The experience of past few days, the tears at ISKON temple, the unexpected thoughtfulness of my chinese boss, the ensensitivity of our Indian HR, all made me relook at my life and one bqad relation I have is with my bother. I wanted to reconnect again, not too sure what I expect out of it. So I wrote to him today. Not sure if he will respond or if at all he will give it a thought, will know if few days when I talk to my Ma.
To Dy GM Sir
Hello Sir, Hope all is well at your end.....
onelife to live, it is not worth having the rag as pet, raag pushey ki ba luv! Everything is worth trying a second or third time....share blood, share experience, shared pain, shared laughter...all these makes life a bit better.
Please dont bother responding if you dont have a olive branch or atleast a white hanky....o:)
And please dont see any motives behind this mail, theres none except to have a try to have a good relation in the family, we dont have much of that.
And in case you wonder who gave me your email id, dont worry too much, I just googled you.
As years passes and one ages, new insights emerge and lot we do can be linked to experience in our growing up years.
I apologies for all the wrong I have done, sincerely. One makes mistakes, one learns, one suffers as payment.
Cheers From Manila
PS: 28/5/09.
No, I didnt get any response. Frozen heart, unbending. Atleast I tried.
Cost of living in Manila
I do this as a tribute to Manila which is our home for last three years allmost. Manila is the city where our three year old todder slowly becoming the boy that he is now. Salcedo village in Manila is the island where we have extremely nice Indian friends and community that we didnt have evn in India. Community sans the bitter struggle.
If we doesnt have care for money then its pointless to talk of money. Hence, I would just mention my sense of what someone concience of money would like to spend to live a good life.
Salcedo village is the place to stay. An office area, yet have all the trappings of a perfectly peaceful residential area. These are condo's Im talking about. 1BR rent would be 20k-35k Peso where 2BRK can be have at 50-65k.
St Augustine school in Dasmarina's village is recommened, extremely good quality of education at 75k Peso/yr.
Since we do grocery and vegetables ar SM mall and other malls in Makati area, we spend 3-
3.5kPeso every week. If one is willing to go to wet market, this can comedown somewhat.
A decent meal would cost 100-150Peso at KFC, Mc Donalds. Other restaurant, it would be 200-600peso. Varieties galore.
A just massage would cost 300-1000Peso.
One hour badminton course rental is 75Peso.
bad haircut would be 75Peso, good haitcut would be 180-500Peso.
Medicines are very very expensive. One can ask friends back in India to buy the medicines of themselves, we do.
Electricity is costly, easily 5k/month. Water would cost 1k Peso. maid would cost 5k Peso - all in per month basis.
A decent living would cost around 75k.
More questions? Just drop a mail please.
If we doesnt have care for money then its pointless to talk of money. Hence, I would just mention my sense of what someone concience of money would like to spend to live a good life.
Salcedo village is the place to stay. An office area, yet have all the trappings of a perfectly peaceful residential area. These are condo's Im talking about. 1BR rent would be 20k-35k Peso where 2BRK can be have at 50-65k.
St Augustine school in Dasmarina's village is recommened, extremely good quality of education at 75k Peso/yr.
Since we do grocery and vegetables ar SM mall and other malls in Makati area, we spend 3-
3.5kPeso every week. If one is willing to go to wet market, this can comedown somewhat.
A decent meal would cost 100-150Peso at KFC, Mc Donalds. Other restaurant, it would be 200-600peso. Varieties galore.
A just massage would cost 300-1000Peso.
One hour badminton course rental is 75Peso.
bad haircut would be 75Peso, good haitcut would be 180-500Peso.
Medicines are very very expensive. One can ask friends back in India to buy the medicines of themselves, we do.
Electricity is costly, easily 5k/month. Water would cost 1k Peso. maid would cost 5k Peso - all in per month basis.
A decent living would cost around 75k.
More questions? Just drop a mail please.
Hand of fate
Three years back
fate conspired
too many complications
took us a far away island.
Beatiful life there, friends
travel to white sand beaches
exploring the deep sea secret
Time flew fast.
The plan back then
was well throught out
There were assumptions
which changed while away in the island.
Plans are but transient
we are the children of fate
destiny decides for us
unknown to us, dripped in faith.
The place we felt behind
called us back with a smile
tempted, we wanted to respond
only to be betrayed.
Seed of hope is in hopelessness
faith and devine interventions
bitter cries in temple
washed away touches of guilt.
So called friends advised
hiding their glee
suboptimal suggestions
they would never follow.
A choice emerged
out of the heartfelt prayer
faith that turns tide
live to live another day.
fate conspired
too many complications
took us a far away island.
Beatiful life there, friends
travel to white sand beaches
exploring the deep sea secret
Time flew fast.
The plan back then
was well throught out
There were assumptions
which changed while away in the island.
Plans are but transient
we are the children of fate
destiny decides for us
unknown to us, dripped in faith.
The place we felt behind
called us back with a smile
tempted, we wanted to respond
only to be betrayed.
Seed of hope is in hopelessness
faith and devine interventions
bitter cries in temple
washed away touches of guilt.
So called friends advised
hiding their glee
suboptimal suggestions
they would never follow.
A choice emerged
out of the heartfelt prayer
faith that turns tide
live to live another day.
She
She is no gypsy girl
to take me twril around
On a moonsoon afternoon
she would rather not promise
zillion of possibilities.
She is the mother to my son
His rock, my rock
Solid like words cannt capture
committed, hopeful, strenth giving.
She wouldnt question like burning ember
If I havent measured up
like a decision taken is not be questioned
ever again, to expose the wounds of doubt
unkept, unrealised promises.
If it makes me happy
liberty is mine to experience
not to be spyed
like slithering snail lost
in transit in the woods.
Vain, is my weakness
to look for addiction
in lanes narrow and serpentine
the bliss is at home
overlooked, taken for granted
value in something sin.
Heart quivering, future
untold, not guaranteed
steely resolve, backbone straightened
hope in heart, we walk
to the dawn.
to take me twril around
On a moonsoon afternoon
she would rather not promise
zillion of possibilities.
She is the mother to my son
His rock, my rock
Solid like words cannt capture
committed, hopeful, strenth giving.
She wouldnt question like burning ember
If I havent measured up
like a decision taken is not be questioned
ever again, to expose the wounds of doubt
unkept, unrealised promises.
If it makes me happy
liberty is mine to experience
not to be spyed
like slithering snail lost
in transit in the woods.
Vain, is my weakness
to look for addiction
in lanes narrow and serpentine
the bliss is at home
overlooked, taken for granted
value in something sin.
Heart quivering, future
untold, not guaranteed
steely resolve, backbone straightened
hope in heart, we walk
to the dawn.
You dont do it
One of my person, Reginee is resigning. Previously she had a boss with whom she didnt gel and hence she wasnt going anywhere. Having seen her work, we moved her about two yearrs back to our group. she flourished with all the opportunities givem to her. She beack the envy and aspiration for other in my team.
Now she is leaving and is giving a months notice following the company policy. She was doing a critical role and its known recruitment in Manila will take at least two month. Have requested her before for making sure that she has some overlap with her replacement. But she didnt take heed.
Will we not manage? We will. Will we stuggle, yes somewhat.
As a trusted professional, you dont do it. You ensure that the transition is smooth and the things you helped develop and build is still taken careoff.
She is moving to Dubai. She will need a job there and we have our offcie there. Will I try for a job for her. I might. Will I do it from my heart?
What do you think?
Now she is leaving and is giving a months notice following the company policy. She was doing a critical role and its known recruitment in Manila will take at least two month. Have requested her before for making sure that she has some overlap with her replacement. But she didnt take heed.
Will we not manage? We will. Will we stuggle, yes somewhat.
As a trusted professional, you dont do it. You ensure that the transition is smooth and the things you helped develop and build is still taken careoff.
She is moving to Dubai. She will need a job there and we have our offcie there. Will I try for a job for her. I might. Will I do it from my heart?
What do you think?
Outreach programme for Charater building
We have a quaterly outreach programme run by our company and I try to go for it every alternate ones.
Yesterday, we went to build homes for underprivillaged families in the innerpart of Manila. Our group was assigned to make the floor which involved:
1. Mixing the sand, cement, the stone chips
2. Mixing all these with water
3. Make the floor
I started with lot of enthusiam and soon found myself panting. I like allmost everyone else, took frequent breaks, had chilled water. I even had a short spell inside the airconditioned bus before resumeing again.
We could finish the assigned task only because we had couple of regular mason helping us out.
My mind went back to the time when we were making our house long ago and used to crib about how slow the guys were working and how tghey deliberately progressed slowly to milk us out of our money.
Thus, yesterday experience was humbling. I realised how difficult the work is, everyday, under the sun wholeday with meagre payments and a future which doesnt look any brighter.
I felt so fortunate having a different professional work in an office environment. I simply felt blessed.
We need to thus do regular community service since it provide enormous self satisfaction for whatever little we do selflessly and not only that it make us realise different lives people live and be less judgemental having some insights from the work we do albeit for a short while. It makes the world a little better place to live.
It must be part of every society to have mandatory community services.
Yesterday, we went to build homes for underprivillaged families in the innerpart of Manila. Our group was assigned to make the floor which involved:
1. Mixing the sand, cement, the stone chips
2. Mixing all these with water
3. Make the floor
I started with lot of enthusiam and soon found myself panting. I like allmost everyone else, took frequent breaks, had chilled water. I even had a short spell inside the airconditioned bus before resumeing again.
We could finish the assigned task only because we had couple of regular mason helping us out.
My mind went back to the time when we were making our house long ago and used to crib about how slow the guys were working and how tghey deliberately progressed slowly to milk us out of our money.
Thus, yesterday experience was humbling. I realised how difficult the work is, everyday, under the sun wholeday with meagre payments and a future which doesnt look any brighter.
I felt so fortunate having a different professional work in an office environment. I simply felt blessed.
We need to thus do regular community service since it provide enormous self satisfaction for whatever little we do selflessly and not only that it make us realise different lives people live and be less judgemental having some insights from the work we do albeit for a short while. It makes the world a little better place to live.
It must be part of every society to have mandatory community services.
Building confidence in Children
Shenna will turn seven this august. He is eagerly looking forward to it and planning for the gifts he wants.
We adore him. He is soft, careing, smart, does his Kumon, great in drawing, have varied interests, ask many questions, makes friends easily. Very playful, very lovable. Loves pulling Dona's leg and partners with me in that.
Yesterday, on Mother's day, he promised Dona three pans, large, medium and small. Also, she was offered a steamer as alternative!
But often we feel worried. When he was young, he used to just follow other kids. If they jumped, he would also jump and we could not see him lead, be him own person.
We were blessed with a marvelous teacher, Ms. Nat last year in his ECLC. We discussed it with her and this has stopped by the end of the year.
However, we dont see the urge to play for the ball, chasing it, grabbing it, goign for it, be it in soccer or basketball. He loves to play but mostly we find him busy chatting or being pedestrians. Linked to this, we find him wanting to win in the field like any kids his age would do or the way I was when I was his age.
He is very careful and I think scared to play tough. We are now thinking very actively how to help him develop the passion and thrust for winning in the field so that he can enjoy all the games and develop as a well rounded personality in his life.
We have see he does wonderful stuff if he tries. However, the trying doesnt come naturally to him. Left to himself, he would just do whatever he feel like and then get busy with cartoons, games, friends. However, if we can convince him then we have seen he can go ahead and perform.
We have to develop a plan to help him become a tougher guy.
We adore him. He is soft, careing, smart, does his Kumon, great in drawing, have varied interests, ask many questions, makes friends easily. Very playful, very lovable. Loves pulling Dona's leg and partners with me in that.
Yesterday, on Mother's day, he promised Dona three pans, large, medium and small. Also, she was offered a steamer as alternative!
But often we feel worried. When he was young, he used to just follow other kids. If they jumped, he would also jump and we could not see him lead, be him own person.
We were blessed with a marvelous teacher, Ms. Nat last year in his ECLC. We discussed it with her and this has stopped by the end of the year.
However, we dont see the urge to play for the ball, chasing it, grabbing it, goign for it, be it in soccer or basketball. He loves to play but mostly we find him busy chatting or being pedestrians. Linked to this, we find him wanting to win in the field like any kids his age would do or the way I was when I was his age.
He is very careful and I think scared to play tough. We are now thinking very actively how to help him develop the passion and thrust for winning in the field so that he can enjoy all the games and develop as a well rounded personality in his life.
We have see he does wonderful stuff if he tries. However, the trying doesnt come naturally to him. Left to himself, he would just do whatever he feel like and then get busy with cartoons, games, friends. However, if we can convince him then we have seen he can go ahead and perform.
We have to develop a plan to help him become a tougher guy.
ISKON, MANILA
Last Sunday was a extremely happy day for us. We went to the ISKON temple in Manila for the first time. We have always wanted to go there since we arrived in Manila but didnt know the exact location. It turned out to be close to where we stay in Makati.
From outside, its a small temple inside a house and doesnt have the pomp and majestic aura of ISKON temple of Mumbai or Bangalore. But as we enter and went infront of ShriRadhaKrishna, we were transported to another world and it was such a fantastic experience. Felt very athome in Manila there.
Seems there is also a small ISKON temple in Laguna and Cebu, someday hope to go there.
Felt bit bad for the young Monk from Brindabhan who said with a smile that he is suffocating! Understandable since Manila is very different from Brindabhan without the many temples and his fellow devoutees.
We felt glad also to know that theres plan to have a proper temple in Manila in about five years time.
Donations are wellcome.
From outside, its a small temple inside a house and doesnt have the pomp and majestic aura of ISKON temple of Mumbai or Bangalore. But as we enter and went infront of ShriRadhaKrishna, we were transported to another world and it was such a fantastic experience. Felt very athome in Manila there.
Seems there is also a small ISKON temple in Laguna and Cebu, someday hope to go there.
Felt bit bad for the young Monk from Brindabhan who said with a smile that he is suffocating! Understandable since Manila is very different from Brindabhan without the many temples and his fellow devoutees.
We felt glad also to know that theres plan to have a proper temple in Manila in about five years time.
Donations are wellcome.
Heartache in Manila
Living in a foreign country is fun only when one makes becomes a part of a circle of people of similar interests and leaning.
Making friends and loosing them becomes a part of life when we live in a foreign city we learn to call home for sometimes.
One cannt be too tough in deciding whom to be friends with anymore.
We become close for reasons like having children of similar age, having likeing for movies or travel. Its really a search for a single common thread that can bind us together rather than that search for something beggier, more meaningful and lasting.
a common mistake some people make given that these relations are allmost invariably not lasting and ends with a move from the city is that they forget to honour it with essential human dignity like courtsey, makeing sure the gift being given is worthwhile.
Thus, some one makes a comment like give whatever suits your budget, she is anyway going, how does it matter if she like it or not. Thats about giving a farewell gift.
Thus we also hear take whatever you want to a potluck party, how does it matter what people thinks, anyways, who is going be your friends for the life.
These are fatal mistakes.
No one know the future and all we have is this moment to live and find glory in our act of living. a moment wasted is thus very costly. The impressions we make , the joys we give, the lives we touch even for shortwhile all goes on the enrich the world, however in their small ways it may be.
We give what we get. If we give miserly to others, they will also give miserly, thus creating a chain. So, give in abundance to enrich our earth.
A month or so back one family with whom we have spent lot of times, left manila to go back to Kolkata. Our son was friends with their son and used to call him potty master since whenever we have gone out for lunch or dinner, he would need to go for potty!
They were hugh mouthed people, A & B. whatever, they talk would be costly and demonstrate or hint at their oppulance. They would ask for favours without any shame. They would also take care of us when we go to their home. They will always provide something to talk behind their back and fodder for snigger and gossip. Yet, they belonged. We hated them and loved them, happy that they are gone and sad that they are gone.
Such is life as expats.
Making friends and loosing them becomes a part of life when we live in a foreign city we learn to call home for sometimes.
One cannt be too tough in deciding whom to be friends with anymore.
We become close for reasons like having children of similar age, having likeing for movies or travel. Its really a search for a single common thread that can bind us together rather than that search for something beggier, more meaningful and lasting.
a common mistake some people make given that these relations are allmost invariably not lasting and ends with a move from the city is that they forget to honour it with essential human dignity like courtsey, makeing sure the gift being given is worthwhile.
Thus, some one makes a comment like give whatever suits your budget, she is anyway going, how does it matter if she like it or not. Thats about giving a farewell gift.
Thus we also hear take whatever you want to a potluck party, how does it matter what people thinks, anyways, who is going be your friends for the life.
These are fatal mistakes.
No one know the future and all we have is this moment to live and find glory in our act of living. a moment wasted is thus very costly. The impressions we make , the joys we give, the lives we touch even for shortwhile all goes on the enrich the world, however in their small ways it may be.
We give what we get. If we give miserly to others, they will also give miserly, thus creating a chain. So, give in abundance to enrich our earth.
A month or so back one family with whom we have spent lot of times, left manila to go back to Kolkata. Our son was friends with their son and used to call him potty master since whenever we have gone out for lunch or dinner, he would need to go for potty!
They were hugh mouthed people, A & B. whatever, they talk would be costly and demonstrate or hint at their oppulance. They would ask for favours without any shame. They would also take care of us when we go to their home. They will always provide something to talk behind their back and fodder for snigger and gossip. Yet, they belonged. We hated them and loved them, happy that they are gone and sad that they are gone.
Such is life as expats.
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