Sunny side up!

First off I would like to say a big "Thank You" to all my sweet friends who have been reading my blog, your kind words have been indeed encouraging.

Being in a new country, it's but obvious that you can't help making comparisons & measure what's better & worse. So here I am sharing with you the brighter side of things in "Pardes".

The most endearing act is "Pedestrian Respect" - I guess its big everywhere except in India - where you can get hit while your walking & be blamed for the act rather than being apologetic & this I'm saying taking my own experiences into play (no offense to safe drivers).

The next bit being how we take "free delivery, free shipping" for granted - here I talk about both us as consumers & the companies giving us the service. And I guess by now most of us wouldn't mind paying those extra bucks for the service & expect it to be top notch, rather than just "hope" things reach you in time & in one piece. I feel its only when companies advertise their "free delivery/shipping" deals & do a good job at delivering - do they earn the trust& confidence of their customers.

In India, online shopping websites like www.yebhi.com & www.flipkart.com to name a few have delivered their promise of product, quality & time! Well yeah, here everything comes at a price & at first I too was resistant thinking its a waste of those few bucks, but experience their service & you realize that its money well spent & this holds good from pizza to pearls & everything else in between!

In the last of my nice experiences I would like to share is that of in the sprawling stores here - from groceries to fashion apparels & beauty saloons to restaurants; where every person working in them have the knowledge of what they are selling, why it is good for you, how you can save on some bucks & are ready with suggestions if you ask - this is true from your humble local bakery to a high end store.

Just yesterday while I was at this store looking to buy boots & while I was looking to have a cupcake - these simple customer service experiences are what I will carry with me a long way & recommend these places too. In a beautiful country like ours if these little things are catered to, there will be no better place than "back home" I guess.

So that's it for now..

Ciao :)

Phoren....

Keeping up my promise, here I am again - this time sharing my views on all things "Phoren".
So here I am in the "Big Apple", with its larger than life sky scrappers looking way up at them makes me go Ooch in the neck!

First I would like to share certain obsessions I see people here share in common! The one thing that tops the list from what I have seen here are the "Nail Spas" - duhhhhhhhh yeah I too take care of my nails, paint them in colors as wild as orange & yellow!!
But really, like you can find these "Nail Spas" offering all kinds of high end packages to beautify those little spaces at the tips of your fingers!! All for what, as I see most women buy funky colored, jeweled & sparkly nails straight off the rack & stick them with nail friendly glue that comes with it!!

Moving on from nails to all things futuristic!! Well I'm not talking technology or gadgets, its all about Pyschic / Tarot card readers who can be found almost in every street corner, with crazy shop windows - offering economic deals (it costs money to know how much money you'll make here :P).

From obsessions to ways to earn a buck or two, I must say its quiet amusing to see how the homeless & jobless ask you for money here. As we were on a train ride, the train slows down at the station, in come a flurry of hurried commuters & as they walked in - i heard a sudden announcement, which went something like this "Hello ladies & gentlemen, how are you doing today? I have just been fired from my job & looking for a few bucks enough to get me dinner tonight.So please help me out".

Then just yesterday while out on my first day out alone - I notice this man with a gigantic personality sitting by the pavement hugging a dog & a cardboard in front of him read - "I am jobless & homeless but my best friend has not left me. Please help me". The last of my experience so far was while I was walking up the street to Times Square, saw this man standing with a dog next to him, as people pass by - heard him say, I don't need money but can you buy me a drink at the bar (there was one right behind where he was).

Next was my observation of eating habits in this country by & large. A few months ago, I caught an episode from Oprah's final season - and it was about a typical American's food habits. I heard then & know now that ironically fresh produce here is far more expensive than a burger or a pizza which you could get for just under 2$ - which is exactly why you can see most people at large departmental stores with carts full of ready-to-eats. But what I also got to is that if you are a smart shopper you could get fresh produce & cook a healthy meal for your whole family by keeping an eye on store coupons & discounts!! The point I want to make out of all this is that, growing up on freshly cooked food every day,every meal - to the freezer & ready-to-eats becoming your best friend - is a moon of a change & that's the one I am trying hard to stay clear of!

Lastly I want to talk about what us most Indian's miss most while here are those familiar sounds & smells. I know it's not even been a week since i moved here, but I can already feel it. The sounds of vendors selling fresh produce, the locality women coming out of their homes for a little chat or even just walking into your neighbors house for a chat, the sudden deafening silence in the suburbs & yeah I miss spicy/chatpata street food.

I guess I've said enough already, more to follow soon. I'm having fun sharing this with you all, hope you enjoy reading it too.

Ciao for now

Birdie out to build her own nest.....

Yeah I know its been a whole year since I last shared my thoughts. And what a year it has been indeed! I went from being in the comfort of my home as Dadu's little girl to the "responsible" daughter in-law. The transition I must say was made smooth, thanks to my caring & loving hubby & in-laws.

I lived in so to say a joint-family the first 20 days of my marriage, until hubby moved back to NYC. All the love & attention showered on us as newly-weds & me as the new "bahu" made me feel really welcome.

This was also the time I came to terms with dads EQ (!), he would be in tears each time we met - silly you may think, but that's how close we are. I mean he's one of those people who would SMS me when I went to my grandparents place in Mysore saying, "Shweths I Miss you, come back soon". His gestures & feeling of love & care was experienced since the moment of my Kanyadan to this very moment.

Then 5th Jan dawned & yipeeeeeeeeeee I was granted the key to living my dream of finally joining my sweetheart & now hubby - Arun Devotta. As excited & happy as everyone was for me, yet again i realized that life is all about happy-sad/bitter-sweet moments. Between the excitement of finally getting to start a new life with the love of my life & leaving all my friends & family behind - it was tough.

Moments like these make you realize that its your "quality time" which is the most priceless gift you can give your loved ones. And that's exactly what I did, went to Mysore, the town I grew up in & spent time with my grandparents who have been such an inspiration in every sphere of my life. I also spent time with a very special human being, who has influenced & inspired several young girls like me from the early days of my life - my dance teacher, nothing less of a motherly figure; Tulasi Ramachandra. We just sat down & had the most wonderful chat & it almost felt like it was just yesterday that as a little girl I would go to learn from her. Her warm smile, her loving eyes - she teaches much more than just dance. She imbibes in her students values, culture & pushes each student to achieve their full potential. Love you Miss.

Once I was back in namma Bengaluru, there were my close friends who have been my pillar of support all through thick & thin - Kiks, Mads & Shruthi. This past few months I have been delighted as both my brides maids - are marrying the love of their lives. Sadly I don't know if I can make it to the wedding. As for Shruti, just in time I got to be a part of her mini big-day her engagement. She made a gorgeous "to-be-bride" marrying her highschool sweetheart.

Time flew by & it was time for me to say my good-byes & take off to start a new life, in a new country in the new year 2012 - hoping & praying that everyone back home are always happy & healthy. Emotions were on a high & I must say that as I hugged my dad for the last time (for some time atleast) before I entered the airport, I felt as if a part of me was torn away.

All along my longggggggg flight, tears would trickle down my cheeks thinking of everyone back home, but the next moment I would check the time in NYC & come to terms that I was finally meeting my soul mate. With mixed feelings I arrived & after the longggggggg immigration line & baggage claim - as i strolled out my rather heavy luggage - almost jumped with joy as i spotted my darling, waiting for me. I ran & jumped right into his arms & pinched myself that its indeed true- that i'm here in New York with my hubby!

Well, that's been the story so far ! My next blog would be all about my "Phoren" experience in the Big Apple !!

Cheers