Letters on the way back to NZ

Letters on my way back to NZ
Wed, 11 Feb 2004 00:02:56 -0800 (PST)

Bangkok
I caught the mid-night plane from Bombay Airport and for the first time in 13 flights I had a smooth flight. In fact, I was at the window admiring the stars. Sleep ofcourse, was out of the question. I should reach Auckland by the 12th at 1300 hours. I had a good six months in India – bowled some fast balls. Met few good friends and missed out on meeting so many others. It’s a pity really. I had not seen level two of bangkok airport and its a bright and sunny day today. This is the colorful section of the airport. i’m travelling with a 12 year smart kid who was travelling alone and I decided to accompany him and make sure he reaches safely. Have a little mixed feeling about Auckland. But then, its been a long time and I have missed writing. See you soon

Mon, 23 Feb 2004 21:06:43 -0800 (PST)

Warehouse
I’m back at the Warehouse for a while. The hard work is fun and the big plus of seeing Maretta who’s cuter than ever. I have a bin chucking job and am getting much needed exercise. College starts back on 1st March but this semester I have just 4 module compared to the 8 mad modules I did last semester. Auckland is a bit empty without Emma. She’s still at the library. We are still not talking. feelings gone. thank God for that. My site www.wildblueskies.com is done – 35% that is. Still needs more (?) content. Went lawn mowing today it was fun. Met a lot of old cronies at the Warehouse. gave away a watch, exchanged a mobile, pissed off a boss. The usual. Bin chucking is fun but not as happening as despatch. The dust and heat there reminds me of India. Just Jokin.Am in touch with mom. The reason I keep going to Warehouse is that when I did not have a job they gave me one. Whatsmore I could send money to mom. That was then Warehouse has changed but yet the same. Nice yet different like MT’s hairstyle

Tue, 2 Mar 2004 23:28:55 -0800 (PST) College
College has started again and I have just four more modules to do. Drama class is good. Its a 3 hour class but I am dramatic enough to do the needful. I was toying with the idea of doing two courses at once but then I thought why screw around. Auckland is sunny after a week of rains. Winter is around the corner and life is slow and steady.

Sat, 20 Mar 2004 19:26:18 -0800 (PST)
Subject:Meeting Winston Peters
Scene I – introductions

What happened at 11.30 morning on a sunny thursday in Auckland:

While I was doing fund raising I met Winston Peters. He was sitting at the Starbucks cafe on Custom St by the harbour. I had waited for this chance this the bill board against immigrants. I walked up to him with Green Peace folder in my hand and said ‘How would you like to help a new immigrant on his first day of a new job? He was taken aback. I persisted that i thought and still know that most Maoris had a big heart and he could help. He did not have the words Mo. Fuck. His tall white gal friend also made space. He did not have the words and looked confused. I said Will you have a nice day if I insist on it. he smiled. Asked me where i was from and what I was doing here. when I told him I was at ACE and had five tertiary qualifications and knew computing like God. he wished me luck and i insisted he have a nice day!
I had waited for this moment for six months. It was his bad day that he met me – a immigrant who can kick ass like no other.

Please Note: Winston Peters is the Bal Thackrey of NZ.
A MP who does not like immigrants.
Suneal Varma is the fastest ass-kicker in the West

Date: Sun, 28 Mar 2004 18:57:51 -0800 (PST)

Subject: Dancing in a bar

Well

Normally, I hate dancing in socials and pubs (or discoes), but I had a torrid time when i went downtown to Auckland City to Margarittas. I went with one of my two best friends Justin, the other being daniel and it was great. I had a great time and so did the Japanese chick i was dancing with. in fact she bought me a drink (just a Coke, of course). I was there one the floor with her and there was this white kid who was eyeing her, who said to me “Hope u get this saucy babe!’ I introduced the jap to him and was dropped off by Justin. I didn’t like her skin it had a few pimples. Besides I dont pick babes from Discoes. you never know what u r getting into — literally.

Date: Tue, 27 Apr 2004 21:20:18 -0700 (PDT)

Subject: Bushes and dawn services

The other day, I went trekking through the Waitakere Ranges (also known as the bushes) in West Auckland. If anyone should have any doubts about New Zealand being an Island. Check the bushes. It looks a bit like Borivali National park actually but the main difference is that it is much greener and more hilly. It looks like the South American rainforests especially the one showed in the movie ‘Romancing the stone’ (the Michael Douglas – Kathreen Turner one). I started at 5.00 in the morning, changed three buses and reached Henderson Valley Road. I walked two and a half kilometers to Justin’s house, had some breakfast and his mom Candy dropped us at the foot of the bushes. The forest ahead looked as dark as Sherwood forest of the Robinhood fame. We went off track in search of a pond and were back on track through flat grasses, tram way, trams, tram stations, hills, mud, sloth, slippery track where I slipped twice since my shoes had a sole that was smoother than the inside of a banana peel. We reached the dam in around two hours and stuck to concrete since I was slipping on my $15shoes. This felt better than the monkey yoga I did with Jenny; it involved jumping on your tail bone and stretching like a dog. The New Zealander lady who taught the course may have lived in India for a decade but she obviously knew nothing about yoga. I saw Emma’s sister Melanie there. Actually I recognised her ass. Coming back to the trek, we were given a lift in a back of a truck and it felt like India in a bullock cart through the jungles. We kept on the concrete once we were back on our feet and the best bit was candy picked us from the bottom of the hill, where we were sleeping on the grass. It was a divine feeling which made my omelette which was acually salty taste even more divine. Justin loved it. Candy pretended to like it but she dumped it in her garden. I saw it with my very own eyes .

Anyway am in great condition physically. Went to a community night in trivial pursuits and the Anzac day dawn service at the musuem.

Date: Sat, 1 May 2004 13:44:37 -0700 (PDT)

Crazeee Saturday!

It was a crazee saturday! I tried calling my cousin Utkarsh in the morning but he was not available. need your prayers as a whole church will be prayin for my cousin today since he has an acute kidney problem. I will also get to Daniel’s church tomorrow. Otherwise it was a saturday when I watched a movie, went dancin and it was raining like Bombay,

Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 20:07:12 -0700 (PDT)
This and that

Today morning I moved out of the Bhosale household. The relief is tremendous. Uncle – or Mr. Bhosale is nice and so is the wife but there were some absolute assholes living there. There was a mallu king piece of shit Sudhir, who would go on trying hard to hide his inferiority complex, giving all my mallu friends a bad name. Than there was the stammering bastard child of the Bhosale’s Vijoo – Read bastard of the universe. Any way in the evening that place was a hot house of gossip and a pain, generally. Anyway I have moved to a separate part of town called Manurewa in South Auckland. I have a whole, clean neat nice house to myself. It’s great. I have my own queen size bed, TV, fridge and everything… That feels fantastic. I’m a bit worried about my mom and utkarsh since there are health issues. Those concerns are running in the back of my mind constantly. Otherwise life is great. there was heavy mist in the morning and no one could see anybody. It’s clear day now and I’m happy to move to a better place.

Sun, 16 May 2004 19:22:14 -0700 (PDT)

Fantastic Place

Papatoetoe High school is a fantastic place. It’s happening and pulsating with knowledge, learning, understanding and growth. It’s a melting pot culturally. And I have had the opportunity to work with absolute genius associate teachers. Of course, this is the last time I work absolutely free and it is fun to be here.

The land is flat, the grass green; people are nice and students are really tolerable. They cover a lot in school as far as computing is concerned. I like this place and my department has great teachers.

The new flat I have moved into is breath taking and am away from those gossipy, obnoxious, hypocritical Indians I was living with. I’m very happy and grate to you Clair (or is it Clare) for placing me here. Sterling Job! As usual.
I still remember that comment about three year wait as I have a few interviews lined up.

Thanks for your confidence in me!

Five Months from Feb to July 2004

Old letters come back to bite
This is a sequel to letters from New Zealand. nzletters.blogspot.com. Written as I left Bombay and then returned to India to find my mom sick and dying. She’s fine now.

Never order a Seafood Pizza in Auckland

It’s YUCK. We partied after a basket ball game of under 10 boys. One of
the players was my friends son. We lost 78 to 1. And the only basket we
scored was in the final seconds of the game. Thus we celebrated. I
don’t eat most non veg so i settled for a sea food pizza. It was yuck.

Flash the Program

Sun, 23 May 2004 18:59:07 -0700 (PDT)

Flash is a pain. I’m trying to learn Fireworks in during my practicum at Papatoetoe High School. The place is generally good. The party on saturday eve at a bar ‘Cayote Ugly’ was not fun. Justin tried his best to make sure I was there and stuff. But that’s Justin. He’s a good friend and I trust him. Most of his friends were great too. But there was not enough dancing space and too much smoke. Besides there were one or two who didn’t like me being there. Or that’s what I feel. But there was Tash who was absolutely great. She lives in a house I lived in a year ago. Of course, now it was a holy mess and could hardly recognise it. She was really nice so was Justin. His new girl friend forgot to introduce me to everybody. We agree on mutual dislike, I suppose. But it got a bit unwelcome. Plus, I was afraid Luke (read 130 kgs) may fall on me as he was drunk and dancing on a table.
But that’s life. I reached home late having to trek 7 kilometers after the bus ride. But I was initially ready to trek 30. So that’s fine. Reiterating my favourite philosophy when the choice is between losing dignity and a long and lonely walk: Start Walking. After all, one must walk the talk.
Fireworks is essentially a design package and looks impossible at this stage to learn. But it’s possible. I hope.

Mom sickness: Appeal for prayer

Sun, 30 May 2004 18:04:48 -0700 (PDT)

Pray for her! Whatever your faith. I’m in a dilemma because she insists that she is fine and I would rather send her the money than spend it on a plane ride. Pray for her

Mom will be discharged from hospital

Wed, 2 Jun 2004 14:30:38 -0700 (PDT)
She is fine. There was slight water in her lungs and a mild inflammation in her liver. Lavina is going back to India. So everything is fine. She will be discharged today. She was in ICU but Doctors insisted that it was nothing fatal or serious. So she is fine. I was not willing to leave India in the first place but in Febraury she insisted that the only way she will become independant is If I went to NZ. And she was well that time. So I came here.
Even when I called she insisted she was fine. Chelu bore the brunt of her sickness by handling Utkarsh’s house because he had a kidney transplant from his wife and her family life and Simran plus Balaji telefilms job and sleeping at the hospital.
And I believe renu masi, mama-mami, usha masi helped a lot. But even Chelna insisted that she was fine and she can be blunt if required so I was a little wee bit relieved. Now Lavina is going back and mom is being discharged. So thanks for your prayers

Singapore Airport

Sun, 4 Jul 2004 02:29:13 -0700 (PDT)

When I handed over Emma’s stereo as a gift to the Airport personnel, I was breaking my ties with my past.
The flight was smooth as silk. I had a lot of apprehensions before I took the flight but Singapore Airlines is great compounded by the fact that I met Sally who is going to Ireland. She is a wonderful human being and we talked about life, which was nice.
Right now I’m at Singapore airport using the free internet service here.
I was touched by Hepa and Sassa and Abish when I saw them plus my eternal friends Daniel, May, Justin, Rao and Jignesh Rathod who dropped me on a cold Auckjland morning. So far it is fine and i have a five hour wait before I take the plane and finally meet mom. I’m also very worried about Utkarsh and dont know whats happening.
Singapore is nice and warm and I had some hot pickle on the plane and everything is fun and frolic.
I will be seeing my mom after 5 mths and first time since ICU. I hope all goes well with me- so far the Lord has been most kind.
Singapore is stunning and warm and green and humid and has one of the best airports on this planet. Bigger than Auckland Airport that has its own charm that no Airport can beat.
The warm and distant asian sun is warming my back after a few stormy days in Auckland.
Keep Praying for my mom.

Winter

Fri, 21 May 2004 22:37:03 -0700 (PDT)

It’s late evening of a rather warm afternoon. But the winter is here. And my new window in my new house has great condensation (that means drops of water from overnight mist) trickling on my grey bedroom window.
My life is considerably fantastic. I am feeling lighter and brighter. a few teaching offers are coming through. Though there was St. Peters School which need a computing teacher and did not shortlist me. Well, you win some and you lose quite a few. That’s life. I’m a bit excited because my friend Justin has invited me for a party of a friend. It’s a fancy dress and people have to dress as pimps and whores. It will be
fun. It’s a pity I gave my black shining shirt to Ishan.
I’m still worried about mom and her breathing. Don’t know what to do. I’m in my last 5 weeks of my course. It’s killing me.
It will be a cold night unless something hot happens!