20 Days old, another 2 months to go!

It's been 20 days since I landed here in Philadelphia and may I say that the going is getting tougher. Not so much professionally cause I am learning new "Tricks of the trade", but because I am really missing home. Not that I have not stayed away before, I was in Hyderabad for about 1 year with GE and then almost 3 years in B'lore (2 years Infosys and 1 year IBM). But that was different, Hyderabad I was a bachelor and Bangalore I was with my wife and kid. I have not stayed away from them for more than a week in the last 3 years, so that's the thing killing me.

Also, we came back from B'lore in Aug'08, been almost 1.5 years. In this time I was comfortable (or rather too comfortable!!) at home. IBM spoilt me by giving this "Work from Home" option so luckily I didn't have to go to office more than twice a week (actually a devil in disguise). I can spend more time home and thus more time with my kid, which of course I rejoice so much. I have avoided coming alone to the US for sometime now, but this recession took it's toll on me.

Anyways, not much I can do except for cribbing. Trying hard for my wife and kid to make a short visit to the US, with crossed fingers. That will be awesome, atleast I will have someone to go home (or hotel) to! Help me God!!

First week in Philly!

It's been around 10 days since I handed in Philadelphia and I am beginning to find new ways to kill time. I got majorly bored the whole of last week with work and everythg and by the time it was Friday, the last thing I wanted to do was sit at the hotel doin nothing. So what do I do, I hitch hike with a colleague and went to New Jearsey to meet another friend, Debashish who is also on the same project.

On Saturday, we drove back to Philly and hired a car. To be honest, I was kinda hesitant to get into the car at first but then I decided, wat the heck!! I must tell you the following as they say, is pleasant history!! Both me and Deb had the most awesome weekend of our lives. We drove all around Lansdale, found couple of gems around and had loads of fun!

On Saturday we found a Patel Store here in lansdale and went there to buy some parathas and shahi paneer. In the evening, we went to a mall and then to Best Buy, I bought myself a GPS and a mobile phone, down 200 dollars. Then we went to a Mexican restaurant and ate Burritos with ice tea. By the time we came out, it was snow showering...did I tell you that it was beautiful!! For dinner, we cooked some chicken curry and rice which BTW came out amazing as well.

Sunday morning, post our breakfast at the hotel, we decided to hit the roads again!! First we went to an Indian temple which is close by, was an interesting experience and feeling is how I will put it. Then we went again to the same mall and spend some time. Came out at around 1 and decided to look for an Indian restaurant nearby. Our GPS was very helpful and found us a gem, "Sultan Indian Cuisine", had a lunch buffet there for 10$ and ate like there was no tomorrow. Post that lunch, it was hard for both of us to get up. Did that with difficulty, got into the car, drove to the hotel and hit the bed straight. Deb left to NJ around 5.

Now am just waiting for another Friday to hit me and we will be off again, for the ride of our lives!

Philadelphia, PA, US

I reached lansdale in Pennsylvania this week for a 3 month assignment. This place is close suburb of Philadelphia and about 30 miles from the downtown. I came to Newark and then took a connecting flight to Philly on Thursday. Its blurring cold here, the temp today is -7 celcius and it's snow all around. I had some difficulty getting off my jet lag, so I slept all of yesterday which was Saturday and I am doin fine today. I am planned to be here till April end and am already starting to miss my wife and daughter...I wished they were with me :(