the white carpet!

It's 19th dec,2008, and as usual i get up lazily and get ready to go to lab. What's new in that.....its the same old routine i have been following the last couple of months (direly need a break from that though!!)...anyways, getting back....the only new thing is "IT'S SNOWING OUTSIDE"......and it looks really great.....the whole street laid down in a snow white carpet.....the branches of tree loaded with snow.......everything looking the same...no difference...all streets, all houses, all curves, all turns look alike.....like GOD has made everything similar and equal. I have great fun going to college for this once...and instead of taking the bus i decide to walk down to college...Now who will like to work in the lab in the good heated room when its snowing outside....i call up aishwarya, n she's in the same mood too......like two 5 yr olds waiting for their mom to give green signal for their playtime....we (me, aishwarya and rohan) rush out in the snow...i swear its the most beautiful scene i have ever seen in my life....i even call up uncle and tell him that i was playing in the snow..(actually, i was really behaving like a 5 yr old...n i loved it..there are not many oppurtunities when u can actually become a 5 yr old after u have grown into a boring adult with a monotonous life)......it seemed like we are in shimla or kullu manali, throwing snow at each other......we go the great lawns, to the church....to rohan's special small little fountain behind the church.....v so much enjoy it...takin a lot of pics......walking in the snow....feels like u are walking on a crunchy sponge......"beep...beep...beep..beep"......what yaar...the timer goes off....n v had to finally return to the lab to continue with our lab work....but that was really fun i tell you.....people who havnt been in snow.....u shd atleast once in life even if the place is a city like NY. and then i again remember uncle words.."bacchu pehli snow sabhi ko acchi lagti hai...hume nahi lagti..aake mera driveway saaf kardena.."....now uncle, to tell u the truth i think i'll like snow forever....i guess untill i actually have a house here with a big driveway which i'll have to clean....untill then Mr. Snow you are welcome into my life!!!

Scavenging the house....

Its 7 00 Am, and Ishika wakes me up....says, "we have to go"....
i open my still sleepy eyes..and it takes me two minutes to remember that we have to for scavenging...a house......now, as a student in USA, n that too on an F1 visa....u cant afford to buy everything for ur room/house/apt.
So, then by 9 00 am, me, ishika and arpita set off to go to this lady's place, who r leaving for India permanently....so have a lot of stuff to carry back......
The small twist...as we are about to aboard the bus..ishika's aunty calls n says that that lady had told us not to come so early..but then v had classess n that's the only time we could go..
We call that lady and then she tells them they wnt be up till late and that we wudnt be able to get the comforter till then....but that's wat we were goin for..so now wat...we make a long face, n then arpita comments.."yaar, itni jaldi uthe hai kahi to jana padega!"
as if that lady heard her tell this...she calls up again n tells that we can come if want to take some other stuff..so finally our early morning rise not wasted..we ride a bus n subway..search all the streets and after some 1 hr we find her apartment.....hurray!!!
we are ushered in a house that has all its belonging in the living room...its like an invitation...."take watever u want..everythings here".....
and our scavenging begins....first dishes, bowls, small dishes....a coffee mug with a "lid" as satyu has (satyu if u do read this then i got this for free n u had to pay :) )..then lots of hangers...and paper rolls...now these r not costly..but if u get free then wats the big deal...i wanted to take fivc but seeing my roomiee look in her face, took only 3 ;)...
then it was time for the kid to wake up..waise bhi der tak sona acchi baat nahi hai....n we were lucky enough to get our comforters!!!
so finally our mission successfull...now the only question was how wud be take all these home!!!
But, then three donkeys..always pay for the work...so we three finally lugged everything and began our journey back home...n welcoming us was a good strong shower of rain...and by the time we reached home..our sponge bed, n everything including us were wet...
but all in all fun...
how many times do u get fokat ka maal.....lol

at vaishali's place...

my flight finally landed..after 22 hours of daylight....and with two kids around me....baby sitting them....cute but nosy kids....so finally relieved by them as my flight lands...the new land calling...with a spectacular view of the newark airport and the scenes from above.the pastures, the green land...the ravine...with so much ordered landscapes...it was a beautiful sight....felt good coming here...
i went to the immigration counter next...with all my records and forms....waited in a long line....n finally met the immigration officer....he checked my passport..took my fingerprints...n then asks??? first time in US...i said yes...coming for studies??which course...i reply, "masters in toxicology"..but the last word doesnt ring a bell in his ears...but he shrugs off....and then gives my passport back with a smile and "maintain 4 GPA...all the best"..with a big thanks to him i proceed to collect my luggage...
ok now...i did label my luggage properly...but here everything seems the same...some were unique...that were laminated....i mean the whole thing sealed in plastic...now thats brains..not many have their luggage sealed in plastic entirely.
i waited with my trolley all the way...n noticed a lot of indians..n that too tamilians...here and there....some returning..some for the first time...so its was fun watching the scenario...but hey..my luggage just went past me..i lunged for it...but nope...it wnt come that easy..so i waited for it to complete one revolution. the next very moment...the old fellow before me...fell..trying to pull his 23 kg bag...n cried "amma"..okay now he's tamilian too...it took me five minutes to make him upright again and to know if he's okay...
n then again another lady fell doing the same thing...ok now...this is a common scene here...
finally after some 30 minutes i got all the three bags n i headed for the customs...n the customs official just asks me if i have any pickles..i say "no just indian sweets"...n well..he also wishes me best of luck...
n i finally m out of the airport searching for vaishali and kudrat. now..where are they????..i scan the whole line of awaiting people...four times..but no sign of them...
now....wat...i try the booth..but it asks for coins..and i dnt have any..i ask people for coins..but they dnt have any....now dnt the US people need any chillars...
finally i just look at the people...i find one man.speaking a language familiar to me but not fully known...okay..he speaks malayalam. now thats good...i go n tell him.." the people who r comin to recieve me...are not here..so can i call....??" " where do u have to calll?"..pat comes the reply...i say "NJ"..okay..u can call....finally i dial kudrat..n i say hello this is ramya...."oh hi ramya..m on the way..just 10 min..sorry...be right there.ok" ...i say "ok..bye"
i thank that uncle..n go out..
stand at the footpath and just take in the whole metal beauty of the country....
flyovers going over each other..u never know where they would end...cars driving in a single que..with no hiccups..and observing the other passengers..here n there....n theennnn i see vaishali walking and kudrat running...ofcourse vaishu is carrying..so....;)
a biiiigggg smile spreads on my face and then i say hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii....shake hands with jijju..i.e. kudrat....n give a tight hug to vaishali..
n v sit in the car...n exchange looks and greetings while jijju is gone to recieve somebody else...
i tell vaishu everything on her mother's behalf..and then i check her....has put on weight...looks very cute..n happy...i feel happy for her...
finally the other guest also arrives and v reach home...observing the streets, buildings and lanes...the cars.the people....
n i like it here....
reaching home...i greet aunty and ba..and didi is there..with the two kids...have a good talk...
have some fun with the kids..give them the game...which they like very much..but unfortunately it'll take a couple of years for them to start playing scrabble..anyways..its a long life game...so its ok i guess....butttt.....if the game is intact by then!!!
have a good refreshing bath....and at the dinner table....have great fun with jijju n jijjaji(jijju's jijju)
and pull legs of vaishu..n njoy a lot...after some talk..i go n sleep...my first sleep at US...in a cossy bed...feeling great and haappppppyyy!!!!

KABHI KABHI AIDTI

Kabhi Kabhi Aditi Zindagi Me Yun Hi Koi Apna Lagta Hai
Kabhi Kabhi Aditi Woh Bichad Jaaye Toh Ek Sapna Lagta Hai
Aise Me Koi Kaise Apne Aansuon Ko Behnay Se Roke
Aur Kaise Koi Sochle Ki Everything'S Gonna Be Okay
Kabhi Kabhi Toh Lage Zindagi Me Rahi Na Khushi Aur Na Maza
Kabhi Kabhi Toh Lage Har Din Mushkil Aur Har Pal Ek Saza
Aise Me Koi Kaise Muskuraaye, Kaise Has De Khush Hoke
Aur Kaise Koi Sochle Ki Everything'S Gonna Be Okay
Soch Zara Jan-E-Jaan Tujh Ko Hum Kitna Chahte Hain
Rotay Hain Hum Bhi Agar Tere Aankhon Me Aansun Aate Hain
Gaana Toh Aata Nahi Hai Magar Phir Bhi Hum Gaate Hain
Hey Aditi Maan Kabhi--Kabhi Saare Jahan Me Andhera Hota Hai
Lekin Raat Ke Baad Hi Toh Savera Hota Hai
Kabhi Kabhi Aditi Zindagi Me Yun Hi Koi Apna Lagta Hai
Kabhi Kabhi Aditi Woh Bichar Jaye Toh Ek Sapna Lagta Hai
Hey Aditi Has De Has De Has De Has De Has De Has De Tu Zara
Nahi Toh Bas Thoda Thoda Thoda Thoda Thoda Thoda Muskura
Tu Khush Hai Toh Lage Kay Jahan Main Chaiyi Hai Khushi
Sooraj Nikle Baadalon Se Aur Bantay Zindagi
Sun Toh Zara Madhosh Hawa--Tujhse Kehne Lagi
Ki Aditi Woh Jo Bichadte Hain Ik Na Ik Din Phir Mil Jate
Yeh Aditi Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na Phool Phir Khil Jate Hain
Kabhi Kabhi Aditi Zindagi Me Yun Hi Koi Apna Lagta Hai
Kabhi Kabhi Aditi Who Bichad Jaye Toh Ek Sapna Lagta Hai
Hey Aditi Has De Has De Has De Has De Has De Has De Tu Zara
Nahi Toh Bas Thoda Thoda Thoda Thoda Thoda Thoda Muskura

When things go worng, as they sometimes will,


When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,


When the funds are low and the debts are high,


and yoy want to smile, but you have to sigh,


When care is pressing you down a bit,


Rest, if you must----but don't quit.




Life is queer with it's twish and turns,


As everyone of us sometimes learns,


And many a failure turns about,


When he might have won had he stuck it out;


Don't give up, though the pace seems slow----


You might succeed with another blow.




Often the goal is nearer than


it seems to a faint and falltering man,


Often the struggler has given up


When he might have captured the victor's cup.


And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,


how close he was to the golden crown.




Success is failure turned inside out---


The silver tint of the clouds doubt---


And you never can tell how close it seems afar;


So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit----


It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.

Pharmacist= medical store!!!!!?????????

“ So, aap ek davai ki dukan kholenge??? Right…..” this is what I hear whenever somebody comes to know that I ‘m doing pharmacy. Is there nothing else that a pharmacist can do?????
And next when I tell them that I’m not interested in opening a pharmacy store, because I want to be a clinical pharmacist, then….right comes the next question……” kabhie suna nahin iske bareme” I explained them what is a clinical pharmacist….that they have to look after the medication profile of the patient and a lot other things….and the prompt reply u get…..”lekin woh to doctors ka kaam hai na”
And when I started hospital training, I realized that it’s not just the layman, even the doctors (to call them physician actually) don’t know what can a pharmacist do apart from running a drug store…(which my cousin recently mixed with a chemist shop). Really, in India, no one actually cares about this profession and its such a sad thing to see around when u actually are a part of that profession. We 4-6 girls went on a hospital hunt that would allow us as a trainee….but no…..nobody has space and the prompt question…….”pharmacist ka kya kam?” I used to boil when they ask such a stupid question…..n that too doctors and directors of the hospital…….and then the response we get when we discuss with them our profile…….”we cant allow you to disturb (heran) our patients, this is a private hospital and we run a business here(business my foot…u are dealing with the life of humans not a machine!!!), and how can we allow you to crowd our place and disturb our patients.” I was so angry that I spoke out, “Sir, that’s what we have to do as a Clinical Pharmacist, not disturb the patients but to check whether their medications are right and if they are not facing any sort of difficulties. This is what is prevalent in US and that’s why the pharmacists are held in such a high esteem, because they know the value of a pharmacist.”
I wanted to add something more……….but didn’t speak out……I knew a case of that hospital when a patient was given high doses of the household drug, paracetamol, to treat chickengunia, and result…the patient suffered a liver failure. Now this would have been avoided if a pharmacist would have been around when the doctor was prescribing such a high dose of paracetamol!!! Just think about it…..
Another incident that I just recently read in a newspaper is of a man in Mumbai who is in coma since 11/2- 2 years, why because he took painkillers. Surprising???? Ya, but the fact is that he was suffering from asthma…..and generally a class of painkillers are contraindicated in patients with asthma….they are given a different kind of medicine. Just imagine….what would have been the case if a pharmacist with a sense of responsibility had warned him about this while he had gone to take his asthma medicines….and naturally how come a pharmacist whom he would have asked for painkillers know about his condition.
This is something serious and there has to be a change in the way pharmacists are valued in India……if you give respect to our profession then even we would come out with efforts to change the way……