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Inscrutable Americans May 31, 2004

Posted by Simba in : Uncategorized , 3 comments

It was a pretty hectic trip to Bangalore & back. I was running around the bride & the groom to make everything comfy for them :-) Finally, my best friend is married off!! This is basically an inter-religion wedding… a hindu marrying a christian!! I couldnt be around for the first round but I was able to see a church wedding :-) Really kewl, I must say… small & pleasant… choir music etc etc…. But at some point, almost felt like a dejavu’ … :-) I wish them a life full of happiness, love & success!!

But my bank work looks like its gonna take a while. Thanks Aejaz, I shall contact the people in Mumbai & get more info abt PARAS. Even though, I still havent gotten over the fascination of flying to & fro in a plane, I must say, it do gets a lil boring… & coupla years back, I thot, it was cool!!! I get this weird feeling that I am gonna live outta my bags for a long time to come…

Finished - “The Inscrutable Americans” - By Anurag Mathur. Book Details at Granth goes like - The hilarious novel describes one year spent on a small university campus in the U.S.A. by an Indian student. He comes out of a small town,, locally reputed to be `the Paris of Madhya Pradesh’. His English is comically Indian,, and his initial notions of America are absurdly inadequate and stereotyped. The theme of the novel is his comic discovery of America,, and his own growth and maturing through his diverse adventures there. The novel is thus a variation on the dorm of the bildungsroman with a fool-protagonist,, with the difference that the native wit of the protagonist far transcends his linguistic limitations. This novel has thus an acuteness and a depth of meaning which go beyond the obvious comic implications of the chosen initial situation.

Its a okie dokie book & attimes, a lil funny :-) But for Rs 95/- a good read; So, if u are travelling, check this out - Small & Readable!!!

Still counting May 28, 2004

Posted by Simba in : Uncategorized , 1 comment so far

Things have been in a whirl for sometime now. It has been crazy, dull, anxious etc etc. After the entire commotion about PARAS, I have heard a coupla not too good things about them. I am still checking out the validity.

I have come across some more websites for international students planning to study abroad - ISL, IEFC. I shall start looking at these myself. Attimes, I wonder if all this will ever lead me anywhere!!! I sincerely hope it does….

I have been working out a lot of things over the past week. Firstly, my loan is not going ahead as I would have liked!! Secondly, am looking at various kinds of accomodation - temporary/ permanent etc once I land in Manchester. Ya, not yet sure whether I will be sharing a flat, a hall or going into Univ Hall.

I have been feeling sick for almost 24 hrs now… kinda thing u feel right before u get a viral fever :-) Ya, not good right???? Anyways, I hope I survive my flight up & down to Bangalore… :-) & see, Pooja married off for good!!!

Thats it for now, dear Blog & the readers.. attimes, I even wonder, why I write these, but like hell, I need to let go off some steam… :mg: Hey, check out the counter by the left.. Cool huh.. i can count the no. of ppl who visit me without leaving me a message… :evil: So, better start leaving small notes for me guys!!!

Pot Luck! May 25, 2004

Posted by Simba in : Uncategorized , 1 comment so far

The past few days have brought in a lot of ups & downs. There have been miserable days as well as enjoyable days…. My Bangalore trip was one of the most memorable one. The weather was damn good & after the crazy hot days in Mumbai, it was awesome to be back in Bangalore. Spent some real good time with Alz and Subbu. Thank You guys!! :-)

But this Sunday turned out to be the BEST!! Hahaha…. The MAN above is surely looking down on me… :-) . I came to know of this particular foundation called the PARAS EDUCATION FOUNDATION. So, all u guys looking forward to study abroad in some of the best universities, heres your chance. These ppl are into Financing & lot more… They give loans for total expenses with just 3.5% interest. Compared to the local banks here in India, I think this is a great advantage. More info can be obtained at Paras

I had been there to enquire about this loan thing. And I was told that to avail their counselling, I was to register with 400 Rs. I took a moment to think but then thot, what the heck.. went ahead & registered myself!! Then sat with the counsellor and she collected my CV, Acceptance letter and registration form. Also, I was invited for a small function the same evening which was conducted to felicitate their bright students.

I sat thro the evening wondering why I didnt manage that good GMAT score of 700+… There was a lucky draw competition for all the registered students. As I had registered about 2 hrs back, even I was considered for that draw….Hehehehe… As i sat their thinking about all the pending work, 5 nominees were drawn out of 150 - 200 chits. Out of the 5, they randomly announced 2 unlucky ones. Then, they announced the 3 lucky ones… My heart almost skipped a beat when they read out my name…. & they asked the chief guest to pick the lucky one…. HAHAHA… Guess what, it turned out to be ME……. YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEE… I just coulnt stop laughing & grinning silly. BTW, the lucky draw was a 1000$ scholarship…. :-) I was called upon stage and given a cheque of 45,000 Rs. Boy, I was soooo thrilled. I blabberred a few words into the mike & recieved the award!!!

Almost, overnite, I feel like a celebrity… From then on, I have been getting calls from them to pose for photographs & pen down my experience :-) Yesterday, I had been there to meet some media person & was so well-treated!!! :-) Now, they are working on my application & see if they can fund me after all… :-)

Cooooliiiooooooool………………. :mg:

‘My Feudal Lord’ - T.Durrani May 12, 2004

Posted by Simba in : Uncategorized , 5 comments

I just completed ‘My Feudal Lord’ by Tehmina Durrani. Though I bought it elsewhere, U can find it on Granth.com

Book Details - “To the people of Pakistan,, who have repeatedly trusted and supported their leaders - leaders who have,, in return,, used the hungry,, oppressed,, miserable multitudes to further their personal interests. I want the people of my country to know the truth behind the rhetoric,, so that they might learn to look beyond the fa?ade. When this book was first published it shook Pakistani society to its foundations. Here at last was someone who had succeeded in reconciling her faith in Islam with her ardent belief in women’s rights. Tehmina Durrani’s story provides extraordinary insights into the vulnerable position of women caught in the complex web of Muslim society.”

I must say, that it was quite a revealing book!! I was amazed to see such things actually exist in modern families….

I fail to understand how Tehmina has been portrayed as a strong woman breaking away from feudalism. I fail to appreciate her efforts as the whole freedom & emancipation is talked about almost in the last few pages. Is it all there is to this book which shook the entire Pakistani society?? Even in the last few pages, it is very evident that Tehmina still speaks to her ex-husband and also seems to consider his opinion… thats really something!!!

For the uninitiated, this book has made some waves around the world!!! This story is basically a auto biography of a woman from a very very high class muslim society. She is married to Mustafa Khar who was/ is an eminent personality in the Pakistani political scenario. He being a complete weird personality toggles between extremes. Extreme love which can almost be called Obsession and Extreme hatred where he beats her up so badly so often that you wonder how any human being can take it!! This book is really appalling!! And I thought these existed in the lower class of uneducated population….

Anyways.. there might be women who can actually strike a chord with this book!!! But my only take on this is - “Not worth too much time” as throughout I was feeling suffocated by the whole story….Ya, and we talk about Women Lib!!!

Stress all the way! May 4, 2004

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Gosh… These days.. I am always tired.. I wonder why!!! Maybe its just a mental strain & got nothing to do with the physical thingie!!! For about a coupla days.. I havent caught up much on the reading bit!!! I am wee bit worried about the loan thing!!!

I was really hoping that the HSBC loan will come thro easily.. but like hell, it doesnt look so!!! But I guess, thats the way always in life.. nothing comes by so easily.. but hey… after my GMAT… so many things just fell into place…My pre-application interview with MBS.. they ignoring their deadlines & allowing me in a special case.. final admits with MBS & ISB… Hmmm… but theres a lot of struggle needed before I get my a** outta here… :-)

My God… Its an year…..Time really flies… Wonder where I will be next year around this time.. Hopefully in a summer internship programme…:-)

Friendz May 3, 2004

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Two days leave.. came & went… & I didnt even realize that!!! But, God, it was a welcome break.. Working like an a$$ for 6 days, I have realized what it means to have a 5 day week… Bless those stars for all those who have a 5 day week!!

Hmmm… Didnt read much… Just lazed around a lot & did a lot of shopping!!! Have heard from a few classmates of mine.. future classmates :-) Was damn excited to read the mails et al. Basically, we have been discussing the accomodation facilities. Reading those mails, the whole reality of leaving India is dawning on me slowly. But I am damn happy… the international factor already looms large… I am in touch.. with a Canadian.. Mexican.. Korean.. German… Eeeeeeeiiiiiiii … Feels good!!! :-)