OBSERVATIONS

About 38 months after I had left the United States of America in 2010, I revisited this country in April, 2013 for a month. It felt surreal to go back there as a tourist and only for a month; when I had already lived there for 3.5 years. I had left the USA from Boston and I came back to the USA at Boston. It felt like I had to complete the journey. It also felt like the beginnings of some weird OCD!

This time around, my experience was very different. Not only because I was going there as a tourist and only to have fun, but what has changed since 2010, drastically, is my perspective towards almost every aspect of my life; and sometimes on others' lives as well. Kind of snobbish, I believe, but I attribute that to my stay in France. If one can't pick up being snobbish, at least a little bit after staying in France for 1.5 years, then there has been no learning from that fascinating country!

Watertown, the suburb of Boston where I used to stay and of course, now infamous because one of the Boston Marathon bombers was arrested there, felt familiar but yet it was like I was seeing it in an all new light. Even the city of Boston. But that might also be, because due to my night shifts at the Westin Waltham-Boston, I hardly go to see the town in any light!

A few things have changed. Much of it has remained the same. One major change that I observed was that in the last three years, a lot of establishments were offering Wi-Fi. Small, but a noticeable change. And, I also discovered what I hadn't in the time I was staying there - Boston actually has a decent public transit system in place. I had always assumed it was not good without any reason whatsoever. I always had a car and never even cared about using public transport. I would always worry about the money I had to pay for a taxi to the airport but I never even for a moment considered using public transport to go to there. This time, I used public transport and as it turns out, it is pretty easy and economical! I wonder whether I used to even think then. This used to be such an issue with me and only for going to the airport, all my hidden instincts of being a miser would come forth and I would struggle with myself and console myself that the taxi driver needs to be paid for the trip.

I was staying with my friends, in Watertown whose daughter is now just over 3 years old and when I had left, she was just about 10 days old. I am so glad that I stayed with them. Not only did I have a great time with the two, but the highlight was the little bundle of excitement and energy. Our names being very similar in sound, I explained to her the difference, which she accounted for in her mind and made it a point to tell it to her father as soon as he came home.

In the last three years, I have been on the hunt for a cheesecake that would rival the one served at 'The Cheesecake Factory'. I must mention that I am a huge fan of the 'Original' flavor of 'The Cheesecake Factory' cheesecake. I don't believe anyone else makes it as good. I am also lucky that I only like that one flavor and I always order that. It saves me from people wanting to try it. Nobody wants to try it because they think it's too plain, but I find it to be better than all the rest put together. I couldn't find a cheesecake version that would pass my stringent taste standards in India nor anywhere in France, Spain, Italy or Switzerland. Having given up hope, I had made it my mission to eat 'the cheesecake' as many times as I could. I managed to eat it twice in the 4 days that I was in Boston; for consecutive meals!

There is a great burger place in Watertown Square called Wild Willy's burgers and I had to visit that. I missed burgers also. I have now arrived at the conclusion that Americans do indeed know how to make a good burger and somehow this art escapes other nationalities. On a trip to Harvard Square, I took a student-led trip of the Harvard Campus. A very interesting fact that was mentioned during the tour was that until approximately 15 years ago, women graduating from Harvard did not get a Harvard degree. The name on the degree was that of Radcliffe College. And, another very interesting fact was that until very recently, students wishing to graduate from Harvard had to pass a swimming test. Anyway, the girl conducting the tour was more than upset that everyone goes to Bartley's burgers in Harvard Square, which although receives great reviews is not a good burger place and people should go to Flat Patty's, just a block away from the square. I followed her advice and I was not disappointed at all.

My trip seemed to be focused on food, more than anything else. I also met a lot of my friends but again, it was over food! I met my old flat-mate and I also met a subordinate of mine from the Westin hotel. I am glad that I have still stayed friends with her and now, she has a handsome little boy, just over a year old. She is a wonderful person and it was great catching up. It surprises me at times, when I meet some people on a regular basis and I never have anything to say and I still feel a distance while there are people whom I meet after a long time and I don't feel the distance at all.

Anyone who wants to try good BBQ in the Boston area should definitely go to Blue Ribbon. Red Bones is good but I think Blue Ribbon is the best. My friend with whom I was staying would disagree but we have been having this debate for a long time now. Now don't start thinking that an Indian would not know anything about BBQ. I have eaten excellent BBQ at various places in Memphis, TN and Austin, TX so I have a decent idea about good BBQ.

Out of my 3.5 years in the US, 2 years were spent in Providence, RI. I could not have given it a miss. I went there for a day and visited the places where I used to stay and the places where I used to hang out with my friends, my university and I also went to the mall, where I had spent innumerable hours. I am not telling why! I was so bent on revisiting the places I used to frequent earlier, I even went to the 7-Eleven next to my university campus and bought a drink and a chapstick. It does sound crazy, I agree.

My trip this time around was also different in another aspect - this was the first time I had a decent camera to capture my present memories and somehow try to relive the ones from the past. I created new memories, some that helped replace some of my old ones; ones that I would hope never to relive again. The others, I shall guard them close to my hear for as long as I can. I had come to share a bond with these two cities where I had lived that I only understood after I had left. I was come over with emotion as my flight came in to land at Boston. But, a new sense of calm and peace descended over me when I revisited these places where I had, in a lot of senses, started my life and had also given it a drastic turn.

One never realizes it when one is going through tough times, but things do have a way of falling in place. It is not easy to be patient but you only realize in retrospect that it was just a passing phase. I remember my state of mind when I left Boston in January, 2010 and I compare that with my state of mind this April of 2013. I realize that I have grown and that I understand myself more. Sometimes, I think that growing up is not understanding the world more but understanding your own self better. I look forward to revisiting Boston in the future and hope to find that I have grown even more.........

(I have indeed grown in size, but I was talking philosophically. I hope I find myself to have reduced greatly in size the next time I am in Boston.)

(Watertown Square)

It is 4:55 pm and I am anxious. Will I make it? Will the people allow me?

For the last 6 months I am doing an internship at the JW Marriott hotel in Cannes while still living in Nice. My daily commute is by train from Nice to Cannes and back. A train ride that in itself is a breeze and probably the most beautiful commute one could hope for. With the Mediterranean Sea on one side, the morning gives me a beautiful view of the first rays of the sun dancing on the calm waters; and the evening brings forth a radiant glow on the sky and the waters taking me to a different world altogether. It is truly heavenly!

However, to experience this is a challenge every morning and also in the evening. The morning train that I usually like to take is the one that leaves Nice Ville at 08h02 that reaches me at 08h35, permitting me to buy a cup of coffee and enjoy it on the Croisette; sitting on a bench and looking out on to the serene hills to the extreme right of Cannes and the multi-million dollar yachts to my left and the endless sea (sometimes spotted with monstrous cruise ships) straight-ahead. Then, there is the 08h06 train that reaches me at 08h48, allowing me exactly the 10 minutes to walk to my hotel and the 2 minutes to walk down to my office to be on time at 09h00. The morning run to the train station, as it normally is rather than a relaxed walk, is thanks to my procrastination to get up on time. When I reach on time, I am elated and nothing can compare that feeling of happiness when you know that you did everything right on time since getting up! This morning run, however is due to my own actions and can't really fault anyone with that. It has at least forced me to exercise a bit; although for a couple minutes of the uphill run.......

The trains are seldom on time when I arrive at the station on time, be it in the morning or in the evening. And, Murphy's law seems to prevail every time I arrive at the station on time and the train is late. I can safely say, that out of the 10 trains I take during the work-week, 7 of them are late. But, they will always be on time when I am late.

The evening is another chore altogether. If I am out the office door exactly at 17h00, I reach the train station exactly on time for the 17h11 train (if it is on time). This journey from my office to the train station is an adventure of sorts. It is fraught with risks. And, I can't even plan it properly although I have been doing for the last so many months. The risks are - people!

Rue d'Antibes is the main shopping street in Cannes and unfortunately my route to the train station. It is filled with people and it's a very narrow street. It has very narrow pavements and a very narrow one-way street, always filled with cars and crazy two-wheelers winding their way through this mess; sometimes even through the pavements.

It has really been an interesting, although quite irritating at times, experience. People watching has been at its best. The single most important thing that I have learned is that "PEOPLE DO NOT, AND I REPEAT, DO NOT WALK STRAIGHT". Especially, people with dogs. I love dogs, but the infatuation with dogs in France has to be seen to be believed. I sometimes wonder if it's even a love for dogs for the French; because some of them would more appropriately be classified as 'rats'.

Yes, I understand that it's a shopping street and that people will look around. But, sometimes it is no less than walking through a mine-field. I can easily liken the dangers of a mine-field to walking on Rue d'Antibes; more so if you want to get somewhere on time. People walking hand-in-hand will walk tirelessly slow, not even looking at the shops but reveling in their own world of love. They will also take up the center of the pavement so you can't even go past them unless you push them aside or ask them hurriedly to move out of your way. Old people will also walk slow, but they are more predictable in their speeds. But, they have a tendency to suddenly stop and admire something. And, considering that they are old, and that I am walking really fast and not to knock them over, I have run the risk of banging into someone or something or someone banging into me because, either I have to change direction or stop very suddenly.

Then, the most dangerous of all - kids. They are extremely unpredictable in their speeds, their direction and every thing else. Avoiding them, rather avoiding hurting them is the most challenging. And, their parents for some reason don't really care where and how their kids wander around on such a busy street. Sometimes, families walk in a single horizontal line taking up the entire pavement.

For other age groups in general, I am less considerate when their walking bears resemblance to nothing more than a random walk. It is also quite funny sometimes when people walking straight would all of a sudden, within the blink of an eye change direction and come right in your way. Then, I also have people bumping into me from all directions. Moreover, to top it all, there are really well-dressed and polished looking people asking for money. They will greet you very nicely and then ask you for money. I have realized now, not to even pay any attention to these people.

Quite fortunately, the last 6 months through this mine-field have gone by without any major incident. But, I have indeed missed my train a few times. My anxiety continues to persist. Will I make the 17h11? I don't have to worry much longer as I finish my internship on the 31st of December, But, I shall definitely miss this daily evening adventure.