Ebert, I have started.
Yes, the wish to collect all the greatest movies in your 100 Greatest List has begun. Some may not be in the list, but surely are *** or **** rated movies in your reviews!
Sin City and Million Dollar Baby came together in a combo pack of 5 movies! The remaining three in the pack are not even worth mentioning.
Today, I bought Dead Poets Society (Ebert gives this only two stars @#%$#$#$#$), one of my all-time favourites, and Amistad, Steven Spielberg’s debut movie with DreamWorks. Not a bad start for a cinema lover…
So in the land of oil, wine, and women, I buy movies. See, I told you I am a nice guy. ;-)
PS: Hey, I just happened to notice that this one is the 51st post to the blog. Am doing good...
Sunday, July 31, 2005
Saturday, July 30, 2005
The Gelf post!
I have changed after I have joined my new organization in Dubai. Previously, for six whole months, I used to drag myself to work.
And now, I am very enthused to come to work. To see smiling faces, to people who know what their role in the company is, to friendly and understanding HR people.
Today was actually a half day for me, yet am not home! Hmmm… that is a pleasant surprise!
I will not hesitate to add the “D” after HR in this organization. D for Development.
You may thinking why am I suddenly writing a lot about work and atmosphere at work.
Maybe it is relief.
Maybe it is true-found happiness.
Much awaited paradise at work where new ideas are accepted; new IDs are adopted into the organisation family.
Man, this organization has everything I can ask for:
Genuine vision and mission statements like TIS
Ethical values, openness, and transparency like TIS and Brainvisa
Freedom (of speech, text, ideas, and expression) like Brainvisa
Senior management help in every way like Brainvisa (I have nothing more to ask for; we can order any book, tool, subscription we want to work better.)
Realistic, open-door policy (even to an entrepreneurial, educated, charismatic, millionaire Arab’s busy cabin!)
I found the respect, acknowledgement, and values that I were searching for in an organization ever since I started working way back in February 2000.
Hmmm… It has been five years. It has been an experience. And I have led a very experimental worklife. Have met all kinds of people and all kinds of organizations. Some made me feel wow! And one organization even made me puke! The levels they fell… Cheee!!!
Anyways, I believe the Law of Karma works. What goes, comes around. I know I haven’t wronged. I will always stand for truth, courage, openness, frankness, and democracy at work. Even at the cost of jobs, security, or money.
Because only when I grow spiritually, does my organization grow.
Today, after a long, long time, I feel like dedicating my life and soul to an organization. Just the way I had done for compassbox.com. And I will. They deserve it. This organization is the best I have seen so far.
“Way to go, Abhi! Way to go. In spite of all the thorns some idiots planted in your way even after you reached Dubai, you’ve done well. You’ve maintained your composure. You did not compromise your values and truths and standards for money and security. No blackmail, no threats, no hostage situation will work.”
And you, yes you, if you have read till here without feeling ashamed, read this: you can keep the money. My hard-earned money. You will never understand some values. I pity you.”
And now, I am very enthused to come to work. To see smiling faces, to people who know what their role in the company is, to friendly and understanding HR people.
Today was actually a half day for me, yet am not home! Hmmm… that is a pleasant surprise!
I will not hesitate to add the “D” after HR in this organization. D for Development.
You may thinking why am I suddenly writing a lot about work and atmosphere at work.
Maybe it is relief.
Maybe it is true-found happiness.
Much awaited paradise at work where new ideas are accepted; new IDs are adopted into the organisation family.
Man, this organization has everything I can ask for:
Genuine vision and mission statements like TIS
Ethical values, openness, and transparency like TIS and Brainvisa
Freedom (of speech, text, ideas, and expression) like Brainvisa
Senior management help in every way like Brainvisa (I have nothing more to ask for; we can order any book, tool, subscription we want to work better.)
Realistic, open-door policy (even to an entrepreneurial, educated, charismatic, millionaire Arab’s busy cabin!)
I found the respect, acknowledgement, and values that I were searching for in an organization ever since I started working way back in February 2000.
Hmmm… It has been five years. It has been an experience. And I have led a very experimental worklife. Have met all kinds of people and all kinds of organizations. Some made me feel wow! And one organization even made me puke! The levels they fell… Cheee!!!
Anyways, I believe the Law of Karma works. What goes, comes around. I know I haven’t wronged. I will always stand for truth, courage, openness, frankness, and democracy at work. Even at the cost of jobs, security, or money.
Because only when I grow spiritually, does my organization grow.
Today, after a long, long time, I feel like dedicating my life and soul to an organization. Just the way I had done for compassbox.com. And I will. They deserve it. This organization is the best I have seen so far.
“Way to go, Abhi! Way to go. In spite of all the thorns some idiots planted in your way even after you reached Dubai, you’ve done well. You’ve maintained your composure. You did not compromise your values and truths and standards for money and security. No blackmail, no threats, no hostage situation will work.”
And you, yes you, if you have read till here without feeling ashamed, read this: you can keep the money. My hard-earned money. You will never understand some values. I pity you.”
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Another Malayalee in Gelf!
It’s been a week since I landed here. But to start with my bags did not arrive with me! Thai Airways just did not load my bags.
A friend went to Chennai airport and did the needful. And my bags (containing all the documents that prove that I am an educated man) landed here on last Saturday.
Phew! Meanwhile, here, my company had arranged for accommodation at Flat 201, Al Attar Shopping Mall, Near Karama Centre, Al Karama.
This is a spacious 3-bedroom kitchen flat. Shared by 15 people. Yes, you read it right: 15 people.
This kind of accommodation is called “Bedspace” here. And this costs Dhs. 750 per month. Not bad actually. You have TVs in every room, a cupboard and a bed for yourself, a common washing machine, and a common fridge.
Every morning, life begins with queues outside the two lavish bathrooms. There are bathtubs, but I hardly get the time or luxury to just sink in it. You don’t need geysers here. Just open the tap anytime night or day and you get running hot water! So I have a steam bath everyday.
In a way, it is dormitory/ hostel and chawl lifestyle!
Al Attar is famous for two things:
Filipinos… and there are loads of them.
Cockroaches… legacy left behind by various nationalities!
The cockroaches here are small, slow, and lazy. But not the Filipinos. They are fair, short, loud, and mostly ugly. They eat anything, from rats to dogs to the like. I mean what more can a man eat!
The bed opposite mine is shared by a human cockroach. We all call him garbage. That man is most unclean man I have ever seen (He tucks his shirt inside his underwear!) Yuck! He eats, dries his clothes, sits, sleeps on that one bed…! Yurgh!
Most Filipinos are into prostitution here. Or if not, they are working as counter staff, salesgirls in the innumerable supermarkets and shops.
Most men here talk only sex or women. I guess, the first time they see Russians, Moroccans, Lebanese, etc., it must be something. And yes, some women are really, really hot… as my friend Sachin says, “Dudh se nahati hain kya?”
The organization I work at here is awesome. Simply awesome. They
really, really know how to treat employees.
care.
help.
believe.
don’t lie.
don’t threaten or blackmail or harass you.
This blog is a toast to my new life (and all my dreams, hopes, and aspirations associated with it).
So people, one more Malayalee has landed in the Gelf. In this desert. To make money. Save money. Finish off his house loan. Settle in life.
To go back to India. My love. My life.
A friend went to Chennai airport and did the needful. And my bags (containing all the documents that prove that I am an educated man) landed here on last Saturday.
Phew! Meanwhile, here, my company had arranged for accommodation at Flat 201, Al Attar Shopping Mall, Near Karama Centre, Al Karama.
This is a spacious 3-bedroom kitchen flat. Shared by 15 people. Yes, you read it right: 15 people.
This kind of accommodation is called “Bedspace” here. And this costs Dhs. 750 per month. Not bad actually. You have TVs in every room, a cupboard and a bed for yourself, a common washing machine, and a common fridge.
Every morning, life begins with queues outside the two lavish bathrooms. There are bathtubs, but I hardly get the time or luxury to just sink in it. You don’t need geysers here. Just open the tap anytime night or day and you get running hot water! So I have a steam bath everyday.
In a way, it is dormitory/ hostel and chawl lifestyle!
Al Attar is famous for two things:
Filipinos… and there are loads of them.
Cockroaches… legacy left behind by various nationalities!
The cockroaches here are small, slow, and lazy. But not the Filipinos. They are fair, short, loud, and mostly ugly. They eat anything, from rats to dogs to the like. I mean what more can a man eat!
The bed opposite mine is shared by a human cockroach. We all call him garbage. That man is most unclean man I have ever seen (He tucks his shirt inside his underwear!) Yuck! He eats, dries his clothes, sits, sleeps on that one bed…! Yurgh!
Most Filipinos are into prostitution here. Or if not, they are working as counter staff, salesgirls in the innumerable supermarkets and shops.
Most men here talk only sex or women. I guess, the first time they see Russians, Moroccans, Lebanese, etc., it must be something. And yes, some women are really, really hot… as my friend Sachin says, “Dudh se nahati hain kya?”
The organization I work at here is awesome. Simply awesome. They
really, really know how to treat employees.
care.
help.
believe.
don’t lie.
don’t threaten or blackmail or harass you.
This blog is a toast to my new life (and all my dreams, hopes, and aspirations associated with it).
So people, one more Malayalee has landed in the Gelf. In this desert. To make money. Save money. Finish off his house loan. Settle in life.
To go back to India. My love. My life.
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