Shyam's Blog

It was a quick trip to CA for the Memorial Day Weekend. All the words said by the co-passenger on the way from SLC to SJC are still fresh. It was a co-incidence to see that person again on the way back too. Saturday was SJSU graduation commencement ceremony with Omid Kordestani, Senior VP, Global Sales, Google, being the guest speaker. His punch word to 20,000-odd audience present at Spartan Stadium was, "think like an immigrant". He emphasized that immigrants have the mindset of challenging the world and achieving what they want (in many cases, against all odds). I don't know how the audience took this statement. Personally, this was a very bold statement by the VP! Oh.. I forgot to tell - why was I there in that ceremony? My SIL graduated with a Master's degree! With parties and food all day, it was time to sleep when the clock struck 10pm. Sunday was a fun day - Boating at Charbot lake and later, Cherry picking at Brentwood - We get to pick the cherries from the tr...

Pictures from this year's Thyagaraja Music Festival here in Salt Lake City, Utah. It was great to be part of this year's event which was the 12th year in succession this festival was being celebrated in SLC. (From Left: Swaminathan on Mridangam, Mahesh Subramanian on the Kanjira and Divya Ramachandran on the Violin) . Photo - Courtesy Purushotham Kamat. Having a chance to sing with my dad after a long time was truly a boost. Photo - Courtesy Purushotham Kamat.

I was practising today which took me back our practise sessions before our first concert. 'Our' here is referred to my brother and I. It was like making a ODI cricket debut! What was the feeling before the concert? I was not worried about the performance. I just had in my mind that whatever comes up on stage will be fine. With sufficient practise, we were confident with the game plan. At that moment, I thought, "If we make a mistake, it will be because of lack of concert experience and audience will not be too critical about it". What was it singing for the first time? It was a bit different after burning my tongue! Just before the concert, we were served hot 'badam' milk - I didn't know that it was extra hot. That kept aside, it was a good experience. The place was open air with temporary structure built. We had sung 'ninne nammithinayya' (in the raaga simhendramadhyama set to mishra chapu taala) as the main piece of the concert. Because the stage...

Hungry graduates standing in the line for Masala Dosa Two hungry graduate - Yahooooo Two graduates signed the accord for a great breakthrough in the near future Graduation cannot finish without graduation party With parents Soon after graduation, new Graduates ready for Business Executive roles in life Last but not the least, every graduate loves to have such a picture in the album.

Last time I participated in a Fancy Dress was two decades ago! Costume was - Black gown with a cap. Tomorrow is my next Fancy Dress, Costume - Black gown and cap, but with a difference. Then, it was me in disguise as "Arabian Shepard". Ask my mom the reason for making me dress like that - Dressed like Arabian Shepard with a stick in right hand and a white puppy in left trunk. Tomorrow, I will be all dressed for my Graduation Ceremony at Utah State. With a hectic schedule for the day, flying the cap will be the 'catching moment' on the camera.

Today, I was recollecting the days of visa interview at Chennai. That security, the waiting time inside, the anxiety of what questions will be asked, that final moment of relief once visa is approved... and what not. To be short on my episode of visa interview, it lasted for 20-odd days!!! When I went inside at 8am, I thought of coming out by noon and catching the train back at 3pm. Little did I know that people suspect me for something else - reason for this being, my Bachelor's degree certificate which was issued when I was working in the Middle East. Secondly, me holding a Saudi Arabia visa which was still valid on the date of interview. Once I went in, my name was not called at the counter till 3pm. When I approached in the end, one lady comes to me and tells, "your application is under scrutiny. We cannot return your documents right now. You can go now and we will return all papers with the status of application". Just at that moment, I went dumb and didn't have ...