Finally got around to editing my sky dive video...put some my kinda music :) ...found the reverse bungee video too...so here they are ;)
Reverse bungee was in Singapore - P.S. I am not responsible for any actions of the guy sitting next to me and pardon my french ;) (m d guy in the white T)
And here is the sky dive ka video :)
Showing posts with label US trip. Show all posts
Showing posts with label US trip. Show all posts
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Small Talk II
If you know me then you know I can't have the "Howz the weather" kinda conversation. That usually leaves me with my iPod when around new people. So I tried to change during this trip to Amreeka!!
It is a bit weird that we desperately seek change in the routines that are our lives, when we get the change we longed for we seek familiarity... So, the most critical task on the "to do" list. Get Indian food (can't cook so ready to eat :)) Being a guy I was finished with the shopping in 10 minutes and had about 20 minutes to kill before the cab got back to pick me up.
The owner of the store behind the counter (Also known as Bhaiya or Uncle) seemed harmless enough. So I took the plunge...
Lets skip the conversation and lemme tell you
1. He is from Rajisthan
2. Been in US for 15 years in Tucson for 12 years, 3 years in denver
3. Used to own a 3 Video Shops in Denver before Blockbuster and Netflix started and he moved to Tucson.
4. 1 daughter who is married and lives in Florida (who's inlaws are visiting btw)
5. Her husband is a doc (SURPRISE)
6. 1 son...yup he is a doc too
7. They are traveling to India to find him a Bride.(Sundar, Susheel, Saral ;)). Don't worry his daughter will take care of the shop in his absence.
8. The retail business is good. A big market for Indian stuff. Although they can't return perishable stuff to the supplier.
9. Some things are made for Import while others are the same for Indians and NRIs.
10. A freezer had broken down thus the fewer ready to eat Naans and Kulchas.
I was so proud of myself. Mission accomplished!! MAN I HAVE CHANGED!!!
Next week, out for grocery shopping. I went back to my new "friend". I asked him how's the plan for the trip coming along?? He said o.k. but looked at me weirdly. And it dawned on me..."UNCLE", did not know who the hell I was!!
I have started wearing my "CRAP, U R GONNA TALK TO ME AREN'T U???" shirt again. I think I need new earphones for my ipod.
It is a bit weird that we desperately seek change in the routines that are our lives, when we get the change we longed for we seek familiarity... So, the most critical task on the "to do" list. Get Indian food (can't cook so ready to eat :)) Being a guy I was finished with the shopping in 10 minutes and had about 20 minutes to kill before the cab got back to pick me up.
The owner of the store behind the counter (Also known as Bhaiya or Uncle) seemed harmless enough. So I took the plunge...
Lets skip the conversation and lemme tell you
1. He is from Rajisthan
2. Been in US for 15 years in Tucson for 12 years, 3 years in denver
3. Used to own a 3 Video Shops in Denver before Blockbuster and Netflix started and he moved to Tucson.
4. 1 daughter who is married and lives in Florida (who's inlaws are visiting btw)
5. Her husband is a doc (SURPRISE)
6. 1 son...yup he is a doc too
7. They are traveling to India to find him a Bride.(Sundar, Susheel, Saral ;)). Don't worry his daughter will take care of the shop in his absence.
8. The retail business is good. A big market for Indian stuff. Although they can't return perishable stuff to the supplier.
9. Some things are made for Import while others are the same for Indians and NRIs.
10. A freezer had broken down thus the fewer ready to eat Naans and Kulchas.
I was so proud of myself. Mission accomplished!! MAN I HAVE CHANGED!!!
Next week, out for grocery shopping. I went back to my new "friend". I asked him how's the plan for the trip coming along?? He said o.k. but looked at me weirdly. And it dawned on me..."UNCLE", did not know who the hell I was!!
I have started wearing my "CRAP, U R GONNA TALK TO ME AREN'T U???" shirt again. I think I need new earphones for my ipod.
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Small talk - I
This long post was LONG overdue. I was waiting to get my SSN before I posted this.
I am not sure why but people from our company who are traveling to US are supposed to get a SSN, something to do with the tax that needs to be paid to the US gov. Anyway, it gives you a chance to get away from work without applying for leave so why not :D. Took the cab to the social security office and was prepared to wait ( it can take anywhere from 2-4 hrs). As is customary with the paranoia of west right now, by bag went through the mandatory cursory "security" check. Took a token for the appointment - A74 ( wasn't sure which option to select so took the one that was close enough to what was required.) The only place to sit that was near and wasn't cramped caught my eye and woosh like the nike swoosh I was there.
With the mandatory book in my lap and the i-pod in my ears I prepared for the long haul. For some reason the people around me kept grinning to each other. Well as you know curiosity killed the katty, I removed the earphones from my ear to see what was going on..BIG MISTAKE. The guy next to me A62 was the friendly kind...SHIT! ( I need to get me a T with the message "CRAP u r gonna talk to me aren't u??") So any way he informed me that the lady Security officer/guard was the जहन्नुम की सुरक्षा कर्मी (Guard from hell, just wanted to try the hindi thing :)) People weren't supposed to talk as it might lead to some people to miss their turn (even though the token numbers were being called over a MIC loud enuf ). Well thats her job i thought and was about to plug my self in that the friendly A62 began to tell me about HIS story, a forthcoming somewood trilogy I am sure.
Dear Mr, A62 didn't get his Social security for a long time since he switched his accounts, Even though he had opened a bank account. Well the account was the wrong kind he was told on his last visit. So after migrating to the right kind he still wasn't seeing any cash and that is wg=hy he was there. Well OKAAAY, I kept nodding my head at him or in anticipation of the EMINEM playing on the pod I'll never know. The call was for A61, I thought the end was near and the next call was for A92. They call the tokens based on the category not the serial. I always knew God was a sarcastic sadist. MAN! after about 30 mins of the above trilogy it was his number (उसका नुम्बेर आ गया I LOVE this hindi thing :)) And 5 minutes after that mine too. I was told I'll get my SSN in 4 weeks instead of the usual 2 weeks as my data had not yet been sent by the immigration office. I couldn't care less. Well the work was done in about 2 hours and I had called the cab back in 3.5 hours.
I figured I'll make a call from the security guards phone (local calls are free). BIG BIG MISTAKE. She said I couldn't use the phone. hmm...well is there any pay phone near by??
I don't know she said. Okaaaaaaaay, so what am I supposed to do? She looked at me as if she was ready to bring out the mace, so I backed off. Waited for 1 hour with A62 (he had to wait some more) and 30 minutes in the sun outside (tanning myself). I guess it would have been better to just shut up and work....but what to do WE ARE LIKE THIS ONLY (हम ऐसे ही हैं ).
I am not sure why but people from our company who are traveling to US are supposed to get a SSN, something to do with the tax that needs to be paid to the US gov. Anyway, it gives you a chance to get away from work without applying for leave so why not :D. Took the cab to the social security office and was prepared to wait ( it can take anywhere from 2-4 hrs). As is customary with the paranoia of west right now, by bag went through the mandatory cursory "security" check. Took a token for the appointment - A74 ( wasn't sure which option to select so took the one that was close enough to what was required.) The only place to sit that was near and wasn't cramped caught my eye and woosh like the nike swoosh I was there.
With the mandatory book in my lap and the i-pod in my ears I prepared for the long haul. For some reason the people around me kept grinning to each other. Well as you know curiosity killed the katty, I removed the earphones from my ear to see what was going on..BIG MISTAKE. The guy next to me A62 was the friendly kind...SHIT! ( I need to get me a T with the message "CRAP u r gonna talk to me aren't u??") So any way he informed me that the lady Security officer/guard was the जहन्नुम की सुरक्षा कर्मी (Guard from hell, just wanted to try the hindi thing :)) People weren't supposed to talk as it might lead to some people to miss their turn (even though the token numbers were being called over a MIC loud enuf ). Well thats her job i thought and was about to plug my self in that the friendly A62 began to tell me about HIS story, a forthcoming somewood trilogy I am sure.
Dear Mr, A62 didn't get his Social security for a long time since he switched his accounts, Even though he had opened a bank account. Well the account was the wrong kind he was told on his last visit. So after migrating to the right kind he still wasn't seeing any cash and that is wg=hy he was there. Well OKAAAY, I kept nodding my head at him or in anticipation of the EMINEM playing on the pod I'll never know. The call was for A61, I thought the end was near and the next call was for A92. They call the tokens based on the category not the serial. I always knew God was a sarcastic sadist. MAN! after about 30 mins of the above trilogy it was his number (उसका नुम्बेर आ गया I LOVE this hindi thing :)) And 5 minutes after that mine too. I was told I'll get my SSN in 4 weeks instead of the usual 2 weeks as my data had not yet been sent by the immigration office. I couldn't care less. Well the work was done in about 2 hours and I had called the cab back in 3.5 hours.
I figured I'll make a call from the security guards phone (local calls are free). BIG BIG MISTAKE. She said I couldn't use the phone. hmm...well is there any pay phone near by??
I don't know she said. Okaaaaaaaay, so what am I supposed to do? She looked at me as if she was ready to bring out the mace, so I backed off. Waited for 1 hour with A62 (he had to wait some more) and 30 minutes in the sun outside (tanning myself). I guess it would have been better to just shut up and work....but what to do WE ARE LIKE THIS ONLY (हम ऐसे ही हैं ).
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