...on the road..

I have not blogged since 9th Aug. Many reasons - prime one is multi-tasking.

Though my eggjams got over earlier on Thursday, I have been multitasking to get my Telecom term paper done and meet Lady J who was in town for a convention.

Later, on Friday, after the paper was done, I had to work towards Startegy paper. Saturday - I expected to have a marathon and we had only 10 am to 3 pm timing in which fair amount of work was put on paper. Earlier, we didn't note whatever we got - just discussed - some effort in putting it on paper at that time itself may have reduced the aogny and delay now. Anyways, it is a good lesson to have.

Sunday - I travelled with Lady J from Pittsburgh to Wilkes Barre. Lady J's father took us out for dinner and the Chinese food was delicious! So nice of him.

Monday morning, Lady J's grandma made fresh bread - I have never consumed anything like that. It was awesome. Then we travelled from Wilkes Barre to Hanover, New Hampshire. On our journey, I found some of the places exotic - Woodstock, (some red Indian name I dun remember), and a gorge. I saw Dartmouth campus that evening. At Lady J's place we saw DDLJ - she bought the DVD due to her Bollywood affinity.

Tuesday morning, I went from Hanover to NYC via Boston. I met my high school buddy Om after a very long time. Om and Preeti are such a cute couple. They are good hosts too!

Wednesday, I met some acquaintances in NYC till evening. Finally, I wound up in a Tavern with a trader friend from an investment bank.

Late in the evening on Wednesday, I met Darshan and Mukul - my friends from undergrad college and now working for Goldman Sachs and engaged now.

They gave me a treat for their engagement - Kathi rolls - they were similar to Frankies and I took the Masala Aloo roll.

We hung around in Times Square a bit and then I took off. Meanwhile, in Brooklyn there was a fire in the subway and I was stuck on the other side. I shall blog one more post for details of NYC that I got to know this time.

Meanwhile, the Strategy term paper which was due on Aug 16th was allowed to be postponed to Aug 17th. I have working my ass off for the same since I used to have long days and then in the night I worked around the paper. 2 nights I have worked till 8:30 in the morning - O.M.G. - had we not postponed it - the agony would have been lesser.

On Friday evening, I shall leave for Boston to reach Adwait's place around midnight, if traffic doesn't delay the journey.

Etiquettes...

I read a small pocket-sized book on ettiquettes.

I asked a few colleagues at CMU - "What does the word Etiquette bring up in your mind ?"

Answers included:
-punctuality
-dinner sense
-formal scenario behavior sense

However, this small book defined ettiquette as a way of living. It is difficult for a person to be one person with more important ppl and another person with lesser important ppl. Respect is the key to having good etiquettes. Hence, etiquettes should be implemented in every facet of life. If you are requesting something to someone then use "please" (that includes banging the ringing the bell at midnight to get in the house by housemates too!). Convey thank-you for every good deed someone did to you. Never cut queues. Treat everyone equally well- be it your boss or be it the cashier at the superstore. This is to make it a habit!

Right from pettiquettes to cell phone conversations in public places, everything involves etiquettes. Email involves etiquettes(Prof Ed Barr taught us) and of course every other activity involves etiquettes. Etiquettes even affects your children since they tend to have behavior of their parents/guardians imprinted on their minds. Even rejecting your date involves etiquettes!

One of the surprising discoveries I had while reading the book was as follows:
While you are trying to convey condolences you should not say "I can understand how you feel". Instead, the usage of "We are sorry for the demise and we shall miss him/her" is more appropriate. Ppl say things they are not supposed to say because they dont know what to say!

Another surprising discovery was that fidgeting is not regarded as a good body-language while in a lecture hall or while conversing.

Those who do consider learning more about etiquettes must read this book. It took me about 65 mins to read it entirely. About 150 pages (quarter size of a regular book's page).