Aman's Blog….ANYTHING goes here!

A Small Effort & A Small Gift To My Dearest Mom, Dad…. September 30, 2011

There are so many things that I want to do and there are so many wishes that I have in the heart but, not for me, for others! For me, I don’t want anything, don’t wish anything. Anyways, leaving me aside, there are certain things I really hope that I would be able to get them done before I close my eyes for forever. What are those wishes,  I won’t mention but they all mean so much to me. And may be because I really wished about it so much, I finally got a chance to do a small bit of it!

My friend Porus Homi Hawevala is involved in lots of charities and is associated with lots of charities and NGO’s. He suggested to donate some money to open a bore-well, an effort done by an NGO Chaitanya Educational and Rural Development Society. They open these bore-wells and quench the thirst of some 30 families in small villages which otherwise won’t get a water supply. I immediately liked the idea and decided to go for it. There was an option to choose the donor’s name and I decided it to be of my mom and dad! There is SO much that they have done for me, made me what I am, made me capable enough that I can earn my bread and butter and respected by many. There is so much that I can talk about, especially about my mom but I won’t mention anything here.  Anyways, so I started the process after checking everything and finally all got done and I got a confirmation email along with all the receipts about money transaction from the executive secretary along with the snaps of the bore-well and the board which has names of mom, dad. Its nothing big but I shall be honest, I felt really happy when the confirmation came and so were mom, dad when they came to know about it. I hadn’t told them anything so it came as a surprise for them( I love to give surprises 🙂 ).

I won’t be posting the pics here. But I would urge to all who are interested to contribute to get in touch with the people of the above NGO and do your bit to help those who really need it! And me, I am just so much happy that I was able to do my bit of whatever little help and even better, on the behalf of my parents!

Few Words(Facts) About Guys…. September 30, 2011

There is a lot of good stuff that people say about women, gals and with all due respect to women, gals, I am sure it must be true! But when it comes to guys, all what I hear most is just the bad stuff. I myself had posted a blog post about secrets about guys which gals must know. I just received the below text in the email and I think its really a good write-up. That’s why I thought I shall share it here. Have a look and read,

I believe, each and every word of is so true! Its rare that a guy would ever reveal what he has really done for any one, especially for his gal but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserves respect! Guys cry too, its just that they don’t do it like gals but while sitting alone in the corner of their hiding their face or while sitting on a bench in a park all alone! Yes, guys have emotions too, remember it!

Change Of Plans…. September 30, 2011

I have reached but not at my home. There has been a change of plan as I am stuck up in the mid of few planned but not-yet-scheduled programs. And because of it, I decided to stay at Delhi at my friend S’s place. There is a vacation trip that S, A , N and V are going to and I so want to join them but not sure that whether it will happen or not. Anyways, I just had my breakfast and after checking emails and other stuff, will look out what’s going to happen finally, hope it would happen in the way we all want!

Heartbreaker Song, When I Dream At Night(Marc Anthony)…. September 29, 2011

Marc Anthony needs no introduction! The guy has sung some songs which have become like a milestone and one such song is, When I Dream At Night. I am listening to it right now and from past many years,

Here are the lyrics of it,

I have been in love
And been alone
I have traveled over many miles
To find a home
There’s that little place
Inside of me
That I never thought could
Take control of everything
But now I just spend all my time
With anyone
Who makes me feel
The way she does
Chorus:

cause I only feel alive
When I dream at night
Even though she’s not real
It’s all right
cause I only feel alive
When I dream at night
Every move that she makes
Holds my eyes
And I fall for her every time

I’ve so many things I want to say
I’ll be ready when
The perfect moment
Comes my way
I had never known
What’s right for me
til the night
She opened up my heart
And set it free
But now I just spend all my time
With anyone
Who makes me feel
The way she does

Repeat chorus

Now I just spend all my time
With anyone
Who makes me feel
The way she does

Repeat chorus

Its an amazingly song isn’t it!

TTD(The Traveling Day) Is Here…. September 29, 2011

I just finished my session here  and have come back to my guest house. Session went well and though few delegates found it hard to cope with the module’s toughness, all appreciated it in general and mentioned that they did like it so much! All the delegates were very friendly and eager to learn the module. One thing, which I would always remember that all took the snaps of the explanation that I gave on the whiteboard . Now, if I shall be asked, I would say that it was of no use but still, I felt so happy to see it happening! All left with a smile on their face and all asked for my email and phone number(which I gladly gave) showing a clear sign that they all liked the session! Thanks to all the delegates for coming to the session and I hope it was productive for them!

Its time now to start getting ready for the travel back to home. I was going to have some free time (not much but just 4 days) but seems that would not be happening anymore as I just got a call for another program starting in between. I am so wishing that it won’t come and I shall be able to take some rest! Time to start packing the bag!

Memories Relived At Chandigarh…. September 29, 2011

I am sitting here in my office room right now and as usual, I came quite early to the office. There is nothing to do in the guest house’s room and its better to  come here and check emails, OTN forums and also, have a cup of coffee. Its still 8:40am only at the moment and I was thinking while sitting in my cab, about Chandigarh where I stayed this Sunday before taking my flight from there to Hyderabad, a place which has a deep place within me.

Many don’t know that I had stayed at Chandigarh for few months as well. I was working in my home town, at a very esteemed institute from where I got the initial training of Oracle database and got the honor of being selected there only as a member of staff, something which never happened for any student of it before. I was the first and last one who was offered by the management to join there, something over which I am still so proud because getting a job in that institution was considered a matter of big pride back in those days since it was termed as the finest institute in the entire Punjab! That institute was a small part of a big company which was having its headquarter at Chandigarh and operations in three different continents! I worked there and after some time, when they moved the institute to Chandigarh and merged it with the parent company, I was called there as well. It was a very good opportunity and I did accept the offer. That was the first time probably, when I stayed out all by myself or may be not. I used to stay in the Sector-8 and worked at Sector 35B and would walk late in the night back to my room. On the way, there is a restaurant where I would stop by and have dinner. That landlord lady was an old lady who used to live in that big house with her husband and would lock the door many times. Since I shared the room with another guy(who worked in a different company), he would open the door for me. But when he used to go back to his home, often the door would remain locked and I had to see whether I would go back to office or to sleep on the bus-stand which was just on a walking distance from the room and it was the later thing which would happen most of the times. That lady would open the door at 5:30am and that’s when I would go in, take a shower, get ready and go to office again. I really wished so much at that time if I just could get a laptop or just an old desktop itself to keep in my room but it couldn’t happen.

Its has been many years but I didn’t get a chance to go back to any of those paths, office and to meet anyone over there. Though I had visited Mohali’s bus stand couple of times but that’s about it, I never got a chance to go to Chandigarh since then until this time when my flight booking was done from there to Hyderabad, next day after my arrival from Malaysia. And when I reached there, I had to find a place to stay there. I never stayed in a hotel at Chandigarh. While going for a training long time back, me and my two other friends lived in an inn but there wasn’t any time when I stayed in any of the famous hotels of the place. Since I was going to get a chance this time, I decided to stay in one of the landmark hotels of the city, hotel Aroma Classic.

When I reached at the bus stand, the first thing I did that I took a complete round of it. Most of the routes are now from the Mohali’s bus stand so there wasn’t that much of rush which used to be there on this bus stand. Its always was a very neat and clean bus stand and now it was looking even more clean because of less rush. I even found that bench where I had slept many nights. Its still there and I just couldn’t resist myself to sit over it for few minutes. I took a rickshaw and left towards the hotel. The rickshaw puller told me that I am his first passenger today. I was asking him that is there anything that has changed in the place to which he replied nothing and it was true too. There wasn’t any difference that I could spot. I had no idea how much is right charge from the bus stand to the hotel so I asked the rickshaw puller and he said that he won’t take extra from me. While going to the hotel, he also mentioned that how much tough his life and he does two jobs. When I stepped down from the rickshaw, it was 30 bucks which I was supposed to pay to him but since he told me that I was his first passenger of that day, I decided to pay him a little extra hoping that me being his first customer today would bring him good luck. His joy knew no bounds and I could see so clearly that how much happy he was! Finally, I was at my hotel and it was time to check-in, for the very first time in any hotel at Chandigarh!

Aroma Classic is a landmark property in Chandigarh and people say that its the first hotel opened in Chandigarh in 1953. Even being so old, it still is very famous and now, the management has opened a new hotel just besides it too, which has all the modern facilities that one would expect in a 4-star hotel. I have stayed in MANY hotels by now and based on the experience that I have got from it, I can say that though the hotel is very nice, very well maintained , it still lacks in some areas. But then again, its a 50+ years old property and even being so old, its so well maintained so I guess its okay to ignore those small issues. I know I am so fussy but still, would give it this much of leverage. It was time to take some rest and I just slept off.

In the morning, after taking shower, I stepped outside of the hotel to look at the view outside. If you have never been to Chandigarh, you can’t imagine why its called “city beautiful” and why its mornings are so nice. I stepped out and decided to walk around. I took a walk from the hotel to my office location. Nothing has changed, still there is nothing which I could find as changed! It just felt like I was there yesterday itself. Since it was Sunday, I wasn’t going to get to meet anyone but still, moving around there felt so nice! I walked for about an hour before I came back and had my breakfast.

It was time to catch flight and that was at 5:25pm. I reached airport quite early and spotted Jimmy Shergill and Randeep Hooda over the airport. I am not crazy to run after the stars so I was just sitting watching them and to be honest, no one really did bother about them. It was still some time to check-in and decided to have a coffee and that’s when Jimmy Shetgill also came to the same outlet when we had a little talk. To be honest, I didn’t like him much(or at all may be you can say). When I met Amrinder Gill at Bombay and even forgot his name, it was still a lot of fun. That guy was really so down to earth and we kept on talking for a very long time. But Jimmy didn’t even talk, heck, he also didn’t take off his sunglasses even when we were inside the airport, something which I REALLY hate when people do it! You are not under the sun god damn it, take those glasses off! Anyways, I had to go for my check-in so I just left saying him goodbye.

Though I couldn’t stay at Chandigarh for a longer duration but whatever time I got to spend there, it was so much good! I really wish that I can spend some time either because of work or for vacation. Not sure when but I shall go there again soon, I am sure about it! Its time to get back to the session now since guys have started coming in.

Before I Forget…. September 23, 2011

Two not-of-any-use trivia’s told to me by my colleague. One, there is a street on my name here, Jalan Aman and two, in the office, there is a meeting hall whose name is also Aman! Okay, going to get ready now.

And Its Completed…. September 23, 2011

Finally, I have finished this week’s session of mine and I am happy to say that it went well too. It was a tiring week but still, at the end, it feels nice to light that bulb on the delegate’s head and to hear from them that they did like the delivery and also the instructor. All the delegates were really so friendly, especially two who really made the entire week’s sessions very lively. And all of them were very eager to learn the module even when it wasn’t going to be used in their day to day work and the best part is that they did mention that this session has helped them in understanding this technology more clearly and now they are feeling more confident to talk to their actual, hard-core database staff who actually handles all of the stuff that we discussed. All of them had a smile on their face and few, also asked for my email id,two confirmed signs that they did like the session. And also, in the official rating, there were couple of very kind comments about me along with, probably the shortest comment that I EVER got, A+! Yes, that’s it! But I believe, that does reflects completely that whoever has given that, has given this grade to me and to the entire session. Thanks so much everyone who came and attended the session from the bottom of my heart! It was a great session and that did happen only because of you and also, thank you all so much for your kind comments and co-operation. I hope and wish that I shall meet you all soon again in some another session!

Though I am done with this week’s session, that doesn’t bring a little rest for me since I have another session scheduled right away from this Monday. And the worse part, I have the ongoing flight from Chandigarh which means, there would be a travel needed further from Delhi to either my home or to Chandigarh. If I shall go to home(which is less likely because it would be a lot of travel then for me) than its still okay as I would get to stay at home, even when it would be just for a night only. But if I shall go to Chandigarh than I would need to search a hotel to stay there. So, I still am not sure what would I do! Let’s see what happens. Hope I shall get a little rest after the next week’s session, if not, just 3-4 days would be enough. I am REALLY feeling tired and burnt out and I guess, I deserve this much of rest at least.

Before I shall close the post, below are the 3 pics of mine which were clicked.

Okay, since I have a flight to catch so it would be better to start the packing and also to get ready now. Hope I shall be able to decide while sitting in the flight that where I am going to go, either to Chandigarh or home and also to catch some sleep.

At Last, A Happy Ending With Smiles & Satisfaction…. September 16, 2011

I have just come back home. Though it was a HUGE rainfall but somehow, I managed to get home without getting wet(got my share of being wet yesterday only). I shall be leaving for an overseas trip tomorrow only which means there is no time for sit back and enjoy but about that will be in a subsequent post. This one is about the program that I just finished today.

If you are a regular here, you must have read the last post in which I had mentioned that how tough it is going for me in the current program to handle things. And nothing which I was struggling to control was related to my skills! I don’t manage (I don’t have to) logistics but because they play a huge role especially when you are not standing face-to-face in front of the delegates! Think about it that when the only mode of connectivity is internet(it was an online session) and that itself stops working, what would be the mental status of the delegates and when you can’t do anything about it, how would you feel about it? That’s what I had been seeing and facing since the start of this session, a lot of issues in almost everything! Though there were constant efforts to get things in order too but still, it was VERY frustrating! Though all this was happening but the delegates were still very co-operative and friendly and didn’t say anything much except mentioning it couple of times that its not a good thing and I knew that they are right! Still, some how, days passed and we came to the last and final day, today!

Despite of all the issues that we faced(which didn’t leave us today as well), I tried my best to make things remain as smooth as possible. All I could control was delivery and that’s not dependant on any logistics. I may be in whatever condition, as long as I can speak and am in my senses, I can deliver and when I stand to talk, I give it my best shot, each and every time of it! Delegates were kind enough to take a note of it and because of it may be, they gave a VERY good rating! I must be honest in saying that I didn’t expect that rating to come but my joy knew no bounds when I read the comments and checked the final score! I won’t mention the score but here is one of the comments that I got,

Aman Conducted the class in an excellent manner, and all Practical issues that we face in real time scenarios were also answered. Apart from answering the questions Aman also provided some good links and Books that really helped in understanding the concepts

Besides this, my colleague and friend, who is the in-charge of these online sessions for all the technical things did send me a DM(direct message) telling that the delegates have asked me only for the next session! What more can one ask for to know that he is liked by the delegates? Unfortunately, I won’t be able to be with the delegates in their next session because I am already scheduled somewhere else but still, just to know that  I was asked for made me feel so happy! I can’t say anything else except thanks to all the delegates for their kind words, support and for being so co-operative even when the things were going really tough! Thanks to all and it was my pleasure to be with you guys! Hope I shall be able to with you all in some other program and also, that program would be a normal session so that I don’t have to show me through a webcam and speak through a microphone 🙂 .

At last, a big burden from my head is relieved and I can now start packing my bags for tomorrow’s travel!

Long, Frustrating Days…. September 15, 2011

It was a very rainy day today and after a long time, I got completely drenched in rain while going to work. It would be a lot of fun to see it happening had it been a normal day but I was working and that took away the entire fun. On top of it, the work is also getting effected by the reasons that are not in my control and there is nothing else which makes me more upset than feeling helpless.

I am handling a web-conferencing session. The module, like all the other modules which I have taken so far, is very tough but being virtual for the delegates and they being invisible to me(they can see me, I can’t see them), the word “tough” has touched just another level! And to make matters more worse, there has been TONS of issues coming up since the first day of the session! I can control my own delivery, the way I do explain things, I understand and make understand others the topic but if there is network drop happening all of a sudden making my voice disappear for the delegates, for this, I have no control, I can’t control it! And when you are “face” of everything, even though when its not your fault, your mistake, your problem, the entire things comes over you only and that’s what is happening with me too! The delegates are very co-operative and despite all the hurdles, are still smiling and not saying anything bad/rude except sending the sad(:-() emoticons in the chat window(which is just so kind of them). But I know, its very frustrating for them to experience something like this in a session for which they have paid a very huge amount! As much it is troubling them, in the same amount if not more, its making me upset and frustrated as well! I am trying all the options to get things in order and after 2.5 days of doing all what is possible, things are looking to become a little smooth(today’s half day was a little better than the last 2.5 days) but unfortunately, tomorrow is the last day of the session and so far, in my opinion, this hasn’t come as a very good experience!

Its one day only left for the session tomorrow and I just hope that it starts and ends properly without any major issues. Its getting late and I am so much tired so will close here only. Hope I shall be able to post tomorrow that all went well! Time to crash for now!