I had a short stint of 100 days in U.S.. I used to write everyday to my two daughters. The following is one such page from my journal. This is a day’s experience – to be precise on the Day 41.
DAY 41 19.03.’02 MONDAY
It is the 41st day. So far it had never happened this way. Only today – now – I am crying. Tears are rolling down my cheeks. I don’t know what to do. The day started like any other day, or rather started well since I woke up only at 10.20. Till then had a very peaceful sleep. On days without class mostly I had been taking brunch. That makes things easier. I take a late brunch and then go to the lab and stay back for long. So, thought of taking a brunch today also as any other day.
On a day started so well, I am now sitting in the kitchen alone and crying. Cao, the Chinese friend, has gone to Chicago and is yet to come back. I am lonely. Luckily none is there to see my tears. I feel so helpless. I am unable to stop the stream of tears that is running down my cheeks on to the t-shirt. I don’t even try to wipe them off with my hands. What’s the use?
I think of you people at home. Tears well in my eyes more and more. Is it the same thing they too experience, I wonder. Still the tears are running down. Then I feel that I am lucky since this will be all over exactly in another 60 days. On the 60th day from this day I will be flying back to home, sweet home. But even this thought does not bring the tears to halt. I keep shedding them unashamedly.
Then a bit of reality and philosophy. Reality – it is only for another 60 days. Then things will straighten themselves out. Philosophy – if I have to shed tears when I cut onion for making sambar like this, how long you, the womenfolk have been suffering all along and will be suffering!
Well! even all that does not start well likes this ends well. With all the tears and all that, today’s sambar has come out good. Almost like that I used to have at home, except for the density – it was a bit dense. So, a great cook is born, nay, made today! I patted myself for that.
post script:
Things were quite good in all respects in those 100 days. However one major problem I had to tackle was to prepare my own food and more than that eating it too! The times in the kitchen were the trying times for me. Before the eyes of my Chinese room-mate, Cao I had to many a time crouch down in the kitchen. He was such a good cook and I had never ventured more than trying my hand in preparing tea at home. When I tried to fry fish it turned out to be கருவாடு! When I tried to heat the readymade chappaathi in the oven it turned into முறு முறு அப்பளம்! குழம்பு became கூட்டு and vice versa. Got so fed up with this, on the end of my stay there I preferred fresh veg with vegetable dip and fruits. However, things are so different now since with vengence I tried my hand once I was back to India!
Showing posts with label 100 DAYS IN U.S.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 100 DAYS IN U.S.. Show all posts
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Sunday, March 19, 2006
2. TRAFFIC: INDIAN & U.S. STYLES
It was quite past midnight; should be about 1.30 to 2 am. I was
tracking back to my room after a party. I have to be careful, I thought. Since in the evening on the way to the party I missed my way. Though it was a small village of 8000 as its total population, that too, nearly 75% of them being local college students, with straight roads and by lanes cutting at right angles, with large trees on the sides of the roads, individual houses were not easily visible or identifiable with lot of vegetation covering every house. So when I ventured a little in the previous evening to while away a few minutes – I wanted to be right in time for
the party and not before time – I missed my way and was lost for some
time. I don’t want that to happen now late in the night. So I was trudging carefully- the path was also very moist with snow – back home. At last I arrived the main downtown-area. This was a well lit area with four roads radiating. The automatic signals were on. When I reached the junction there was a car waiting for the change of signal. The little inebriation I had evaporated at the sight of it. Because the whole area was deserted; no vehicles or anything on sight but still the man behind the wheels was waiting for the signal before proceeding.
This thing happened in a village, Oberlin, Ohio, U.S., 2 years back.
And on another day I was waiting in another signal. The place was Saidapet
intersection, Chennai, India. Time was 9.20 am.
In the morning peak hour there was a heavy rush and at the junction I
was waiting for the green signal. The automatic digital clock showed 100
and so I put off the engine of my vehicle. When the clock read 10 I
ignited my machine and thought I have another full 10 second count-down.
Voila! Even when 7 seconds remaining, vehicles started moving at mad
pace and though I wanted to wait for green signal, with blaring and
threatening movements from behind I had to jump light to avoid getting jumped over!
Laws will be there. But two things are necessary: one, the will of the
people to have at least a modicum of respect for the law of the land;
and second: the executors of the laws should do what they have to.
tracking back to my room after a party. I have to be careful, I thought. Since in the evening on the way to the party I missed my way. Though it was a small village of 8000 as its total population, that too, nearly 75% of them being local college students, with straight roads and by lanes cutting at right angles, with large trees on the sides of the roads, individual houses were not easily visible or identifiable with lot of vegetation covering every house. So when I ventured a little in the previous evening to while away a few minutes – I wanted to be right in time for
the party and not before time – I missed my way and was lost for some
time. I don’t want that to happen now late in the night. So I was trudging carefully- the path was also very moist with snow – back home. At last I arrived the main downtown-area. This was a well lit area with four roads radiating. The automatic signals were on. When I reached the junction there was a car waiting for the change of signal. The little inebriation I had evaporated at the sight of it. Because the whole area was deserted; no vehicles or anything on sight but still the man behind the wheels was waiting for the signal before proceeding.
This thing happened in a village, Oberlin, Ohio, U.S., 2 years back.
And on another day I was waiting in another signal. The place was Saidapet
intersection, Chennai, India. Time was 9.20 am.
In the morning peak hour there was a heavy rush and at the junction I
was waiting for the green signal. The automatic digital clock showed 100
and so I put off the engine of my vehicle. When the clock read 10 I
ignited my machine and thought I have another full 10 second count-down.
Voila! Even when 7 seconds remaining, vehicles started moving at mad
pace and though I wanted to wait for green signal, with blaring and
threatening movements from behind I had to jump light to avoid getting jumped over!
Laws will be there. But two things are necessary: one, the will of the
people to have at least a modicum of respect for the law of the land;
and second: the executors of the laws should do what they have to.
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