The WEEK so far....

whatzz happening at my end?
This week has been pretty peaceful for me, otherwise not so cos of the hurdles am facing currently...Mentally am at ease and so the reason for me to pen down the activities for the week :)

> Visited amma appa, spoke all useless things for hours on sunday which is the reason for the better start. Lunch was superberly delicious and relished it like never before
> I drove after long time and toned my stress.
> Met Vini !!!! As ususal we could only think of visiting shops endlessly and blindly shop. By the time it was time to get back home, realised we have hardly spoken.
> Took Dad and FIL for coffee and while they made faces at Cappucinno, I relished it advising them to freak out at 61. It was fun-trust me.
> Met Kavs, unexpectedly for coffee. My eyes on her Burberry bodylotion.
> Watching 3 new serial in TV, which I had stopped after my college. Am back for it after 7 long yrs and yes lazily enjoying it.
> I watch my MIL cook and can prepare some exotic Andhra dishes, if allowed to try it! Avakai is in the preparation today ( Andhra style Avakai is something not to be missed for anything in the WoRlD).
>My evening walk and the sweat is really doing good to my lazy bones. I watch this group os friends ( women) who come for walk and have some good time away from home...they chant slokas, exercise together which has surprised me BiG TIME.
>Appa is gifting me a "RADIO" and am so so so greatful to his small gestures.
>Am writing some bank Exams next month and something to look forward to.
> LAST update : RCB!!!!!!! Not to miss the match....It's a TREAT watching the team play!!!

LeArN sWiMmMing - The better way!!!

Planning to learn Swimming?.....It's the best Swim-school!!!

Check it out, group of boys enjoying their noon swim in a small river in their village, while their mom's washed the clothes!!! Personally loved the game, they played by diving and enjoying every bit; under the SUN!

We stopped, only to catch them LIVE!!!

( Posting only one boy's swim cycle, rest of his frens did very well, but can't post all of them..Each one was better than the other)

:)))))))) How's it?

My FiRT TrAvEl - (FinAl vErSiOn)

Enter the Last month of our stay, so full of buzzing actvities and it was our first long weekend for Good Friday. Our transition manager delighted us, by taking us to the beautiful-breath taking – “Niagara Falls”!!! It was my first long drive, amazed at the roads and every place we passed, wondering curiously how this place would be, visualizing all through my way. I never knew it was world famous then and just treated it as any of the waterfalls; I have always visited during my vacation with parents back home. I enjoyed every edge of the place, the gaze, the voluminous water, the ferocious noise it makes when it trips down, craziness of people when water sprinkled getting soaked with those jackets ON, hopping and shivering with chillness it brings mentally and physically, astounding sight, the energy it produces and sight of all the foreigners enjoying it with famly & friends, oh-YES it was the most striking marvel I have been to until then!!! I heard it’s more beautiful from the Canadian side, but I thank my stars I got to visit it, from whichever part it is. I loved the first short trip and way back; sadly to mention the first time ever to be mistakenly ordered a Veg burger, stuffed with beef (By default), only to know after my first bite that it is "VEG" with platter of Beef /pork stuffed. Am embarrassed to write the kind of fuss and cry I made at McD, loudly screaming in tears and blaming the counter guy; as if the person had done his biggest blunder / crime in life. It took me AGES to forget that incident, not sure how many people laughed at me or sympathized me.... BUT I learnt my lesson on VEGGIE stuff in foreign land and to do my homework on whatever- whenever I visit places outside my homeland (This incident later made me survive so beautifully in places like hong-kong for month's together, without any regret)......Thankfully and do your homework!!!
Hubby still teases me, I have had my portion of non-veg in life and I just laugh it off, which has fashioned some nice memory for me!!!!

We finished our certifications and our parties continued everyday in our apartment, be it preparing our tea, taking turns to wash vessels, doing our Laundry while we talk nonsense and play games while we relish special wine’s and shop endlessly, frequent visits to temple for food; still staring people in Malls; relishing Pizza’s and carefully ordering food; vists to the pittsburg and Ohio universities, a play by Indians and now that it was almost time to Pack, it was more out of the ordinary to know this land.

Meanwhile we got close to Cathy at work; who was one of the trainer’s, 68 yrs old; used to get those lovely hot doughnuts in the morning; while we slogged those new bank terms and introduced to some custom American mode of food and her stories; post working hours. We bonded grand way, since she was our only means to feel better and ask questions in that unknown land. I liked her for many reasons, few being she treated us no different unlike others, she took us out everyday selflessly, she tried Indian food with us, she was old and caring and of all she gave me a different outlook about Americans, otherwise Myths surrounding my head, she lived with her husband who was old and taking care of him, her children left her ages back only to meet occasionally for Sunday Brunch and she was a confident woman working with so much keenness, doing other social work to keep healthy…all this gave me a different viewpoint, something NEW and positive and so much diverse from the Life I have known!
(Cathy died of Cancer few months back in 2009)

With all such memories and starting to like this new land, it was time for our “send off party” from our clients, who thanked us for our work and tiny ideas to improve the existing project. I shall call this my first official party, so tried some different clothes, which I picked at Macey’s, and light make-up for the party (I was SICK-THIN though) and loved the evening with the clients and our group! More than all, I was content I could face my managers back home. I did get a small award in the party (I still preserve it) for scoring highest in Private wealth management certification and that’s when my love for this subject started.

It was time for us to leave, but had the same sick feeling when I left home the 2 months back. I cried secretly since I liked it here now and realized how thin-skinned I can get. I left with heavy heart, packing all the shopped stuff for the ENTIRE FAMILY (never to do that mistake again) and Cathy was there for us at the airport to see off her Indian fren’s. Hugged her, with emotions; my first firang fren and said our Good bye’s. Long flight, but with six of us together, how FUN!!!!

MY FIRST TRAVEL WILL ALWAYS REMAIN SPECIAL TO ME- for all small & silly reasons.......
Ø It was 2.5 months in Pittsburgh, working for a bank.
Ø I still keep in touch with 4 of them and great frens till date.
Ø My first travel still remains special to me, No reasons.
Ø It was sad to know about Cathy’s death, I still keep those snaps with me occasionally turning the pages.
Ø The venkateshwara temple in Pittsburgh was great for its FOOD and the boys especially never missed the Brunch there.
Ø I learnt women carry toothbrush to the office bathroom, to brush their teeth and do their second round of makeup. The awareness of cleanliness was more after I visited the place JØ I was first introduced to Wine in this place and love them like Crazy.
Ø It was this visit, which made V very special in my life, my closest fren till date. She came to see me off, which was a surprise and she continues to be there for me always.
Ø I got introduced to GAP and GUCCI, GUESS and VL, My love for Brands started here.
Ø I got my driving license back, since I loved driving post those long drives in Pittsburgh.

This place made me love long Jackets, since I learnt to Shiver with chillness, the cold unbearable shocking to me.
Ø Am still crazy of owning Multiple Footwear and handbag, after my client carried them; matching her clothes everyday to work and I always waited to see her-everyday.
Ø I love being casual and love travel, Love cooking post this place…

* This trip, made me see those tears in hubby's eyes and those lovely precious phone calls I always waited at the end of day; is for what am married to him today!!!!!

Isnt this enough to make it special???
Happy Ugadi – Happy new yr to all!!!!

My fIrSt tRaVeL......

This is the story of my "My fIrSt tRaVeL......was on work, to a place far away from home, a foreign land"
(It's a long post and not edited and will still be continued. Hubby wanted this story from me and is completely for him to read my experience..Pls take a coffee break!!)

It was a yr I had started working with my employer, in 2003 when I got my first opportunity to Travel abroad. It might not THRILL me much as I write now, but a complete contrary feel then, out of the WORLD; sailing in cloud nine was "ME" when I called home to flash this news......

Now, what’s it that we INDIANs go through, when we get opportunity to TRAVEL abroad on work? Am still unable to crack the puzzle, but I must confess the FEEL is MIRACULOUS.....well, Back to that day when I had to submit my passport to my manager / HR.

I felt really nice, "hiding my FEAR"; going ahead to prove to be my dad’s brave girl. I was also dating my hubby then, who was almost in happy-tears (Happy since he could get all the goodies from me) and mom scared to send me away from home for the FIRST TIME ever!!!!

It was hell of a merry go round to get my Thatkal passport and Visa and all those paperwork done to travel to States. My mom, who has never experiened such things or never been out much, helped me great guns in getting my passport on time ( will call n thank her today)...I was really tired, forgetting my fears and tears until the D-Day arrived. It was the REAL urge to cancel and get back to my SAFE nest. It scared me more that I will be staying with 2 other girls whom I have never met in Life. Life had started throwing its lessons on me, I had no option but to Live with this for next 3 months.....’ had multiple challenges to face like travelling to unknown country, unknown people, sharing an apt with people I have never met, food, most of all my WORK and training.

After all the drama of saying Good Bye...WAIT....I need to mention this....We were at the airport and hubby had managed to come there to see me off..With my entire family there, it was so difficult to even talk to him for more than a min...As time was rolling, I had to move in the Line, when I see him standing in a corner with tears, me wanting to be there and talk to him was such a urge..He never cried, but realized ...It was this incidence, I got more closer to him and more “CONVINCED” of whom am gonna spend my rest of life with..Its that moment, which helped me FIGHT the battle of our marriage....( Hugs to this moment of our Life)...

Ok, after all this, it was the 3 flights we had to travel for series of hours...It was truly exciting and made me pretend as a woman with confidence...Not much to talk with other 2 girls, we somehow managed to know eachother...The thrid flight to Pittsburg ( Our destination) was 9 hrs away and it was that time, we all fell asleep in the airport, hardly realizing what time or day it was...The KICK was felt, when we got up to realise they were closing the gates and was a final call for us...we rushed like athletes, almost tear eyed, plead the security to let us in...It was then in the flight, we shared our first smiles together...( Now, one of them is my very close fren)

Fast forward.......
We are settled at our studio apt, check the facilities...I rush to the Huge window and get the right feel of setting my foot in a foreign land. Its the same feel I go through, which everyone would would when they are in a foreign land. Its more to do with the difference in the surrounding and less know-how about it, rather than anything else ...Its quite Mixed..My main intention was to EAT something and get comfortable with the new home and those girls.

I BEST MIXED-BITTER feel is what I name the period as, unknow to everything and not sure what to expect. Days rolled mostly in fear for me ( yeah, am not that brave to anything NEW in life) and took me a month to crack the puzzle to "How to stay with 2 women under same roof" and cooking, doing your own chors, freaking in new country, managing work, training and homeowork. It was not EASY for the kind of girl I am but Those phone calls from parents, sissy and hubby made me hold back those tears of insecurity. We knew only our way to work and the downtown in Pittsburg and never dared spend or try any other lane/places to visit. We always cooked in our apt and looked at each other if we had to go out in the cold and spend outside. There were lot of pressure and exp[ectaton in terms of our work and I had the initial language issue in undertsanding what they spoke, expected and intentions. I walked slowly in the lanes, looking(staring) at the cars, people wondering how different it is from the Life I have led for 22 yrs. With all this 'Not so good' and 'Unique' feel stepped into second and last month of my stay, which will totally in contrary to aftersaid!!!

there were 3 more people added to the project, so we were now a gang of 6 and I was already quite close to two other girls with lot of adjustments and fine tuning with each other. we all started to try out different places after work and shop for ourself. I specially want to mention it was the "FIRST TIME" , I was independenty freaking out late in the night, doing what I want, eating when I want, cooking, wearing my kind of attire, it was totally MY LIFE and I loved it completely. No one to question me and the feel of being just myself was simply wow! I loved everyday of my stay there, made frens locally, tried different wine and we even partied in the apt. 6 of us, in different country and leading life in our terms!

To be continued........
Phew...

my X-Team Lead

Met my X-team-lead in the evening, over a cup of coffee and feel so inspired & refreshed...
*I used to be soo scared of her-then, calling me and advising me and questioning me...those scary appraisals with her or those errors! She was a terror
*Today she made my evening, just with those simple talks !

she is one example of a perfect woman, I would like to quote her in my space; for this year's women's day..CHEERS!
She is passionate about her job, loves her hubby and does anything for their togetherness, cooks everyday, raises her two little kids with so much patience and Love, smiles when she walks in at home in the evening, only to be welcomed by 2 brats and a dirty house, so responsible yet so little time for herself...It was that one hour, listening to her cranky stories, but with no hint of crib and so much she loves her life this way!!!!!
way to go lady.....
nice to catch up after 6 yrs and still so comfy and so beautiful....

Saree for my B'day

I turned a yr older on 28th Feb and picked up a saree this time to wear on my Dday :)
We had to attend a family function and had no choice of celebrating it elsewhere...
Just a snap of with Hubby and his Neice, on my day :)

Its the first time ever, am wearing such attire on such a day and so Just a "show-off" post!