America- inhabited by cars

So this is what happened. At around 8 o clock in the night[evening] we realized that we needed a break, perhaps go for a drive down to the town center. It was a week day, but still we thought what the hell, we need a change.

So after googling for the route, and following it to the inch, we reached the place. At first sight it really reminded me of a set that I had seen in Ramoji film city, perfect, clean, all artificial animals and stuff.

We parked our car, and we saw lots of them- cars. In fact, we saw only cars, close to 100 of cars, of all varieties, huge, convertibles, compacts, the beetles to the Grand Cherokees, but no people, Absolutely no people. It was only 15 minutes past 8, and no people, just cars. We looked around and could see atleast a distance of 2 blocks in each direction, and still no person - not even one person

Well, right now am sitting in my room, and I go out of the room, and imagine what I can see. Well only cars parked. Well any guesses what is the only thing I can hear? --- Well again cars. IT so happens that the my place of stay is near the freeway, and I can hear them day in and day out.

America is really a place of wonders. No people, only cars. And imagine this is summer season, it would not take much of thought to even estimate how it would be in winters.

Well, how different is it from India?

Relative frames of reference

In physics, the subject that I did my graduation in, there is a concept of relative frame of reference. As an example, imagine a person walking on the road. From the person's point of view or frame of reference, the road is moving in relation to him. Vice versa, from the road;s point of reference, the person is moving. The reason for this is the frame of reference can be fixed at the center of mass of the object

If we try to apply the same logic to human behaviour in a slightly modified manner, we can see how different people react to different situations. When I landed in Seattle airport at roughly 11:30 in the night local time, I was absolutely miserable, the cold wind was really creeping in through the various pores in my tshirt, and I was not the enjoying it the least. When I talked about it to my fellow-traveller, he seemed to just shrug it off. He said "No, I am not at all feeling cold, its pleasant".

If we replace the center of mass concept with the complete set of human experiences, then we can really identify how different people behave. This was the first time for me outside of Hyderabad, India in a long time and not in summer months. Whereas, for my companion, he had been to Seattle couple of times earlier, once in the peek of winter.

Isnt it strange, that to the same situation, people think and feel differently, and react differently. Imagine how much enriched our lives would be if someone could just come up with a mechanism of sharing experiences and thoughts. ala Total Recall style

Change in co-ordinates...

So, finally it happened. After more than 2 years in my company, and atleast couple of chances of flying to United States, it has finally happened. I got a work assignment for atleast couple of months in US, Redmond, WA in particular. Even though the decision to move out of india at this time was tough, given that I just got married recently and bought a house, that needs a lot of my time and attention, I am glad to reach here.

This would be a good exposure for me, an opportunity to see other worlds, as they say :)...

so keep logged in ...

Lets shake hands ...

Ok, so this is what happened.

I am at office, working hard on my work items. Ok, so not working HARD, but working. I feel this call of the nature ... of the smaller kind. I immediately rush to the office loo on my floor.

I meet this friendly neighbourhood Mr 'X', in the corridor leading to the loo. I say "hey wassup?", shaking his hands. We exchanged pleasantries, and go to our respective booths.

I am taking some time (after all I have been drinking lots of cups of coffee and water), Mr 'X' finishes his work and just goes out, without washing his hands. Did that not sink in? I will repeat.

"HE WALKED OUT WITHOUT WASHING HIS HANDS". Was this better?

Wooaah, am I glad that I shook his hands earlier and not later. Or does it really matter? Hmm.... I spent quite a few drops of liquid soap getting rid of his sin. :(

Believe me, I am going to keep my hands away from his, for the rest of my NATURAL LIFE