Living away from home is not for the faint of heart, lazy of body or perfectionist of mind.
Back home, I had two servants, a cook, and of course my Mom to care of my needs at any point of time. Needless to say, I'm quite a pampered brat. I've never travelled by bus within the city more than a single digit number of times. The extent of the comfort I've been kept in struck me yesterday when I did my own laundry and ironed my own clothes, and realized that I haven't done either in over 10 years, and the only reason I HAVE done it before is because my Mom insisted that I at least know how it's done. Makes me almost wish that my Mom had been a stern taskmaster rather than sweet and understanding. Almost.
There are simply so many things to do, that I wonder how people have time to do their own work. I put this down partially to the fact that I like things to be proper and correct... in other words, I am a bit of a perfectionist. Not as bad as my good friend Rahul, but a little, nonetheless. I can't even begin to tell you how much it irks me that I somehow got a stain on my favourite shirt and am unable to remove it.
The other thing is that I happen to be extremely lazy. Physically lazy, I mean. I'm ever ready to read a book or teach a concept or play a game of bridge or chess. But ask me to walk across the room to switch off a light and I'll raise my eyebrows at you. So, doing everything by myself, right from cooking to washing dishes to doing my laundry to keeping all my things organized, is quite taxing on my hardly-used limbs.
The last reason for my lack of enthusiasm for my current predicament is that I've never been known to be a brave person. I'm not the "Bring it on!" kind of guy, I'm the guy who turns to his friend and says, "I have a problem, could you help me out?". Well, at least I'm not so cowardly as to run away from my problems. I face them and ultimately solve them or get around them... usually!
So, being none of the three things I mentioned in the first line of this post, it follows that I should be having an exceedingly tough time here. But that isn't the case either. I've had the good fortune of living in a hostel for the past five years of my life, even though my life was much easier than that of my other hostel-mates because my home was a 25 minute drive away. But still, it has made the transition much smoother for me. I wonder how other pampered kids who have been unceremoniously dropped in a foreign land manage.
The other reason why it's not so hard is that as far as I'm concerned, if I have to do something, no matter how hard or distasteful, I will not turn my back on it. Necessity and Duty are my taskmasters. I hate eating uncooked or un-ground onions... but if I have to eat it at the risk of offending my host, I will eat it without complaint.
Life changes, but never stops...
Cheers,
Prashanth.
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26 comments:
Ok reality check:
Faint hearted: Y
Lazy: Y
Perfectionist: depends on the issue.
And to add to it: "pampered kid who will be unceremoniously dropped in a foreign land".
Result: Fail!
SP stop scaring me, man! As it is I have had enough of 'reality bits' from dad.
--kk
i am going to read this later..but can you blogroll me?..i want more hits :D
it's ok man...you will become lazy with time...you will stop washing your clothes..you will eat out all the time..i am soo encouraging..:D
A simple Q ... If your house was just 25 mins from your hostel.. why stay at a hostel ??
All you ladies out there this KID SP needs HELP. He's got a stain on his fav shirt and is unable to remove it. Quick give him some tips.
Now u r scaring me. Will cross the bridge when it comes. As for u, all the best!
Since VC is asking lady-log to help, i will give u the same advice that my mom gave me "internet se poocho". It worked on a rust stain (lemon and salt in case u r curious)
Heyyyy TT where have you been all this while? And why have you renounced the blogworld?
--kk
Spee what about surf excel ?
Kk don't you know about TT's story?
Operation De-Pamper:
Goofs, bloopers n Yos
ahh, just when I was thinking of dropping by for a long stroll n idle talks; you suggest, you prefer being a couch potato... *SIGH*
When, along with higher studies, you're learning skills like cooking, cleaning, ironing .... its positive acculturation; but soon you'll be exposed to episodes of binge drinking, doping and promiscious dating.... on a scale much different from India. Being quintessentially observant that you are; I'm eager to hear those hilarious anecdotes!
I'm sure you would have seen the movie "Coming to America"; but you gotto read this book "Inscrutable Americans" by Arurag Mathur; its a comic personal account of a his brief sojourn in America. You'll love it!!!
Wish you grand success with this "operation" in record time ...
*Intern
hey, soon fall season is arriving,
and you'll be entralled by natures spectacular display of vibrant colors - yellow, orange, red, mergenta, tan .... it's gonna tickle the poet in you....
Kirthi,
You are supposed to be more responsible, independent and a better cook than me.. so you should be quite alright. (SP crosses his fingers behind his back)
Ramani,
I haven't actually blogrolled anyone... but sure, I'll link you :) not that its going to make a diff, there aren't that many people who read my blog!
And, oh, thanks for the encouragement... I think!
Vc,
Hostel life is ulti cool... surely you didn't think I would miss out on that!
Tipsy,
Me is extremely angry at you :x
What on Earth have you been upto? Full explanayshun wanted by email!
Intern,
Oh I do like long strolls if the weather or the scenery or the company is enjoyable! Talking I am always ready to do, even if my school teachers wouldn't believe it...
Binge drinking? Doping? Promiscuous dating??? Lol... don't worry intern, a lot of those things happened around me back in IIT itself, and I came out more or less untouched. But do try not to worry my parents, they know this link, even if they usually don't read it!
Nice post dude.
I am actually working on a documentary titled "Being Ashok Gurumurthy" and this is where I perfect my script...
But just a lil nit that I picked :-p ....
If you have to eat onions (in whatever form) AT THE RISK OF OFFENDING YOUR HOST, and end up eating 'em all the same, then you are, well, potentially offending your hosts.
Well the last sentence has 2 "It"s.
Case 1: Let "It" be Uncooked/unground onions
Sentense: I hate eating uncooked or un-ground onions... but if I have to eat Uncooked/unground onions (it) at the risk of offending my host, I will eat Uncooked/unground onions (it) without complaint
You don't risk offending your host if you ate Uncooked/unground onions, cuz that's what they want you to have.
Case 2: Let "It" be Cooked/ground onions
Sentense: I hate eating uncooked or un-ground onions... but if I have to eat cooked/ground onions (it) at the risk of offending my host, I will eat cooked/ground onions (it) without complaint
Now, you risk offending your hosts, but you don't want to offend them, so I presume you wont have 'em.
Conclusion: (This makes more sense)
I hate eating uncooked or un-ground onions... but if I persisted to eat cooked/ground onions (it) at the risk of offending my host, I will eat uncooked/unground onions (it) without complaint.
Ergo, The two "It"s in your last sentence advert to two different types of onions ... Think about it
-Ashok Gurumurthy :-p
And hey, I hear SPee's really miffed by HoH,
Believe me, extremely unintentional !!
PEACE
I hate eating uncooked or un-ground onions... but if my not eating it, has the risk of offending my host, I will eat it without complaint.
Simpler
WHAT !! SPee when,how and where were you fighting with HOH ?
I am ashamed of you thu thu.. why was I not informed ? I could have made lots of money !!! DAMN !!
Grr #933$% and @Q8$@#$.
Praaaamise me that the next time you fight with hell boy , i get the publicity rights.
Remember Columbus "accidently" discovered America, when actually he had taken the task of exploring a direct route to India ... for its most valued spices: pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves..... So; I believe that every India is excused for being fastidious about American food ....
For reasons not difficult to figure out; Brits are much more conversant with Indian cusines and you easily get ... chicken-tikka-masala or tandoor chicken or samosas;.. even in remote villages. But cmpared to Brits; Americans are "relatively" ignorant (cant think of a better word) of Indian delicacies ...
But many Americans delight in food cooked our way; sometimes I cook boneless-chicken sauteed in oil infused with fennel seeds, curry leaves, white lentil (urad) n a hint of asafetida and lots of garlic-onions ... and they love it!!!
before HOH points out the logical fallacy in deductive reasoning in my first para;
I'm quite aware of it... noticed it as soon as it pressed the publish button ....
but I cant delete it... *SIGH*
but well ... anyways...
Indians are excused for being fastidious as the lure for Indian spices did make Columbus (Spanish) take this voyage ...
Geez, anonymous, I was merely amusing myself with some badinage. I cannot afford to lose favor with more people in life.
SPee, take no offence man. Seriously, I'll get the prev comment off if you dont like it!!
ohh Noooo @ HOH Comeon!
Plzz dont take off any of your posts ...
I made a glaring mistake in my reasoning where I wrote that post:
" Remember Columbus accidently ......"
So in my next post; I quipped that I'm aware of my mistake ...
Do I have to explain that putting your nick was more in a lighter vein? Gosh HOH, I'm sorry if I offended you, by putting your nick there ... and I donno what makes you think my comment will make you lose favour with any person; I thought it to be pretty harmless.
Geez HOH, is it sooo disturbing??
I'm very well aware Prashanth would not have taken any offense...
and HONESTLY I never thought that you would either ... sorry that I offended you there ...
*Intern
Kirthi,
Grrr... some things are supposed to be between u and me... comprendez? Wish you a speedy marriage...
HoH,
Chill... you caught me at a vulnerable moment, thats all. Once I'm fully myself you can't ruffle me even with a hurricane. Anywayz all forgotten, and nothing to forgive...
Intern,
Really, woman, stop worrying so much, its bad for your health...
Vc,
I prefer to watch fights, not join them. Better get on the ring side with me and start some fight worth watching ;)
This one is for HOH:
(I wrote in one of my post:
"Remember Columbus "accidently" discovered America, when actually he had taken the task of exploring a direct route to India ... for its most valued spices: pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves..... So; I believe that every India is excused for being fastidious about American food ..)
Logically, it follows,
"... so every Indian is excused for being fastidious about Spanish food... "
As Columbus; a Spainard; took this voyage to discover Indian spices ... This is the "logical fallacy" I was talking about....
But once I had pressed "publish"/enter, I could not delete my post as this option is not available to anyone who writes as ANON...
In the next post I said
" before HOH points out......"
and quite honestly; I expected you to laugh about it; but I was mistaken....In fact you took it tooo seriously ... So I ask for apology... Henceforth, I'll be more careful of people's sensibilities...
In fact HOH, unfortunately we've been having frequent fallouts; which I'm not liking; and I'll just drop a mail (at HOH-ID) as I wish to share a few things....
Now this is for Prashanth / anyone interested
One way to expedite "Operation De-pamper" is to try cuisines of different countries.... how it helps in adaptation / acculuration /assimilation... I doono (????); but my mind is on Spanish n Mexican food n I need an excuse ....
I'm wondering; whats the difference between Spanish n Mexican food??? Spain colonized US n whole lot of Mexicans emigrated here; so flavous of both countries should be find favour here....
But I just realized that, though I know a bit about Mexican food; burritos, tostadas, enchiladas, quesadillas... with lots of salsa, beans, corn, chilli peppers ... I'm nearly blank about Spanish food (except their liberal use of olive oil n eggplants)... Now is Mediterranean food similar to Spanish? hmmmm .... ????
... btw Pizza maybe Italian but deep-dish pizza hails from Chicago...n chop suey is American
Now back to ...
Did Prashanth learn to fry eggs???
Hello SP...ur war was like open for all the world to see (ok only orkut members). I haven't told anyone abt hmm hmm, hmm hmm and hmm hmm. Alrighta?
SPEEDY MARRIAGE?? Are u outta ur mind. Me sending a remote pattar from here..hope u get a real hard kuttu on ur head!
--kk
*Ouch* (SP rubs his head where Kk gave him a hard knock)
Hmmm... still a little disoriented... lemme see...
Okay, Intern, you should know that my Mom has written over 2500 recipes in cookbooks alone, and tried a lot of others that are not in her books... so, I definitely have tried various international cuisines, partly out of my own enthu, and partly to help my Mom pick up more recipes and cuisines.
And yes, the eggs are coming out alright, and the sambhar I made yesterday was so good I thought it was home food...
Yeah Prashanth, I remember reading that beautiful post on your mom's culinary skills; and I'm sure you're to be a food aficionado, a connoisseur, a gourmet ....
Congratulations on your Sambhar success ...
I'm in a good mood, so forgive my meaningless "wotever" ..n... I sincerely thank for the nametag "crazy" cause that gives me carte blanche for any nonsense ...
* For The Love Of Food *
It more than nourishes my body, it nourishes my heart, soul n mind...
I "spice"-up my evenings, with a "date"
who goes "nuts" over "banana cakes"
My spirit dances like "champagne",
My heart beats like "cocain" (gosh!!!)
when I'm with the "apple" of my eye
my "gingerale, honey crunch sugarpie" !!!
Gosh I actually wrote something this crazy...
*intern
This Intern is Crazy (Vc shakes his head)
Intern, if I see the word "date" not in association with a month or a dry fruit, or the word "sugarpie" not in association with something edible, on my blog again, I will summarily eject you from here!!
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