few firsts

This will be a growing post (hoping everyday) - of things I would do for the first time. This wouldn't necessarily be all positive. So oy oy oinki !

February 2010 - Got my first Tax refund claims ever. I used to think its all a scam and such things really don't happen. It came in a cheque which got encashed!

August - end November 2010 - Nearly 3 months of unemployment, joblessness. First time ever (really want to add 'last time' as well to the 'joblessness' part.)

12th Novermber 2010 - Went to the Income Tax office in Kolkata; asked for the Tax refund claimed by me over many many years; some senior officer's MOBILE number was on the board and I called and he asked me to come to his room if I am in the building itself; after hearing said too senior to help; went to approproate person; he sent me to a more streamlined appropriate person; he saw things online, in his files, found issues, explained issues to me; disbursed part of my claims (other parts even the tax department didn't have as TDS deducted was not deposited!!) imemdiately in fornt of me AND then dictated a complain letter I should write to the department to get the rest of the money. OK! ALL OF THIS WAS a FIRST!. ALL !!

12th November 2010 - Moved my things to another city with MOVERs and Packers !! And i moved my entire wardrobe. I packed more utensils than I think I ever needed. I have evolved from travelling and living through 5 cities in just about 2 suitcases to a 'consignment' (albeit small)

15th November 2010 - Stepped into Bangalore with a job

16th-21st November 2010 - spent 5 days only and only house hunting. And I mean it - food, sleep, minimum talking to family and friends (to tell them I am alive and I am house hunting) and then talking to brokers and seeign all kinds of houses. Note (again): 5 consequitive days.

18th November 2010 - Fell down a brokers bike who showed no concern after. I have NEVER fallen down any bike, so that also includes brokers' bikes AND I have NEVER had such no-concern participant or audience to any of my falling from anywhere.

21st November 2010 - Successfully used a broker for the first time and got a home! Used internet and the likes too! They all lead to a broker more often than not. Going to stay alone-alone for the first time. (starting 2nd December) So, my 1BHK!

22nd November 2010 - I job hunted, met prospective employers even before joining the new job.

23rd November 2010 - Represented organisation in a conference (just as audience though) even before joining!

24th November 2010 - Signed a tenant agreement! I think its the first in the family (no, seriously!)

23rd November 2010 - I bought a tall (it is tall. calling it long is slightly disrespectful) moppers and mopped with the tall mopper. (clarification: I have mopped floors before but with just a simple cloth and more on my honches. This is quite different, quite! You can sing and mop. All at the same time)

25th November 2010 - Had Phuchka in Bangalore. Quite close to Kolkata version technically.

26th November 2010 - joined a start up, a non-NGO, a consulting firm. And this is physically, virtually online offline a 4 member office. Very very first time!

26 November 2010 - Have an offical email id (soumita@innovationalchemy.com) which I actively use and will be using.

27th November 2010 - Had a fish thali with 5 fishes in it! Auch! But the discovery is that the menu card clearly says that one cant share a thali even though its a limited thali (repeat: this is NOT a UNLIMITED thali) and people around me (read tiny number of office colleagues) thought that was only the norm. So yes, you are right, I have never before seen people told not to share a Limited Thali. The restaurant staff thought - 'but of course!'. I think I was the only one disturbed. It just means so much food wasted! Elitest! (only, elitest??)

27th November 2010 - Got a Rs 10 discount from an auto driver. He nearly insisted on giving me the discount.

28th November 2010 - Went furniture shopping!! Limited to price and design scouting. Purchase after another round of scouting.

28th November 2010 - Had GOOD Phuchka in Bangalore. Just 500 mts from my house!

29th November 2010 - Used internet to find bus routes from home to office. Google search showed up BMTC help-line numberS (please note the plural form). And also there were bus route maps which were very readable! I called the BMTC helpline and someone did manage to help in falt 48 seconds. (for the uninitiated BMTC = Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation)

3rd December 2010 - I made a list on paper before shopping. (brain preseved for??)

10th December 2010 - I took a bus to office. This meant figuring out the closest bus stop, finding the shortest walking route from there and also the name of the bus stop :P . I was doing autos all these days and coming back home in a bus. I wonder who had said, anyone can always get back home!

10th December 2010 - I was hunted down by an organisation I went for interview months back (The cell phone number they have is not functional and they called my landline!). Things were amiable that months back too but they didnt seem to have the money to pay. They clearly have worked on that in the past few months. And finally, they offer me a job. Maybe I am not in the mood anymore. :-)

10th December 2010 - So I was in a bus from office to home in a bus where the driver was also the conductor! And ya, he did stop and pick up passengers at every stop, punched everyone a ticket and was one of the fastest buses plying on that route at that time.

11th December 2010 - Brought a full gas-stove set!

24th December 2010 - Was on a diverted train! Gujjar movement ...

24th December 2010 - First time in Rajasthan! Jaipur, here I am !!

25th December 2010 - Top up of Ajmer and Pushkar :-)

28th December 2010 - Saw beautiful NRM work in arid Rajasthan with very very simple methods and total thinking and thoughtfulness of all kinds of birds and animals of the area.

28th December 2010 - Saw a gang of Nigai-s, the blue male with a horde of fair females.

Random questions

1) Why is it that we give more importance to professional deadlines than personal ones?
Like, we quite comfortably postpone 'talks/meetings with friends/children/spouse/parents/siblings because we are under 'tremendous work pressure'. Why don't we ever do the same with meetings with bosses and clients (unless of course it is a medical emergency at home)?

2) Why is it that we trust our helpers at home with our children but not with our money?

3) Why is it that physical medical situations are graver and get more attention than mental woes? (And I think we really have enough proof to say that a happier mind often gives to a healthier body).

4) Why are we more keen to give a few doses of medicines than a few big tight hugs?

5) Why is it that monetory cost benefit ratio immediately put our actions in place and other cost-benefit ratios like health, environment etc don't motivate us likewise? (Why even compare cost of organic food and inorganic food??)

6) Why do we look down on 'lucky charms' if all they do is give us some peace and confidence? Albeit, illusionary if you want to argue - but have we defined the real in any sense at all?

7) Why is it that we share happiness more publicly than our sadness? Why are we so shy and embarrassed of our sorrows?

8) Why is it that we cry watching movies but hardly ever when we see children on the street in pain?

9) Why is it that we 'manage' most things in our lives rather than 'living' them?

10) Why is it that a classmate can be your friend, often your 'best friend' but your colleague cannot?