Welcome to Germany

Initially, my impression of a software developer's life was that people work for 2 years, then they go to US to early many Dollars and then they return after 10 years and settle back home.
After working for approximately 2 years with the Tata's, I joined to SAP and came to Germany on November 07, 2000. I had absolutely no clue why I was going to Europe but I had heard about the German Technology and there was a good presence of the same in Tata Steel.
Initially, I came for 3 months. My impression was just that this is a mid-way to US and let me enjoy in Europe while my visa was in processing. This was supposed to be my leisure tour apart from work.It was my first trip outside India.
I got the business class tickets. I didn't even notice this till the time my friend who came at the Bangalore airport told me after looking at my boarding pass. :D
It was a very good surprise.
When I entered into the flight, I do not remember how I felt there but it was pretty normal. The luxury of the business class was excellent. While I was busy enjoying the luxury and exploring the available options in the flight, I already reached Deutschland.
The day I landed, it was a rainy day. The roads near my hotel, after the rains, looked similar to the ones we have in Jamshedpur. The breakfast in the hotel was great.
When I reached SAP, I was very happy to see the buildings. My first colleagues at SAP - Petra Daiber and Stefan Adelmann. I will never forget them. They have been one of the kindest people I have ever met. They were extremely helpful, patient and co-ordial in all respects. The first day was not much of work and it was mainly an infrastructure day. By start of evening, I wanted to ear something spicy.... and I left to the hotel.
It was damm cold that day and I went directly to the hotel not realizing that there is hardly and cooking items that I got along.
So, I went for grocery shopping .....

My childhood

When I see my baby who is just 10 months old, I often think of my childhood.
What I used to do when I was so small.
It is certainly impossible to remember everything but some of the things I do recollect.
I did get immence love and affection and every wish was fulfilled.
I was, however, not one of the most intelligent people when it came to studies.
If someone offered me to come along to play, I was always happily ready but when it was academic books... not again. I used to return from play only when I knew it was time for papa to come home. I used to often doze when he returned from work but the horn of the two wheeler used to wake me up- thinking of the next if caught :D
Normally, our class teacher used to give certificates along with the yearly progress report for achieving disctinctions in the class for getting highest scores etc...I remember when my progress report moved from the mid-ranking to one of the beginners. I thought probably that was a mistake or they changed the pattern and started from the last name first. But to my surprize I had received distinction in the subject.
I do love to smile since very long at all occassions. Smiling is good in all respects as well. Okay, if somebody reads this, probably there is a comment "depends".
One of my teacher thought that I was making fun of her and had to bear the scolding. In fact, there were a couple of complaints as well for the same :( ....humm....
I was studying in an english-medium private school. In Jamsdhedpur, during my time there were not many private english-medium school. The students were rated based on the marks achieved in the subjects of pre-board exams. This was one of the admission criteria for admission in the 10+2.
I did not want to move out of the school as I used to like it a lot. Apart from studies, they had great extra curricular activities.
Okay,..to continue... on the day when the announcement of list of students who were admitted, I was out of the house. Somehow, my brother saw me and brought me home. In the late afternoon, I was supposed to go to the school. I was not daring to go as I did not want to give a bad news to my papa. Somehow, I thought... I cannot change what has happened, so let's go.
In my flashy bicycle, I rode to the school. Some of my classmates were surprized to see me there and said that I am wasting my time standing there.
The sheets were pinned on the board and I let everyone see that. There was joy and some of them (including the fellows who made fun of me) unhappy. and I started from the bottom. To my surprize, I found my name. My frowning face was glittering as we see in the toothpaste advertisements.
I must say that I was not the last one to get the admission and also not the one in the last row. I was overjoyed or probably I was better than some more people ;)

Introduction

"Introduction". This sounds as if I am preparing an IT concept document or the beginning of the book.
This is not at all the objective of this section.
An introduction is basically a thought for me for writing this blog.
Often I used to narrate about small events or journeys and think that these words only sound good to hear but may be very boring to read.
Finally, I decided on 2nd Jan 2011 that I will write.
Also, as I am sure that I have one inspiration and a dedicated reader in my life- my wife Varsha :)

Many people say that life is a journey. I believe that the journey in life carves the personality of the people. People may strive for money, popularity or whatever they quantify for their success in their journey.
I believe that my journey is to achieve success in my life as quoted by Emerson
"To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived;
This is to have succeeded.".