendra. Today was a revelation for me that actors are just another person. I know you’ll say u always knew that, but still when there is Shahrukh around you’ll turn. I think its all marketing and glamour, gimme $100,000 I’ll make you a celebrity. Are you ready??

The Dinner Comedy

Garbha on streets of NJ...

Met Mr. Washington @ Wall Street

Met Mr. President and given letter on behal of student union...

1 feet away from the white shark ......

Glimps of Bachelor Party ..;-)

I have one request to all the girls who are reading this. Please STOP READING!!

I know still you haven't stopped, any ways guys will know what I mean. Guys have better imagination. At least they have practiced for many years ;-).

Define heaven; a place where all your desires are filled. On earth of course u need to pay for that. But its better to pay rather than die to have it :-).

One fine Friday evening bunch of NYU students decided to explore NYC further. They were desperate to quench there thirst for knowing more. They wanted to do something which they had never done before in their lives. Google came to there rescue, a link was discovered for a FREE entry. Ya students get free entry at lot of places.

It was dark but had a sensuous feel. Fragrence of Bois De Violette, Serge Lutens, Angel, Thierry Mugler, Shalimar, Guerlain, Beyond Paradise, Estée Lauder, No. 5, Chanel was all over the place. There was more to see than to believe. More to feel than to touch. Things were moving and shaking in all dimensions of freedom.

People want a place where there is no discrimination, no one is hungry, every one has enough on there lap ...this is it. US has achieved that at some place ;-). Lady escorting us asked whether we were there for a bachelor party, at that moment we came to know the real meaning of bachelor party. We were ushered to a table with comfortable sofa sets around. Sofas were really strong as many more people came and sat on them for a while (after I sat).

Some beautiful angle came to me in the most possible natural form and asked if I want some. After that *********************************************************************

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Water water every where but not a drop to drink ! - proclaimed by the poet, Samuel Coleridge, almost two centuries ago and still valid. After 3 hrs party was over but the memories and fragrance will last ....until I go next time ;-).

Caution: Don't read too much between the lines and stars. After all I am a good boy. he he he

World at disposal....

What a life dude ...I know people will say I am over excited and execrating the NYU life. But whatever you say Univ. life in US rocks..sometimes literally!!

Just yesterday I met people from Google. Ya they came down to our dept. and gave a presentation about the auction technology which they are working on. It was out of the world tech discussion profs were giving idea and it was substantiated with real time data at both ends (Google Vs Profs.). Google always been one of the dream company for and here it is discussing problems with me or at least in front of me ;-). Ya ...forget to tell you got free Pizzas and T-shirts (chance to wear authentic Google T-shirts), plus all those goodies like pen, pads etc.

Other day I attended a conf. conducted by JP Morgan tomorrow it is McKinsey....list goes on but enthu. never dies. In October X-President of Mexico is coming is coming to present a talk about problems facing by Latin countries. The whole place is over whelming for me.

Today when I was going through Washington Square park, accidently I interrupted a movie shoot. Here any day u can see some director shooting his next Hollywood flick. All the buildings shown in Spiderman are next to NYU and I can not remember in how many movies we have seen Manhattan skyscrapers with some American superhero trying to save the world.

Today being a Friday u can find so many college bands performing on the streets, in the park, in auditoriums..it seems the whole of NYC is jumping on the beats of drums. Its a continuous song which is in steps of every student.

But still library lights are on, some geeks and nerds are still at work. Its like the glowing tower made of transparent glass where in best brains are at work. This place seems like a mediation hall where the world knowledge seems to originate. You name it and u can find the book , even on established topics like flirting and dating.

From next week onwards Stern classes are starting and then life will blossom in the ocean of knowledge. I might get drowned but who care....at the moment I am on top of the world. From here nothing seems unreachable whether it setting up another Google , McKinsey or Goldman Sachs...

Ultrastructure <> Hyper-lecture

So yesterday was my first day in the class. Pretty excited, thought yes this time I'll be the best student and shall follow whatever prof. says. Before talking about the class lets talk about the classroom.

What is a class room? An auditorium/movie hall (which is obviously has A/C, heating, Wi-fi, Carpeting, blah blah), which has one complete wall of black boards. Really professor can pull down one board, writes on it than can send it up then follows the code on the second board. He used some 9 to 10 boards to explain tower of Hanoi. A projector where the screen is retractable (vanishes in the ceiling) when he is using the board.

Here we don't have infrastructure, we have ultrastructures. Now I know why they charge you so much, when u go to Leela Palace u don't care about the bill. Here washrooms are not a place to write graffiti, rather here students don't have creativity to write those happy rhymes ;-). Instead they are cleaner (and techie) than what I use to have in my MNC. Coffee machines have 20 options of drinks, snacks had loads of nutritional info but no price tag !!

Now coming to the lecture ....actually I can not write about it. As it was a class where only Tower of Hanoi was the thing which I heard before. Rest was bouncer ....really. It was more of a maths class solving some real time probs (ex) in air. After ever prob-sol. he was all happy along with few grad students rest of us were wondering whether we are in a wrong class. He promised that before Stern starts his management classes, he takes the full responsibility to make our life miserable. I am sure, I am gonna royally screwed :-(

Here profs. recommend there own books for the courses. My Algo prof. says he doesnt agree with Knuth (Donald Ervin Knuth) on this or agrees on that. As if he is going to define it again ....may be yes. Another prof. is the son of Mr. David Korn....yes you got it right one who made the Korn shell in UNIX.

To bear all these guys, during the orientation I got one iPod. Ya free iPod!! Those are the most throw away things in any of the events. Just you have to be lucky enough and u guys know about my luck. And I feel its because of the wishes of my friends .......its because of U.

Please define fun again....

I m not having a house yet, no cell phone to connect, no laptop to attend classes and no classes yet. Still I m having kinda fun ...this is the welcome week @Univ. This time of the year is supposed to be the best time as the temp howers around 25-30 C.

Here gals really don't wear clothes ..only undergarments as it is hot outside u know 25C is really hot. Shorts can be shorter than the shortest short and tops are not on top they are some funny strings around ...nipple slip is just a matter of time. Clean white skin is the dress code ...can you think a guy like me getting fed up. What the heck cover it yaar...kuch to excitement rehane do.

And one interesting fact about NYU is male to female ratio is 40:60. Ya this is the fact guys are rare commodity here..I donno why bu this is the case. Yesterday I attended one Salsa class (free as welcome week), so the instructor asked all the guys to stand in a circle and as there were more gals they have to stand in middle. After than it was a round robin fashion, for every step another girl will get the chance to be with a guy. It was awesome ...beautiful gals in less clothes in ur arms just coming in a round robin fashion....man which part of the world it is.

On the unlucky side, today I missed the tour to Google as I had to register a day before and I was not aware about it :-(. I could have a trip to googleplex and lunch over there with googlites....:-(

Finally reached USA....

I reached here on 19th (safely). Last 10 days went by a blink.
Who says this is a new country, this is a new planet. Everything is different.
You are again a kid starting to learn how to switch on and off, wash utensils, clothes & even take bath. I know ..I know some bhai log will say ..hey its not a big deal. For me it was a very diff exp. as I m first time out of the country. Plus sarkari (comapny) kharche par nahin as a student it is very different. Aur waise bhi main to Burhar ka ganwar ....aur ye world ki one of the biggest city.

New York is tooooooo much, esp Manhattan where my univ is. Average height of a building 50 stories, average clothing on gals 50 cms. Beauty has diff meaning here, what we have monuments back home they call it buildings. Things are easily 50 to 100 yr old. Empire state building which still has no match was build in 1930s.

I know I am bragging too much but thats the reason why it took me 10 days to write a mail to my buddies. I m staying in New Jersey with my cousin and his bunch of friends. As all of us Software engg they all are investment bankers & consultants. Some in Lehman, Goldman, Citi, Barkley rather citi is not considered to be a very good company.

Jersey city is mini India, u can find Indian everywhere....but still I miss u guys ...time in Bangalore was awesome. I know we'll never find such good friends again. Hey guys come down some time. Those who are in US are so far that they can not be reached. Sala country ke ander hi 6 ghante ka time difference hai ...what the heck.

Abhi tak rehne ko ghar nahin mila hai ...mila hai to 1500$ per mnth/per head (after all it is Manhattan). Scholarship bhi nahin hai ...pata nahin lagata hai India main ghar bechna padega ;-).

VISA .....sab hype hai

Its too late to update abt the VISA process but it was an importent step in teh process of Burhar to New York.

US VISA is one of the most talked about thing. Most of the people in developing countries are craving for it and these big daddies are giving it as an when they want to. So what people say, ask a person from AP for him this is a blank cheque as his would be father in law is willing to pay him 50 lakhs on that!! Punjabi..oye pape another Indian food corner in US, Gujju ...hmm another big market where people are willing to pay $$$$.

So what is behind the curtain, is it mere luck to get the VISA or sheer hard work.
I'll say none of these, US has some standards define for the immigrants, that's all.
Those who dont get it, really get disappointed and start creating there own version of story. I am not saying counslate is 100% accurate in that but they are till 90% as they work on gut feel. Secondly these VISA consultancies also create hype in order to get more and more clients.

Now I m gonna tell you what happened in my VISA interview. It was on Saturday (for a change americans working on weekend), at 9:30 am. As usual most up us are anxious enough to reach there by 8:45 am. There was a big queue but they were not the candidates, but the people who have hope on them. All the candidates were standing in a secluded area and were getting in after verification of passport and interview letter. I got in at 9:15am. Inside the counslate there was a counter verifying the documents I-20, DS forms and Passport. Dont worry about these alien words once you try to get student visa for US these will become RAM mantra for you as u need these document through out the process.

All the people present over there were highly disciplined (canditates were obvioulsy acting in a too orderly fashion, good to see indians doing that ;-)) Now we need to go to another block where we need to show the fingers, I mean to give fingure prints. After that we all were seated in a lounge where the head of the counslate came and gave a 15 min lecture.

He clearly said, VISA is not about cooking stories. Guys sitting over there are doing this job since last 10 years and every day they see 200 applicants so they take a decision in first 20 sec of meeting the person after that its all formality. He told that please dont lie and never ever give a false document as this may hamper you chances for life time to get an US VISA. Interestingly, he told the name of consultancies and sites which give the suggestions to TACKEL questions. He said please please dont be pretencious, a person who is rich enough to afford to go to US and who can copntribute to the growth of USA will surely get the VISA. (Muslims may have problems, ya but girls were at ease ;-))

Old man (he was 50yr old bachelor) went and we moved to the queue. Some guy came and asked us to go to the first counter, to my surprise same old man was there. Three of us were called, first guy was exteremely nervous and instead of passing the docs to the interviewer he droped all of them. Interview (old man) with all due respect said, you wasted my time, now you may wait for another 4 hrs till the end of the session. Second was a girl, she greeted - Good morning Maam....that guy started staring at his chest ........he was really funny. But then that girl gave the papers confidently and answered the questions. She was told that she'll get the VISA, simple.

Now it was my turn. This queue was nothing more than a queue in the reservation counter, a very clean and organized reservation counter indead. So now I did exactly what he asked me to do (my friends know, that usually instructors are happy with me). He said one word, one sentense and one phrase.
Hello.
How many backlogs you had?
Go Home!

At the end of it, I was not able to believe that interview is over and while saying go home he kept the Passport with him and that means that I'll get the coveted VISA. I came out met Charu Sharma (ya the same guy who comes with Mandera Bedi) talked to him about it, as he was also tensed regarding his relative's VISA. When he was departing he told his name, I said bye. He had question mark in his eyes, then I realized oh he is the same Charu sharma.

10 mins passed and recollected myself and started believeing that I got the VISA. Called up loved ones. I just want to tell you one thing, whole VISA process is hyped a lot dont trust anyone just do what is required and you'll get it.

Last Month

Burhar to NY - 2

Hmmm....its 4:50 pm, my office, Bangalore. I am wondering what to do and got an idea to nurture my new hobby blogging.

One must be wondering am I so useless...answer is YES, as I am serving my notice period. Non-IT guys must be wondering what is this PERIOD, actually this is the honeymoon period after resignation, when they just consume the office resources without being productive. In short they are just paid to do nothing :-).

Burp...this was the residual of fourth coffee break I had just now. All of a sudden my PR skills have taken new heights. Catch some guy who seems to be free and then harass him for next 30 mins. over the cup of coffee/tea/soup/cold drink etc. Since morning I have discussed about all national and global issues, if parliament was listening to me ...they could have eradicated most of the issues (including global warming).

As I am free through out the day it is on my mind. I browse related sites, read about it. Identify the positions and get excited at time. The up and down moments take my breadth away. Whenever I see my thing goes up I am all there to put in, but its just emblematic not the reality. It is yours only when you deal it. When ever you see steep mountains, you tend to think, what if you had that. But alas that is just the feel, you don't have it as it is too costly now. With the heat increasing I am expecting a fall soon. Lets see it all in God's hand. Hey wait a second I was not talking about SEX, it is SENSEX. With so much of free time I am honing my share market skills (How to loose money in 21days- Pustak Mahal Prakashan).

Global viewership is the next big thing in media and I am the flag bearer :-).
Within last few days I have seen two seasons(50) episode of Friends.
Awesome it is ...I tell you, everybody should get this period. YouTube/apnaTube/tumharaTube/meraTube all were interesting. I am in competition with them, whether they can add interesting stuff faster or I can guzzle it faster.

Last but not the least Google and Yahoo are playing important part in my life, gTalk and yMessenger the most frequently used tools of Software professionals. It not only helps in keeping touch with whom you know, but also in letting you touch whom you don't know. Orkut another weapon to kill time, brutally. This is the time when you can find(rather dig in) your class 3rd girl friend and be friendly to her.

Conclusion: During the last month of departing the learning graph is pretty steep, you improve you PR skills, update your tools and come closer to the old friends...

AFCOE

Burhar to NY - 1

Got the mail form New York University (NYU) on 9th May 07. I was more than pleased to open it, as I know that this is the offer which I was waiting for. I'll let you know later what sacrifices I made to accept this :-(.

This is the story about AFCOE (Application for certificate of eligibility), which I was suppose to send to NYU as soon as possible to get the I-20 (VISA related doc.). NYU sent me the offer on 24th Apr 07, here I would like to thank US post & Indian post to deliver it (what if it took 15 long days). Now it was my turn to fill the form and dispatch it.

My 'Indian' brain started working and I thought I'll fake my mom's signature, but luckily this devil was thrashed by my dad. Thanks to me for sending it to (what if, I used snail mail instead of FAX, idiot me). So the journey of AFCOE begins on one fine Monday morning from a post office in Marathalli (what name sounds funny, ya this one small 'halli' known for factory outlets).

I tried to trace my dear AFCOE but it was lost in the hands/bags of our postal department. This was a speed post but I don't know speed of what they were referring to. After a while, I got impatient and bothered my dear father. Who loves me so much that he knocked the PO door three days continuously (Fri, sat and Monday), then as the saying goes success comes to those who are persistent, my father received it. It was in safe hands of my parents Huff..

Now Mom put her sweet signature on the document(which it was sent for) and made the life of the document. Now this document was happy as it was having its first **X, what u r thinking ...it is FAX. Papa took this valuable doc to the FAX shop and Burhar shops met his expectations. Shopkeepers gave an argument that as somebody is laying the underground lines, he can not send the document to US (hmm it is pretty far), ya but they can send it to Bangalore (FAX also checks for the nationality). Whatever, then Dad went to the district place Shahdol (I know it sounds funny) and got it faxed for 500bucks.

He was feeling content, now his son will get the I 20 doc, but DESTINY...I got a mail from NYU that the quality of FAX was pathetic and they can not use it. Resend it!!! What a herculean task it is!! On 23 rd Wednesday, still NYU hasn't received AFCOE.

Anyways, after thinking for while I thought (at least tried to) if Dad can FAX me this doc and then I'll send it further. He did it, but thanks to Burhar tech. advancements that I just got few blurred lines here n there. Now the other alternative was to send it through snail mail (read speed post) to me, which could take another month or so.

Finally, I dared to explain 'email' to my dad, that he can scan and email the doc to me. So that I can take a print out and send to US. In few moments he got somebody who knows how to do it.
Hey, by the way this was great as it is really difficult to find 'techie' person in whole village, what if my father is a Senior Medical Officer. Mr. Techie used all his intelligence and in just 2 hrs the doc was there in my mail box.

Now the life seems to be easy at my office, as I'll just FAX that across to NYU. And hope to get my I-20 soon. Keeping my fingers crossed and blood pressure low.