My Writings by Swarna Kakarlapudi
----------------------------------------------
AMAZING 20’s
I graduated college when I was 20 from a college named DVR college of
engineering and I wish my kids know my life a little, so I am writing this primarily
for them.
While graduating in those days the path all took was to go and pursue higher
studies in USA. So, I decided to do the same and wrote my GRE and TOFEL and
applied to a few universities in USA and I got admission into Ohio university. Now
thinking how brave my mom should be in sending me. If you feel like reading
more click on the below links.
engineering and I wish my kids know my life a little, so I am writing this primarily
for them.
While graduating in those days the path all took was to go and pursue higher
studies in USA. So, I decided to do the same and wrote my GRE and TOFEL and
applied to a few universities in USA and I got admission into Ohio university. Now
thinking how brave my mom should be in sending me. If you feel like reading
more click on the below links.
First Flight
After all the arrangements for the big day the day for my leave came. My mom
packed my suitcases, and we travelled to the airport with my dad who was a
patient which was the reason my mom had to do everything. For the first time in
life, I witnessed my dad shedding tears when I was at the airport. I had a very
dear uncle who made this possible for me with all the preparation. He had a
friend at the airport who took my family to the top of the airport to watch my flight
take off. My sister shed tears as she saw my flight take off. I shed a tear in the
flight for leaving my family behind. But what courage I had to take that flight to an
unknown country with no acquaintances. I think it’s the effect of age as I would
certainly not do that now at this age. In case u wondered I am 45 now. Finally, I
flew. I had to collect my baggage in Chicago as that was the first point of
entrance to states and check back in to my flight to Ohio. I got delayed with
immigration. I literally ran to the gate to find out that boarding of the flight
finished, and I had to wait to get on to the next flight and my panic started. As
this meant my seniors at the university who came to pick me and other students
who were all travelling together would leave me. In that panic I ran to an official
sitting there and with panic I explained my situation. To my surprise he listened to
all I said and called someone in the flight to open the closed doors for me and let
me board the same flight. Didn’t know then that this is an achievement as this
was my first flight journey in life. I ran and boarded the flight sat in my seat and
breathed. All others who fled with me gave me glances, but I breathed that I
made it and relaxed. I had asthma then so breathed quite heavily due to my
running. Didn’t know then that I could ask for a drink so just breathed to get back
to normal. Finally, I landed in Columbus, Ohio. My university was a 2hr drive from
here. So, my panic to catch this flight was totally understandable. I got off and
waited to collect my bags. After a long wait and other fellow passengers collected
their bags and mine were nowhere seen. Realized after a while that my bags
were missing. My seniors who came to pick me talked with the airport officials to
deliver the bags to one of the seniors house the next day. Two more hours of
drive to unknown senior’s house with no bags. My clever mom packed some
essentials in my cabin bag which was useful to shower and get changed when I
arrived. I was tired from all happenings in the journey. Our seniors prepared us
some food so ate and slept. At that age I was not jetlagged but was tired so
quickly ate and slept where we were directed to.
Work at the University:
Looked desperately everywhere for a part time job. We were not a very well-off
family, so I wanted to earn and send back home money to clear debts raised for
me. Another task was to secure funding for my education. These were my tasks
at that point.
I started off to look at all places for a parttime job. Managed to find one in a
university dining hall. It offered 20 or more hours per week and 5.25 dollars per
hour, and I grabbed the opportunity. At that time, I wanted a way to earn and
send some money home. This was the only thought in my mind. So, I jumped at
the opportunity I got. Work was cleaning dishes in kitchen which I enjoyed then. I
had to load the humongous dishwasher with dirty plates and glasses. I had fun
doing that. Loading dishwasher now with dishes made by us is not fun but back
then it was fun especially because I was doing it with friends and got money
after. So, I jumped to work extra hours whenever there was a chance. Other than
loading the dishwasher the job also required us to clean humungous dishes
about 4 x5 feet.
Free soft drinks were available to all who worked. I was a big addict to coca cola
in Engineering college and my uncle took a promise that I will not touch coke
while in US. I was a super determined girl those days so I stuck to my promise
though coke was available freely I could not drink. This was good else I do not
know how many I would have drunk as it was free.
I worked many hours there. Grabbed every opportunity I got to do extra hours
and surprisingly got lots of opportunities and I grabbed every single one to make
extra money where possible. I was present at every banquet that happened
there. I was present because every banquet happening paid 50 cents more and I
did not miss any opportunity to make extra cash. Then after a few months passed
it was time to visit home. A month before I was about to leave, I burnt myself
cleaning the big vessels and this left a big scar on my arm. And back home my
mom and sister wept seeing it. I did not think it was a big deal, but my mom and
sister didn’t think so. I thought Thank God they did not see immediately as it did
look terrible immediately after. While I was working here parallelly I knocked on
every professor’s door to secure funds for my tuition fee I succeeded and found a
professor who paid my tuition and gave me a monthly stipend for research work I
had to do. And this research work would be my master’s thesis. I was super
happy. I remember this date when I secured funding very strongly in my head
and so would the entire world as it happened on September 11. Yes, the day
when the twin towers collapsed. I was super happy that I got funding and on
reaching my flat I noticed my Muslim flat mate was super happy about the twin
towers. At that age and time, I was excited that I got funding which meant I could
send back home money to repay the loan that my mom took for me. Didn’t bother
much about what was happening around me.
To make extra money I continued doing my dining hall job. All in my mind then
was to make extra cash to send home. Despite working in dining hall and got my
funding I looked for more work. I secured teaching the undergraduates math in
the university library that I utterly loved. Back then I used to love teaching and
even now. I used to tutor lots of kids back home for no charge and it made me
super proud that all kids got higher marks. So, in essence life was wonderful,
secured funding, a job that I love and a job for extra cash. Those days this was
enough to be very happy unlike now. And tutoring paid 5.75 per hour which was
higher than the dining hall pay so I considered myself super lucky. It looked funny
when I taught as even undergraduates were tall and well-built and I am a tiny girl.
Beside the library was a coffee shop named oasis which had very good banana
bread. I was super happy when one of my childhood friends whom I met in India
now mentioned that she told her son who is 12 now that she didn’t know how
banana bread tasted until I introduced to her in Oasis. And I feel super proud that
I am in contact still with friends I made when I was 6 years old, and they have a
story to relate to me with their kids. I used to occasionally go there as I wanted to
save and not spend. To give more context to this story I must mention my
classmate in school with whom I studied from the age of 5 to 15 came to my
university in USA after me as my junior and this girl was his girlfriend. The way
their love affair started is another story to tell. We all studied in a school named
HCL DAV public school and all our dads worked for a company called HCL
(Hindustan Cables Limited) and there was just a road between the school
playground and my house and there was a big tree in my back yard which was
where they met occasionally.
To relate to something that happened to the current, the professor who funded
me back then is Dutch and is now a professor in a German university and
another student who secured funding under the same professor is living in
Belgium now and came to visit me in UK. It was wonderful remembering those
days now. She was thrilled to meet my two kids. It was lot of fun revisiting our old
eat out Taco Bell. How wonderful were those days.
My first house:
In a while we looked for an apartment and moved on our own. I shared a two-bed
flat with four girls. This apartment was at the top of a steep hill called Carriage
Hill and the apartments were called Carriage hill Apartments. There was
staircase as well at one end to climb if you didn’t feel like walking up. Walk to the
University Building where we were for most of our time was a 30-minute walk.
There were a few laundry machines in the common area to do our laundry.
Coming from a house where laundry is usually done by my mom doing your own
laundry in machines commonly used by all was rather strange but got used to
this idea quickly.
Back home my mom used to do our laundry early in the day and hang them out
in our garden for the clothes to dry. And as ours was almost the first quarter if you
saw in one direction all the employees used to observe these clothes being dried
out when the employees went to work in first shift. I need to mention back in India
work was not regular 8/9 to 4/5 but rather it was in so called shifts. There were
three timing’s when employees could go to work, the morning shift 6-2, the
general shift 8-4 and the night shift 8-4. So, it was a wonder to all morning shift
employees that my mom did wash our clothes so early in the day.
Now going back to my university along the walk at the bottom of the apartments
there were a series of eating places. Though we were tight on money we went to
eat out occasionally. There was pizza hut doing unlimited buffet and a burger
place called Wendys which we frequented often. I used to love going to Wendys.
In the same apartment there were a bunch of guys who flew with us on the flight.
I will not give any names here, but I got close to a guy named K. One incident I
remember once I fell ill with cold. I used to often get cold then and even now. K
was worried and gave me tablets and made a home-made decoction to drink and
food to eat. Later he got used to my colds. This K always gave me company to
eat out. K bought a sports car which was a big deal then. I will write another
section describing the fun we had back then. I was such a fan of this car that
after I got married my husband brought a prelude to surprise me. That was fun
but those were our initial marriage days when love exists between a couple when
life did not throw all struggles at you.
Beside our apartments there lived a girl who taught me how to make pasta as in
India were never ate pasta back then.
Life was going on like this. Beside my university building there was a lake with
benches around. On days when I felt a little low, I used to sit near the lake and
think
about life. I think it’s the age effect I hardly felt low then compared to now.
First trip to India:
I went to United states in August 2001 and first visit home was in December
2002. I our flight was 4-fold. I flew with a bunch of students and was super
excited to see family after a long time. In Dubai airport we ate biriyani and it was
super delicious. My family came to the airport to receive me. I was thrilled to eat
my mom’s food after a long time. My mom was an extremely good cook.
I was extremely happy seeing all. My school friends and college friends came to
visit me. It was so nice seeing all. I visited a temple which is about an hour drive
and the reason I mention this is because my dad decided to join us on this trip. It
was a good visit as I now realize it was a big deal for my dad to come back then.
One day my friend K visited me, and this was a big deal then as in India that time
it was strange that a girl met a boy. My family was worried that I will marry this
guy but the way my mom brought us up, we believed that if we marry a guy, we
like it is a great disrespect for the family, so we never thought of doing this even
in our dreams. One day I took my mom and visited K’s house. It was a good visit.
Our trip ended and we flew back to US.
packed my suitcases, and we travelled to the airport with my dad who was a
patient which was the reason my mom had to do everything. For the first time in
life, I witnessed my dad shedding tears when I was at the airport. I had a very
dear uncle who made this possible for me with all the preparation. He had a
friend at the airport who took my family to the top of the airport to watch my flight
take off. My sister shed tears as she saw my flight take off. I shed a tear in the
flight for leaving my family behind. But what courage I had to take that flight to an
unknown country with no acquaintances. I think it’s the effect of age as I would
certainly not do that now at this age. In case u wondered I am 45 now. Finally, I
flew. I had to collect my baggage in Chicago as that was the first point of
entrance to states and check back in to my flight to Ohio. I got delayed with
immigration. I literally ran to the gate to find out that boarding of the flight
finished, and I had to wait to get on to the next flight and my panic started. As
this meant my seniors at the university who came to pick me and other students
who were all travelling together would leave me. In that panic I ran to an official
sitting there and with panic I explained my situation. To my surprise he listened to
all I said and called someone in the flight to open the closed doors for me and let
me board the same flight. Didn’t know then that this is an achievement as this
was my first flight journey in life. I ran and boarded the flight sat in my seat and
breathed. All others who fled with me gave me glances, but I breathed that I
made it and relaxed. I had asthma then so breathed quite heavily due to my
running. Didn’t know then that I could ask for a drink so just breathed to get back
to normal. Finally, I landed in Columbus, Ohio. My university was a 2hr drive from
here. So, my panic to catch this flight was totally understandable. I got off and
waited to collect my bags. After a long wait and other fellow passengers collected
their bags and mine were nowhere seen. Realized after a while that my bags
were missing. My seniors who came to pick me talked with the airport officials to
deliver the bags to one of the seniors house the next day. Two more hours of
drive to unknown senior’s house with no bags. My clever mom packed some
essentials in my cabin bag which was useful to shower and get changed when I
arrived. I was tired from all happenings in the journey. Our seniors prepared us
some food so ate and slept. At that age I was not jetlagged but was tired so
quickly ate and slept where we were directed to.
Work at the University:
Looked desperately everywhere for a part time job. We were not a very well-off
family, so I wanted to earn and send back home money to clear debts raised for
me. Another task was to secure funding for my education. These were my tasks
at that point.
I started off to look at all places for a parttime job. Managed to find one in a
university dining hall. It offered 20 or more hours per week and 5.25 dollars per
hour, and I grabbed the opportunity. At that time, I wanted a way to earn and
send some money home. This was the only thought in my mind. So, I jumped at
the opportunity I got. Work was cleaning dishes in kitchen which I enjoyed then. I
had to load the humongous dishwasher with dirty plates and glasses. I had fun
doing that. Loading dishwasher now with dishes made by us is not fun but back
then it was fun especially because I was doing it with friends and got money
after. So, I jumped to work extra hours whenever there was a chance. Other than
loading the dishwasher the job also required us to clean humungous dishes
about 4 x5 feet.
Free soft drinks were available to all who worked. I was a big addict to coca cola
in Engineering college and my uncle took a promise that I will not touch coke
while in US. I was a super determined girl those days so I stuck to my promise
though coke was available freely I could not drink. This was good else I do not
know how many I would have drunk as it was free.
I worked many hours there. Grabbed every opportunity I got to do extra hours
and surprisingly got lots of opportunities and I grabbed every single one to make
extra money where possible. I was present at every banquet that happened
there. I was present because every banquet happening paid 50 cents more and I
did not miss any opportunity to make extra cash. Then after a few months passed
it was time to visit home. A month before I was about to leave, I burnt myself
cleaning the big vessels and this left a big scar on my arm. And back home my
mom and sister wept seeing it. I did not think it was a big deal, but my mom and
sister didn’t think so. I thought Thank God they did not see immediately as it did
look terrible immediately after. While I was working here parallelly I knocked on
every professor’s door to secure funds for my tuition fee I succeeded and found a
professor who paid my tuition and gave me a monthly stipend for research work I
had to do. And this research work would be my master’s thesis. I was super
happy. I remember this date when I secured funding very strongly in my head
and so would the entire world as it happened on September 11. Yes, the day
when the twin towers collapsed. I was super happy that I got funding and on
reaching my flat I noticed my Muslim flat mate was super happy about the twin
towers. At that age and time, I was excited that I got funding which meant I could
send back home money to repay the loan that my mom took for me. Didn’t bother
much about what was happening around me.
To make extra money I continued doing my dining hall job. All in my mind then
was to make extra cash to send home. Despite working in dining hall and got my
funding I looked for more work. I secured teaching the undergraduates math in
the university library that I utterly loved. Back then I used to love teaching and
even now. I used to tutor lots of kids back home for no charge and it made me
super proud that all kids got higher marks. So, in essence life was wonderful,
secured funding, a job that I love and a job for extra cash. Those days this was
enough to be very happy unlike now. And tutoring paid 5.75 per hour which was
higher than the dining hall pay so I considered myself super lucky. It looked funny
when I taught as even undergraduates were tall and well-built and I am a tiny girl.
Beside the library was a coffee shop named oasis which had very good banana
bread. I was super happy when one of my childhood friends whom I met in India
now mentioned that she told her son who is 12 now that she didn’t know how
banana bread tasted until I introduced to her in Oasis. And I feel super proud that
I am in contact still with friends I made when I was 6 years old, and they have a
story to relate to me with their kids. I used to occasionally go there as I wanted to
save and not spend. To give more context to this story I must mention my
classmate in school with whom I studied from the age of 5 to 15 came to my
university in USA after me as my junior and this girl was his girlfriend. The way
their love affair started is another story to tell. We all studied in a school named
HCL DAV public school and all our dads worked for a company called HCL
(Hindustan Cables Limited) and there was just a road between the school
playground and my house and there was a big tree in my back yard which was
where they met occasionally.
To relate to something that happened to the current, the professor who funded
me back then is Dutch and is now a professor in a German university and
another student who secured funding under the same professor is living in
Belgium now and came to visit me in UK. It was wonderful remembering those
days now. She was thrilled to meet my two kids. It was lot of fun revisiting our old
eat out Taco Bell. How wonderful were those days.
My first house:
In a while we looked for an apartment and moved on our own. I shared a two-bed
flat with four girls. This apartment was at the top of a steep hill called Carriage
Hill and the apartments were called Carriage hill Apartments. There was
staircase as well at one end to climb if you didn’t feel like walking up. Walk to the
University Building where we were for most of our time was a 30-minute walk.
There were a few laundry machines in the common area to do our laundry.
Coming from a house where laundry is usually done by my mom doing your own
laundry in machines commonly used by all was rather strange but got used to
this idea quickly.
Back home my mom used to do our laundry early in the day and hang them out
in our garden for the clothes to dry. And as ours was almost the first quarter if you
saw in one direction all the employees used to observe these clothes being dried
out when the employees went to work in first shift. I need to mention back in India
work was not regular 8/9 to 4/5 but rather it was in so called shifts. There were
three timing’s when employees could go to work, the morning shift 6-2, the
general shift 8-4 and the night shift 8-4. So, it was a wonder to all morning shift
employees that my mom did wash our clothes so early in the day.
Now going back to my university along the walk at the bottom of the apartments
there were a series of eating places. Though we were tight on money we went to
eat out occasionally. There was pizza hut doing unlimited buffet and a burger
place called Wendys which we frequented often. I used to love going to Wendys.
In the same apartment there were a bunch of guys who flew with us on the flight.
I will not give any names here, but I got close to a guy named K. One incident I
remember once I fell ill with cold. I used to often get cold then and even now. K
was worried and gave me tablets and made a home-made decoction to drink and
food to eat. Later he got used to my colds. This K always gave me company to
eat out. K bought a sports car which was a big deal then. I will write another
section describing the fun we had back then. I was such a fan of this car that
after I got married my husband brought a prelude to surprise me. That was fun
but those were our initial marriage days when love exists between a couple when
life did not throw all struggles at you.
Beside our apartments there lived a girl who taught me how to make pasta as in
India were never ate pasta back then.
Life was going on like this. Beside my university building there was a lake with
benches around. On days when I felt a little low, I used to sit near the lake and
think
about life. I think it’s the age effect I hardly felt low then compared to now.
First trip to India:
I went to United states in August 2001 and first visit home was in December
2002. I our flight was 4-fold. I flew with a bunch of students and was super
excited to see family after a long time. In Dubai airport we ate biriyani and it was
super delicious. My family came to the airport to receive me. I was thrilled to eat
my mom’s food after a long time. My mom was an extremely good cook.
I was extremely happy seeing all. My school friends and college friends came to
visit me. It was so nice seeing all. I visited a temple which is about an hour drive
and the reason I mention this is because my dad decided to join us on this trip. It
was a good visit as I now realize it was a big deal for my dad to come back then.
One day my friend K visited me, and this was a big deal then as in India that time
it was strange that a girl met a boy. My family was worried that I will marry this
guy but the way my mom brought us up, we believed that if we marry a guy, we
like it is a great disrespect for the family, so we never thought of doing this even
in our dreams. One day I took my mom and visited K’s house. It was a good visit.
Our trip ended and we flew back to US.
Mill street apartments
It was soon time to move. We moved to an apartment called Mill Street
apartments. The walk to university was still 30 minutes but did not require us to
climb any hills and the apartments were located alongside a lake, so summers
were lovely. When there was time usually on weekends, we used to lay down a
picnic blanket and lay down to rest and relax. There was a park and a basketball
court on the side where we had loads of fun. My friend who lives in Belgium now
also used to live in the same apartments. Life in those apartments was great as I
had only two thoughts in mind how to survive and how to send money back home
unlike now when there is everything needed in life but tons of thoughts in head.
I was a freak of physical fitness then and now, so I decided to go the gym which
was 20-minute walk to these new apartments. I went and did running for 30
minutes, cycling for 30 minutes and loads of weight training following. I used to
love spending time in the gym. As it was cold in winters, and I was not well
covered in winters I used to get sick every time I walked back home and soon
realized why and began to cover myself well. What days were those I miss them
badly now.
One of my school mates named R whom I studied with from the age of 5 till 15
came to my university one year after me. It was good seeing him. I will narrate
one incident with him here. In those days when money was a scarcity, I bought a
second-hand bike for travel to the university. This friend R borrowed my bike one
day for travel to university and unfortunately fell and broke his arm. He was
admitted to a hospital which was 1 hour away from me. I went in K’s car to see
him. I spent a day with him and realized how difficult it is with no family around to
take care of you in a hospital. That passed and he came to his home, and it was
so difficult but we somehow survived and this passed.
apartments. The walk to university was still 30 minutes but did not require us to
climb any hills and the apartments were located alongside a lake, so summers
were lovely. When there was time usually on weekends, we used to lay down a
picnic blanket and lay down to rest and relax. There was a park and a basketball
court on the side where we had loads of fun. My friend who lives in Belgium now
also used to live in the same apartments. Life in those apartments was great as I
had only two thoughts in mind how to survive and how to send money back home
unlike now when there is everything needed in life but tons of thoughts in head.
I was a freak of physical fitness then and now, so I decided to go the gym which
was 20-minute walk to these new apartments. I went and did running for 30
minutes, cycling for 30 minutes and loads of weight training following. I used to
love spending time in the gym. As it was cold in winters, and I was not well
covered in winters I used to get sick every time I walked back home and soon
realized why and began to cover myself well. What days were those I miss them
badly now.
One of my school mates named R whom I studied with from the age of 5 till 15
came to my university one year after me. It was good seeing him. I will narrate
one incident with him here. In those days when money was a scarcity, I bought a
second-hand bike for travel to the university. This friend R borrowed my bike one
day for travel to university and unfortunately fell and broke his arm. He was
admitted to a hospital which was 1 hour away from me. I went in K’s car to see
him. I spent a day with him and realized how difficult it is with no family around to
take care of you in a hospital. That passed and he came to his home, and it was
so difficult but we somehow survived and this passed.
Visit to West Virginia
I had three friends in Engineering college who are very dear to me and like me
they also ended up coming to US for higher education. Though they were all in
different universities they ended up getting transferred to one university. This
university was a few hours away from me, so I went to visit them once in a local
bus Gréy Hound. It was so good seeing them after a long time. We had loads of
fun together. We decided to go on a long drive to visit Niagara Falls and
Washington. It was a real fun trip. I remember as we were all students we were
short of money all the time we were 6 in total but booked a room just for 2 and we
all sneaked into the room and squeezed in. It was a real fun trip. I remember my
friend brought me a jeans skirt especially those days when money was a scarcity.
I kept it and wore it until a few years ago. All these friends moved back to India
and each time I go back home they all come to meet me, and we have
tremendous fun together. Old friends are very special especially meeting now.
they also ended up coming to US for higher education. Though they were all in
different universities they ended up getting transferred to one university. This
university was a few hours away from me, so I went to visit them once in a local
bus Gréy Hound. It was so good seeing them after a long time. We had loads of
fun together. We decided to go on a long drive to visit Niagara Falls and
Washington. It was a real fun trip. I remember as we were all students we were
short of money all the time we were 6 in total but booked a room just for 2 and we
all sneaked into the room and squeezed in. It was a real fun trip. I remember my
friend brought me a jeans skirt especially those days when money was a scarcity.
I kept it and wore it until a few years ago. All these friends moved back to India
and each time I go back home they all come to meet me, and we have
tremendous fun together. Old friends are very special especially meeting now.
Meeting school friends
Once I met my school friends who also moved to US to pursue higher education.
It is very exciting to meet old friends especially at the age of when you were 5
meeting again in 20s is very exciting. We all drove and did a road trip to
Pittsburgh. It was such a fun trip as like old days we girls played a game called
Antakshri and like old days the boys kept complaining. Such fun times will never
come back. Antakshri is a game where one team usually sings a song, and the
other team sings a song beginning with last letter. These are usually movie songs
so everyone is familiar with most songs and all Indian movies have 5-6 songs in
each movie. One of our friends is an excellent cook and I am a food lover so
enjoyed my trip a lot. This is the same one who told about banana bread to her
son earlier. They also came to my university once and I remember making
vegetable biriyani once for them all.
It is very exciting to meet old friends especially at the age of when you were 5
meeting again in 20s is very exciting. We all drove and did a road trip to
Pittsburgh. It was such a fun trip as like old days we girls played a game called
Antakshri and like old days the boys kept complaining. Such fun times will never
come back. Antakshri is a game where one team usually sings a song, and the
other team sings a song beginning with last letter. These are usually movie songs
so everyone is familiar with most songs and all Indian movies have 5-6 songs in
each movie. One of our friends is an excellent cook and I am a food lover so
enjoyed my trip a lot. This is the same one who told about banana bread to her
son earlier. They also came to my university once and I remember making
vegetable biriyani once for them all.
Prelude
This a story that I love to talk about. What an amazing journey it was so far. Seen
only 20 years but didn’t realise then that lots of hardships to follow. Funny though
life was full of hardships then not a single day I thought like that and now free
from most hardships but every single day when I go to bed, I think what tough
day. I think it is the effect of age. Funny but true. I think back then nobody to
ridicule but now everyone around only ridicules all time. I think this is the
difference. Anyway, going back to my amazing stories I really enjoyed riding in
the prelude very much. I enjoyed it so much that my lovely husband bought it as
a surprise when I landed in UK to start my journey with him. Sliding back to past
from now, I have to say I enjoyed life a lot then going around in this car. Me and k
made friends with a guy who lived with his parents by a garage. We visited this
garage almost every week. A bunch of guys all car freaks came there with their
sports cars and we all just hung out and chatted there. We often mostly Friday
nights went to movies together as a gang to in sport’s cars. It was so much fun
going with everyone making crazy sounds with car engines. Me and K often went
to high street with the car making sounds and girls dancing to the sound. Having
a slice of pizza in hand and loud music in car and girls dancing on street. Ah
what days I miss all those good times.
I used to love speed then and even now. Once a friend in the garage who has a
bike and drives one offered me a ride and I jumped at the opportunity. I asked
him to drive as fast as he could, and I loved the drive. I had tears in my eyes, and
he drove so fast that my tears just stood on my cheeks. It was so amazing. I
absolutely loved it that later when I was working in Finland asked my colleague
for a ride and refreshed my memory. Unfortunately, I am not capable of a ride
now.
One of the guys who came to the garage worked as a beautician in a parlour.
Those days I had amazing thick wavy hair, so this guy was so amazed with my
hair that he offered to straighten my hair. Those days we did not even have a
straightener so straightening this thick hair seemed amazing and I loved it so
much that I did not wash my hair in the fear of losing the lovely done hair. I kept it
for as long as I could.
I gave my driving test to get a driving license in this car. I knew a little as I took
driving classes in India, but I needed refreshing as it has been a while. One
incident happened with this car that really made me sad. I remember this was the
only time I was a little sad back in those times. Quite opposite compared to know
when I am sad for almost no reason. A sad incident in news is enough to bring
me to tears lately :). One time K had to travel, and the car was in my possession.
I dropped him at the airport which was a 2-hour drive and returned to my
university. One day my friends and me decided to eat out. There was a mall
about 10 minutes away to where we lived and we decided to go there. The
parking lot was a slope, and we parked the car and went in to eat. We were all
happily laughing and ordered some food. When the food arrived, we were happily
talking and eating. There was an announcement in the mic audible to the whole
mall and as usual we ignored the announcement and were happily eating. One of
my friends sitting with me listened to the announcement and warned me the
announcement is about a black prelude so listen once to make sure it is not the
car; we brought that is being talked about. I listened and the registration number
matched to my disbelief, and I walked out to where the announcement was being
made to check what was wrong. To my disbelief the guy told me that the car slid
in the parking lot and is in a ditch now. I hurriedly walked to the car to see what
state it is in. To my shock, the car was in a ditch and I panickily looked for
damage to the car. This happened because I forgot to put the hand brake on
when leaving the car in the parking lot. And so, the car slid down the slope. I
thought luckily it did not hit any person walking in the parking lot. Heights of my
positive thinking. I was devastated seeing it one side had dents everywhere. But
the car was drivable, so we all walked to it and drove back home. I was very sad
seeing it and driving it. Drove it to the airport to pick K and he was shocked
seeing his favourite thing in this state. We later drove it to the garage where we
meet all friends. Everyone was surprised seeing the car. Luckily all chipped in to
repair it and get it back to normal. I felt so guilty that I paid everything to get it
repaired. It was quite high for a student but did not mind at all and was happy that
I had enough money to get it repaired. So, the prelude was back in the streets as
normal. I appreciate my attitude then; I was not sad about the unexpected
expense but was glad I could afford it. I wish I had that attitude now ��. What
days were those happily cruising in the car and untouched by any other
difficulties life throwed just happy with all the good things thrown at you.
only 20 years but didn’t realise then that lots of hardships to follow. Funny though
life was full of hardships then not a single day I thought like that and now free
from most hardships but every single day when I go to bed, I think what tough
day. I think it is the effect of age. Funny but true. I think back then nobody to
ridicule but now everyone around only ridicules all time. I think this is the
difference. Anyway, going back to my amazing stories I really enjoyed riding in
the prelude very much. I enjoyed it so much that my lovely husband bought it as
a surprise when I landed in UK to start my journey with him. Sliding back to past
from now, I have to say I enjoyed life a lot then going around in this car. Me and k
made friends with a guy who lived with his parents by a garage. We visited this
garage almost every week. A bunch of guys all car freaks came there with their
sports cars and we all just hung out and chatted there. We often mostly Friday
nights went to movies together as a gang to in sport’s cars. It was so much fun
going with everyone making crazy sounds with car engines. Me and K often went
to high street with the car making sounds and girls dancing to the sound. Having
a slice of pizza in hand and loud music in car and girls dancing on street. Ah
what days I miss all those good times.
I used to love speed then and even now. Once a friend in the garage who has a
bike and drives one offered me a ride and I jumped at the opportunity. I asked
him to drive as fast as he could, and I loved the drive. I had tears in my eyes, and
he drove so fast that my tears just stood on my cheeks. It was so amazing. I
absolutely loved it that later when I was working in Finland asked my colleague
for a ride and refreshed my memory. Unfortunately, I am not capable of a ride
now.
One of the guys who came to the garage worked as a beautician in a parlour.
Those days I had amazing thick wavy hair, so this guy was so amazed with my
hair that he offered to straighten my hair. Those days we did not even have a
straightener so straightening this thick hair seemed amazing and I loved it so
much that I did not wash my hair in the fear of losing the lovely done hair. I kept it
for as long as I could.
I gave my driving test to get a driving license in this car. I knew a little as I took
driving classes in India, but I needed refreshing as it has been a while. One
incident happened with this car that really made me sad. I remember this was the
only time I was a little sad back in those times. Quite opposite compared to know
when I am sad for almost no reason. A sad incident in news is enough to bring
me to tears lately :). One time K had to travel, and the car was in my possession.
I dropped him at the airport which was a 2-hour drive and returned to my
university. One day my friends and me decided to eat out. There was a mall
about 10 minutes away to where we lived and we decided to go there. The
parking lot was a slope, and we parked the car and went in to eat. We were all
happily laughing and ordered some food. When the food arrived, we were happily
talking and eating. There was an announcement in the mic audible to the whole
mall and as usual we ignored the announcement and were happily eating. One of
my friends sitting with me listened to the announcement and warned me the
announcement is about a black prelude so listen once to make sure it is not the
car; we brought that is being talked about. I listened and the registration number
matched to my disbelief, and I walked out to where the announcement was being
made to check what was wrong. To my disbelief the guy told me that the car slid
in the parking lot and is in a ditch now. I hurriedly walked to the car to see what
state it is in. To my shock, the car was in a ditch and I panickily looked for
damage to the car. This happened because I forgot to put the hand brake on
when leaving the car in the parking lot. And so, the car slid down the slope. I
thought luckily it did not hit any person walking in the parking lot. Heights of my
positive thinking. I was devastated seeing it one side had dents everywhere. But
the car was drivable, so we all walked to it and drove back home. I was very sad
seeing it and driving it. Drove it to the airport to pick K and he was shocked
seeing his favourite thing in this state. We later drove it to the garage where we
meet all friends. Everyone was surprised seeing the car. Luckily all chipped in to
repair it and get it back to normal. I felt so guilty that I paid everything to get it
repaired. It was quite high for a student but did not mind at all and was happy that
I had enough money to get it repaired. So, the prelude was back in the streets as
normal. I appreciate my attitude then; I was not sad about the unexpected
expense but was glad I could afford it. I wish I had that attitude now ��. What
days were those happily cruising in the car and untouched by any other
difficulties life throwed just happy with all the good things thrown at you.
Visit to my family
I had two cousins who lived in California then and used to fly there when I could
afford and when I had holidays around the corner. It was 8 hrs by plane so not
close to go very often. During my study in Ohio, I remember flying there only
twice. It was very exciting the first time I went as I was first time flying within US
and I was first time seeing family in US. My sister in USA was very similar to me
loved travelling to places and eating out. We had similar interests so loved it
there and visiting family was very exciting. I had a brother as well living close by
so was very exciting. For my kids these were Usha kannamma and Babu
Mavayya. Back then they used to live in California. Now both moved back to
India and me, and my sister go to exciting restaurants in India. I really enjoy that.
My sister took me to lots of places to name a few Mystery Spot, Golden Gate
Bridge, a berry farm.
The first time I went she had no kids, so we were so free and went out a lot. I
remember that time I celebrated new year’s at theirs. One story is my sister’s
husband’s friend’s sister was my lecturer in Engineering college. I remember we
celebrated new Years together and my sister made a Black Forest cake to
celebrate and now I prepare it every year for my son’s birthday as he loves it a
lot. I remember this same lecturer’s cousin also joined my college to teach us
and once during my visit this friend who was my sisters husband’s friend brought
a house and did and a housewarming gathering when I went was surprised to
see this lecturer there. He came from India to see his family and I came from my
university to visit my family, and we meet there. Feels such a small world.
With my brother’s family I went to a trip to Lake Tahoe. We went skiing one day.
First time to try skiing and I was super brave then, so I tried it and enjoyed a lot.
The scenery was amazing. I remember gambling in Renu with them
My second visit was when my cousin had a baby girl. This was the first time in
my life that there was a small baby in the house, and I enjoyed it very much. I
was very childish then, so I loved being able to be a baby and play like one with
her. I remember eating grapes to make her laugh. I used to keep the whole grape
in mouth at once and chew funnily to make her laugh. I remember dropping her
with a child minder. I remember my sister taking me to mystery spot, can’t
remember what it is called but to the Pacific Ocean Bay, to golden gate bridge, a
farm for berry picking, to several restaurants to eat among other things. We did
not sit at home doing nothing even a single day.
afford and when I had holidays around the corner. It was 8 hrs by plane so not
close to go very often. During my study in Ohio, I remember flying there only
twice. It was very exciting the first time I went as I was first time flying within US
and I was first time seeing family in US. My sister in USA was very similar to me
loved travelling to places and eating out. We had similar interests so loved it
there and visiting family was very exciting. I had a brother as well living close by
so was very exciting. For my kids these were Usha kannamma and Babu
Mavayya. Back then they used to live in California. Now both moved back to
India and me, and my sister go to exciting restaurants in India. I really enjoy that.
My sister took me to lots of places to name a few Mystery Spot, Golden Gate
Bridge, a berry farm.
The first time I went she had no kids, so we were so free and went out a lot. I
remember that time I celebrated new year’s at theirs. One story is my sister’s
husband’s friend’s sister was my lecturer in Engineering college. I remember we
celebrated new Years together and my sister made a Black Forest cake to
celebrate and now I prepare it every year for my son’s birthday as he loves it a
lot. I remember this same lecturer’s cousin also joined my college to teach us
and once during my visit this friend who was my sisters husband’s friend brought
a house and did and a housewarming gathering when I went was surprised to
see this lecturer there. He came from India to see his family and I came from my
university to visit my family, and we meet there. Feels such a small world.
With my brother’s family I went to a trip to Lake Tahoe. We went skiing one day.
First time to try skiing and I was super brave then, so I tried it and enjoyed a lot.
The scenery was amazing. I remember gambling in Renu with them
My second visit was when my cousin had a baby girl. This was the first time in
my life that there was a small baby in the house, and I enjoyed it very much. I
was very childish then, so I loved being able to be a baby and play like one with
her. I remember eating grapes to make her laugh. I used to keep the whole grape
in mouth at once and chew funnily to make her laugh. I remember dropping her
with a child minder. I remember my sister taking me to mystery spot, can’t
remember what it is called but to the Pacific Ocean Bay, to golden gate bridge, a
farm for berry picking, to several restaurants to eat among other things. We did
not sit at home doing nothing even a single day.
Dad Passing away:
It was time to finish my masters. So, I finished my research and started to write
my thesis. It was 100-page long and I am surprised how I managed to write so
much. I remember I spent hours in the library each day researching on material
to write. Was so much fun. I gave my first presentation to an audience, and I did
it so well all audience appreciated it. Being a Leo I was naturally very confidant
and full of bravery I happily took questions and answered all satisfactorily. This
way my masters ended satisfactorily, and I went back home to celebrate with my
roommates and friends. On reaching home, one of my school Friend R was
waiting for my return. I was surprised but happy to see him. I assumed he came
to party and happily welcomed him. After hearing all about my presentation and
thesis he revealed that he bought me tickets to fly to India and I had to start my
travel the next day as my dad was hospitalized. I did not panic even then and just
prepared to leave. Then did not even think why he brought me tickets with his
money to send me so urgently. I packed my suitcases and got ready to leave.
My friend K dropped me in the airport, and I set off to India. Back then calling
home was not as easy as now when you could just WhatsApp anyone, so I did
not even call home to find out what happened but just went. As I had free time in
travel, I started to think a bit and wondered in what state I would see him, but I
admire my attitude as this made me sad, I decided to not think about it. I was
very clear in my head I cannot change anything so better not imagine things and
just go and deal with things after I go. So, I finished my journey and reached
India. My cousin brother in California was in India that time and he came along
with his mother to pick me from airport and in the car on my way back home they
broke the news that dad was not in hospital butt had passed away a few days
ago and as I was about to defend my thesis they did not want my years spent in
US go waste so decided not to inform me when this happened. I was in tears but
was strong to give strength to my sister and mom. I reached home and I broke
down with my mom and sister as I could not hold any longer. It was a big change
for me as we moved to a new house closer to my sisters work and I had a family
member disappear. But I survived and life had to move on and so it did. Back in
US I did an interview for an internship in Honeywell labs in Minneapolis and I was
selected. So, on my return to US, I had to move cities and start new work. So, I
returned leaving my mom and sister behind.
my thesis. It was 100-page long and I am surprised how I managed to write so
much. I remember I spent hours in the library each day researching on material
to write. Was so much fun. I gave my first presentation to an audience, and I did
it so well all audience appreciated it. Being a Leo I was naturally very confidant
and full of bravery I happily took questions and answered all satisfactorily. This
way my masters ended satisfactorily, and I went back home to celebrate with my
roommates and friends. On reaching home, one of my school Friend R was
waiting for my return. I was surprised but happy to see him. I assumed he came
to party and happily welcomed him. After hearing all about my presentation and
thesis he revealed that he bought me tickets to fly to India and I had to start my
travel the next day as my dad was hospitalized. I did not panic even then and just
prepared to leave. Then did not even think why he brought me tickets with his
money to send me so urgently. I packed my suitcases and got ready to leave.
My friend K dropped me in the airport, and I set off to India. Back then calling
home was not as easy as now when you could just WhatsApp anyone, so I did
not even call home to find out what happened but just went. As I had free time in
travel, I started to think a bit and wondered in what state I would see him, but I
admire my attitude as this made me sad, I decided to not think about it. I was
very clear in my head I cannot change anything so better not imagine things and
just go and deal with things after I go. So, I finished my journey and reached
India. My cousin brother in California was in India that time and he came along
with his mother to pick me from airport and in the car on my way back home they
broke the news that dad was not in hospital butt had passed away a few days
ago and as I was about to defend my thesis they did not want my years spent in
US go waste so decided not to inform me when this happened. I was in tears but
was strong to give strength to my sister and mom. I reached home and I broke
down with my mom and sister as I could not hold any longer. It was a big change
for me as we moved to a new house closer to my sisters work and I had a family
member disappear. But I survived and life had to move on and so it did. Back in
US I did an interview for an internship in Honeywell labs in Minneapolis and I was
selected. So, on my return to US, I had to move cities and start new work. So, I
returned leaving my mom and sister behind.
Shifting to Minneapolis
Start of another awesome journey in life. I absolutely loved every day I spent
here. My company provided me and a friend who used to share the same office
as me back at university, who also succeeded in getting an internship like me in
the same apartments. The location of these flats was in the downtown and was
fantastic. I was located on floor 12 and my friend in 13. It was a one-bedroom flat
and was wonderful. The living area faced the high street and was amazing sitting
in the living area and staring out those tall windows.
My friend in West Virginia came along with me driving to Minneapolis. It was a14
hour drive that we managed between me and him. We started in the evening,
and I booked a flight for my friend to fly back aa day after. We went safe and my
friend loved the apartment I was living in. It was time to drop off my friend in the
airport. I dropped him fine and returning to my apartment was a nightmare. The
drive from the airport to my apartment is 30 minutes but that day I took almost
two hours to get home. This is because a lot of roads were one way and back in
the day there was no navigation on phone so took printouts of the route and read
through it before to get an idea of the route and followed it while driving. There
were lots of one-ways as my flat was right in the downtown and back in Ohio this
was not the case. I am amazed at my attitude, I did not worry at all but simply
kept on driving until I reached home. Though I took a printout of the route I kept
missing following the map as I was not used to driving on one-ways. And one
road I miss I had to do so many rounds to get to the road on the printed-out map.
And I had to read out directions again and again as I kept missing the roads
printed on the map. Finally, after doing many rounds around my flat, I got to the
parking lot, and I sighed in relief and parked the car and finally got to my
apartment. I got to know all routes around and where to not go for next time. I got
used to it in a few days and I quickly learnt how to get to the apartment without
getting lost.
I had my friends and family visit me in this apartment. My family i.e my brother
and his wife and my sister and her daughter visited me in this apartment. I
remember buying blueberries for the little one. We went to a local park, and I
played with the little one becoming aa kid myself. I cooked lots of varieties for
eating and felt proud that my cousins compared me to my mom.
Back in college I had two sets of close friends, one consisted of 4 two girls and
two boys, other of 5 girls and majority of them are in India now and I meet all in
India each time I go home. From my set of 4, one boy and girl got married and
other boy has a wife and 2 kids, and I have a husband and 2 kids too and this
other boy who was single then helped me drive to Minneapolis from Ohio.
Every night I could not sleep from3 am just woke every night and remembered
my dad. To escape this later I started drinking when I slept alright. I know people
think this is an excuse, but this is the truth.
here. My company provided me and a friend who used to share the same office
as me back at university, who also succeeded in getting an internship like me in
the same apartments. The location of these flats was in the downtown and was
fantastic. I was located on floor 12 and my friend in 13. It was a one-bedroom flat
and was wonderful. The living area faced the high street and was amazing sitting
in the living area and staring out those tall windows.
My friend in West Virginia came along with me driving to Minneapolis. It was a14
hour drive that we managed between me and him. We started in the evening,
and I booked a flight for my friend to fly back aa day after. We went safe and my
friend loved the apartment I was living in. It was time to drop off my friend in the
airport. I dropped him fine and returning to my apartment was a nightmare. The
drive from the airport to my apartment is 30 minutes but that day I took almost
two hours to get home. This is because a lot of roads were one way and back in
the day there was no navigation on phone so took printouts of the route and read
through it before to get an idea of the route and followed it while driving. There
were lots of one-ways as my flat was right in the downtown and back in Ohio this
was not the case. I am amazed at my attitude, I did not worry at all but simply
kept on driving until I reached home. Though I took a printout of the route I kept
missing following the map as I was not used to driving on one-ways. And one
road I miss I had to do so many rounds to get to the road on the printed-out map.
And I had to read out directions again and again as I kept missing the roads
printed on the map. Finally, after doing many rounds around my flat, I got to the
parking lot, and I sighed in relief and parked the car and finally got to my
apartment. I got to know all routes around and where to not go for next time. I got
used to it in a few days and I quickly learnt how to get to the apartment without
getting lost.
I had my friends and family visit me in this apartment. My family i.e my brother
and his wife and my sister and her daughter visited me in this apartment. I
remember buying blueberries for the little one. We went to a local park, and I
played with the little one becoming aa kid myself. I cooked lots of varieties for
eating and felt proud that my cousins compared me to my mom.
Back in college I had two sets of close friends, one consisted of 4 two girls and
two boys, other of 5 girls and majority of them are in India now and I meet all in
India each time I go home. From my set of 4, one boy and girl got married and
other boy has a wife and 2 kids, and I have a husband and 2 kids too and this
other boy who was single then helped me drive to Minneapolis from Ohio.
Every night I could not sleep from3 am just woke every night and remembered
my dad. To escape this later I started drinking when I slept alright. I know people
think this is an excuse, but this is the truth.
Photos in the snow.
Friends and gatherings: beermaking partiess
College friends visiting
Family visiting
Visit to Wisconsin
Visit to seattle
Life in Minneapolis
Spending time with kranthi
Chatting at work time
Visit to great mall playing mini golf
Pizza eating and drinking
Wells fargo trip
Accident of kshitej auntymaking tepla
Life in Finland
Long island ice tea visiting ses,shopping,poorvvvo trip
Suemenlinaa,Going ttto swedeen
Finger cut,playinggg dominoes, Heidi going to pietersaari
My weddind party
T and H visiting inia
Trip to vharminar with aaku, bombing
T and h diarrea
Pikku joulu
Life in UK:
Kids birth
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