कही - अनकही

Thoughts need not be shared but they surely need to be recorded.  

[ankahi]

A beer and a friend

Today, Kris and I caught up over beer outside P&M. As our two years at Yale have come to an end, we reminisced over the time taken out of the work force and the lessons learnt during our time here. Surprisingly, the two years, were very different for both of us. While Kris enjoyed the second year more, I preferred the first one. 

[ankahi]

How are you doing?

I am doing fine. Not Great! Just Fine. 

(At this point, I am not particularly thrilled when somebody asks me ‘How are you doing?’ or when somebody inquires if I am excited about the upcoming graduation. People ask these questions with the best of intentions, but I don’t feel that my answers contain genuine enthusiasm. I answer them with a sign of optimism. And I am optimistic. However, not as much as I would like to be.)  

[ankahi]

Starboard

Rowing terminology is complicated for me. Port is left in the direction of the movement of the boat and Starboard is right in the direction of the movement of the boat. 

However, when you are rowing, the rowers face the opposite direction of the boat’s movement. So, starboard’s have their oars on the left side and ports have their oars on the right. I am a starboard. And even understanding something as simple as this took me a long time!

I used to be on the Bow seat but our boat has been changed and is now equipped in a way that stern is starboard and therefore seat 2 is starboard. So, in the recent practices, I have been moved to seat 2 from my bow position! 

I hope, I at least understand the terminology well by the time I graduate from Yale :) 

[ankahi]

Redesigning Bathroom Signage

I am taking a design course at Yale where my team was assigned a task on redesigning bathroom signage in the light of the recent conversations on gender fluidity, social transparency and changing attitudes towards gender.

We started off with understanding the historical signs at Restrooms all over the world and landed on signs ranging from simple conventional designs to some hilarious versions.

The progressive world has also been more open and accepting to all genders and particularly the trans-gender community that may associate themselves with a gender that they weren’t born with. And hence, there are bathrooms that are open to them as shown in the below signs.

However, what stood out for us was that in this age we are still focusing on who is using the space versus what is the space being used for. So, when we had to redesign the signs, we focused on removing the emphasis on gender contested space and wanted to represent the facilities present at a public facility. Also we chose to represent the use by stick figures to keep it simple. 

Despite all our discussions in the smaller team and in class about comfort, safety and sexual harassment, everyone in the class seemed to be interested in taking a progressive stance rather a humanitarian stance and making public spaces open and welcoming to everyone irrespective of their gender identity. I wonder when would we have similar conversations in my country. Or maybe we are already having those conversations and I am missing out on participating in them. 

Below is the signage that we created.

[ankahi]

So my Boston ride..

You will laugh at my fate For the bus got late Got stuck at the station In a weird location Then the traffic was slow All around was a ton of snow As I was staring out of the window At the distant white meadow I wondered, how quick has it gotten dark The gloomy colors, they kill my spark! This weekend, I am missing a BITS reunion Everything here is fine and fun Yet, I am not done! The unknowns are getting onto my nerves Why does this road has unforeseen curves? While I appreciate ambiguity I am getting restless with the uncertainty! Oh, And the moon is up, It's bright and white as a large vanilla cup! Know what? That's what I want Some sugar and warmth! What plans for the day? You got to tell me about the play. Also, if it's okay Send some luck my way! Coming week will test my might I may succumb or shine bright! Of course you can see my fascination With AABB rhyming notation Before you question my sanity And time availability I am in the bus, and look This isn't when I can read my book!

[ankahi]

de Stress

A: So, were you really interested when you applied to the position?

B: Yes. I cared a lot about it.

A: Then what happened?

B: Stress!

[ankahi]

Dinner of the top 7

One thing that has been constant through my time at Yale is a quarterly dinner gathering with a diverse mix of gentlemen. Everyone in the group has been taking turns to introduce others to their country’s food. Today when I hosted everyone at Zaroka the Indian restaurant, attendees included a Russian, a Colombian, a Brazilian, an American, an Ethiopian and a Turkish guy.

It is that time of our lives when we are all moving ahead in our careers and the conversations inadvertently turn towards women and marriages. I felt blessed to be with this group of friends and at the same time felt a little old.

[ankahi]

Rain makes things interesting!

[ankahi]

बचपना

गर्मियों के वो दिन याद आ रहे हैं जब मैं और दादा जी छत पर सोया करते थे। उन दिनों तारे दिखाई दिया करते थे, और कभी कभी तारो के बीच से गुज़रता हवाई जहाज़ देख मैं सोचा करता था कि जो जहाज़ में बैठ कर सफ़र कर रहे हैं उन्हें कितना मज़ा आता होगा। कल सैन फ्रांसिस्को से न्यू यॉर्क के सफर में 6 घंटे प्लेन में बिताने हैं ये सोच कर ही मन खराब हो रहा है।

[ankahi]

Frozen lake at Acadia national park

[ankahi]

A: एक नई फोटो अपलोड हुई है फेसबुक पर. क्या करना है?

B:  करना क्या है? क्यूट कपल लिख दो नीचे.

[ankahi]

How would this year be any different from the last one if you continue being the same person as you were last year? But I don't want to be a different person. I want to be a better me!

[ankahi]

Transition

“You are a little emotional because everything around you is changing”.

It was only when I was in my flight from London to New York that I could understand what my friend meant when she said the above statement. Transitions are hard, they make us emotional, but then they are necessary.

Our environment is a part of us just like we are a part of it. So, when the surroundings change, a little bit of us is lost.

[ankahi]

Tracking devices

It's amazing how everything is labeled and trackable in US. I found an iPod lying on the road a couple of days back. Today I opened up the casing and found a label with the Yale facilities number on it. I called the facilities and within an hour the owner of the iPod came and picked it up from me. Systems.

[ankahi]

बनारसी भूंजा गरम-गरम

For 10 rupees this could be the most healthy snack option. Prepared in front of the buyer's eyes after careful measurement of the ingredients on a weighing balance. Watching the seller from the comfort of an air conditioned car, eating his preparation, the buyer wonders about the seller's life. Does he get some time to spend with family? Does he have a family? What hardships do they go through? Are they happy? Watching the buyer eating his preparation the seller wonders about the buyer's life. The car must be comfortable. He must have time and money to spend on his family. He must have a happy family. But then who is happy.

[ankahi]

Paalki Wale

A few rich old men and women are carried on a chair with a wooden and iron contraption up a 12.5 km steep slope to the Vaishno Devi Temple. The 4 men who carry the paalki up the hill, on their shoulders, each get INR 1500 at the end of the tiring day, only to be prepared to do the same the next day. There are men who carry other men for living. I wonder what the life of a palki wala would be on an off day.

[ankahi]

Thank you mail

Today I received a mail from someone I had introduced to someone else in my network. She found employment through this connection at a place she loved. The mail absolutely made a good day even better :)