Of Men and their Machines

Coming from a country and city that's notorious for its unreliable, expensive house helpers, the DIY approach in Germany was refreshing when we moved here.

In addition, we had machines that did the work of humans. Machines that we could operate at our beck and call. Machines that we could even program to operate while we slept/ went shopping, only to find clean stuff when we wanted them, magically.

For years, our visitors from India envied us for the comfort these machines provided us, for the hassles we didn't need to bear while dealing with another human being's whims and fancies. They quickly blamed the unreliable electricity in the country to console themselves when they got back to the 'drudgery' of life...

We loved our machines. We planned when they should do the job so we did our bit for the planet. We waited patiently to offload them after their tiring efforts. We pampered them, so we could have a long life together with limited troubles.

The machines gave us the spontaneous life we desired.

However, machines have their limitations too. As our own incapacities started to increase, this year, we finally decided to fill in the gaps between our limitations and those of our machines'.

We finally hired a 'putzfrau', aka a household help since June 2016.

We overlooked the very sexist job title to seek help from the wonderful P. Yes we've completed the full circle - to turn to a human being for help. She knows exactly what products to use, when and for what, for maximum effect. She finds the nooks and corners that need cleaning that only a human eye can spot. For now, she spends 2 hours with us every week. She has the knack to 'delight' her customers.

But most of all, she reassures the fact that machines can peacefully co-exist with humans.
All she demands in return is her well deserved pay and respect for the job she does.

I wish, household help in India could someday demand the same.

Let there be light

For the 1st time in 7 years, my apartment in Bangalore didn't have any celebrations for Diwali. Usually my Dad would put up the lights a couple of days before Diwali and my parents together would make some goodies at home to celebrate. 

It's rather sad to see a dark home on the festival of lights. 

I was pleasantly surprised today when I got a picture from my neighbor in Bangalore. She took the effort to light a couple of lamps in front of my apartment. 

I was really touched by their gesture. All my memories of my time spent in that apartment with my parents came flashing back in that instant. 

I actually had tears in my eyes - partly feeling grateful for having such people in my life and partly coz I missed my Dad and felt overwhelmed with all the changes since. 

It's always amazing to come across people who do small selfless acts as these. 

A milestone

Until now, a birthday didn't mean much - getting older by another year. But this time it was the end of another decade...

In Germany, the birthday ending and beginning a new decade is a special one, so we decided to follow suite and celebrate it too.

While I'm sure every other decade also had their own ups and down, but the last one has been life changing in so many different ways. It was in this decade that I:

• Decided to 'let go' of living with my parents and face life first hand. And boy, did I get a good taste of what life can be outside of one's comfort zone!! 
• Got confronted with very high degrees of criticism and dislike about the person I am and my identity. Thus started an ongoing learning in my life - Every one doesn't need to like me and I need to respect that. Perhaps even appreciate those who say so openly. 
• Bought my own property - my very own 2 bedroom apartment in Bangalore and even cleared the mortgage off all by myself. My mom always told me, "no matter what, make sure you have a small place that you own." Yes mom! :)
• Got married after many many years of patiently waiting for things to work out for us. 
• Moved to Germany - the experience of a different culture, traveling around Europe
• Managed to finish that long desired higher ed - Couldn't have been from a nicer place than Oxford. 
• Fulfilled one of my dad's long standing dreams - to travel abroad. It was great to have my mom and dad over in Germany for a visit. My Dad was so excited, we travelled to Paris, Brussels, Zurich and smaller places around in Germany. 
• Learnt a new language - not quite mastered it yet though. 
• Faced with a medical condition in 2009 - was brought under control in a couple of years. 
• Faced with yet another (bigger) medical condition in 2012. This one really hit me hard as it wasn't just an illness I needed to go through myself. But I needed someone else's immense favor to help me get through this. I stopped asking the question, 'why?' a long time back realizing its futility. This was a long drawn process and a relatively permanent one :( 
• Lost my dad out of the blue. A total shock to us all. Still trying to cope with his absence, while putting a normal face to the world coz the world doesn't let you stop and grieve...Realizing each day the many different small ways and moments that I miss him so dearly. 
• Began my tryst with spirituality...to connect with myself and seeking the deeper meaning to life

The decade taught me a lot about life (and death). Perhaps the most important learning being, to cherish the current moment. So without thinking too much into the uncertain future, I look forward to more that life has to offer for me. 

As Kieth Richards from The Rolling Stones says, "I'm not getting old. I'm evolving."

A decade with SAP

As a generation who belongs to the cusp of pre-liberalization and post-liberalized economy of India, working in a multi-national company was always a fascinating concept for me.
Switching over to join the Technology bandwagon in its early days in Bangalore was one of the better decisions I took in my life.

This gave me the opportunity to marry many different things I cared about:

• Applying my passion for design to create new things
• Being part of something 'new/innovative' 
• Yearning to travel 
• Be paid enough to support my travels ;) 

Design wasn't a very conventional (or lucrative) career path in India when I was making my choices. Little did I know then, that it would be a topic of ever growing importance in the world of business. Today, Technology is a big part of every growing business.

Another decision I am glad I took was, to join SAP 10 years back.

A lot of people and things I have in my life today is thanks to this amazing company. It has supported me with the ups and downs in my life in the last decade.
I am so grateful for it all.

When I aspired to work in a multi-national company, I didn't know what exactly it meant.
Perhaps its the sense of 'borderless-ness' that fascinated me the most.
Now being part of it for 10 years, experiencing it first hand, everyday, I love it.
Despite its inherent complexities.

I recall my days in the Bangalore office when I dialed into conference calls to have meetings with colleagues from 7 different time zones and 4 different countries.

I love having friends from different countries, cultures...

In an environment like this where there are so many differences I believe it becomes pointless to focus on the differences. It becomes easier to look at how similar we humans are at the base of it all.

Thanks for giving me new perspectives and making me feel like a 'global citizen' :)

Life lessons on the court

Each time I play Badminton, I realize how much it can teach you - critical life lessons.

• Learning to make quick calls - to touch each shot (to hit it back) or leave it as it might be going out of the court. 
• Accepting bad/wrong decisions and carrying on 
• Most importantly, loosing a point or two/ a game isn't a big deal. It's important to be there on the court, playing and giving it your best at THAT point in time. 
• For every chance of loosing, there is an equal chance to win 
• Being fully present and attentive - there is absolutely no chance for any other thought to make its way through

The best is, at the end of a tiring, sweaty set of matches, enjoy the feeling of having done something good with your body and mind. 

The aches and pains later remind you of muscles you didn't know existed - so much like the rough times you go through in life with strength you didn't know you had :) 

Home

During my recent long trip to India, I realized I finally have the answer to the question (for now) about where is 'Home' for me...

'Home' for many is by default the place of birth/country of birth/ and most often ONE place that remains rather constant. This does not apply to me. 

At this point and phase of my life, I have two places I call 'Home.' 

1. Bangalore, India 

2. Wiesloch, Germany 

Incidentally neither of these places happen to be associated to my birth. They just happen to be places that make me FEEL like home. 

I find comfort, I feel safe, I feel a sense of belonging contributed by very many factors. 

I was born in Delhi, India but I do not have any affinity to the city anymore. 

I was reminded of the very relatable TED talk of Pico Iyer about this topic. 

The fear

Living far away from elderly parents, if there was one fear that played in my mind, it was that of not being there for them in their last moments.

Perhaps its true when some people believe that your fears often come true cos it uses so much of your energy. Thats what happened. I lost my dad on 7th november, while I was 'busy' with my professional commitments.

That morning when I woke up and got an SMS from him, he told me he wasn't feeling too well. As I was running late for my commitments, I replied, "i'll call later."
The 'later' never happened!

The voice and words of my neighbor informing me of his death on the phone still wakes me up at night. Its etched in my brain forever perhaps.

Its really hard to loose someone that cannot be replaced. The truly 'unconditional' love I received from all along will be something I cherish forever.

Here's to growing up and overcoming (yet another) fear in life.