Picking up the pieces to set things right

1. FRUGAL lifestyle
2. SAVE everything
3. Being within PRACTICAL means
4. Being the BEST in what your good in
5. SOCIALIZE and NETWORK
6. Complete compliance to CULTURE & TRADITIONS
7. Being WISE and CONTENTED

Bloodbath, bleeding, blunders and bleakness

What come of me I don't know? But this what is happening everywhere. Bloodbath, bleeding and bleakness.

1. Is US running out of options to save it's economy?
2. Mayhem in the Market
3. Bernanke: Crisis could prolong economic pain which will span in 2009 too
4. Gloom engulfs Coporate India
5. Death of American Dream

Forget American dream, it seems someone is taking away what I have in my hand and slowly I am being dragged too.

Opting out of it

Concerns Out of self control

1. Fear of risks involved relocating to high crime regions in foreign land
2. Uncertain labour market & ailing national economy
3. Hostile climate
4. Unsuitable lifestyle for vegetarian
5. Unfamiliar & overwhelming social, infrastural and legal system

Concerns in control of self and family

1. Fear of inability of family to cope with above adversities
2. Reduced adoptability & flexibility due to ageing
3. Reduced or lost learnability as effect of ageing or marriage or learning gaps (for last 4-5 years)
4. Fear of unforseen outcomes expected due to being out comfort zone or away from close-ones
5. Gap between psychological enthusiasm to take risks and actual potential to cope with practical reality
6. Unlearning cultural, social and legal behaviours and habits perfected so far in entire life of India
7. Throwing self and family into totally new, unfamiliar cultural, social and legal behaviours and habits of US

Postive factors about already existing option (India Job)

1. Comparatively stable Indian economy compared with global economy
2. Booming Indian labour market
3. Familiar with already perfected cultural, social and legal behaviours and habits of India
4. Comparatively better opportunity for savings, investments & retirement plans due better market valuation of profile as well as low cost of living

Facts about self

1. Below average track record of living frugal life style
2. Lack of saving traits
3. Personality that chase mirage and always unsatisfied psychology
4. Bad employement track record
5. Unfavourable luck as far as hanging on to any employement for long duration
6. If not best, even being not good in what I am supposed to be best

US Trip Day 4(5/10/2008)

Another day of my first weekend. Due to jet lag, my sleep broke around 4am. I ate couple of bread slices and started reading a pdf books I was carrying in my laptop. Again I fell asleep and woke up at 8:30am.I had milk and sweet rotis brought from India for my morning breakfast. I went to see Sobhan, checked emails and read Times of India. I requested to him to check Internet connection in my apartment for which he obliged. Nice gentleman who speaks less and serious personality.I also called Rajendra using my new Mother India calling card. Spoke to mom, Dad. I shared my side updates and my strategy for US venture with Rajendra. He supported me morally for my plans. I felt good.Anyhow, rest of the day I spent lazing around in my apartment alone as Sobhan went away with his other friends for the rest of day.

US Trip Day 3(4/10/2008)

Saturday, first half I spent time with Sobhan knowing him more and cooking together. He cooked fish, rice and daal, which I shared (of course not fish). Second half went to office bought weekly SEPTA Trans pass for 20.75 USD. Then I spent sometime in Office chatting online with Suresh in UK. Also went to India stores with other colleagues of Kuljian and shopped for cooking essentials & 2 calling cards worth 116 USD. Almost I bought everything that will help me cook food for a month, from spices, basic vegetables for week etc.I walked with Anshuman, design engineer for almost 5 km distance. he shared his views and experience about US and how US was built nicely under Clinton and completely screwed by Bush etc. He also mentioned Philly is second worst city in US as crime rate is highest due to large population of African Americans. He warned from roaming alone in certain areas in late hours of the day. I started realizing that white are minorities in Philly, of course out side my office. In my office I found majority population was Bengalis and whites. Anshuman mentioned that everyone from outside faces both racism and persuasions for religious conversion.Every single person, I met, of course Indian, said is US is no longer good place to stay and earn money. Swagata said, US is more good place to make money but good place to get US professional experience.But I am bent upon exploring how US market responds to my resume. I would need to wait at least 3-4 weeks for that, during this time I would avail SSN which is passport for job, driving license, medical and dental insurance, taxes, financial transactions.Definitely, It is worth at least a month to evaluate the potential of my resume and US job market response to it.Whole day, I also faced body shiver, similar to one we face during fever. I was wondering if I was sick. After I slept that night next day morning, I was fine.

US Trip Day 2(3/10/2008)

Next day morning I had scrambled egg, spinach sandwich for breakfast bought from 7Elevan outlet near apartment. I found being vegetarian is big curse in US.I tried to befriend Sobhan Roy. I found Bengali’s simple, straight forward, friendly, hard working, professional but lazy and unclean. Also I found that they preferred their own state people for similarity in language, food & topics of interests for discussion.I went to office with a young programmer from Kolkatta who was returning to India and Sobhan to office with 2 USD tickets each to and from office using SEPTA trolleys service. Office is in swanky posh downtown building at 15th floor. I was given general workstation to use internet facility. She also introduced me to Accounts, Attorney, Fellow IT professionals, CEO Shyamal Choudhary, Sid Ghosh, Sales H1B staffing and other people that mattered to me. I applied for bank account, used Swagata's contact number to apply some 9-10 jobs in PA and NJ states. Also she sponsored my afternoon lunch at her favourite hangout place, Indian eatery outlet in a Liberty Palace mall, Market street in downtown Philly. Indranil head of Accounts and immigration arranged to open bank account and allowance for 2weeks 225 USD.As S. C. Dutt, Chairman Kuljian and Data core passed away recently, his daughter, Shanta Ghosh is taking care of businesses of Group Company. Friday night dinner, I managed with 2 eggs and bread along with ready to eat food that I brought from India. Due to cold climate, I slept well that night too.

US Trip Day 1(2/10/2008)

First day of I reached without any unexpected events from airport to apartment. Mr. Paul Watson (African American) was quite friendly. I called Swagata to inform my arrival, but she responded after I left voicemail (seems typical US people practice, which I didn't like it). She introduced me to Sobhan Roy( System Admin from Kolkatta office who is in Philly on L1 visa for a year), who asked to meet him next day. This left me to rely on what I had brought from India for my diner needs.Climate is extremely hostile, below 10degree Celsius. I had what I had brought from India and slept. Due to effect of jet lag, I slept almost 8-9 hours that night even though my stomach wasn't full adequately.Apartment seemed like damped and none-dusted for month altogether, which has quite run down kitchen amenities like basic utensils, dishwasher, bread toaster, refrigerator, electric gas stove, in addition apartment has washing machine, room heater, dryer, 2 single bed, wardrobe, basic furniture, TV, iron box and table. I found myself quite disconnected with the world without internet, long distance calling facility & cable TV.