Update

For some reason, I decided to start afresh. Use this

Carnegie Mellon University

P1080826
Originally uploaded by llimp_bizkit.

Hard work and hectic schedules. Kepp us posted.

Sunday Festivity

With start of the semester a week away, I thought it would be a nice idea to get practice making some authentic Indian food. The intention was to keep it simple yet tasty to remind you of home. The tread wasnt easy - the fruits were sure worth it. Of the many difficult things - the primary issue was to decide the menu for our wonderful lunch. After much ado, we decided - Kaku (my roommate), Aditya, Vinay
- Alu parantha
- Palak Paneer
- Veg Pulav
- Alu Sabji
- Jal Jeera

After much shopping and hard work - started with dough -



and making the parantha



Too many cooks dont spoil broth



Taaaa Daaaa...



The luncheon

I hate shopping. (period)

Finding an apartment was as easy as it could get. The worst was yet to come - filling the apartment. It started out like a normal day. Woke up by 8.30Hrs - had our shopping lists ready, and so Karthik and I were set. Or so we thought. This was the plan. Read it, its quite interesting. a) Shop at Wallmart for home appliances and get back by 13.00Hrs
b) Get mattress/furniture from IKEA and, split the shipping costs with few folks at INI
c) The essential shopping at Giant Eagle afterall.

Problem A. We did not know how to get to nearest Wallmart. Who cares now, we took the 28x - the airport flyer - to the farthest Wallmart. Shopped for a lot of things - Microwave, Vacuum cleaner, lamps, pillows, detergents. I dont remember what else we bought but, I wase satisfied with our performance thus far. Our cart was brimming in no time. We got them billed. It was already 13.00Hrs. We emptied our stuff into Karthik's bag, and couple of plastic bags. There was no way we could fit in a microwave in any. I decided to carry the Microwave and the lamp box - one box on the other. I couldnt carry an atom more, and so we walke out. This is funny part - an old lady was walking next me, she passed a glance, and so adorably told - "I have that microwave at home, you have made a good choice, son". I was in state of mind to reply, just managed a smile - with a thank you. Duh? What did you expect? That thing was easily 5-6 kilos and tearing my fingers out.

Problem B. There was no way in I was willing haul this to pur apartment in the 28x flyer. Hell, I didnt want to take a bus at all -
i) I didnt want to lug the microwave to from the bus stop to my house
ii) It was scorching hot
iii) I didnt know where to the bus from

We decided buy mattresses and call a cab. There were a lot of shops around - Roomful Furniture, atHome, Bed Bath and beyond. They were really plush shops I tell you, though I wasnt going to buy anything from there (as of now), it was sure worth a walk inside. The furniture was royal. We werent exactly basking in sun as they call it - we were baking.

Restrategise: Get back to walmart shop for the essentials shop for the essentials, call a cab and head back home. The heat, surely, was getting us, so was the hunger. Didnt seem like we were going to have lunch anytime soon.

Lucky Bump: Except for the heat and the hunger, we werent having a bad at all, atleast we were getting the stuff done. Our luck was only getting better when we ran into an Indian group, and the best part? They were headed to IKEA. Oh no! How do we haul the luggage now? Because we just had shopped more than two of us could carry. The plan now was some of them stay back at Walmart and take care of the belongings and few get to IKEA to pick up the stuff. And, the walk from Walmart to IKEA began.

Turn Around: The sun wasnt helping anything. We walked for ten minutes. And, god knows what struck a few people they decided to turn around and head back to walmart again.

Get it over with: We were back at Walmart now, and called the cab. We asked the yellow cab agency to send a spacious cab to fit a mattress. The lady was irate, she yelled - "We are not a moving company". Took sometime for the cab to arrive. But, we were only relaxing. The cab man was huge guy - Joseph Mitchell - we asked him if could haul mattresses from IKEA. He had no issues with it. We drove down, picked up the mattress from IKEA, while the taxi meter was ticking. We didnt bother much even if it meant a few bucks more. We just wanted to get over with it. It was already 18.00hrs.

Up, Up and Away: We lugged the mattress to cab, tied them on the roof. Joseph helped pack up. And, when he was done, he said - "Ah, now you are going nowhere!". I like that man. We chatted on our ride back, with my fastened seat belt. He was telling us about the bridges, rivers and (red)Indian kings of the area. The ride was relaxing anyway. We reached home - fatigued. But who cares, we had shopped for home appliances, essentials, shipped mattresses, and what not - and hauled it back to our apartment for just forty bucks! Well, that ain't a bad day.

Light years away - The first two days

Its a different continent alright. Eight thousand five hundred miles away from home, after a twenty six hour ordeal, trying to set up everything from scratch. A home which can never be mine, a land which which will never be mine. But, here I am. Carnegie Mellon.

Staying at my IGSA hosts, has the been the best thing during my stay thus far. Saurab, Muddasar, and Sharad. For hundreds of reasons they have been more than helpful to this newbie in town. Food and frolic - do's and don't. Everything. I'm still learning.

First things when I got here, walked up to INI for some help. Terry (at the front desk) and Mat (system admin) were the only ones there. Checked mail. Realised that my Karthik's (my roommate) flight was canceled - luck bum - got to stay in The Sheraton for a night though.
For starters, I got my bank account and my Carnegie Mellon ID card done, which I can use move around in the city with local transport here.

The CYERT Hall is the saviour - with free internet for all the CMU students. I'm here every day. My only source of communication with the otherside of the world. Looked up a few apartments online, shortlisted a few. Tired. End of day ONE.

LH755-LH430-UA1204

Did anyone ever talk about an enjoyable flight? They must have jumped off it then, and never had a chance utter another word. Yeah, there wasnt anything to special about my flight. Except when we closed in on Chicago. Wish I had my camera with me. Enroute greenland and the great lakes was one worth a shot. Mountainous regions with valleys like cups holding water. Did I see some snow? I'm not sure. Was an pleasurable sight anyway.
Chicago - Phew! The airport was bustling with airplanes, they seem to be flying like birds without flapping their wings. Lake Michigan is one gorgeous lake and I wonder what on earth is water body like this doing in the middle of nowhere. An ocean like thing? Maybe a little smaller. One of the Five Great Lakes. Boy, for sure a Great Lake. Another odd observation - every household has a swimming to bask during the summer. You will know, when you fly in here.
LH755 - LH430 were on time, I like these LH atleast for this reason. UA 1204 was scheduled to depart five hours after my arrival in Chicago. The wait was long, and I decided to advance the next available flight conveniently. The lady at the check-in counter let me. But, the boarding fellow wouldnt let me as my baggage was checked into the later flight - in bangalore. Rubbish. I had to wait all the five hours. To add the misery, the flight was 45 minutes late and I was hungry every minute of the flight. They said snacks would be served - the ones they served wouldnt suffice my little finger. Thus, I arrived - hungry, sleepy, and tired - welcome to pittsburgh.

I find myself a farewell

Thats one last thing I expected. It wasnt for me really, maybe it was, who cares now, all I know is that I had a nice time, and everyone there did. It is the first time that I am having a grain of food after school in school. Yep, it never happened. Thanks Mr. Jonathan for making it happen.

Lots people that I'm already in touch with in ways more than one, few that I havent seen since school, but killer jack was Glenn Nigel Kunder, who turned up to after twelve years I think. He certainly wasnt there to celebrate his golden jubliee or something. Good luck to Naghman, Harsha, Jonathan for your future endeavours.
Oh, by the way, I almost forgot, for the others who couldnt make it, I have something.
Wish we could have one day back in school. Guess we did. Atleast for it will take a long time coming.