Today is my 6th day in Tokyo. Till now it seems that my rest of trip here is going to be a little bit relaxing from my work point of view. The scope of my work has reduced drastically since I've arrived here. But since this is software industry, it takes no time for that reduction to shoot up back again. Lets keep the fingers, hands, feet, everything crossed.

Well, my stay here in Japan has been quite interesting till now. I'm learning new things everyday by observing local people here. Although I'm still not able to get hold of any Japanese daily use words but that is just matter of few more days. Japanese, nature-wise, are very silent, calm, polite, courteous people. Their courtesy can easily give you a pain in the neck as you have to bent it so many times in a day, be it your office, or any restaurant, or any shop. But in terms of working I haven't seen such vigor, enthusiasm, intelligence, far-sightedness in any other race with whom I have been in contact with. While interacting with my clients, I'm gaining insight into the mentality of any normal Japanese. Their quest for development never stops. They always want to go to the next level as fast as they can. That is why I was so mesmerized looking at the grandeur of Tokyo city itself. I can't believe this is the same country that has suffered so majorly in WW-II.

Here are few things that I have observed about Japanese people till now:

1. There are several way of greetings and thanking which varies depending on situation.
2. Whenever you enter a restaurant, you will be loudly greeted by everyone: the cashier, the waiters, the cook etc. Similar happens when you exit the restaurant.
3. It is considered quite rude if you don't produce your visiting card while meeting someone officially. Also, if you don't read the other person's card before putting inside your pocket.
4. Japanese people don't wear too loud colors, especially, for work.
5. If you are having a drink with someone, it is the other person who will pour the drink into your glass and vice verse.
6. They sweat very less even in this hot and humid climate nowadays.
7. Traffic discipline and etiquette are praise worthy.

I can go on but I'll surely add to the list in coming days.

I'm having nice time here. Not unlike Qatar, where I was bored to death. But the only thing is I miss Lothika very much. I so want her to be here with me and share all these experiences with me. I have decided, that whatever is my next trip I'm going to try my best that it is on a work permit for a long term so that I can take her with me too.

I'm in Tokyo

I'm trying hard to keep my diary updated. As visible it has been about two weeks since my last entry. Well, the reason being Lothika was here in Pune and when she is around I don't get time for my extra circular activities. There is so much to do with her that often I forget to put my daily entry into this. But I guess that is what I need. It is much better to return home and someone is waiting for you as compared to coming to an empty house and then trying to kill time one way or the other. Anyways, it was fun days since my last post.

Last to last weekend we went on a drive to Lavasa city. It was worth the time spent driving among lush green hills around Pune getting the dose of fresh air filling our lungs. And when you have your partner sitting beside you, the trip becomes more fun. It was a great Saturday.

Last weekend, we spent in Mumbai and had a great booze party at Khatu's. Milan has just come back from US and as is the trend with everybody returning from a foreign trip, he was loaded with alcohol. So we had our old traditional party at flat with kurkure, chicken etc. The only difference, we had proper glasses this time instead of plastic ones everytime. Five of us drank away a full white of Black Label.

Now, I'm getting prepared for my Japan trip. My Visa has come and will be with me tomorrow. Now I've to start preparing a list of things which I have to do before leaving. All are in my mind now. I hope I don't miss out anything.

Today was very long day. I was literally napping sitting at my desk. I can easily enjoy that luxury as I sit in a separate building than my fellow practice group mates. I can even put my head down on the keyboard and enjoy my sleep. Though, I'm not able to do so. I just don't feel like doing so. Even if I put down my head I won't be able to continue it for more than few seconds. It just feels awkward. I keep having this feeling that someone is just standing behind me and noticing me and feeling disgusted. I sometimes feel disgusted when I see other people napping in the office. So why should I make anyone else feel the same?

Anyways, I made it through the day. But I'm still not over my weekend hangover. No, I didn't went on a drinking binge and lost my nerves. This is Batman hangover. Saw this most amazing movie I have seen for a long long time and came out of E-square thoroughly impressed. I knew that today, on Infy BB, nothing else will be discussed but the movie and I was bang on right. 99% of people have definitely liked the movie and every review has given it 4 out of 5 stars in their rating. Although I did hear some critical reception by those skeptics that don't like anything and will try to find fault in every goddamn thing in universe. But who cares? I'm going to watch the movie again and I'm thinking of catching it on the IMAX screen.

I will be leaving for Japan sometime in mid August. So it is about one month before I go. That is a lot of time to complete my certifications, so I'm relaxed a bit. But relaxing means the same old boring time-kill in the office. Thinking of office, let me describe a little experience of politics today. This colleague (I won't mention names) is kinda jealous of me going to Japan on the project. And through some cheap tactics trying everything that she goes in place of me. Although the so called "tactics" are very childish and won't effect me in minutest way but I had never thought that person to be a player of notorious office-politics. I don't like office-politics and I try to avoid being part of it as much as I can. But I too can be a shrewd player in this business. After all, this is my career too.

I definitely needed today's off. I was thinking about this since yesterday as I was sure that I am going to fall sick in the morning. And I wanted to spend a day with Lothika at home since that Chennai trip hasn't given me a chance to do so last weekend. So it was a total lazy day with doing nothing but watching TV or reading or sleeping. I'm so sad that the day got over so quickly. But this middle-of-the-week break was quite nice and refreshing. Now I have just 3 more days to kill before the weekend comes.

I watched 'Letter from Iwo Jima' today. I had seen the other companion of the movie 'Flags of our Fathers' long time back. I really liked that movie but this was a much better Eastwood make. Clint Eastwood has really graduated into the lines of all top-notch Hollywood directors. These twins of movies really proves his directorial talents. The movie showed the Japanese side of the battle of Iwo Jima in WWII as to how they futilely tried to defend the island from American invasion. The Japanese side was being led by a very competent general but stupidity of his subordinates, who believed in the old long Japanese tradition of considering suicide as an honour, lost him the battle. It was beautifully depicted added with some extraordinary acting skills by the cast. Allover, this was a perfect way to end the perfect resting day.

It was after a week that I went to office today. I was in Chennai DC for some training and yes as told by many I didn't like the city a bit. Bad food, bad weather and bad overall environment. Anyways, just leave these bad things apart. Now for some good news. I'm finally getting project. But even the good news has some sad part. I have to travel to Japan for this. Of all the places in the world, Japan is one country for which I'm not that too eager to visit. A land of workaholics who have no social life. They work almost 20 hours a day and make everyone else do the same. So I guess this experience is gonna be quite thrilling.

I'm leaving for Chennai this weekend for a week long official trip. Had it been any other city I would have been quite excited about it but not this city. I have heard so much about Chennai that nothing attracts me about it. Anyways, I'll be spending most of my day in Infy campus with little time for sight seeing etc. A busy tour it is going to be.

eYes. I know it has been quite a few days since my last entry. Let me sum up past few days in short.

I was in Mumbai for the weekend. As usual, I drove to Mumbai offering carpool to whoever who was interested in pooling. Friday night we uselessly wandered from one theater to other to catch 'Get Smart' but missed the last show everywhere. But Saturday was quite exciting. After chillaxing rest of the day, in the evening we started for town side. Lothika did some shopping on her favorite outlet 'Globus'. I bought some PS2 games, which I was thinking of getting since many weeks or rather months. Then we had some exquisite kebabs at the famous 'Bade Miyan' of Mumbai. That joint never disappoints me. Afterwards, we went to 'Inox' to catch the movie. Although we were just able to purchase two of last few remaining seats, but when we came out nobody was disappointed with movie even though we were watching it from the front most row. That ended our fabolous Saturday. Sunday got over quickly with early morning pickup of Mummy-Papa from station and in the evening catching up 'French Grand Prix'. What a happening weekend, wouldn't you say??

Anyways, Monday was as usual bad as ever. As such I was tired of getting up and driving all the way from Mumbai to Pune early in morning. Not being able to concentrate on anything throughout the day, and the already bad day was worsen when I found out in evening that my internet account is suspended. I had a big altercation with the Reliance Customer Care, me being totally pissed off but I thoroughly enjoy whenever I get chance to scream my heart & lungs out on anybody.

I got back my internet connection yesterday late night and so I'm updating my journal today. The positive news that I had mentioned in my previous entry turned out to be not that much positive after all. I did get some work but that is not something that would keep me occupied for whole day in office. Today I have decided that it is now time to really start pushing my managers to assign me on some project. I'm getting rusted for last one year. First in Mphasis and now in Infosys.

Finally, there is some positive news. Today, as I switched on my PC in office I saw an invite to a meeting for Friday. The agenda of the meeting is quite promising and it might give me some work to do. I might get out of this daily boredom and monotony. And most importantly I will be able to meet some other people in my group.

I got my car back from the workshop in the evening. It lighted my wallet by 9000 bucks. But the car is looking like brand new in driving. I had a smooth ride equivalent to what I had when I first took it out of the showroom. Tomorrow's drive to Mumbai might be quite enjoyable.

Yesterday was open house session in Infy and I was looking forward to it. The main reason being to hear NRN. He is a great orator and came out of it quite impressed. It felt quite good and proud to be associated with such a reputed company. I 'm just waiting to get some work so that I can prove my worth.

Another dark side of IT came forward today in two instances. I'm referring to the office politics. First was case of Amit's TA who yesterday suddenly got a call that his scheduled onsite assignment to Australia has been canceled. The reason being another senior person got a chance over him despite him being more appropriate for the required job. Poor guy has done all the planning, mental as well as physical, for this thing. He was totally pissed off and in frustration has just gone absent from office.

Second was case of Gaurav. He was recently shortlisted for a project. Project being in different technology than his forte, he asked to be not assigned to it. In return he got a straight threat from SPM that he'll get negative feedback if he refuses now. This was seriously not expected from a person at such a high post.

These kind of cases sometimes sadden me but we have to take them as part of the career life. I neither like doing it or being a part of it, but have to bear with it.

I am going to rank today, 16th June 2008, as the worst day of the year. As it is, the day is Monday with all the Monday Blues of going to office. If we add to this remorse of Lothika leaving for Mumbai, some indigestion, an eye infection and some stupid biker damaging my car, it leaves a little anything good about this day. And I have just burned my finger tip while making some coffee for myself.

Its Sunday again. Another fun-filled weekend with Lothika is about to end and a lonely week ahead. I had never imagined that we would be facing such a situation so soon after marriage. I have heard so many stories of couples living in different cities but I never wanted to experience it. I'm just glad that I hadn't chosen Delhi instead of Pune. It would have been impossible to see each other on weekends too. Last week she could have spent in Pune only if there were some indications that her office will be closed for whole week owing to some power problem. But anyways, I just have to kill the five days ahead before meeting her again on Friday.

Euro 2008 is on. The thrilling matches with fouls, goals, saves, shots etc are on everybody’s tongue and mind. It was all nostalgic to me. It took me back to Euro 2004, the first year of my career. I recapped my bachelor shared accommodation with Vikram, Gurpreet, Sulabh and Rajiv when all the things were so disorganized, when there was no planning in life, when decisions were made at spur of moment and when we were just exhilarating in our independent life. Euro 2004 jogged my memory because we were so crazed about the matches, that after 3-4 days of catching matches at one’s place or other’s, we decided to purchase a T.V. just to catch the match. Nobody cared if it was affordable or not. We had to live miser’s life for next few months but it was worth it. There was late night watching of football combined with shrieks, hu-ha-hus and every usage of the big F word. Sometimes intermixed with beer, sometimes with whisky and sometimes with just plain water the whole Euro month was exciting.

Life has moved on since then. Everybody of us is busy in his own life. Some have moved out of Mumbai (including me) and some out of country but at this moment nobody of those five roommates are living under same roof. I, for one, have another very important person in my life and all my priorities are diverted towards her. Now everything is organized, planned and not haphazardly decided. Now life is with more responsibility. I think I speak the same for each one of us. But I guess each one of us has accepted and absorbed this change and for good only.

I have completed more than a month in Infosys and I don't feel a damn difference from my previous organization (Mphasis). My day long activities in office are quite similar as they were prior to joining here. I have to murder every second, every minute, and every hour in front of my cubicle and just wait for the clock to struck 3:45 when I pick up my bag, switch off the PC and run to catch 4:00 bus to home. But in spite of this monotonous routine I’m not that disappointed or frustrated as I was in Mphasis. The reason being the name “Infosys” itself. I’m excited to be associated with one of the top IT companies of India and I’m sure I can carve out my career over here. It is just matter of time until some project comes my way.

Till today afternoon I was looking forward to the big bash of my unit in the evening. But as the day progressed I began doubting if I’ll be able to last till 6:00. And my doubts were right. At 3:30 I strolled over to cubicle of Gaurav (my colleague who joined on same date as me) and asked if he is interested in attending the party. I could read from his face that he is missing his bed more than anything at that time. Anyways, we still tried to find any attractive reason to stay back. Maybe they are going to have free booze. But no, booze was there but you have to empty your own wallet for that. That was it. We straight away headed to main gate to catch our respective buses for our home.

And now I’m here and I’m thinking that I should have solved some extra crossword puzzles to kill two more hours and then attend the party. Coming back to home when you don’t have your wife is quite sad. So I decided to start this new blog with this new entry while watching the repeat telecast of Euro 2008 match between Spain and Russia.