25 lesser known things about me !!!

This is the same note I put up on Facebook, thought will put it up here too

1. I was born on the 3rd day of Navratri and I didn’t do any Garba for the first 18 years of my life. I thought I had two left feet, till I finally learnt dance in Nashik.

2. I fell from a slide when I was 5 on the right side and fractured my left hand’s wrist (Even the doctor was amazed how I didn’t manage to hurt my right hand or my head).

3. I copied for an exam in my kinder garden from my class note book, but never realised that I was cheating, as I thought it wasn’t wrong as I saw from my own book.

4. I had my fist crush when I was in 1st grade, and have been having them from then, more over I have always been a hopeless romantic.

5. I had really long hair when I was young, and my mom used to tie them in two ponytails.

6. I loved painting war scenes when I was young, especially of battle tanks.

7. I know one of my Best Friend from more than 20 years.

8. I got a PC at my home in 1992. It was a 286 with 1 Mb Ram and 250 Mb HDD and I have been hooked to computers since then.

9. I started reading Auto Magazines from when I was 9 years old.

10. Some of my best friends are almost enemies of each other.

11. The first novel I read was “The Mysterious Island” by Jules Vernes.

12. I got my first email address on usa.net.

13. I was terrified of narrow spaces during childhood, and somehow got over the claustrophobia by playing computer games.

14. I got the love of cars & planes from my Dad, though he loves planes more than cars !!

15. For all you people who think of me as a Geek, I hate studying and barely study enough each time !!

16. My parents gave me a trip to Singapore as a surprise gift on my 16th B’day.

17. I am a big foodie, and sometimes believe that I live to eat !! Moreover I love the science which goes behind the cooking, and have always loved watching my mom cook and ask her all sorts of questions behind her actions. Today I can proudly say that my theoretical knowledge of cooking far exceeds my practical experience.

18. My first Valentine’s day gift was a Scale model of Valentino Rossi’s Yamaha M1.

19. I plan to write my auto biography one day, and have even written the first chapter.

20. I possess an enormous wardrobe and have more than 150 T-shirts / shirts.

21. I finally got one of my ears pierced after coming to the US, and wish to get a tattoo in the future.

22. I hated the taste of Beer till recent times, but then I finally developed the taste for it.

23. My favourite computer games are Quake, Unreal Tournament, Warcraft 3, GTA 3 & the Need for Speed Series.

24. I love to collect Watches, Sun Glasses and Scale Car Models… I guess this hint should be enough for people thinking for gifts to give me on my B’day.

25. I possess an extraordinary sense of smell and taste, and am generally the first one to detect food which has gone bad.

Songs I like

The other day I was going through AV's blog and read about some of the songs he was listening to that week, and the thought came in my head today about sharing some of my All Time Favourite Songs. Before I list them down, something about the music I prefer. I generally don’t have any favourite genre of music and like to hear whatever sounds good to my ears, thought I have always been biased towards songs with Good / meaningful lyrics. So here goes the list...

1. Khaled - Aicha:
Well I first heard this song while sitting in Mocha in Ahmedabad; it felt so good hearing an Arabic song in Mocha, which had a very Arabian ambience. I then for few years didn’t find this song anywhere, and then one fine I looked it up on online and found it. I totally love the Tune of this song, and even like its English Version, through the original Arabic / French version sounds much sweeter !!!

2. Enigma - Child in Us:
I generally like all of the Enigma songs, but this song has always been my favourite. The song features a stanza in Sanskrit, sung by a non Indian Woman, but I found the diction just about perfect, and it fits so amazingly well with the music, more over when the translation of the Slok is then sung, and it also is equally melodious.

3. Dire Straits – Romeo & Juliet:
Another song I came across during my BE days, I totally love the soft tone and the words of this song. Something I would love to play on my Guitar for the Girl I fall in Love with someday !!!

4. Linkin Park – Numb:
One of my favourite LP songs, it just reminds me of some experiences I have gone through, and strengthens me in a way.

5. Linkin Park – Breaking the Habit:
Another of my favourite from LP, and I like it for similar reasons to the one mentioned above, moreover it sometimes it inspires me to keep on fighting with Destiny.

6. Savage Garden – Affirmation:
A song I love from my School Days !! The song has one of the best lyrics I have ever come across in songs, and I try to follow the message conveyed in this song in my life !!

7. N’Sync – Bye Bye Bye:
This is one song I love for totally stupid reason. The song I feel is perfect if one wants to break up with their GF !!! I somehow couldn’t play it at the right time in my life.

8. Backstreet Boys – The One:
For people who know me, they know how along with Ashish have always loved B’Boys from our school days. This is one song which again is very special to me. I would like to be “The One”.

9. Backstreet Boys - I Want it That Way:
Another B’Boys song I love. This song makes me not to compromise on things in life, and ask / strive for them to go the way I want them to !!

10. Michael Learns to Rock – Someday:
I just love this song !!! One song I love singing too…

11. Chumbawamba – Tubthumper:
Another stupid song I like. If you go over the superficial setting of the song of being in a bar and drinking, I find it quite inspiring. It motivates a person to get up again, after you fall down..

12. Rembrants – Friends Theme Song:
I love this song even more than the Friends Sitcom itself. It so much follows the emotions portrayed in “Friends”

13. Black Eyed Peas feat. Justin Timberlake - Where Is The Love:
I love this song for the message of “Worldwide Peace” it wants to convey !!

14. Blue - One Love:
Blue another band which I like. I love this song from the time I heard it first, and I seriously believe “One Love” is all one needs to solve all problems in life…

15. Bon Jovi - Have a Nice Day:
This song has been my Morning Alarm for almost 3-4 years now…

16. Bon Jovi – It’s My Life:
Another Bon Jovi song I like, from the tune to the lyrics to the Music Video, I like them all.

Some Pics

Welcome 2009 !!!!

So for the my first posting of 2009, I decided to share some nice photographs I have clicked in the last few months, not very spectacular, but my attempt to improve my photographic skills and explore my Nikon P80 to its limits, before I splurge on a decent DSLR.

Life of a Grad Student

Well I will try to explain the life of a normal Grad Student living in USA in this posting !!!
So the picture above describes the life of a Student like me...

Going to the details

Bed - The primary source of enjoyment, relaxation and comfort in the life of a Grad Student.

Pillows - The serve a variety of purposes, from supporting the head while going to sleep, to supporting the back while watching a movie, to being used as weapons during fights.

Beer - This great drink is what generally keeps the Grad Students going, from providing the much needed carbohydrates, to being a wonderful ice breaker, to being the best socialising tool, this is surely one of the most important tools to bear the ordeal of Grad Life...

I-Pod - I love Apple for this wonderful gadget. It holds all my songs, and still has few GBs left, and I am quite happy with the sound quality. From providing entertainment while going to the school, or helping pass time while going anywhere. This gadget is always a wonderful companion.

Note Books - We need these for noting down all the notes we try to take in class during lectures, and also to tear pages for home work assignments and mid terms.

Papers to grade - Almost all Grad Students sometimes in their school life hold the post of a TA / Reader / Grader. So they always end up grading a bunch of under grad exams / assignments. This is fun sometimes when you come across really innovative ideas & thoughts..

Chocolates - An instant source of energy to an instant source of happiness to just plain fun, Chocolates are wonderful to have in your desk...

Stationary - To keep a record of all we learn, to give a proof of our knowledge. Pens, Pencils, Stapelers, Pen Drive, among the most important accessories for a Grad Student.

Cookies - I dont know about all the Grad Students, but atleast for me its nice having a pack of cookies on my desk, and eat one or two in between the assignments and as an odd time snack..

Quarters - For the weekly / fortnightly / monthly Laundry requirements...

Cards - From the most important School I - Card, to the Debit / Credit card to the Grocery store membership card, some more necessities of Grad Life.

Cell Phone - The most important & usefull tool for communication ever invented !!!

Text Books - From the self owned ones (New & Used) to the one borrowed from the Library, these are the tools which sometimes help in understanding simple topics made very complicated by the Professors lectures..

Bike Helmet - An important piece of armor to protect the very usefull brain, which is already burdened by the excessive work load of Grad Life

So in the end all these things, along with a few more, help us endure the Graduate Student Life !!

I Hung Over !!!

For starters the title has purposefully been made grammatically incorrect…

Well for people who know me, I am a social drinker. I like to drink occasionally, generally don’t prefer Beer (though recently have discovered a Beer which I liked) and generally prefer Vodka (Smirnoff & Belverde to name a few), Red Rum (Yo Old Monk), White wines and few cocktails. Before coming to the US, I badly wanted to try Tequila and somehow didn’t get a chance to try it in India, but I got to try that after coming here, and it sure was good.

So coming to my experience of that day, it was a normal Wednesday, only difference was I was to go with a friend for her shopping trip. So after finishing off with the class I, this friend and another friend of hers, we three went for shopping to a Mall nearby. There it was a typical shopping experience with us hopping in different shops which finally culminated in my friend getting a nice expensive Jeans and some really gr8 (Read more expensive) boots, with some nice spicy hot chocolate in between. So after this shopping trip we went to Ralphs – a local superstore to get some drink for the evening. After lot of deliberations for deciding what to get, where in we both almost finalised on getting two bottles of Vodka, Smirnoff Vanilla and some other Chocolate flavour, it all changed when our third friend arrived. On his insistence we changed our mind and got a bottle of Tequila – “Jose Cuervo”.

We got home, and made some delicious dinner in form of Peas Pulav and some Potato Bhajiyas. And then started our amazing night. After cutting few limes and taking out a pack of salt, we started taking our shots… After 2 shots we all sat down for dinner and talking all along. After dinner we had 2 more shots. By then all three of us had started getting the feeling of being drunk, especially the female friend. So the next time we conveniently didn’t give her a shot and had our 5th shot. In between all the conversations we had 3 more shots and finished the bottle in between three of us. We all finally retired to bed after almost all of us had almost passed out. Though my being able to recount all the details means, I was just drunk, and didn’t pass out :-). So off we all went to bed.

I can never forget the next morning, in spite of all I have drunk in my life before with Srini or at M&M parties I never have had a hangover. And I was very proud of that fact. But that morning changed it all. I woke up all disoriented and hazy. I had a cup of strong extra sweet coffee but that just gave me a head ache. I barely managed to drag myself home and then spent almost the whole day sleeping, missing two of my classes along the way.

So this amazing experience first of all broke my long lasting pride of not getting a hang over and second taught me that 8 shots of Tequila is way too much for any normal human being, and should be avoided !!!

My US Coming !!!

USA – I have been planning to come to this country for my higher education from more than 15 years now. I still remember my childhood talking to people that I wanted to come down to the US for my Masters. Though today I plan not only to pursue my Masters, but also my PhD here.

USA or America as we fondly call it, is a dream for quite a lot of us, especially in Gujarat, with loads of relatives being here and also hearing tales about this land in many Novels and from the many English movies I had seen…

So after close to 23 years in life, I finally came down to this Land. The journey was quite mundane, though travelling for 17 hrs at a stretch in a Boeing 777 LR, was quite an experience and especially after some favourable tail winds over the Arctic Circle which resulted in our flight reaching New York, almost an hour earlier. So after the customary procedures like customs & immigration, I was on the US Soil. The first things I noticed at the airport and also out it was the Left Hand Drive Cars (Obviously), something I had seen & driven in India too at M&M, but here all the cars, trucks & buses were LHD in their natural setting. We then took a connecting flight to Atlanta, and we got out of the airport, and my Uncle had come down to pick us up in a Lincoln Towncar, a typical American car with a V8. It was exactly as American cars were described, big & wide seats, low seating and loads of wastage of space, typical bad packaging. So after reaching her home, which was exactly as what mom had told me about, big and really beautiful, I got to see her Honda Accord Hybrid. A real good piece of technology… I also was shown around the house by my Aunt, the house was completely wooden and had attics and basement full of water / air pipes. I spent a few days in Carrolton, with a visit to Atlanta where I visited the Georgia Aquarium which is one of the biggest in the world, and also the Coca Cola Museum which was quite an experience seeing a poster of Aishwariya Rai and also tasting some 60 Coca Cola drinks from all around the world. Also in Carrolton, I got to taste the first Steak of my life, which was quite delicious.

After 4-5 fun filled days at Carrolton, I came down to Los Angeles or LA. One of the most happening places in the world !!! So after spending some anxious moments at the airport waiting for Di, we finally met her, and it felt great on seeing her after more than a year. So we went out and first saw Di’s Amazing QX 56, and then the best moment, I met Aarav. It was a totally out of the world experience to meet him. My Nephew !!! Then we drove down to Di’s home, and I was totally engrossed all along the way checking out the exotic automobiles… Di’s house being in Rancho Palos Verdes was exactly as described by Mom, and so was the way leading to it.

I then spent some really amazing days at LA, spending time with Aarav, going for countless shopping trips and also going around in LA visiting Hollywood, Universal Studios, Beverley Hills & the LA Auto Museum. Also I ate out at some really cool places in LA, and saw “The Dark Knight” at an IMAX theatre. So after some real enjoyable moments in LA, and also some nervous hours due to my Appt tragedy, I was all ready for my MS !!!

Di and Dad drove me down to San Diego, and here I saw my new Alma Matter, and fell totally in love with the place, University of California – San Diego at La Jolla !!! Now my experiences in school will continue in some other blog posting….

My Stay with M&M

Well it’s been months since I left M&M, and I decided to write this blog. But somehow couldn’t do it. Then the other day I had a talk with SS, and she suggested that I put down my thoughts on the laptop and can upload them to my blog when I get time.

So coming back to the topic, of my experience of some 20 months at M&M. For starters I worked for around 20 months at Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., a maker of Premium Sports Utility Vehicles and Utility Vehicles including Pick-up Trucks in the Engines Division in the Research & Development wing. I was the design engineer for a new 2.2 L Diesel Engine code named the “Eagle”. I was part of an amazing group of individuals who were some of the best in Engine Design & Development in India.

I started as a Graduate Engineering Trainee (GET) in M&M no where with an idea that I would go in to R&D, though I wanted desperately for that. So in the initial days it was a through orientation program spanning 40 days. Starting from presentations from the Company superiors, it lasted with some reviews of basic Automobile Engineering fundamentals to general industrial topics. On the last day of the orientation we were assigned departments, and I was assigned R&D, and it was ecstatic knowing that I was among some of the best in the bunch of 350 GETs.

So after a brief visit to all the plants of M&M – Kandivali (Mumbai), Igatpuri & Nashik, we were brought to the R&D Dept at Nashik. Here we were assigned our first project guides after few restless hours. I was assigned to Engines. So after going to the first guide, I was rerouted to the other guide who was in charge of the Eagle Engine family. Here we were sent to the actual project guides i.e. our direct superiors. Initially among the group of 4 of us, we were given few projects to choose from. After some haggling around with the superiors and among ourselves we made our choices. I decided to work on “Design of Experiments for Emission Robustness”. So after few days of endless loitering around, I had some solid work to do. So I pondered over a few books on DOE for the next couple of days and waited for the colleague with whom I was to work to return from his Sick Leave. Once he was back, I was bursting with energy and enthusiasm to start the work. But after few days of trying endlessly I realised that my work was heading no where, as no one other than me was interested in that work and it seemed redundant at that moment. So after some more haggling around with my superiors, my project and also my guide’s were changed, and I ended up in Engine Design.

So then I started my Engine Design Career. I worked on some small parts like Engine Lifting Hook, some sheet metal parts here and there and some concern resolution at the Engine Assembly Line. After few months of such work, I was assigned to a new Project. This was for making a version of the Eagle Engine for the US Market. Thus I ended up in a very challenging place being the only Design / Systems Engineer. This proved to be really quite a challenge, I learned a lot. From travelling at a hat’s notice to the Supplier to endless discussions with the Cross Functional Team, this job included it all. The experience of interacting with the Suppliers proved really stimulating, getting to talk to people with 10/20/30 years of experience in their field and learning the basics of many manufacturing processes, industries and also parts development. This also gave a major impetus to my Flying Passion cause of the travelling involved.

All this ended in my submitting my Resignation to pursue my MS in the US. I for one had been very open all along my journey in M&M and had kept all my superiors with the knowledge that I was going to leave for my MS. Thus my conscience was never tainted with any impressions that I was ditching any one in the company. The Experience in M&M totally changed my outlook for life. I learnt to live totally independent. Also the experience of living Life King Size in a large house, with totally amazing room partners, having a Car & also a Bike, good Work – Life balance and also the City of Nashik was something I wont forget for a long time am sure, this would surely form good resources to talk to my Grand Children in the future :-). Plus the Confidence I gained working in such an intellectually stimulating environment was a much needed boost I was looking for.

Thanks a lot Mahindra & Mahindra and also all the people I worked with and who gave me such good experiences of my Life.