Cuddling with Culture and Curry

You know you are dating a foreigner when:

1. You approve of having dinner no later than 7 in the evening.

2. You make Keema Mutter and have pasta (?!) with it.

3. Going to an Indian restaurant becomes an exotic experience.

4. You discuss about going to Goa when on your next trip home to India.

5. You round off the dinner with your pick of the tea - without milk or sugar - from an array of concoctions such as green tea, red tea, grey tea, fruit tea, purple tea, yellow tea, etc.

What's nomad life without a li'l spice? ;)

Go on, add to the above list as you please!

Praha... AHA!

Prague (Praha to the local tongue) is one of those places which captured my fascination ever since I saw pictures of it in a brochure given to me by a Czech National Committee member at IC 2001 in Switzerland.
I kept those pictures fresh in my mind for a good 4 years, until I saw Czech Airlines selling tickets to Prague for a penny! :)
(aite, they weren't sold for a penny - but a really cheap deal!)

So, on an impulse I buy the ticket. And then the next big question - VISA!
How on earth would an Indian living in Sweden get a visa to a country which had imbibed communist values and a bureaucratic system as heavy as lead tied to your balls?!
If you are the holder of a beautiful blue Indian passport, then you know what I mean!
(Yes, red ones are excluded - they are diplomatic passports. Holders get a red carpet welcome.)

Nonetheless, Aloke Sarnobat rises to the occasion and contacts the embassy - only to receive a laundry list of papers and documentation as thick as the Oxford English Dictionary.

Painstakingly, I put together all the papers - as I have done for 13 other visas. There is a famous joke which does the rounds at Opera Software quite often... that Aloke needs a visa even if he has to go from Stockholm to Gothenberg!
(yeah yeah! Laugh you lucky b*******!!)

And then the ordeal starts! The lady at the embassy is anything but the epitome of cooperation. She refuses to take anything less than 7 working days to process my visa. Slight hitch - having my passport stuck in a God forsaken embassy for 7 working days is unthinkable because I travel abroad almost every week.
Anyway, I somehow manage to salvage the situation and get things sorted as I always do. If ever you go to the Czech Embassy in Stockholm, make sure you give the lady a kiss on my behalf :)

Date of departure to Prague: 17 February 2005.
16th of February in the evening: Aloke, do you have your ticket? - Ofcourse I do!
Where is it?
mmmmmm... eeerrr..... hmmmm... SHIT!!!

I had done the unthinkable! I had forgotten my ticket at home in Linkoping, while I was already in Stockholm, ready to fly the next morning!
A cool head and a wonderful colleague did the trick. I asked a colleague of mine to give the ticket to absolutely anyone who was to take a train from Linkoping to Stockholm. So that's what he does and the next morning, I have my ticket with me, and I'm set to fly!

Oh, I almost forgot. My flight which was in the morning was cancelled and that is how I got a time buffer to pull off this Linkoping Stockholm ticket trick.
Phew! Quite a plateful to get to Praha, huh?
Well... what if I told you that I was caught by the ticket collector for travelling ticketless on the subway, while I was on my way to pick up my ticket from the stranger?
Yeah! Now that was a real plateful to get to Praha!

So thats how my 3 nights and 4 days sojourn to Praha begins!

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The minute you step into Praha city, you know there is something different about it.
I wont waste your time and my energy telling you where I went in Praha and what you should see - you'd much rather visit a tourist website. What I'd rather do, is leave you with a few pictures and some thoughts.

Praha - a city home to a wealth of incredible buildings, structures and monuments that span several eras. A wealth of architectural forms, ranging from Romanesque and Gothic through Renaissance and Baroque to Art Nouveau, Cubism and Deconstructionist, co-exist in an unusual harmony.

The Czech capital was blessed in the sense that the majority of its man-made structures survived the Second World War. Even the Socialist regime, with its penchant for cold strictly functional architecture, could not put a damper on Prague's historical glow. In fact, in a jolie-laide way, there are socialist structures that serve to enhance the city's attractiveness in the same manner as a mole is sometimes a beauty spot.

And, now for the real reason why I went to Prague... no, I am not referring to the chics in the photo! By the way, that's Ira on the left and Eva on the right.
KB aka The Duke aka Bob aka Bobby aka King 'F***ing' Pin aka Khalil Bachooali.
It was good meeting you brother!

Forum Members and Lightbulbs

Found this one on annoyances.org. Although it's funny, it's also a sad comment on the general state of affairs on forums, mailing lists, blogs and other places of social interaction. There are too many silly people who just want to be heard, regardless of the lack of quality of their remarks.

Sometimes I'm tempted to revert to really strict comment moderation.

Q: How many forum members does it takes to change a light bulb?

• 1 to change the light bulb and to post that the light bulb has been changed
• 14 to share similar experiences of changing light bulbs and how the light bulb could have been changed differently
  
• 7 to caution about the dangers of changing light bulbs
• 1 to move it to the Lighting section
• 2 to argue then move it to the Electricals section
• 7 to point out spelling/grammar errors in posts about changing light bulbs
• 5 to flame the spell checkers
• 3 to correct spelling/grammar flames
• 6 to argue over whether it's "lightbulb" or "light bulb" ... another 6 to condemn those 6 as stupid
  
• 2 industry professionals to inform the group that the proper term is "lamp"
• 15 know-it-alls who claim they were in the industry, and that "light bulb" is perfectly correct
• 19 to post that this forum is not about light bulbs and to please take this discussion to a lightbulb forum
• 11 to defend the posting to this forum saying that we all use light bulbs and therefore the posts are relevant to this forum
• 36 to debate which method of changing light bulbs is superior, where to buy the best light bulbs, what brand of light bulbs work best for this technique and what brands are faulty
• 7 to post URL's where one can see examples of different light bulbs
• 4 to post that the URL's were posted incorrectly and then post the corrected URL's
• 3 to post about links they found from the URL's that are relevant to this group which makes light bulbs relevant to this group
• 13 to link all posts to date, quote them in their entirety including all headers and signatures, and add "Me too"
• 5 to post to the group that they will no longer post because they cannot handle the light bulb controversy
  
• 4 to say "didn't we go through this already a short time ago?"
• 13 to say "do a Google search on light bulbs before posting questions about light bulbs"
• 1 forum lurker to respond to the original post 6 months from now and start it all over again.

Happy Valentine's Day

Red hearts floating, kisses flying, chocolates and roses, teddy bears, gifts galore, timeless sweet nothings... love is in the air!

eeerrr.... ahem... hmmm... geez(!)... Is it?

Hello???!! Some reality... some perspective please??!
Alright, alright!... I am sitting in my favorite corner of my bedroom, wearing my shabby denims, just had kebab around the corner (so much for a romantic dinner) - nothing special; I have it twice a week, and I luuuuve it :)
Its evening, its snowing, I'm alone, it's wonderful, I am in my own thoughts, I'm listening to good music, and I am a hopeless romantic...
V Day? Alone? Romantic(?), you may ask.

Delving deeper into 'romanticism', romanticism was an artistic and intellectual movement originating in Europe in the late 18th century and was characterized by a heightened interest in nature, emphasis on the individual's expression of emotion and imagination, departure from the attitudes and forms of classicism, and rebellion against established social rules and conventions.
So far, and so different from the connotations and comprehensions of the term commonly understood today.
........................................................................

I love the snow, I love the stark naked tree branches weighed down by the snow, I love the white glow in the sky, I love the woody smell in my room, I love the peace in my life, I love the challenges in it, I love this life, I love this love.

I am in love.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Stroopkoekje, Reindeer meat and a Gypsy life

Its been a week away from home which is in Linkoping, and the travelling is taking it's toll on me. As much as I might pride in being a true nomad, I think I am a real home bird. My home is the centre of my universe. I am happiest when I am at home.
And I miss my tiny little corner in Linkoping.

I left last Friday for Stockholm -> Saturday in Rotterdam - The Netherlands, for the European Commission's ECOLEAD project meeting -> Sunday back in Stockholm -> Monday in Oslo - Norway, and I've been here since. Nomadlife has it's charm and it's ugly horns too.

Rotterdam is probably one of the ugliest cities in Europe that I have ever been to. Though it wasn't the first time I was there, for some reason, I found it particularly ugly this time around.
I wonder if it was because of the insulating and soothing effect Sweden, and particularly Linkoping has had on this Bombay Boy.

I can't seem to appreciate the skyscrapers, the traffic, the urban landscape and the crowds anymore. The recent spurt in crime and vandalism in Rotterdam may have fuelled my disposition here. For the record, Rotterdam is the city with the highest crime rate in Europe.
One can't help but feel insecure and particularly vulnerable when walking down the street late in the evenings.
At the rate at which quality of life is deteriorating in Rotterdam, AIESEC International will probably have to double their efforts in the years to come, in publicising and glamourising their pedestal for future generations to fill their shoes.

Rotterdam, may the Lord save your soul!
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Oslo is a city with its own charm, and the Norwegian language has it's own swing!
Not the cleanest of the Scandinavian capitals; but I tend to believe that maybe, Stockholm has kinda spoilt - rather skewed by sense of averages.
Opera Software , where I work, is headquartered in Oslo and we have a little more than an averagely sterile office with a little more than averagely insane crowd! :)
Oslo is probably one of the smallest capitals you will ever see. The city centre is tiny (read: tiny!). Unlike most of the capitals of the world, where the rich and flourishing live in the city centre; Oslo's extravagant and elite prefer to chill in the hills that skirt Oslo city. The fjords (pronounced: fyords) and the harbour is picturisque and lend character to the city.

That reminds me; if you have read 'The Hitchhikers's Guide to the Galaxy' by Douglas Adams, you must remember this geriatric character called Slartibartfart! (hehehe, can you imagine your mommy calling you 'Slartibartfart'?!) In the book, Slartibartfart is known to have designed planet earth, and he is rewarded for his work on the Norwegian fjords! :) Yes, they are that beautiful!
Random comment, I know!

What surprised me about this city was the number of immigrants. Norway is known for it's evangelical efforts in sheltering refugees from around the world, and for mediating negitiations in international gridlocks. Eg. the LTTE - Sri Lankan government peace process.
One will find many Somalians and Pakistanis in Norway. On my first trip to Oslo in March 2004, I happened to jump into a taxi, and found myself chatting up with the cabbie who happened to be from Somalia. To my shock and surprise, he was a post graduate in international economics! Makes me wonder if the Norwegian government is doing enough to integrate refugees in the socio-economic systems of the country.

I am also told that the large number of Pakistanis owes it's answer to the fact that, when Norway first found oil, they needed a large number of workers for the oil-rigs. And that was when they actually imported whole villages from Pakistan to fill the labour shortage and pump petro-kroners into the economy by pumping out oil!

I have this knack of striking up random conversations with cabbies; and as luck would have it, every single cab that I have taken in the past 3 days has had a 'Paki' behind the wheel. I met a cabbie today in the morning who was a lawyer from Lahore University - came to Norway to find work 4 years back; today, drives a taxi.
Chatted up with other cabbie last night who was from Islamabad - was a hardware engineer until he lost hope and persuit of an IT job; today, drives a cab to make ends meet.

I can't help but think - is it the language barrier, or is it the Norwegian mindset? I tend to be more convinced by the latter.

Another thought which crossed my mind, was how quicky these cabbies and I warmed up to each other. Let me put this in perspective. I was happy to realize how quickly an Indian and a Pakistani warmed up to one another in a foreign land.
We speak the same language, we share the same palette, we look the same, we wear the same clothes, we share the same culture, we are one...

What happens to us when we are in our own countries?

48 hours with a neo-socialist healthcare system

It's been 3 days since I've been ill with fever and a sore throat - tonsils, the same old culprit which has been robbing me of a healthy life since childhood.

On day 2, I decided to venture into the Vardcentralen. The Vårdcentralen is a public health clinic and one will find one of these in every locality in Sweden. I enter post lunch, and I am given a checkup by a nurse who informs me that my situation isnt so good - hardly the discovery of the century. I pat myself on the back for turning to professional medicare. Just when I begin to feel that I am in safe hands, I am told that there are no doctors in the clinic. It brings shock to my dead eyes. I am angry with myself that I am sick and that I've had to skip work; I am pissed at the thought of walking in the cold to reach the Vårdcentralen; and now I am furious that they don't have a single doctor on call at the health clinic!

I am told that if my condition gets worse by night, I should call xxx number and they will arrange for some medical attention. My mind races to how convenient it was to simply drop in at Dr. Koradia's clinic, and walk out knowing that I'd be fine in a few days.
Here I am, feeling so sick and looking so terrible that I could make a sadist cry with compassion. And now no doctor!
In true Swedish politeness, I am informed that I need to take an appointment in advance, and that doctors are only available for a few hours in the morning. Just so that one has a fair background, there are no private doctors in Sweden. One has to, without much of a choice, go to a Vårdcentralen when in need of medical help. I am asked to come the next day if in need of consultation from a doctor.

I trudge to a pharmacy where I obviously cannot purchase the medication I want unless I have that unavailable doctor's prescription. So, I pick up a few strips of the over-the-counter pain killers and head home.

The next day, I finally get face to face with a real doctor who prescribes medication, and tells me that tonsil extraction would be a good idea to avoid frequent illness. In comes a footnote - subject to a waiting list!
The doc tells me that the waiting list is pretty long and that I'd have to wait for alteast 3 months before I can get operated. 3 months?!!

I walk out after paying the consultation fees of a 100 kr., and just before I leave, I ask the receptionist as to how much would the operation would cost. I am shocked at the reply - in a pleasant way. A tonsils extraction operation would only cost me 250 kr.!
Now, can someone help me figure out the math here?! 100 kr. to meet a doctor, and 250 kr. to get operated?!
Here's the killer - even if you want a neurosurgeon and his jamboree pecking into your brain for an 8 hour operation, you only pay 250 kr.!

Here, I plead my case. I dont need a neurosurgeon and I definitely do not need his paraphernalia.
Am I being extravagant or demanding or a parasite on the healthcare system when I say that I just need a f***ing doctor when I need a doctor?!
I'd be a happy man to walk into the sterile environs of a clinic, wait in an acceptable queue, meet a doctor who tells me that I look gorgeous when I know I am as yellow as a sunflower, take my prescription and walk out!
But no! That would be way too sweet!

Leaving all the sarcasm and fury aside, I really dont know whether to hail or disapprove this system.
On one hand, you have a healthcare system which is accessible to every single citizen of this country - providing cost effective medicare to one and all. But, on the other hand, you have an archaic system, which provides healthcare, but not when you really need it the most.

My thoughts wander to the apalling situation back home. Leaving the Hinduja, Apollos' and the Breach Candys' aside; what about the government hospitals meant for one and all which rarely or barely meet any hygiene standards, where doctors have to be bribed; what about the unavailability of any form of medical treatement to a large pencentage of the rural population?
It is no longer spine chilling when we hear of infant mortality and post pregnancy deaths... they are common... we have become immune in our own social inadequacies.

I rest my case when I realize that Sweden ranks #2 in the world on the UNDP's Human Development Index - life expectancy and healthcare being an important parameter in the calculation of the indices.

Equality in everything is what this country stands for. The best available medical services for all. But available in time? Or God forbid, sometimes too late?
It is said that justice delayed, is justice denied. Can someone give me an answer to healthcare?

Home Sweet Home

Today, after 339 days away from home, I miss home...
I've been ill for the past 2 days with fever and a sore throat, and I feel wretched!
I miss my parents, I miss my home in Bombay, I miss the food, I miss my bed, I miss having a washing machine in the house - and having a servant to load/unload it, I even miss having Dr. Koradia on call, I miss meeting my grandparents when I'd go to Chunabhatti to visit the doctor, I miss the warm weather and the sun...

I miss home... Home Sweet Home :|

R.E.M. Live in Stockholm!

Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, I was there!
I watched R.E.M. live in Stockholm on the 31st of January 2005!
And it was magic!





We were spellbound for 2.5 hours with Leaving New York, Electron Blue, Night Swimming, I Wanted To Be Wrong, and Wanderlust from new album 'Around the Sun'.
I know what you are thinking...
Do you think an R.E.M. show would go without Everybody Hurts, Man on the Moon, Orange Crush and Imitation of Life?

We got all we wanted, and more!