What I did this summer...

This summer has been so very different to me...

A flight out of India to spend a whole month in the US. "The dream come true" thing about visiting the US did not happen to me - it does not generally happen to me, I guess! I really did not feel so impressed with Houston when I came here last time. I felt it was morbid, "concrete"-ish, and dull, to the least.

Well, my morbid feeling did materialize to reality this time. Two days after I landed, I got this unique allergy that the doc wasn't able to decode! But then Dr.Kamenetsky told me, "Allergies are very common in this season in Houston. I pop in a pill every night just a precaution, you know!" I haven't popped in anything beyond Hajmola every night back there in India. Plus, oh wow!! How heavenly it was to know this place is generally allergic in summer, and I am spot on not to miss the fun! My Commerce teacher always said "right thing, at the right place at the right time".

And hey, we guys ill treat our doctors in India, I tell you!! I visit this doctor, and they make me wait an hour after I reached there (6 hours before, she supposedly was busy and did not have a slot for the appointment). She spoke to me for ten minutes, and what she spoke, you already know. In summary, she really wasn't able to diagnose, but gave some general allergy pills. I walk out and they show me a check for $150, and my programmed mind immediately does an OANDA.com task (buy rate INR 50 per $). And then I gasped for breath, so much that they offered me water. Well, that is their standard of living - I heard you think. Well, I learnt macro economics too, but I choose not to remember all that especially after the beautiful receptionist said, "Sir, your insurance policy would not be valid here - you may want to claim it when you are back in India".

Well guys, don't sink into sorrow and transfer your contributions into my bank account! My employer will pick it up! :)

But the days after the first week were quite interesting. A strict 8 to 5 work schedule - loads of "me" time, early dinners and early rising. I loved it, completely! I have never been on a better routine I guess. I had this room that was furnished - an awesome couch that permitted me finish a couple of books. And then as days passed, I started loving the place. I enjoyed the silence in the after hours, the courtesy in elevators, the queues in the bus stops, the methodical flow of traffic, the white walking man on signals whom the pedestrians religiously followed. I am a Virgo, so don't be surprised. I wonder if Monika in "Friends" is also a Virgo!  - That statement is indeed inspired by the 2 seasons of the serial I managed to watch in the luxury of my room!!

Another "out of the box" experience I had was the LGBT parade I saw during my last weekend there. Thousands of folks gathered on the streets to support them was a sight to see. To the naked eye, the whole concept may appear like a weird thing, but a deeper thought would probably tell you, it really did not matter how people feel/act - we do so much good in letting them be themselves. We really don't need to form opinions on everything. We, in this generation, feel the urge to have an opinion on everything that happens around us. I choose to differ - I really do not want to form an opinion on things unless I surely need to. I am not going to be on chat shows or in TV biz, where an opinion almost drives the conclusion; where the strongest speaker is the most knowledgeable.

Well now back to my trail, I really wonder if I would enjoy life a lot more, here - so much peace and personal time. I seem to have moved out of this "I will work only in India" thing, not because I would get paid more or because this country is more organized. It is because I like it when I am alone, living life in my own terms. I love my folks but I miss to love myself when I am there. Here, I see so much of myself, think, reflect and end up realising my inner self - it is astonishing how much a stranger we are to ourselves at times, eh?!

But hey, I believe in the omniscience that runs this world. It will keep me where I deserve to be. This moment, working beyond "8 to 5" in my office, I feel so much good. May it just stay!!

Btw, am happy I wrote this - you may feel otherwise, I know! :) My mind has been eluding my writing needs for long! Hopefully, I will write again and a lot more.

love, Sri.