Ok, junta, I am back from Scotland now... and I am in good old amchi Mumbai. Two or three more posts are coming up on the Scotland visit... but first things first!
I don't know if you have this, but I have an innate should-not-get-mugged feeling whenever I step into a big place where I know little around. On Friday, I dropped into Kolkata to attend USEFI's Pre-departure Orientation programme --- a small seminar which was supposed to arm us well for the big journey to the far side of the world! I have been in Kolkata a number of times... almost know all the main routes and stuff, but connecting routes and trying to figure out how to go to any other place outside the ones I know is not something I trust myself with. So, as per directions from a lady who is a true Kalkatte-waali, I took a cab and reached the American centre on time.
You know, it always feels good to see a familiar face smiling at you when you reach these places. This good lady was standing there, all bright and sparkling. [Ok, since she reads this blog, no more tareef!]. However, as I was saying, the feeling of goodness increased when she introduced me to two of her friends who had also come for the seminar. "Yaay", I thought, "I must have done something good in my life" :)
Anyway, the day progressed well. The initial seminars were all from advertisers, right from American Express to Centurion Bank to some STIC student cards. And the funny part was the realisation how much your presentation skills matter. Some had outright hilarious reasons why students should go for their products: like a phone card company who said that everybody from Yash Raj Productions used their card whenever they travelled abroad to keep in touch with family (yeah, never mind the rates or as if you will automatically be considered as a candidate for the next film)! One set of presenters was hurried through the presentation due to shortage of time and so the poor fellow just read the slides aloud (yeah, not a word more, not a word less); and the Bank fellow started a virtual debate on why one should not take the Amex TCs and should opt for their drafts instead, after the AmEx guy had pulverised bank drafts earlier in the day! :))
Anyway, the real fun was happening at the benches where I was seated. You know, two females on either side who are ready to laugh and giggle at the whispering comments you can make while the presenters are at it make the worst conferences seem like they should go on forever. Typical of me, when one of the gals told me she was sleepy, I suggested that she should poke the guy sitting in front in his ribs, or maybe make a sudden dash for the loo while everyone else was trying to follow the read-aloud guy's accent. Interestingly, the names of all three ladies started with a "Dev", so I think I had the divine influence of "Teen deviyan" that day :). So much so that during a tea break the aforementioned good lady actually asked us to switch places and sat between me and the other two! :(
However, the second part of the seminar was useful. Two former students who had went through USEFI at some time to the US gave a lot of practical tips to the junta. We had a group discussion kind-of activity where we were given to analyse and comment on some dummy handouts of course descriptions. I just volunteered myself to be the group leader *ahem-ahem* in our group of four after the ladies started a "aap baniye", "nahi aap baniye" session. Yeah, it always feels good to order people around in an officious tone! :D And there was a lucky draw going on to give out 2 free huge-sized Reebok bags to two lucky people from among the 80 odd people attending the seminar. Yes, dear reader, although Sudipta anagrams into 'A STUPID' and even though most people mistake this for a gal's name, yours truly bagged the first bag all fair and square in a singular stroke of lucky-day pot luck! :D And I also got to meet one of my blog's readers who identified me from my pictures!! Man, I was flattered... just too much luck happening in one day!
Finally, much free food and soft drinks later (umm... not free, had to pay 200 bucks for it)... we walked out of the seminar all happy and waving. That concluded the lucky part of the day. And I spent a day with 3 ladies and a free bag! :)
I don't know if you have this, but I have an innate should-not-get-mugged feeling whenever I step into a big place where I know little around. On Friday, I dropped into Kolkata to attend USEFI's Pre-departure Orientation programme --- a small seminar which was supposed to arm us well for the big journey to the far side of the world! I have been in Kolkata a number of times... almost know all the main routes and stuff, but connecting routes and trying to figure out how to go to any other place outside the ones I know is not something I trust myself with. So, as per directions from a lady who is a true Kalkatte-waali, I took a cab and reached the American centre on time.
You know, it always feels good to see a familiar face smiling at you when you reach these places. This good lady was standing there, all bright and sparkling. [Ok, since she reads this blog, no more tareef!]. However, as I was saying, the feeling of goodness increased when she introduced me to two of her friends who had also come for the seminar. "Yaay", I thought, "I must have done something good in my life" :)
Anyway, the day progressed well. The initial seminars were all from advertisers, right from American Express to Centurion Bank to some STIC student cards. And the funny part was the realisation how much your presentation skills matter. Some had outright hilarious reasons why students should go for their products: like a phone card company who said that everybody from Yash Raj Productions used their card whenever they travelled abroad to keep in touch with family (yeah, never mind the rates or as if you will automatically be considered as a candidate for the next film)! One set of presenters was hurried through the presentation due to shortage of time and so the poor fellow just read the slides aloud (yeah, not a word more, not a word less); and the Bank fellow started a virtual debate on why one should not take the Amex TCs and should opt for their drafts instead, after the AmEx guy had pulverised bank drafts earlier in the day! :))
Anyway, the real fun was happening at the benches where I was seated. You know, two females on either side who are ready to laugh and giggle at the whispering comments you can make while the presenters are at it make the worst conferences seem like they should go on forever. Typical of me, when one of the gals told me she was sleepy, I suggested that she should poke the guy sitting in front in his ribs, or maybe make a sudden dash for the loo while everyone else was trying to follow the read-aloud guy's accent. Interestingly, the names of all three ladies started with a "Dev", so I think I had the divine influence of "Teen deviyan" that day :). So much so that during a tea break the aforementioned good lady actually asked us to switch places and sat between me and the other two! :(
However, the second part of the seminar was useful. Two former students who had went through USEFI at some time to the US gave a lot of practical tips to the junta. We had a group discussion kind-of activity where we were given to analyse and comment on some dummy handouts of course descriptions. I just volunteered myself to be the group leader *ahem-ahem* in our group of four after the ladies started a "aap baniye", "nahi aap baniye" session. Yeah, it always feels good to order people around in an officious tone! :D And there was a lucky draw going on to give out 2 free huge-sized Reebok bags to two lucky people from among the 80 odd people attending the seminar. Yes, dear reader, although Sudipta anagrams into 'A STUPID' and even though most people mistake this for a gal's name, yours truly bagged the first bag all fair and square in a singular stroke of lucky-day pot luck! :D And I also got to meet one of my blog's readers who identified me from my pictures!! Man, I was flattered... just too much luck happening in one day!
Finally, much free food and soft drinks later (umm... not free, had to pay 200 bucks for it)... we walked out of the seminar all happy and waving. That concluded the lucky part of the day. And I spent a day with 3 ladies and a free bag! :)
Not all people are so lucky to have the benediction of teen deviyan. After all, every "A STUPID" has his day. BTW I have a hunch that you'd get more lucky if you could arrange to fly to the US with one of the Devis, or at least meet her once in a month. And nothing better if one of the devis got a "real" diamond ring from you.
ReplyDeleteYou must have gotten real lucky that day since your blog fans got to identify you. I'd love to be in your shoes (sans your stinking socks)and accidentally come up across someone who'd identify me and exclaim, "Oh ma'am I know you. You are that famous blogger, ain't you? Umm.. could I have your autograph and click a pic with you?"
BTW, just a little bit of advice. The bags do come free sometimes. Not the ladies.
Sunshine, wokkay! See, as I told you, it seems that anything related to America and me always involves some devi-s and a good load of luck. But yes I could do with some more of each! :D
ReplyDeleteYeah well, about the popularity thingie... you know I am *ahem-ahem* a prodigy. So even if you had to stoop to smell my socks, it might have well been worth it. Be around... aap bhi kuchh seekh jaaogi :D
And, dear lady, nothing in the world comes for free. All it takes is some great luck and a name that says, umm... STUPID :D
Wow! :-) what else a guy can ask for? That too in a single day. :-) Wishing you more and more days like this to you. :-)
ReplyDeleteLOL@Teen Deviyan. You should have introduced yourself as "Dev" Anand :)
ReplyDeleteYou should also get a T-shirt that says "I survived Culcutta" :)
Alka, you are the greatest, the sweetest! May you have an even luckier day!!
ReplyDeleteTwisted DNA, welcome onboard! Wow, now thats a suggestion --- Dev Anand. But know what, was called Amjad Khan by one of them! :) :(
P.S.- Is this T-shirt also free? :D
Will see your place now
Ad, Thanks a lot, sire... and you too have a blogger profile! So there must be a blog. I'll see.
ReplyDelete