Norman Lewis' book with the same title, is close to being my Bible of the English language. My essential take-aways have always been the 'story' behind the word and the mnemonics he suggests to remember the newly 'learnt' words. I was a huge fan when I was t preparing for my GRE like any other South Indian Engineering student. Today I think it is safely stacked under my dad's wobbly table. It still fills in for a firm foundation, so what if it's not for a foundation in the literary world.
Children on the other hand use mnemonics like nobody's business. The best part - they do not know that they are actually using this technique. Just like the bumble bee. It defied the laws of aerodynamics, just because it never read about it.
So daughter dearest, has just returned with us from a trip to Himachal Pradesh. This is probably the first time she was 'aware' of what she saw.
Mango Trees and Papaya trees were of huge interest to her. Her particular fascination was with a certain Mr Buffalo and a Mrs 'Tow' (read cow). Every 5 mins, she'd say ' Buffalo chahiye' Chahiye is a word she uses after every noun. You need to understand that she is sharing some information regarding the noun in question and catch up with her. So through out the trip in Himachal, it was 'Mando Tee' (Mango Tree), Buffalo, Tow, Atshu (Akshu - her cousin) in addition ofcourse to 'dadda', Tatiya (Katya - her cousin), and Sidonie (her friend).
My father in law was the most doting of her. Following my father ofcourse. My father would never say 'No' or be stern with her. And she knew this fully well and took advantage of the situation many a times when Appa was around. I digress. So my father-in-law soon became her favorite person, running behind her, picking out the finest balls (read lemons), getting chased with a stick and you name it. He was a 2 year old in a 60 year old's body. He was her 'devotedly yours' person.
So when we finally came back to Hyderabad, she ofcourse missed him a lot. (Well, not the most - most would have been 'bui' - her aunt - my sister-in-law and Tatiya).
So whenever FIL called, we used to help her connect with him. 'Dadda' - both the relation and the mnemonic. She remembered. And did not need any more help.She took the phone off our hands and said 'Dadda!'. My FIL's joy knew no bounds. "Haan Princess", he said excitedly. " Buffalo", she said immediately. Ady and I could not control our laughter. Poor FIL did not know how to react. "Yes Princess", he said disappointed, from the place with the Buffalo. :)
Sin City!
There's only one word that can describe our vacation to Vegas -Awesome!
Ady was to go to Seattle for a conference, and we figured, why not I go for it too. The only hitch was prolly Amazon may not be all that comfortable sharing business plans with a Googler in. So we decided that I'd explore the place and he'd explore the business plans and HR support structure. Ady wanted to trade places, but we acted mature and I went only to shopping malls.
Thanks so much to a dear friend Aruna, I did things I'd never normally do. And just because of that, it was all the more exciting. Because these are things I wouldn't normally do, I don't discuss too. So you don't get to hear what these were :)
When Ady could finally finish with his Conference, we visited Mt St Helens. No no, it was not all that depressing - just because it was an active volcano, the approach, the rawness of the nature around - was simply beautiful. I heard there's another mountain - Mt Rainier - it's snow packed and stuff - so a breath taking sight. We didn't go for this as husband dearest had already visited the scenic beauty, and he wanted to see something 'new'. My desire to see a snow capped mountain, is a while away I guess.
Cut to Vegas!
Now, as soon as we entered the airport, it was a different world. Yes. You can let your imagination run wild - in any direction. They don't call it 'sin city' for no reason. But we, like the disciplined Indian kids, focused on the shows that we could see. The LCD screen flashed Cirque-du-solil shows - with amazing acrobatics. Ady was more amused by Sienfeld's quick quips.
We stayed at the South Point Hotel, at the end of the strip. We hadn't done enough research so did not know what the right location to stay in was. We assumed, anything on the strip was good. We just didn't know 8 kms away is not exactly ideal.
As soon as we landed, Mr Singh took off to play poker. He had apparently earned $25 on a mock gambling game and he was very confident he could earn more. He was confident he could beat the system. He gave me a dollar to go play the slot machine, so I don't whine, scream or get tensed when he loses money - it's all a part of his strategy. And I played for like 10 mins with that dollar, spending a cent a time, till I finished all 100.
In the evenings, we visited all the other casinos, with a clear understanding that there will be no nail biting experiences in the evenings (read no gambling). My favorite was the gandola ride in the Venetian. The interiors are done so beautifully. You actually feel the hot and arid Vegas is pleasant and romantic. Ours was the last dedicated ride of the day. Our boatman was in an especially great mood and sang more than his quota of songs for us :)
Another experience I will never forget is the Stratosphere Casino. We went for the crazy rides there.Big shot was my favorite. You're strapped into a chair with your legs dangling, and then they shoot you straight up the tower's steeple, 160 feet in like two seconds. Then you're let to freefall.And just when you think, it's over, you up again. And the ride starts at the 108th floor!!! Not for the light-hearted. I'd like to say, I'm the braver one compared to Ady.(yay!)
'Extreme' is another interesting ride - It's like half a roller coaster. You're taken in one direction - OUTSIDE the building and there are these sudden jerks that make you think you're going to fall off- it's crazy why would you go outside the building. And the answer stares you in the face - that's why it's thrilling!
We saw 'Mystere' one of the Cirque-du-solil offerings. But I can't say much about it, as I dozed off because of the jet lag. Nothing negative about the show though, 'coz I got up to loud cheering from the crowd.
We also went to the Grand Canyon helicopter ride and landed in the canyon. While you have man made splendors on the one side, the magic of nature is a totally different experience. An experience to remember!!
This was a much needed vacation and we truly made the best of it. And how much did we make/lose? Well.. what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas:)
Ady was to go to Seattle for a conference, and we figured, why not I go for it too. The only hitch was prolly Amazon may not be all that comfortable sharing business plans with a Googler in. So we decided that I'd explore the place and he'd explore the business plans and HR support structure. Ady wanted to trade places, but we acted mature and I went only to shopping malls.
Thanks so much to a dear friend Aruna, I did things I'd never normally do. And just because of that, it was all the more exciting. Because these are things I wouldn't normally do, I don't discuss too. So you don't get to hear what these were :)
When Ady could finally finish with his Conference, we visited Mt St Helens. No no, it was not all that depressing - just because it was an active volcano, the approach, the rawness of the nature around - was simply beautiful. I heard there's another mountain - Mt Rainier - it's snow packed and stuff - so a breath taking sight. We didn't go for this as husband dearest had already visited the scenic beauty, and he wanted to see something 'new'. My desire to see a snow capped mountain, is a while away I guess.
Cut to Vegas!
Now, as soon as we entered the airport, it was a different world. Yes. You can let your imagination run wild - in any direction. They don't call it 'sin city' for no reason. But we, like the disciplined Indian kids, focused on the shows that we could see. The LCD screen flashed Cirque-du-solil shows - with amazing acrobatics. Ady was more amused by Sienfeld's quick quips.
We stayed at the South Point Hotel, at the end of the strip. We hadn't done enough research so did not know what the right location to stay in was. We assumed, anything on the strip was good. We just didn't know 8 kms away is not exactly ideal.
As soon as we landed, Mr Singh took off to play poker. He had apparently earned $25 on a mock gambling game and he was very confident he could earn more. He was confident he could beat the system. He gave me a dollar to go play the slot machine, so I don't whine, scream or get tensed when he loses money - it's all a part of his strategy. And I played for like 10 mins with that dollar, spending a cent a time, till I finished all 100.
In the evenings, we visited all the other casinos, with a clear understanding that there will be no nail biting experiences in the evenings (read no gambling). My favorite was the gandola ride in the Venetian. The interiors are done so beautifully. You actually feel the hot and arid Vegas is pleasant and romantic. Ours was the last dedicated ride of the day. Our boatman was in an especially great mood and sang more than his quota of songs for us :)
Another experience I will never forget is the Stratosphere Casino. We went for the crazy rides there.Big shot was my favorite. You're strapped into a chair with your legs dangling, and then they shoot you straight up the tower's steeple, 160 feet in like two seconds. Then you're let to freefall.And just when you think, it's over, you up again. And the ride starts at the 108th floor!!! Not for the light-hearted. I'd like to say, I'm the braver one compared to Ady.(yay!)
'Extreme' is another interesting ride - It's like half a roller coaster. You're taken in one direction - OUTSIDE the building and there are these sudden jerks that make you think you're going to fall off- it's crazy why would you go outside the building. And the answer stares you in the face - that's why it's thrilling!
We saw 'Mystere' one of the Cirque-du-solil offerings. But I can't say much about it, as I dozed off because of the jet lag. Nothing negative about the show though, 'coz I got up to loud cheering from the crowd.
We also went to the Grand Canyon helicopter ride and landed in the canyon. While you have man made splendors on the one side, the magic of nature is a totally different experience. An experience to remember!!
This was a much needed vacation and we truly made the best of it. And how much did we make/lose? Well.. what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas:)
Dialogues through life
Life pre 2003:
Hyderabad, Parental Home:
Standard Dialogues:
1. Vasu, come home by 6:00 ok.
2. I'll pick you up if you're late.
3. I'll pray to God that you get Good marks.
4. Don't fight with your little sister
5. Eat properly
My Reaction: Can I please get my space?
2003-2005
XLRI, Jamshedpur
Scheduled calls back home - daily - 9:00 PM, when std rates are low, from public phone booth, beating long queues with cute smiles to the 'booth uncle'
Standard Dialogues:
1.Take care of yourself beta, eat well.
2. let us know if you need more money.
3. I will make your favourite idlis when you come back home.
My reaction : Wow! Distance really makes you more important!
2005 - 2007
Delhi, New Job
Standard Dialogues:
1. Take care of yourself
2. Eat well
3. I'll make your favourite food when you're here.
4. Why doesn't your company give you leaves?
My Reaction: When can I go home?
2007 - 2009
Post marriage
Standard Dialogues:
1. Take good care of Mapilai (SIL)
2. Prepare good food. I'll tell you the recipe
3. When are you guys coming to Hyderabad?
4. I'll make your favourite dish - tamarind rice - without ground nuts.
My reaction: Wow, now both of us are important
2010
Post Driti
Standard Dialogues:
1. What is Driti doing?
2. I'll make her favuorite food You can pick out the groundnuts and eat.
3. Is she eating well?
4. She is such an angel
My reaction: My baby is really precious. But where on earth did I disappear? :)
2025:
Driti's world:
1. Driti, come home by 10:00 ok?
Ma, my name is 'Sam', can you please not embarrass me with old fashioned names?
2. I'll pick you up if you're late.
Ma, I can drive down.I don't need an escort anymore you know!
3. I'll pray to God that you get Good marks.
Chill Ma! It's not like the end of the world! And we call them 'coolness quotient', 'marks are so 'passe'
4. Eat properly
That reminds me, where's my 'organic' compressed oxygen bundle? I'll be famished by noon!
My reaction: Is this action replay in fast forward??
Hyderabad, Parental Home:
Standard Dialogues:
1. Vasu, come home by 6:00 ok.
2. I'll pick you up if you're late.
3. I'll pray to God that you get Good marks.
4. Don't fight with your little sister
5. Eat properly
My Reaction: Can I please get my space?
2003-2005
XLRI, Jamshedpur
Scheduled calls back home - daily - 9:00 PM, when std rates are low, from public phone booth, beating long queues with cute smiles to the 'booth uncle'
Standard Dialogues:
1.Take care of yourself beta, eat well.
2. let us know if you need more money.
3. I will make your favourite idlis when you come back home.
My reaction : Wow! Distance really makes you more important!
2005 - 2007
Delhi, New Job
Standard Dialogues:
1. Take care of yourself
2. Eat well
3. I'll make your favourite food when you're here.
4. Why doesn't your company give you leaves?
My Reaction: When can I go home?
2007 - 2009
Post marriage
Standard Dialogues:
1. Take good care of Mapilai (SIL)
2. Prepare good food. I'll tell you the recipe
3. When are you guys coming to Hyderabad?
4. I'll make your favourite dish - tamarind rice - without ground nuts.
My reaction: Wow, now both of us are important
2010
Post Driti
Standard Dialogues:
1. What is Driti doing?
2. I'll make her favuorite food You can pick out the groundnuts and eat.
3. Is she eating well?
4. She is such an angel
My reaction: My baby is really precious. But where on earth did I disappear? :)
2025:
Driti's world:
1. Driti, come home by 10:00 ok?
Ma, my name is 'Sam', can you please not embarrass me with old fashioned names?
2. I'll pick you up if you're late.
Ma, I can drive down.I don't need an escort anymore you know!
3. I'll pray to God that you get Good marks.
Chill Ma! It's not like the end of the world! And we call them 'coolness quotient', 'marks are so 'passe'
4. Eat properly
That reminds me, where's my 'organic' compressed oxygen bundle? I'll be famished by noon!
My reaction: Is this action replay in fast forward??
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