Here I am, sitting at the Schiphol terminal, Amsterdam waiting for my connecting flight to Minneapolis (MNPLS or MPLS). It had been a while since I had travelled out of the country. May be I had forgotten or may be, age has caught up with me, every bone in my body aches after the flights from Bangalore to Dubai (4 hours) and Dubai to Amsterdam (7 hours) - not to mention the 4 hours wait time at Dubai :(
While Dubai airport becons one to shop, shop and shop (Dubai duty free is a huge shopping experience right at the Dubai airport - I am planning to check this out on my way back !!!)
Upon my arrival at Amsterdam airport, first thing that greeted me were bunches and bunches of Tulips. I forgot that the famous Rekha-Bacchan song - Dekha ek khwab to yeh silsile hue - was shot here...
The airport in itself is HUGE - as all international airports. However, this one represents the country's culture far better. The blue ceramics for which Holland is famous for is on sale at the airport - however a small pair of shoes or key chain costs 3 or 4 Euros.
As usual, my Indian Mentality automatically kicked in... I started converting 1 euro = x INR - OMG !!! that's huge money. Let me not buy anything here.... So, although I was attracted to some very neat pieces of blue ceramics and lindt chocolates, I did not buy any of them... so much for being an Indian.
Will i ever stop converting, stop thinking about money and just buy whatever I want? Without thinking of the money I am going to spend... ???
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Dubai Diary
I landed at Dubai International Airport at 11.30 Indian time (9 p.m. local time)
I see Dubai with a mix of fear, apprehension, and awe - fear because I have read and heard stories of what happens to people who get caught in the wrong side of law - the punishment is gruesome.
Apprehension - my first time here and the airport is huge with more than 260 gates. Takes a long time to go from one gate to the other... Will I get lost? Will I find my connecting flight to Amsterdam? As it is, the kingfisher flight to Dubai was late by 1 hour 5 mins.
Awe because the airport is such. It is immensely clean, provides great facilities to a traveler (including free wi-fi connectivity) and shopping kiosks... :D
Luckily, as I was heading out of the aircraft, I saw this bespectacled person walking beside me. I asked him if he were bound for Amsterdam. He said yes and he would go all the way to MPLS. I was glad - i had company. If not for anything, at least to find gates and terminals and not get lost.!!!
Terribly tired and out of sleep... Missing my home, my bed and the kids. Each time, I hug Aditi and sleep - and once both of them are sound asleep, I wake up, hug and kiss them, say "I love you" to both before hitting the bed...
Sigh....
I see Dubai with a mix of fear, apprehension, and awe - fear because I have read and heard stories of what happens to people who get caught in the wrong side of law - the punishment is gruesome.
Apprehension - my first time here and the airport is huge with more than 260 gates. Takes a long time to go from one gate to the other... Will I get lost? Will I find my connecting flight to Amsterdam? As it is, the kingfisher flight to Dubai was late by 1 hour 5 mins.
Awe because the airport is such. It is immensely clean, provides great facilities to a traveler (including free wi-fi connectivity) and shopping kiosks... :D
Luckily, as I was heading out of the aircraft, I saw this bespectacled person walking beside me. I asked him if he were bound for Amsterdam. He said yes and he would go all the way to MPLS. I was glad - i had company. If not for anything, at least to find gates and terminals and not get lost.!!!
Terribly tired and out of sleep... Missing my home, my bed and the kids. Each time, I hug Aditi and sleep - and once both of them are sound asleep, I wake up, hug and kiss them, say "I love you" to both before hitting the bed...
Sigh....
Friday, June 18, 2010
Aditi started school
And I am a happy mother !!!
Yes, Aditi has joined Play Group at Euro Kids. I am particularly happy with this branch of Euro Kids. They really have very good teachers, they take care of the kids and kids really stop crying within 2-3 days.
I have seen this with both my kids - they have just liked going to Euro Kids.
First two days, I had to go with her, stay with her through the 1 hour and then get her back home. She was comfortable because amma was with her.
Third day, she was not aware that I would drop her at the gate and go back. Once she realized this, she started howling and did not stop howling till i picked her up.
Fourty day - she was much better. She pretended to cry till she was at her class' threshold. And then curiousity took over. She had stopped crying and had started observing her surroundings.
Fifth day - she was cool as cucumber. Took her bag, went in without kicking any fuss....
Sigh... she is growing up each day... and I am growing old each day!!! LoL :)
Yes, Aditi has joined Play Group at Euro Kids. I am particularly happy with this branch of Euro Kids. They really have very good teachers, they take care of the kids and kids really stop crying within 2-3 days.
I have seen this with both my kids - they have just liked going to Euro Kids.
First two days, I had to go with her, stay with her through the 1 hour and then get her back home. She was comfortable because amma was with her.
Third day, she was not aware that I would drop her at the gate and go back. Once she realized this, she started howling and did not stop howling till i picked her up.
Fourty day - she was much better. She pretended to cry till she was at her class' threshold. And then curiousity took over. She had stopped crying and had started observing her surroundings.
Fifth day - she was cool as cucumber. Took her bag, went in without kicking any fuss....
Sigh... she is growing up each day... and I am growing old each day!!! LoL :)
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Tale of Rings
One of my husband's cousins, who is an astrologer, suggested that I wear 2 rings made of 2 different gem stone. Now, I am one who believes "never leave an opportunity to buy gold" - so what if this can be eyed as me being superstitious....
So, off I went, purchased the stone and got the ring made. And after practicing the rituals to wear the ring, when I wore it on my right fingers, I realized I was no better than Phantom.
That evening, I was telling my son about this - and he had not heard about the Phantom story. I walked him through the fantasy of Kit Walker, who promises on his father's skull to fight piracy. I went on to talk about the skull cave, the diamond glass, phantom's rings - the "good" swastik and the "bad" skull rings.
And I added "see, next time you throw a tantrum, I am going to punch you with my right fist. This would leave 2 marks on your chin -very much like phantom.
Immediately, my son shot back "Nope, not phantom. The marks will be that of a "Fat" "Amma"
Since then, he refers to my rings as "Fat Amma" Rings!!!
So, off I went, purchased the stone and got the ring made. And after practicing the rituals to wear the ring, when I wore it on my right fingers, I realized I was no better than Phantom.
That evening, I was telling my son about this - and he had not heard about the Phantom story. I walked him through the fantasy of Kit Walker, who promises on his father's skull to fight piracy. I went on to talk about the skull cave, the diamond glass, phantom's rings - the "good" swastik and the "bad" skull rings.
And I added "see, next time you throw a tantrum, I am going to punch you with my right fist. This would leave 2 marks on your chin -very much like phantom.
Immediately, my son shot back "Nope, not phantom. The marks will be that of a "Fat" "Amma"
Since then, he refers to my rings as "Fat Amma" Rings!!!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Letter to the forest department
Today morning, my husband requested me to write a letter in Kannada addressing to the Forest Department Officials.
And this truly was a humbling and embarassing experience. I realized, although I am a born, brought up in karnataka person, I do not know how to write a letter in kannada.
For instance, I did not know how to write "Respected Sir" and "Sub" and "Trim the tree". It was so bad that eventually, I wrote the word "trim" in kannada alphabets and instead of "Respected Sir", I wrote "Respected Helper"....
Any person reading the letter is bound to be offended and I would not be surprised if s/he refuses to help my husband.
But - good thing is that since the letter is from my husband to the forest department officials, in all possibilities, they will believe that the letter was written by him.
If you are seeing 2 devil horns behind my head - you are correct :P
And this truly was a humbling and embarassing experience. I realized, although I am a born, brought up in karnataka person, I do not know how to write a letter in kannada.
For instance, I did not know how to write "Respected Sir" and "Sub" and "Trim the tree". It was so bad that eventually, I wrote the word "trim" in kannada alphabets and instead of "Respected Sir", I wrote "Respected Helper"....
Any person reading the letter is bound to be offended and I would not be surprised if s/he refuses to help my husband.
But - good thing is that since the letter is from my husband to the forest department officials, in all possibilities, they will believe that the letter was written by him.
If you are seeing 2 devil horns behind my head - you are correct :P
Technology Training
I am sitting in a technical training session. This did not happen by accident. After what seems ages, I enrolled, consciously with both eyes open, into a technical training course on Sharepoint 2010.
I thought - so what if I am in the management cadre? Learning and keeping updated with technology will always do me good.
And with this thought at the back of my head, I nominated myself and my manager approved.
However, while the class itself is going on well - sadest part (and the part I dislike the most) is that there is no hands-on practicals as they do not have the necessary environment.
How can I learn any technology without hands-on? If I need a theory session, I can as well read up about this on the internet or Microsoft Official site. I am so very disappointed.
I thought - so what if I am in the management cadre? Learning and keeping updated with technology will always do me good.
And with this thought at the back of my head, I nominated myself and my manager approved.
However, while the class itself is going on well - sadest part (and the part I dislike the most) is that there is no hands-on practicals as they do not have the necessary environment.
How can I learn any technology without hands-on? If I need a theory session, I can as well read up about this on the internet or Microsoft Official site. I am so very disappointed.
Anger Management
Nope, I am not talking about the movie.
I have been taking counselling sessions on anger management. One of the tips I received was to start observing my breath when I start getting angry.
BUT - when I am truly angry - the only thing I do NOT do - is watching my breath.
How am I suppose to remember doing that when all I can do is shake in a fit of rage?
Seriously welcome any tips on this.
May be, a reading of "Power of Now" might help me - someone has vastly recommended this book. I am going to try and read this and see if I can learn a thing or two about how I can manage my anger better.
I have been taking counselling sessions on anger management. One of the tips I received was to start observing my breath when I start getting angry.
BUT - when I am truly angry - the only thing I do NOT do - is watching my breath.
How am I suppose to remember doing that when all I can do is shake in a fit of rage?
Seriously welcome any tips on this.
May be, a reading of "Power of Now" might help me - someone has vastly recommended this book. I am going to try and read this and see if I can learn a thing or two about how I can manage my anger better.
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