Dig my own Grave

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Alright! I am proud and sad today. I did a great thing by set standard but not for my personal benefit. So, I started working in a retsaurant 2 months ago for money. I used all my "MBA stuff", whatever that means, and made an impact to the place and when the business started flowing, and revenue started increasing I had to leave my hours for a guy who will work full time so that my boss makes a progress in his business.

GelayoGusto, is where I work and we made so many changes in last 2 months. Changed the menu, boards, put pictures of food, made food for showcasing purpose, put menus in many many motels and hotels around the shop, gave 30% discount to all the motel receptionists so that they could promote our menus and food, and so on and so far. I definitely created an impact in 2 months and my boss asked me to invest $30K to become a partner with a third of a share. If I had that much, I would have finished my MS in 9 months and gotten job in India or US. Then asked me to work as a full-time chef instead but I could not with my educational commitments. So, I stepped down voluntarily from regular 2-day shifts to 2 late evening shifts so that he can hire full time guy. This will affect my stomach but I am sure its best for my workplace. Now I have to search for 2nd and probably 3rd job to make a living here in the US.

Finished my first quarter

I am kickass relieved as I am done with my sixth of MS. Milestone 1/6 is accomplished and how. I am happy with my performance but, not satisfied enough though. Could have converted few A- to A's but, real world is not bothered about grades; I have learned and made myself a better person with real world knowledge for sure.

One of my friends asked me not to worry about money and focus on getting good grades and get inducted well into the system. I did not have a choice but to be jobless and that did definitely help me a lot.

Guy Kawasaki changed my life

Yahoooooooooo, its a historical day for me. My role model, guru and Mr.Evangelist Guy Kawasaki wrote me on Twitter. I love Twitter, I

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feel so so honored. I believe now I can chan

ge the world too.

Guy Kawasaki is a perfect example of this quote "he who is busy is he who has time for everything

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". He is so busy with 10's of companies that he boards and manages that he has time to respond to internet underdog on something he found good, interesting to

acknowledge.

Back from sulking

People, I went into cave for a month and half (you will know what it means if you have read Men are from Mars...). Enough of sulking, life sucks for everyone. Everybody has their h

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ighs and lows (not sexual). I had mine and hope this is the last time, I went to cave.

Last 2 months, I am a better man for sure. I picked 4 subjects that has given me good perspectives in life. SOme friends and thoughts. I dont know why people sulk, and get into cave when they dont get what they want but, who can argue with god's rules of the game. Its like LKB in cricket, always very subjective.

I have found a new found interest on web and internet. Thats my new found love. I have lost interest on job, being d

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esparate to work, so thats my ex now. Time to study, gain value and get back to work to make meaning and change the world, not to make money. As Kawasaki says, make meaning and money will follow.

I read Art of the Start. There is nothing better or bigger than this book. changes the way you want to look at job, money, companies, entrepreneurs, spouse, etc.

Bought a car and its really crappy. Its 1991 Geo Metro. It is hardly assembly of nuts and bolts that also runs. I feel so scary when I Namrata is next to me. I fee

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l like, I am putting her life at risk and taken god for granted

I have many interesting stories that I will tell you when I come back...

My first impression about my college in US

WOW!

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Yup, that's what I felt in last 1 week of my college. It opened on 5th Jan, and I was at the University at 9 AM and the college ID card office was open by then. I got my ID in 5 min with photo and no spelling mistakes :) Went and met International Student Center and they checked me in another 5 min. The ISS lady is old and so courteous, she even photocopied my resume herself and I was sitting at a chair.



I was so bloody nervous and it was overwhelming experience on first few days including till today. So, my check-in process was over in 20 min, and I had kept an entire day for the same. My ID card is an ATM, debit card at campus, library card, access card to my dept labs, printer card and so on and so forth. May be similar systems are deployed in India, but I am out of campus since 8 years!!! I dont even remember if I had my ID card back then :)

I went to library and syllabus, books, homework, schedule, etc was all there on my

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portal. I just checked if my library had those prescribed books, but they did not. This university has tie up with other few major universities in the Bay area and guess what! I could get books from 2 different colleges in 2 days flat! no restrictions on number of books that I can order at any point of time. Each of them costs $150 and trust me I walk 6 kms to save $1.5.

The resources, infrastructure, etc., its all there. I would be a fool if I dont make a good use of it. The career services is great. Not so much for a guy like me who has an MBA and 7 years of experience (thats attitude!!!) but guess what we get same counselling and workshops that undergrads get here. No wonder why these Undergrads from US are so damn competitive.

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I remember not knowing what a 'campus interview' was when Infosys had come to our college and picked some 65 folks from CompSci and Electronics. I am almost sure that we never had any clue as to what a campus interveiw could be. Poor Mech & Manufacturing folks. I saw on noticeboard after Infy picked 65 cream-da-le-cream (not sure if this is how it is spelt) that one of the common answers for what you want to become in life was to become a "CEO". I wondered the whole night what a CEO would be, and I had put a good 20 years in my back by then. So, the point is these kids here get same counselling as grad and PhD folks and thats why it is common to see a teenage CEO of some companies here. Was my college at fault? certainly not! they were successful in placing 65 ppl on day-0; a good 20-25% of graduating class. As Guy Kawasaki says whatever does not happen in your life is your fault.

I am experiencing more of a cultural surprise than a culture shock at this point of time. Thanks to some of the English series that I have seen such as FRIENDS, Seinfield, Wonder years, etc.

By the way, I might sound little cheap now, but I saw a couple making out on-campus in the public. Nobody bothered or cared but I watched it like midnight masala under the sunglasses while passing by them :) Judge all you want, but this was new to me to see on-cam

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pus. Oh also ppl smoke on-campus and nobody is scared about their faculty or seniors. They smoke near cafe', near library, in front of church, I don know; may be its not a taboo to smoke here just like making out on campus :) ok, now im being really cheap.

MS in US - My diary of culture shocks

This is my journal about my daily life, thoughts, views and perceptions about a luxurious, comfortable and secured life in India Vs no job, no money, crappy student life.

But, I chose this! so, no complaints :) Live with me in my life, struggle, career, love, money fights as life throws new challeges everyday at me