Freedom Runners

The November 29, 2004 edition of India Today has an article titled "Freedom Runners".
The introductory paragraph reads --

An increasing number of Indians are saying goodbye to fat salaries and fancy designations to pursue their dreams. For them, satisfaction and freedom are incentive enough to opt out of the daily grind.
Triggers: why people do it

1. Hobby Bug


2. Outgrowing Money


3. Seeking fulfilment


4. Office Stings


5. Self Belief


6. Being alive


7. Taking charge


8. Lending a hand


9. When love beckons


10. Gimme a break


11. VRS cushions


12. Securing the future


13. Sixty plus


14. Overcoming age

This very well written article spoke my mind. There is one difference however between the people mentioned in this article and me. They quit their high profile jobs that earned them fat salaries, for something they have always wanted to do. For example, 2 IIM A graduates quit their jobs to start a magazine called JAM.

All I know is I HATE technology and don't like introducing myself as an IT consultant (alright it sounds better than a software developer) to anyone. Call it identity crisis, name it whatever. But the fact that a 25-30 year old person from Bangalore needs no introdcuction and passes off for a s/w developer doesn't appeal much. I want to quit this profession for reason 10. But I don't know what I can do alternately - ummm probably painting that I'm very passionate about (DON'T READ as I'm good at it). Or teach in a nursery school. Well, I don't know. But atleast I'm glad that this article has awakened my boredom demon that will instigate me to explore other options. The thought of working in this field forever is intimidating.

How about you? Do you do what you like to do for a living ?

The Village

Now there is no doubt that I live in a village - ironically along the IT corridor of Bangalore. I have contacted about 4 DSL/broadband providers over the past 3 months and we still don't have a Internet connection at home. Every vendor has the same questions --

Where do you live?
How many metres away from the main road is that?

The conversation ends with a standard answer "Ma'am, we will have to do a survey of your area to see if DSL connection can be provided. This process will take 4 days. " Even if the outcome of their feasibility study is positive, we don't hear from them later for taking our order or installation. And in one case the reply was, " Ma'am you are a few feet away from where we provide service. It will take a couple of months for the service to reach your area." Thanks for telling me that. I should probably set up my machine on the road and browse now.
I've almost given up. Since I don't like having a blog that is not updated frequently, I'm toying with the idea of shutting this down. I'm going to give myself another week for "Project Broadband".

"My share of Planet Earth"

This weekend was good. We hung out with a LOT of friends. But with everyone the conversation centred around their efforts to procure a piece of land or an apartment.
Some of us already owned one and the others were trying to procure one and were bogged down by the shooting prices. It seemed as though a mental picture of the area-builder-price matrix was swimming in their head (reminded us of our plight 2 years back). Real estate market in Bangalore has seen a significant growth in the past 5 years, thanks to the IT growth and thousands of Double Income families. Real estate investment has been providing a very satisfying ROI. But if Bangalore will be able to match demand-supply ratio is something to be seen. With the kind of infrastructure that is prevalent now, it is going to be a nightmare living in this city after 2 years.

Vacation

Yayyyyyyyyyy..off on a 2 week vacation.

Moved
I moved today. Not my home. Not the company I work for. Just a change in the office work space to a few cubicles further away. Why such a big deal? Well, because I sat in that place for over 3 years. It sounds strange because instead of feeling sad, I'm rather relieved. Probably everyone else is more relieved than I'm and the feeling is mutual. Relieved as don't have to live upto unsaid expectations, find answers for unasked questions and not carry the guilt of being biased. It was different until a while back. Enjoyed being a part of the team but things change and familiarity breeds contempt. I got to stop posting cryptic, senseless entries.......

The Apprentice - Season 1 is now showing in India. I haven't seen Season 2 yet.

A stop at the Physician's office

It was a unplanned visit to the physician's office this afternoon during lunch hours. The throat congestion has been bothering me a lot and the situation worsens every night. Being new to the neighborhood and not acquainted with any doctor, I rejected the idea of consulting a doctor for 3 days now. Walking through the corridors down for lunch, I looked at the Healthcare center and recalled my previous visits there. So I stopped by and requested for a consultation with a general physician. I waited at the lounge while this doctor-like person about 55-60 years crossed into the diagnostics room 2 times. The conversation between a doctor and patient is confidential. Yet I cannot resist blogging about this wacko..

I was summoned inside the doctor's room after 10 mins. My "hello" was greeted with a stern "Sit Down".

Dr: "Why were you waiting for so long at the lounge? Were you thinking if you should come in or not?"

Me: "No. I was told to wait until sent in."

sounds of me coughing..

Dr: "What the hell is wrong with your nose?"

Me: "My throat hurts."

Dr: "How old are you?"

I reply..

more private questions follow...

I'm fuming already at this insane man...

Dr: "Where are you from? And why are you working here? did you not find a job at your place?"

I'm thinking this is it..one more question and I'm going to hurt this man..

He starts getting nicer..praises the surgery done by an earlier doctor. Advises on the precautions I need to take and also advises 2 days of rest. Not for the sole reason that I need rest but his humanitarian side takes the better of him...his concern for my co-workers not contracting the infection

Well I'm thinking this is it. And he surprises me with his next question..

"Your name is a Hindu. Why are you talking like a Christian?"

In an attempt to ignore and discourage him, I said "I don't know."
He responds with a "you should know. how does your husband talk? "

huh..this was it. He hands me the prescription at this point. I said bye and walked out. I need to find a sane doctor soon.

Taj Mahal - a magnificent monument of love

Discovery Travel and Living Channel - India is frequently airing an ad that goes as ---

sheer poetry in marble
a tribute to eternal love
a monument that has enthralled millions around the world.
celebrating 350 years of taj

Come visit the Taj - Uttar Pradesh Tourism: Amazing Heritage | awesome Experiences

An average of 300,000 foreigners visit the Taj every year, which is a lot. If utilised properly, the revenue generated from tourism should be ample for its maintenance. But I've heard that Yamuna behind is a dumping ground. I've never seen the Taj. The Taj is first on the to-see list for any foreign national just as Niagara falls and NYC is for any one travelling to US. I guess the proximity makes us think we can visit anytime and a lifetime passes without seeing this marvellous piece of architecture. Inspired (or jealous ? ) by the pictures of a few friends who have seen it, we made plans to go to the Taj next Friday enroute Amritsar. There couldn't have been a better time, as it coincides with the celebrations of the 350th anniversary. Hard luck I guess as Taj is closed on Fridays. Maybe some other time :(

Sick

Work is taking its toll on me. Long hours tracking schedules, coordination, design and finally "Project Home" has drained all my energy. The first signs of a sick weekend is showing - sore throat.

If you are married and working, you'd appreciate this better. Excerpts from the book "The wind-up bird chronicle".

“I’m so sorry,” Kumiko said. “This one job wouldn’t go right. I thought of calling you, but things just kept getting in the way.”
“Never mind, it’s all right, don’t let it bother you,” I said as casually as I could. And in fact, I wasn’t feeling bad about it. I had had the same experience any number of times. Going out to work can be tough, not something sweet and peaceful like picking the prettiest rose in your gar den for your sick grandmother and spending the day with her, two streets away. Sometimes you have to do unpleasant things with unpleasant people, and the chance to call home never comes up. Thirty seconds is all it would take to say,
“I’ll be home late tonight,” and there are telephones everywhere, but you just can’t do it.

Eventless Weekend

The last 2 weekends were as eventless as it could be. I hung out with my brother this weekend. He came down from Chennai and made a great attempt to get me out of this boredom. It has been house arrest in the weekends, thanks to Project Home. While the all the rooms are laden with wood, saw, hammers and saw dust, I sit in the balcony till dusk gazing at the passers by in the playarea of our building, waiting for the hour hand in the clock tick by. Occassionally I get up to make a cup of tea or lunch. After sunset, I retreat inside as the balcony becomes mosquitoes' territory.
Saturday morning before the carpenters' began their work, I stepped out for a while and on my return I find this strange man standing at my door. It didn't take long to find out he lived in a apartment one floor down. My "hello" was reciprocated with barking - typical of many Indians who have forgotten how to communicate courteously. This annoyed man had made up his mind to come and shout at me as his car was basked in saw dust. It turned out his parking lot was next to ours and we are using ours to cut wood. Uhhhh...it was interesting to see how he didn't come looking for a solution or open to even listen to one. All my offers of arranging to get his car cleaned went in vain.

I've started reading "The wind-up bird chronicle". I just love it....watch this space for a few sections from the book that I liked. Umm..how were your weekends?

Just do it

The cover story in Business Week titled The New Nike drew my attention. I'm trying to come to terms to V's passion for shoes (with no success). It was a shocking to see the no of pairs of shoes he had collected and that they took a preference over everything else. I couldn't fathom how his bags were full until they were unpacked here. Well, that's history now.

For over 8 months, I heard of Nike tales. I have never worked for any big corporate houses. So his tell-tales were always met with 100% attention from me. I would hear in amazement how work was done/re-done, people who violated certain sensitive policies were fired within 5 mins. However, it was not until April when I visited Nike that I realized what it would mean to work for such corporate houses and be a part of the BIG game. Knowing before the rest of the world knows, what shoe line wuld deck the Nike Towns in the fall of 2004 or spring of 2005 should be fun. You also get a close glimpse or in some instances a pleasant exchange with some legends in the making like Mia Hamm, Roger Federer......