Craziest Holiday of US-Thanksgiving day!

What a fantastic holiday this was!..Last year, I was here for Thanksgiving, but I found the whole idea of getting up at an ungodly hour in the morning and running for deals and standing in a long queue a bit foolish. Also arnav was too small and it was too cold and windy so we were looking only for online deals.people were purchasing at so very fast rate that till we think and decide to buy it... its over....items were out of stock!

I don't know what brought about the transition, but We were quite excited to do major shopping this year. For all those who don't know, Thanksgiving is the biggest holiday in the US. We get 4 days holiday! The limelight of this holiday is the Black Friday Sales.Major shops all over US offer items at cheap, discounted prices. Most of the shops open at 6am Friday morning and offer early bird sale.Few open at 12 AM like macy's,Kohls.JC penny, Sears etc However, people who want to buy costly items such as laptops, stand in the line from Thursday evening or early night.Crazy na? But I think it's understandable. I mean, if I am getting a 800$ laptop for 500$ bucks, even I would stand in the line.The details of these deals are released on certain websites such as this and this. Your local newspaper sold on the previous day also contains details about all the deals.

We purchased the newspaper Thursday eve weighing around 3kgs from walgreens. I even took a snap of the width of the paper. We sorted out all needed deals and jotted down what we wanted to buy from where. While browsing on the bestbuy website, I came across a cool deal for a lenova laptop. We immediately bought it for the gift for mom and dad.

In walmart event 1 was going to open at 8PM.Nikhil was in shop from 6.PM only as we had heard when deal opens people immediately runs and grab it.If you will reach by 8 then everything is over.Also we wanted to purchase TV and deal was going to open by 10 PM but line started from 7PM only so nikhil again came home to pick me and arnav as it was impossible from him alone to run everywhere...Finally at 8 we got vaccum cleaner,slow cooker, Mini chopper,few rubbermaid utensils and big collage frame...

At 10.PM event 2 was open and finally we got 40 inch big LCD TV....that was most happiest moment for us...we also purchased 2 digital frames,1 portable DVD player,Game-Lego for arnu,nice pair of winter shoes for me,a pair of CD's,Blu-Ray player,1 TB hard disc and HDMI cable....We thoroughly enjoyed shopping and running here and there....I was planning to buy towels as they were just for 1 dollar but till I reach there all were gone!...I was bit disappointed but considered myself lucky as we got big Emerson TV at very good price.

We were planning to at least drive to Best Buy, toys R us ,and oxmoor mall at 12am,to see the line as we had heard that people actually put up tents outside these shops! but were totally exhuasted as were standing in long queue at walmart for billing.

Next on the list was Cyber monday...Again cyber monday is like only online deals mainly on amazon are opened from sunday evening or night which continues till early morning of monday but here also you need to decide fast and book it immediately otherwise everything is gone! We picked up a MP3 player, Ipad Accessories.. I was eagerly eyeing the Fabberware 14pc non-stick cookware set sold for 50$,and pressure cooker indian style sold at macy's when Nikhil reminded that we possibly couldn't carry all the items to India whenever we went. I was really sad to let such a fabulous deal slip out and also health of nikhil was not good...but yes next year will surely plan for buying it!

It was very, very cold the very next day...otherwise was planning to visit winter wonderland parade,christmas celebration at Galt house in downtown... but instead we visited kohls and macy's clicked few snaps shopped miscellaneous items and returned home...that day rush was so much that  it was impossible to find parking. We shopped for 6 hours...We both were very happy with all the shopping and most importantly we didn't buy unnecessary stuff. Over all a great shopping experience that I will never forget. :) Eagerly waiting for next thanksgiving to shop little more and have lots and lots of fun.....

Letter to husband on 3rd wedding anniversary....

Today is my three year wedding anniversary with my wonderful husband, So I wanted to take some time to thank him for everything he has done for me and continues to do for me.The simplest way of expressing love to him is by penning down a beautiful love letter conveying all my heartfelt emotions.He may not always think so, but I love him fiercely and appreciate everything he does for our little family.

Hope This trick will work excellently in our wedding life to keep the flame of love burning with love. If you are also planning to surprise your husband with a sweet gift like me then, like this letter will serve your purpose in the best way....

I will say, the moment I met him for first time, is as fresh in my memory as when it happened.I hope that I will always be able to remember it this way!It seems like an eternity ago when I first heard his voice on the other end of the phone line. A short time after that first phone conversation, we met and the rest is history. I didn’t know that after marriage god will immediately gift us with a beautiful baby boy, but I’m sure glad that God had that planned for us.Every day since then has been simply amazing and different.We don’t have a fairy tale romance and our life isn’t perfect.We fight and argue sometimes, but we get through it and at the end of the day we love each other and that’s all that matters. I’m not sure what the future holds for us, but at least we will experience it together.

I just want to thank you for the things you do.  You work so hard to support our family and I just want you to know that even though I may not say it, I do appreciate it.

Thank you.For being my husband, for being a hard worker, for being supportive, and most importantly, being a wonderful father to our son.He adores you and that makes me love you even more.

Dear hubby,

I clearly remember...When I was a little girl, I played make believe.

I pretended to cook and clean and to be a Mamma to my baby dolls. (I did not role play walking around Walmart with a screaming toddler,because there are some things that you must experience to truly appreciate).
But in my naive mind, I imagined a man, a husband. He was brave and strong and very handsome.And he loved me.
It was a dream.
And some might call this a silly fairy tale or the immature longings of a girl.....
But I call it my life....real truth of life...
Because you are the man of my dreams.
You are the first to hold me when I am afraid.
You are my encourager when I doubt myself.
You are the one who made me a Mother.
You are also the one who still leaves his clothes on the floor. he he he.. (Just keeping it real).

Now I am not a little girl anymore. I am a woman and you are a man.
But I can’t help but think of the things I didn't dream about….
I didn't dream that I would hear my husband praying over me, feeling sad when doctor informed me that I suffer badly with hail lot of things.....
I didn't dream that my husband would take care of my baby far more than me besides working in office for hours together...
I didn't dream that my husband would face his own personal battle without uttering a single unwanted word to me even though I get angry on him "n" number of times for silly reasons....
I didn't dream that my man would be an angel for me, delivering sweet tea in my moments of need....

Today is our 3rd anniversary..And more than anything, I want you to know that I love you more than I ever dreamed.
You are a man among men.You stand out as you lead our family.You are my heart, my life, my best friend, my soul mate.
You are unique and beautiful.
And you are mine.

Happy 3rd anniversary dear... I cried today and felt shameful regarding my everyday irritating behaviour with u still how can u be so very nice and kind hearted person ever met....
And this reason alone, makes you a hero in my world. I am so proud of you.
Thank you for making my dreams come true....

Here’s to many more wonderful anniversaries together.

I love you.
I love you because you make me smile.
I love you because your eyes shine when you look at me.
I love you because you mean the world to me.
I love you because every time I look your way my heart misses a beat.
I love you because without you I would be lost.
I love you because you have taught me the true meaning of love.
I love you because you are you. I love you because..........

Truth is I could fill a million pages of reasons I love you, but I rather be spending that time with you.

You are the man beyond my dreams, the man I wanted to marry, the man I would marry again, the first one I think about when I wake up and the last one I think about when I go to bed.

Thank you for being there with me through the very thick and thin moments of life, I cannot imagine a life without you.

Thank you for always being by my side through life creating journey's we will some day tell to our kids as big adventures.. I know when I need someone you will be there. Thank you for being the one I can count on and trust with even my darkest fears and biggest dreams. I would pick no one besides you to be my partner in life.---thanku for being there 4 me!

As the years go by, I stop and think about all the memories we've made, the good times we've shared and the love between us that keeps growing. You are a blessing from above - one that I do not take for granted. I thank you for all the things that you've done for me and the kid. Not only are you a wonderful husband, you're a terrific father, provider and caregiver. You give so freely to all those you know in such a loving way. Your generosity is inspiring! I love you, .. more than words, more than life. I'm forever grateful for your love and proud to be your wife.

Yours and only yours...
Supriya...

Travel down memory lane....Dear me at sweet 20

Today morning had chat with my college friend....my mind travelled back to those golden days....remembered,laughed on stories and life when I was 20 years old....so decided to write letter to myself so as to cherish my life when I was 20 as blogging activity.

Dear self at sweet 20,

You are going to hate me for this. I have put on 30 to 40 pounds since I was you... Well, it wasn’t all those lovely samosas I gorged on in college, nor the yummy masala pav,pav bhaji and dabeli along with goli vada pav near station..I met this really cute guy three years back who took me to all those lovely cafes. I had nice chubby cheeks when I got married.very happy and contented to marry with nikhil....relaxed and thought all my dreams have come true! If that wasn’t enough, I befriended all the foodies in the world.  And now my post pregnancy weight refuses to vanish....and hail lot of problems now Iam suffering badly being overweight since 16th-oct-2012 and doctor has strictly adviced me to reduce my weight.

However, you will be proud to hear my accomplishments.I selected a good career for myself and worked at Infosys for almost 3 years. I earned a decent income. That must be a relief to hear. I mean, when I was you, I would ask for pocket money every single day to my most lovable dad.I was quite shameless.

I got married in 2009 and was blessed with a prince in 2010. We named him arnav. He is a cute monster. I and my husband often worry how he will turn out when he’s a teenager. If he becomes anything like me, I am in for trouble.he he he just joking! Iam not that bad!

Thanks to Arnu and my marriage, I am more attached to my mother. I still dote on my father, but it’s mom’s voice I want to hear first on the phone, it’s mom to whom I want to tell all my complaints of my son. And I know she understands just as I understand her much better. A rebellious 20-year old always got angry when mom told her to do something; but the mom in me now empathizes with my mother.

I clearly remember that age 20 was dangerous apart from being sweet...I used to worry with hail lot of problems...about exams.about whom I will be getting as life partner and about future...still would be full of fun and Joy...

Do you remember how I never, ever set foot in my mom’s kitchen? I was determined that I would earn well enough to hire a cooking maid. God, I still shiver remembering my mom’s fits when she would proclaim that I would never find a good groom or kill my family due to hunger. Well, I was headed along that path but something changed in me. I guess I wanted to cook for the man I love. But you would be shocked to hear that I started a food blog sometime back. Though it has attained bit of dormancy now, it still has a good number of visitors and recently Iam planning to start it once again and participate in blog events with onset of this auspicious occassion of deepavali.

I am now in the US with my family. I have a set routine and responsibilities. My problems are very much different from the ones I had when I was you. Back then I would worry about completing assignments at the nth hour, KT’s, getting caught by putting someone’s proxy, convincing parents for staying out late at night. Now, my problems include what to cook for dinner, planning my baby's food and related habits, nagging my husband to complete his chores. You would think that my life is quite boring. But I like it the way it is. I am happy and content.

When I was you, I wanted life to continue the way it was for the rest of my life. I didn’t have a care or worry in the world. Life, as I knew it, meant college, friends, bunking lectures, using four letter words, throwing rockets on professors, watching movies in really cheap theatres, teasing each other silly with some cute guy, calling friends the minute after reaching home to “discuss something important we learnt that day”, going to vidyavihar station for xeroxing entire books a month before the exams, studying till late hours preparing for exams, wearing the same dress for all papers because it proved lucky, and then biting our nails while waiting for the results,worshiping god during exam day and hail lot of things.

If I could turn back time, I would love to relive just another day, any day from my 20 year life. I would love to wake up one day and discover that I am 20 and be able to do all the things I did in college.

So adios, my friend. It was good being you. I don’t have a single regret.

Luv,
The spirit of you, but a teeny bit mature

One Year Completed...

It's been exactly a year since I and Arnu set foot in the US. I still remember all the details of my journey vividly.It is indeed unforgetable and incredible journey of mine.I was completely tired with change of flights, countries, and time and above all I had to look after my baby.. The Mumbai-London flight was quite peaceful.Arnav and me enjoyed it a lot.. After a hearty meal-final meal of homeland , Arnav had fallen into a deep sleep..gotup very early morning had fruit frozen banana pulp and finally landed with me at Heathrow where we were surrounded by a group of Indians...We had jolly good time in our first flight as my co-passenger was helpful and was from kokan...he was telling us different stories of kokan so also how routinely he used to travel to london....he helped me alot in finding my way to second flight as i was having baby with me so also language spoken by guides on airport was confusing to me...

Here I had entire 4 hrs break so also no formalities to be completed..no collection of baggage so My husband had told me to explore the airport, but I sat at the gate as I didn't want to be lost anywhere...and also there was no stroller to roam about....here I met with one lady from TCS who was also with kid little older than arnold and was travelling to SFO...we had pretty good time together sharing few job related stories...finally we departed as we were having different destinations...arnu enjoyed his ceralac..watched the planes boarding and taking off...and finally when one hour was left for the flight gate number was announced which needed journey by train...but we enjoyed metro journey of UK

The London-Chicago flight was a different story. Never in my life have I been so bored. There was some problem in the entertainment system which meant no TV, music, no flight information was displayed in the entire 9 hour flight.I got bassinet here for arnav but he too was so very irritated with flight journey that he didnt wanted to sleep in it...he was crying continuously in flight and wanted to crawl down for which air hostress were denying...I tried my level best to feed him with his favourite cerelac and played him with his toys...but all my efforts were in vain...and My co-passenger also was so boring that he didnt even bothered to see or ask why arnu was crying or anything like that...

From the time flight was preparing to take off he started his movie using his personal laptop and till flight lands up he was busy watching it...he would hardly blink his eyes and look besides him...husssshhh he was too boring...Arnav just didnt want to sit in flight...I  was unable to read anything for fear that arnav with tear it to pieces...no TV and no entertainment...he was so very bored and angry with flight people that he used to throw paper glasses on them...I was suffering badly from headache... I had an aisle seat in front of the toilet, which meant that everytime anyone went to answer nature's call, they would collide with my arm....arnu didnt allowed me to take lunch nor breakfast...we both were totally hungry and frustrated....after crying a lot arnu felt asleep in my lap only...I was praying god to take us soon to destination...meanwhile I filled in our immigration and custom duty forms when finally arnu had his sweet nap after crying a lot..

On my very left were seated two ladies who did not speak/understand English, and I had no idea what language they were speaking. I did nothing else but stare here and there for the entire journey.There was not even a single Indian in flight except for me and arnav..Just when I was bored enough to jump out of the flight, the pilot announced that we had 5 hrs before landing. Urggggggggggghhhhhhhhh..I wanted to scream in frustration.

Finally, we landed at Chicago and after the Immigration and other formalities, I went and sat at the gate.Here we got our luggage and stroller which was checked in.. in India...Arnu didnt wanted to sit in stroller...I was so very irritated to check in my luggage once again and bored to catch another flight to louisville but we didnt had any other option but to board a plane.. Here I had only 1hr to kill...I was delibretely waiting to see my husband's face sooner as had not seen him for last entire month... The Chicago-Louisville flight was short and sweet....Also plane was short and small so also arnu was fast asleep and was totally tired of journey and  I was smiling to myself at the prospect of meeting my husband after 40 long days....most happy moment....

This past year has been pretty good. I have learnt and seen so much after coming here... I was feel like writing more about my experiences and life in the US. Somehow, never find the motivation to write may be due to my recent bad health and conditions...Hopefully, after this one year completion article, I will write more about life in the US. Over and out!

30 sep 2012 - Day of our return to India

I am feeling so sad at this very moment that the only thing that would calm me would be venting out my feelings....so finally I decided to write an article on this.... If all had gone according to the original plan, we would have been in air now – midway between chicago and london. Today’s date was so important for me – 30th sep 2012..... After spending one year in the US, we were supposed to catch a return flight to India. This date was itched in my parent’s memory and all my near and dear ones. I have been playing a mind game since yesterday. At this time we would have been packing bags, at this time we would be leaving the apartment, reaching the airport, catching the flight, and so on. I guess my parents will be playing a similar mind game tomorrow. They would be thinking about getting ready to go to the airport and receiving us.

Well, our plans did change. So, I guess it will be a whole 6 more months before I will be visiting India. I was looking forward to so many things after reaching home. I had promised my dear sis that I would be attending her wedding. And yes, I had taken a promise from my husband of buying me a lot of new dresses to add to my excessive wardrobe. We have missed most of the important festivals of india that I would celebrate with my dear parents. We had promised our parents that we will celebrate all festivals in 2013. We will be missing those too now.

It’s funny to think what all you can miss when you are in a foreign land. I miss my home, the lanes near my home, the trees in my backyard, the shops I used to visit, the restaurants, theatres, and so much more... I miss the scent, smell, and crowd of pune and traffic,railways of Mumbai. I miss traveling in the over packed buses and trains. I loved buying earrings in the trains. I miss fighting over the meter with a rickshaw walla.I miss fighting in train for fourth seat. I miss the weather and the heat of mumbai. And I miss haggling over the vegetable prices with the sellers. How can I forget the Mumbai food – the pavbhaji, chat, and vada-pav? Being a total junkie, I miss all the food stalls that I used to frequent. I remember Juhu beach, Shivaji Park, and all the Mumbai malls.Also I badly miss FC road,Deccan ki dabeli,Tapri ki pav-bhaji....

Anyways, I have decided not to miss anything too much. If I think too much, then I will be sad all the time. My best wishes will always be with my dear sis on her wedding day. Also I had already gifted her with precious gift - wedding letter...and after all she is going to meet me here in US as after marriage she will be relocating to New-York... My parents know that they are always in my thoughts though I am physically far away. Sometimes, I wish that there would be a remote that could take you to any place of your choice at the click of a button. Till then, memories would have to suffice.

My impressions of chicago-the Windy city of the States!

Like any average Indian working for a large IT firm, my husband was sent to the US for a project.

Unlike any average Indian, our motivation was to travel the country.of course only that amount which was feasible for us as we had great responsibility of arnu...

And so, as soon as we settled into my nice little apartment in Louisville, We began to formulate our extensive travel plans. As extensive as our paycheck would allow us, of course.

Chicago is supposed to be one of the cleanest cities in the Unites States of America. It is also supposed to house some of the best architecture in the country. And of course, it also boasts of a fantastic view of the Lake Michigan....so we were crazy and eagerly waiting for our journey!

We are living in the little suburb called Louisville in kentucky, believing that..that was America...Beautiful.. and yet... so devoid of pedestricians....

Believing that the whole country was as our little village was…vast.. empty.. completely devoid of pedestrians and small time hawkers!

Until the weekend we decided to visit this place everyone called “Downtown”I know now what it means to be enlightened!!!(only after visiting Downtown Chicago)...It was indeed beautiful!

I doubt I’m ever going to see any other city in the country that awesome! It was such a stark change from our place that my hubby was ready to move in right away and travel an hour to work every single day! And best of all, there were people on the road!!! I was tired of the lonely pedestrian-free highway-like roads of Louisville which harbours only fast moving cars. This looked real! I cant say anything has been as pleasant a surprise as Downtown Chicago was to me!

We travelled to chicago along with Swati and Nishant in rented Car...on friday(31st Aug 2012)..we started by 5.30 PM when nikhil finished with his office work and reached chicago by 12.00 PM...

Checked in room no..331...in O'Hare Inn and suites awesome lodging and room location which was on ground flr itself...Had delicious poori bhaji prepared by swati for dinner and decided to set off to see Downtown Chicago on Saturday morning.

Early morning...Had Garama Garam coffee and hot chocolate with pattices and biscuits for breakfast..And then we experienced Downtown!

We were supposed to have woken up at 7 and caught the Blue Line train at 8.Unfortunately, we got ready at 9 as was bit busy in doing daily chores of arnav!! Hurried through getting ready, travelled to cumberland station by our car... parked it,purchased ticket pass-We got a weekend ticket, which meant that for the three days, we could travel on the train or by bus unlimited number of times! And that was indeed amazing for all of us... rather Fascinating! and lovely!!!...clicked few snaps on bridge as were over excited and finally boarded our first train in chicago and headed for the Jackson station.

We passed all the little villages and towns on the way to the big city…and then, just as we were approaching Downtown , there was a drastic change in landscape! The countryside with the small cottages suddenly gave way to HUGE skyscrapers!! The open land was suddenly engulfed by buildings. Not an inch of free space was to be seen! We had arrived in the city of Chicago!

We were totally amazed to see..6 lanes and connecting rail platform on road...little station...Just two tracks and a little platform. There was a small walkway joining the main road with the platform and we had to cross that to board the train...My hubby enjoyed driving in chicago downtown...

When we got off the train, swati was little off-balance from the train ride. And so while she steadied herself, we set off to find out where the bus stop is...and from where we need to board the bus for Willis Tower.

Finally after boarding bus...fun filled enjoyment while gulping pringals we reached willis tower...And at the entrance of the Sears Towers was a sign saying “Skydeck open for viewing !”..

Curious, we entered bought our tickets after showing GO Chicago Pass...(of course!), went right to the top of the building and viewed the city from there!And it was such a gorgeous sight!!! We were taken up to the 103th floor in elevators that claim to be the fastest elevators in the world! It went up so fast we felt like we were in an aircraft! And our ears kept popping every 10 floors!

Intially it was detected that weather was bad and visibility was zero...we were sad to know this but finally deceided of giving it a try else can return very next day..

But to the surprise, when we stepped off the elevators, the city, with all its shining beauty, lay spread out below us and everything was clear!I believe the view encompasses a radius of some 50 miles! It was stunning! On three sides was spread out the vast countryside.

Car Parking?? Seriously??!...

observed lovely skyline of Chicago...daytime beauty which was hilarious...

We could see it up as far as the eye could see! scene was unbelivable...And on one side, was the city.. downtown Chicago . Huge skyscrapers that had us gaping in awe when we were on the roads were dwarfed in comparison with the tower we were on! It was as if we were looking down on Earth from the skies! It was lovely experience to look through transperent gallery ! At first arnu was friegthened but afterwards he too had jolly-good time with us...We saw lake too whose view was amazing!

Finally willis tower was successfully covered and we again stepped in bus ...This time we travelled with hop in hop off bus...

which guided us through all along the road...driver was explaining significance of each and every huge building on the road...

We were ravenous as we stepped off the bus, so we first hit the subway. Piled up on food, and then we decided to head towards a place called Navy Pier.

It’s at Lake Michigan , we rided in merry-go-round with arnav which showed thorough beauty of chicago from top...ferri wheel ride was amazing!...

Did carousel ride with arnu..

Enjoyed finger-chips of MacD...and finally in the evening ...we took a Lake tour! It took us through the Chicago river, all over the city, and then right to the banks of Lake Michigan ! And we were stunned!!! It looked like the ocean!! We couldn’t see the other end at all! And they call it a Lake !

We went on to Navy Pier, which is basically a street extending into the lake...We really admired night view....beauty of skyline left us stunning!..It was just unbelieveble to cruise at night in lake michigan....Experienced beautiful moment of life...

At Navy Pier...there are tons of boats and ships also water taxis and all docked there. And people walking, cycling and enjoying all over! Arnav enjoyed his first ever Thomas ride at chicago...not once but twice...

There was too much crowd on road...along with blowing of cold breeze...all were in total masti mood. The view from the end of the pier was lovely.. the wide expanse of water… and the gulls in the sky..

It was already night by the time we had finished seeing Navy Pier, and there was so much more to see that we decided to go back to lodge soon and then continue exploring the city the next day...Thrilled with this experience, we set homewards on the train. Determined to come back the next day to see some more! 

Nikhil and Nishant parcelled  food from indian restaurant maharaja..which was awesome! we enjoyed it a lot!...Tired too much had sound sleep...

Thankfully, we woke up in time on Sunday morning and caught blue line train to Jackson...with the hope to meet famous Bollywood personality Aamir Khan...chocolate hero...but was in vain...from there we headed towards vivekanand street...clicked few snaps and again started haunting for bus-stop as this time our agenda  was to go to the famous Oceanarium (Shedd Aquarium - Oceanarium) in the city which was located along the Lake.I wanna canoe too!

There we saw Alder planetarium and field meuseum also...just clicked snaps outside and continued with aquarium...We bought entry pass by standing in huge line, but it was all worth it! The place was huge! And filled with every kind of sea life form imaginable! Short of the large whales and dolphins, of course! Bad luck was dolphin show was full...

It housed almost every kind of fish from oceans, and the rivers from across the world.. and even lakes! And then they had a section completely dedicated to Corals! And one for the Caribbean ocean life. The most exotic thing I saw was the Sting Ray! Deadly, and yet so fascinating! And the corals and the sea anemones looked so lovely and colorful!

We watched Jellies...big python that left us stunned and lot more...the whole place was filled with excited little kids running all over thrilled at all the fishies they were seeing!! We watched penguins..arnav's pingu...different types of frogs which were amazing!

Also on the way had a look at agora...fascinating leg structures.....

Having spent a couple of hours there, we headed for the architecture tour and parks in the city.

The buildings were just so delightful! Not only for their sheer heights, but also the way they are designed. Each unique and in its own league.Our tour guide-best ever experienced guide we ever had-explained us in detail about each and every sky-scaper that came along with city's history in a very good manner...

we saw 'just married' couple on bridge...The bride was dressed in a lovely gown and they were walking hand in hand along the road!

Finally after biding farewell to Navy-pier...We were just walking on the roads and looking at all the sky scrapers! We saw limousine on road and were overjoyed...We smiled and walked on towards Millennium Park.we bumped into another couple in wedding attire! !! All decked up and smiling! It was so wonderful to see that! soon the day was coming to an end saw night time view on vivekanand street..clicked few snaps near cloud gate or bean...

Well, after all this, we were pretty exhausted, and so we headed back to the train station. and left..towards O'Hare...

Now on monday the last day of our trip...we catched red line train and moved towards John honcock tower...

on this day we enjoyed ice-cream at mac-D...According to me...it was super expensive! (Yeah, we were still converting Dollars to Rupees!)..he he he

And always its like, what they call small, is what we Indians would call extra large!!! Thus we got a big cone of ice-cream..and we just could hardly finish it!Its true for everything here, you know. Everything is mega sized. Even the people who are thin, are big boned. Tall. And you can imagine what the fat ones would be like!

When we went shopping for woolen clothes in louisville, I was surprised to see the size ranges.In India , I buy clothes sized Large Or extra large. Here I have to buy clothes from the medium shelves!! (That actually feels very nice!)

Thus we had ride through magnificient mile...while moving towards hancock....saw famous band...live show and performance by hollywood people and were totally astonished...view from hancock tower was fantastic...cars were looking like gaming cars from top.Thankfully the weather remained clear and sunny and absolutely lovely for exploring the city!Arnu played alot in crown fountain at millenium park...which marked the end of our trip...

What can I say??  For sometime I felt as if Chicago was a forgotten city. Maybe not to many Americans, but yes to the international community I always wondered if people knew anything more about Michael Jordan, Oprah, and Barack Obama.

While Chicago is a major American city, it was always my impression that when international visitors thought of a trip to the United States, places like New York, Los Angeles or Miami would be the places they'd like to see....but why the city of chicago is given last preference?

During one of those days when we were walking in the busy streets of Chicago I told my husband, I think I will consider Chicago to be my top 5 favorite major cities in the United States!  I have this feeling that even though it is an enormous and sophisticated city it is still with in my reach!  What I mean by that is that even though the city looks important with the huge magnificent skyline it has still manage to maintain it's down to earth characteristic.  I mean, you see a lot of working people...you bump into them on the streets but they don't look harassed, at least from my own observation.

Chicago is a bustling city and yet one will have a chance to slow down because there are flowers everywhere to encourage someone to stop if not to smell them at least appreciate these pretty sights along the sidewalks!  Thats the most amazing part !That is perhaps why these career people does not look rushed up.....

Chicago is also cleaner and very green (at least in most areas I've visited) than many other big cities (not just NYC). Like there was a certain spot where I saw the skyline of scrappers but in the foreground are very green lined trees!

I love Chicago because it is easy to get around. There is a ton of public transportation and the city is on an almost perfect grid. As far as big cities go, it is very clean. Those who are driving their vehicle in the city are disciplined and not even once did I hear any honking of car horns!  The people who live in this city are friendly most of the time(while not perfect).  I also noticed the fantastic diversity of people and so the food is -- from the famous deep dish Chicago pizza to hotdogs to barbeque ribs to caramel popcorn, etc!

Ya...yipee we enjoyed deep dish pizza at pizzano...

I enjoyed our long walks in the city despite the wind chill because there are so many work of arts (sculpture, modern art pieces, landscape, statues and of yeah the mix of modern and old architecture) in almost every corner!  We didn't even notice we've already walked miles away.....That makes it fabulous!

We also came across to a lot of shopping complex but they are not as enticing as other places!  The commercial ads are slightly represented so it gives me the impression that Chicago and its artisitic character should be enjoyed more than shopping!

Thus I can conclude that Chicago has to be one of the finest cities in USA.Everything about it is great.
The architecture, the layout, the location on the lake and river, the cleanliness, the food, the museums, the culture, the sport, the people, and the excellent balance of nature throughout the city. To me, it feels the most like an Australian city, and apart from it's size, is very similar to my home town, Mumbai except cleanliness.

Whilst in Chicago, I managed to pile a full agenda in:
I ate the worlds second best pizza at Pizzano
The mighty Chicago skyline with Sears tower in poll position.
Deep pan pizza is a revolution and I dont understand why it hasnt taken over the world.
I did a boat architectural cruise which covered most of the river, 29 bridges and nearly all of the major buildings in the city.
I hiked to the top of Sears tower. The world's tallest completed building (if you count antennae).
I walked the entire city and through the wonderful Millenium Garden.
I got to hang out with my sweet arnu..adorable hubby,kind and good natured swati with her family...at crown fountain  at millenium park...It was mini niagara for all of us....arnu enjoyed playing in water a lot...and video memories were catched by us especially by swati...makes us feel very happy and contented .

Anyways, that’s what our Labor weekend out was like!  The city is such a drastically different place from where we live! Bustling with people and beaming with energy! But at the end of the day, it was nice to come back to our quiet little village and our home :)

Nevertheless, I look forward to my next trip to the Windy city!

Happy Janamashtami....

Makhan ka katora
Mishri ka thaal, mitti ki khushbu
Baarish ki fuhar, Tusli maiya ki pavitrata,Radha ki ummide
Kanhaiya ka pyar, mubarak ho apko sabko "JANMASHTAMI" ka tyohar.

Yes...I was extremely delighted and highly impressed to celebrate Janamashtami with my dear friend here in USA.You wont believe even in India I never attended this festival celebrated in midnight at temple with great pomp and joy but here we got a golden oppurtunity to visit Indian temple of kentucky and enjoy the celebration.I consider our families to be very lucky as we got to see this auspicious celebration on 10th August 2012.This date will remain carved in my mind forever..

Janamashtami which is also referred to as Gokulashtami, Krishnasthami, Srijayanti.-The Birth Anniversary of Lord Krishna, the incarnation of Vishnu is celebrated with great fervour all over India especially at Mathura and Vrindavan where Lord Krishna spent his childhood....Devotees from across the world come to these pious places to celebrate Janmasthami...The temples especially in Vrindavan witness an extravagant and colourful celebration on this occasion. Raslila is performed to recreate incidents from the life of Krishna and to commemorate his love for Radha.

My friend being from mathura explained me the importance in such a manner that on hearing it..my joy knew no bounds....My ears were stucked with pride hearing pious stories,incidents,songs of shri krishna from her...Well, I am a married woman now. It is high time I get to know the significance of all the festivals. I wanted to find more information on Janamashtami, so I googled and was amazed to read so much about the festival...net search gave me lot many details about janamashtami...which was considered as simply "dahi handi" by me...but its great and beyond that...Its indeed the day to recall feelings Bhakti (devotion) and Bhav (intent) towards shri krishna...

Dahi handi is generally celebrated by youths. They break clay pots called 'Dahi-Handi', filled with curd and butter suspended high above the ground, young men and children form human pyramid to reach the pot and break it. This custom follows the habit of Lord Krishna who used to steal butter in this manner from villagers along with his friends. The reason for this is that Gokul; the place where lord Krishna spent his childhood used to generate a lot of milk and the people used to sell it in Mathura, thus depriving their children from milk and butter which is very essential for young boys and girls...

Homemade decoration made by her,Rangoli and sweet preparations,Kuttu ke pakode and lot more was so very fabulous that everything left me speechless...

Celebration began 2 days before...on very first day we planted moong seeds and barley in clay pot hoping that it will sprout very nicely...and to its surprise it sprouted so very nicely that when I had a look I was left surprised...clay was not at all visible and whole pot was filled with green color within 8 days...Thus we were very happy about it...we tied holy thread around coconut which was worn by us in our hands the very next day...

On the very same day we celebrated B'day of shri krishna by cutting homemade cake-made of dudhi ie dudhi halwa..we sang B'day rhymes and lit candles for god...we were totally enchanted to see all this...we enjoyed fast food in the form of prasadam like kuttu ke pakode,dahi aloo,lassi,charanamrit and lot more..

On the next day we visited temple during night...Temple was beautifully decorated and illuminated. Devotees had kept daylong fasts and kept themselves awake while chanting 'bhajans', until midnight follows... Midnight is the moment when Lord Krishna was born. The prayer ceremony is a simple affair. Night long prayers which extol greatness of lord krishna... mantras were being offered and religious hymns were being sung.The priests chant holy mantras and bathed the idol with Panchamrit or charanamrit which comprises of Gangajal (water from the holy Ganges River), milk, ghee (clarified butter), curd, and honey pouring all these from a conch shell....After this bath the idol of the infant Krishna (also known as Balmukund) was placed in a cradle. Devotional songs and bhajans along with garba marked the celebration of this festive occasion till 12.00 at night...everyone was given oppurtunity to give zula to bal krishna placed in cradle...seeing all this I was so very touched that tears rolled down my eyes..It was indeed happiest moment for all of us...Prasad consisting of makhan,kheer,fruits was distributed among all of us...Devotees break their day-long fast and chant - "Radhe Krishna, Hare Krishna, Radhe Radhe."

Thus it was awesome experience to celebrate Janamashatami here in USA.We will never ever forget this in our life.Looking forward to celebrate few more janamashtamis in US I thank god for the golden oppurtunity in our life....

Letter to true friend on her 26th B'day!

Hey guys, I'm here once again to ask for your opinions on something I wrote to my sweet friend on her 26th B'day.....
Her birthday is today and I really wanted her to gift something that she will cherish and treasure for-ever throughout her life...finally I deceided of a great idea of gifting her with 26 gifts as she will be turning 26 today...Among all gifts one gift was handwritten letter to her which would convey her importance in my life!

I spent few days trying to think up of a good letter to write for her as I thought this will be best gift for her... I showed it to my hubby and he said it's really sweet but I feel like I made it too sappy and emotional.Finally I did it and this one is for all of you!

Can anyone let me know if there's anything wrong with what I have so far? Is is too sappy? Should I tone it down a bit? Stuff like that. I'll greatly appreciate any input you guys give me on this...

LETTER TO MY TRUE FRIEND ON HER 26TH B'DAY

Hello, dear! How exciting that you are 26 years old tomorrow!

So....

I’m not even sure where to begin this letter really.

Can I start off by saying that you are amazing?

Because you are.

And just in case if anyone hardly tells you that, I’m telling you.

Because I love you....

Happy Birthday!!

Today is a special day for a special someone I've been lucky enough to have in my life as not only a good friend I can always rely on, but a Sister I will treasure for the rest of my life....How very exciting it is..isnt it?....I have so much to say, but I don’t know if I can condense it into one page of simple words. I sure am gonna try though.

Last few days as your birthday was approaching nearer...I was badly stuck on what to get/make/write to you. I really didnt wanted to give iPods or make-up kit, or throw a surprise party for you, but I wanted to get  something you won't ever forget, and then symbolises how much I love you....so I thought writing letter to convey my regards would be best gift for you...a sweet gift that you will really treasure for,love for and would be best among all other 25 gifts that I would present you!

Niha or sweetie or niharika call her by any name...she is my sweet little friend who has similar emotional make-up like me...so dear please dont get too emotional ...Iam feeling very self conscious to give you this letter but finally I have decided to present it to you.

Swati, I want you to know how important you really are to me and your place in my life!...I consider this is best oppurtunity to let you know that you really are my best friend. You are something out of this world swati.... You are really one of the most intelligent young women I have ever met, not to mention sweet, kind-hearted, happy, hilarious, loving, and absolutely beautiful.

For the last 25 years of your life you have walked this earth as a girl unlike any other..... You have heart of gold and a personality that should be cherished and preserved in a glass box...You really have a smile of porcelain, and the face of an angel.

You have such an amazing effect on me and my life daily. You make me laugh when I all I want to do is cry. Your smile is as contagious as the flu and whenever you’re sad I feel like I should be too.

You can turn my frowns upside down without any effort and as long as I get to see that beautiful smile on your face, I won’t have any reason not to smile too.See isnt it a miracle that within so very less time that we have been together I have observed you so very keenly and you have become my best friend...Really you are worth becoming my true friend! You have all qualities that best frnd should possess!

You have taught me a lot,say it be cooking or any simple thing of life! and I've always wanted to be just like you – a girl who can smile no matter how many times life tries to rain on her sunshine. A girl who can love others even when they step all over your heart. A girl who will stay by my side throughout life journey and any hard times...I really admire your patience the way you so happily repeat same recipes for me at least 3 times....I have copied you in many aspects of life! say it be recipes or decorating my house...you really are source of inspiration for me!

Every time I see your courage,your devotion and dedication towards anything and everything in life, and above all, your unconditional love for friends and family,no matter how they behave with you... I remind myself that this is the girl I look up to and the girl I want to keep close to my heart for all eternity..... Yes swati I dream of learning lot many things from you dear!

Words alone can never truly express how much I admire you. you have really become the reason behind breaths that I take, the tears I shed at the thought of ever losing you, and the beats of my heart that get faster every time I think about you and all the great moments we've shared together so far...so swati today on this auspicious occassion I beg for one promise from you that you will never ever leave me all alone in my walk of life...no matter whatever happens! please

Moreover, within just very less span of time rather in very few days...you have become my reason to live and my reason to love and my reason to smile. If I didn't have you in my life, I wouldn't be able to call this a life at all…

You really are an absolutely incredible individual. I have never in my whole life been so lucky and proud to have someone like you.

I have lost so much in my life, including friends that I thought I would never lose, and now I have you. When I’m with you, it feels like I know I’ll never lose you as a best friend and all my problems and stress just melt away.....

Happiness is what you bring to everyone hun. You are really unlike anyone I have ever met as I have already mentioned. There’s just something about you that draws people close to you and make them want to trust you. I know you would never lie to me or keep anything from me. Our friendship is perfect which makes me so happy. It seems as though we were meant to be best friends and I’m glad we’ve finally figured that out.

You are my shoulder to cry on and my arm to lean on and I am the same for you. There are not that many people in my life that I would die for, but when it comes to you I would die a million times over if that was what you wanted me to do. You are the best, best friend anyone could ever ask for and I appreciate everything about you.

You are really a true friend to be treasured!

Thank you so much swati, for everything you do for me. I’m ridiculously lucky to have you and I can’t wait to see what our friendship brings in the future. I love you so much swati. I hope your birthday and every other day is just perfect,happy and joyful. Best of luck in all that you do, and remember that I am always here for you no matter what.I pray god to shower his choicest blessings on sweet couple like you! Hope you have a fantastic day and year ahead! Stay blessed!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWATI!!!

Your Sister forever and always,
Supriya

A Letter to my son on his second birthday!

Dear Arnav...

Happy birthday!

You will be turning 2 years old within couple of weeks, and it’s been the most joyful, exhausting, funniest and fullest years of my life..you made your entrance into this world and my life hasn’t been the same since.. I’m so thankful for you. I’m so glad God chose to give us you, that he picked you just as you are and blessed us with your little life. You are perfect for your dad and me.

I know you may not understand today what Iam writing to you but yes one day you will surely enjoy reading it! And that will be most happiest moment in our life!

I love the way you look, my beautiful little cutie pie,a perfect image of your dad.It’s so cute to see you turn into your daddy.You and your daddy have the same face, the same walk, the same mannerisms, the same emotional make-up. It’s really awesome to see this and experience the same.And Iam proud of it!

Iam extremely fond of your beautiful black eyes, your precious little ears and crazy hair making you perfectly imperfect.When I see you, I see your dad, but more than that, you just look like family to me. You look like you came from me, pulled from my past, this perfect culmination of everything that’s ever happened to bring you to this point....

You are by far my biggest source of joy and my biggest energy drain. You keep me going, you keep my laughing and man, oh, man do I love seeing you smile.

You are a crazy little boy, though, do you know that? You run in circles around the living room, giggling to yourself and falling out as soon as you make yourself dizzy.

I love your laid-back, easy-going, silly personality.Initially You were enjoying large crowds, being around people you know and people you don’t...but now you have started recognizing people who are familiar to you..but The way you wave your hands while saying hi and bye to anyone and everyone is just amazing!Everybody is bound to fell in love with you.You are really bundle of joy for me....

I love the way you smile,laughing silently or giggling audibly.The way you love to be swung around,The way you reach out to touch everything. The way you love to offer us your food, your toys or the little scraps of paper you find on the ground...The way you enjoy playing with kitchen utensils especially spoons,dishwasher and cupboard..way you love feeding me with your sweet hands...I really enjoy it!

You are such a little gentleman and I’m telling you, it’s just IN you. I haven’t had to teach you how to be kind and loving – you knew how to embody those qualities from birth.

I enjoy and love reading shlokas to you every afternoon while you are sleeping...You’re trusting and sweet, and I treasure these moments.

I remember you play so very nicely and point out perfectly animals, make their sounds, enjoy nursery rhymes being played on laptop everytime while eating..with the sing-song rhythms and lot more!You are indeed an easy baby giving less trouble to your mommy!

I know how you love listening to songs while riding in our mitsubishi-galant.When any nursery rhymes ends you say aaaaaannnnnn...along with it...perfect gap between start of new song and end of old one....so also I enjoy feeding muskmelon to u....I clearly remember the moment it is finished from home I send your dad to walmart to pick one for you....Iam really going to miss these moments a lot dear...

I love the way you wake up in the mornings,crying either for me or dad to pick you up. I love the crooked little mouth and long face you make when you cry, how your cry affects me....I remember how I shout on your dad when he does mischeif with you and makes you cry....a different kind of play!

I clearly remember the day you spoke first word tree...I almost dropped the dishes I was holding when I heard you say that! My heart swelled three sizes that day. You
are my baby for real!!!

I love to listen your sweet words like bye,learning new words and sounds almost daily..You dont know how much thrilled and happy I was when I heard from your mouth for the first time the word Jai..Really you are god's sweet little gift to us! and tremendously blessed by god...I just cant describe my joy in words..I admire you everytime now onwards when you say Jai after praying god everyday.I wholeheartedly thank god for this miracle...Iam eagerly waiting to listen to you talk..,You
recently learned to say Bye !I clearly remember we were returning back from swati kaku.s house and there for the first time you said bye!You cant imagine dear how very happy me and your kaku were!...Really swati kaku only taught you how to say bye... .Today at the grocery store also,You were saying bye to each and everyone around you! All were admiring you and were very glad to greet you.So also happy to know that you can easily say now ball...My ears stuck high when I heard for the first time you said star...I was amazed when you said mau....and finally for the first time uttered maa after memorizing you for hundred times by your favourite kaku...

But that doesn’t mean we haven’t had our challenges. When you were a newborn, you were termed as premature baby for about 15 days and was placed under light...you were so tiny that I used to get frightened to hold you in my hands...but your grandma,doctor and almighty god along with your dad gave me strenghth and belief that everything would just go perfect!I used to be worried a lot and hence would always pray for you to god..but within very few days you became healthy baby...loved and liked by all!

I remember nursing or feeding was a play for you...entire night you would be awake and hardly you would sleep...Me and grandma used to wait eagerly counting hours and seeing clock,every minute so that night time is over...Your dad and me have clicked your night hourly videos..how very excited and joyfully playing you would be during night!.

I had never known what tired was like until then. I remember once when you were ill and were suffering from cold cough and fever you would hardly sleeep..Those few-and-far-between moments when you slept, your dad and I would lay half-awake, too nervous to sleep deeply, carefully checking to make sure you were asleep. Every little sound you made sent us sitting up, scrambling to make sure you were okay and is not hungry!

So also after few days you would trouble me for feeding for entire night...but time flies away fast and now you are sweet perfect baby with adequate hunger!

Now you’re a toddler. You’re already growing so fast, and I’m so proud of who you are. I can’t wait to see who you become. When you were first born, your grandma, said she also knew you were here for a reason, and you have a special purpose. I know that to be true. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for you...

My prayer for you, my hope for your future, is that you become a man of God, stable, caring, independent and smart, gentle and strong like your dad, A leader.

When I go to check on you at night before I lay down to sleep besides you, I put my hand on your heart and I pray that you will know god and his place in our life. I pray that you will hear Him clearly when He speaks to you. I pray that you will not doubt Him, that you will be bold and carry His name to everyone you know. I pray for your purpose, for your life story. I know you’re here for something big and important, and I thank God for letting me be here to witness your life.

I will always love you and I will always be in your corner. I don’t make many promises to people but I will make this promise to you. I will ALWAYS listen to you and I will ALWAYS be someone you can count on. I will do whatever I can to make your life better for as long as there is air in my lungs and my heart still beats. ALWAYS,
ALWAYS, ALWAYS.

Happy second birthday, my precious, sweet little man.

Love,
Your mom

Here is the video....a wonderful gift from me and ur papa to you dear on this auspicious occassion of ur B'day!

H4 Visa-A boon

After working for 3 years at infosys, finally I decided to take a break. My husband got an onsite opportunity and I joined him in US on the H4 dependent visa. I and my husband worked in the same organization; however there were no onsite opportunities in my field so also after coming to US we had big responsibility of Arnav also...who will look after him if both will work?....In India I used to think that I didnt got oppurtunity... and devoted very less time towards arnav so this was golden chance for me..Seeing all the situation finally I decided to leave job and move to US.

The initial plan was that we would be in US for 8 months, then we would return back to India, and I would look out for a new job. That plan soon materialized into another plan when his project got extended and I had to stay on H4 for more period.

My status changed from working to non-working so also changed the attitude of a lot of people towards me. People whom I knew were earning less than me in the previous company suddenly started showing how superior they were to me. Working females would make statements like I can keep the house cleaner as I am a full-time housewife, I can cook better as I have nothing else to do. And I would be “Hello, I used to work 2 months back”. Of course, I never retaliated to any of the taunts/comments that people threw at me. I have the classic problem of not being able to say anything rude on anyone’s face and then later think about what/how could I have said something.

Friends would ask me questions such as “Din bhar ghar mein kya time pass karti ho? (What time pass do you do the whole day sitting at home?)” “Why don’t you study in college?” “Why are you online the whole day just waiting for someone to come online and ping you?”"Ghar me pura din bore nahi hoti ho kya" and lot more!..

Initially, the word “Housewife” said to me sounded like an insult or bad word.Mostly, I took all these attitude problems and questions in my stride and kept a positive outlook.I used to tell people that arnav is big timepass for me...how time flies doing his and hubby's daily chores is not at all known to me..Also I update new articles in my blog when I get time...cooking has become my passion now...I can cook n number of dishes deliciously now...
But still there are times when I  get terribly depressed as I miss my mom and dad a lot also my sis is going to get married and bla bla...

All of you are aware what true friends are? and what true friendship is?...Yes definately sometimes I do get bored, miss mumbai and pune both badly.all my relatives and many more...but here also frankly speaking I live in good people's company...All are away from there homes so everyone has value of each other...so also frankly speaking I got true friend s here...She is so very nice that she cant live without serving her dishes to me meet me anytime I need her...Also she is very much attached to arnav...We arrange get-togethers lot many times and enjoy to full extent...
Ya,Still Sometimes I do feel like...The walls would close on me, all the ghosts seen in horror movies would haunt me in broad daylight, and I would feel like an utter failure. I would never pester my husband for all my boredom, after all staying here for an extended time was my decision too.

This article is my small contribution to all those females like me, who have willingly or unwillingly taken a break from their careers. The reasons and the duration of the break might be different. But the situation through which we are going through is the same....

Mostly, this article is for all the females on the H4 dependent visa. And only females on the H4 dependent visa know how dependent they become through this visa. With a decent paying job in India, I never thought twice about buying anything. And oh, the freedom to buy and shop is so valuable to any girl. My husband would never stop me from buying anything in the US. But the ability to shop from your hard earned money is quite different than asking him to buy something for you. Some of you who have been in the US know most of the things covered in this article, but I am hoping that this article proves useful to girls who have newly come to US on H4.
Stuck on a H4? Don’t say so. Here’s how you should utilize your free time: and realize that H4 visa is not curse but boon to you...Think and take oppurtunities positively and success will be yours.

1.Volunteer: The first thing that comes to mind when you say H4 is that people cannot work on this visa. So, what now? Volunteer. Look up sites such as Volunteermatch.org and Idealist.org and find volunteer positions in your area. Find the work that best suites your likes and spend your time there. You can choose the schedule of your volunteer work if you face problem like me...looking after your baby... These jobs won’t pay you anything. But they will help you in numerous ways like : a. Maintaining a schedule. b. Give you peace of mind that you are doing something worthwhile with your time. c. If you get a volunteer experience letter, then you can account for the free time when later applying for a job.

My friend volunteered at a school here. It was a very enriching experience for her. And yes I find several writing opportunities through Volunteermatch.org. It’s great to spend time writing articles. In fact, I am very busy in my work.

2.Internships: Several companies accept college interns to work for them for a certain time period. If you have some experience in a particular field and find an internship opening, then you can apply to work voluntarily for the same. My friend was working as an Instructional Designer in India and after coming to the US she found an internship opening in a firm. She applied, went through six rounds of interviews, and is now working as an intern with the firm.Again these firms will also not pay you anything, but they might give you gift cards to gyms and all. Again, the best thing about working as an intern is working as a full-time employee. If the firm is happy with your work, they may sponsor your H1 visa.These websites may help you to find internship positions..
http://jatinternships.uky.edu/internship/list.htm and  http://boston.craigslist.org/.

3.Further studies: For all those whose husband doesn’t mind sponsoring further education, this option is the best. You can complete your MS, MBA, or CPA in US universities.

If you are not interested in a full-time course or a degree, you can consider taking individual courses and earn credit points. Some colleges offer courses for 100$ and these will earn you a single credit point. You will need to increase the number of courses to earn more points. These credit points will definitely come in handy for job applications.

If going to college for earning a degree isn’t easy for you, take up some distance learning program. You can always search on Google for such programs in your field of study.
Lastly, there’s the option of online certifications. Females from IT background can complete Oracle, SAP, and software testing certifications.

4.Hobby classes: Find out about hobby classes in your area and join something that interests you. I was very lucky in this aspect after knowing about Friendship International but I fail to attend as I have duty towards arnav.This group sponsored by the local church offers free hobby classes. Teachers train you on various hobbies such as sewing, stitching, home decorations crafts, crochet, knitting, and quilting. They provide free materials and offer free pick up and drop facility. The class is scheduled every Wednesday and is attended by people of all nationalities. This class gives you a chance to go out, meet so many people, and do something creative with your own hands.

I recently came to know that the store Michaels offers cake decorating and bead jewelry making classes during spring and summer.Visit Michaels craft store to collect free pamplet which describes your hobby class's schedule..Also one of the photo shops in Oxmoor mall arranges for free workshops and seminars regarding scrapbooking.They teach you all photo related creative designing craft things so as to give golden tinge for your sweet memories that needs to be focussed,remembered forever.

5.Network: The more you network, the more you will be aware of opportunities. I have made several friends in my vicinity. These friends informs me about hobby classes, gave me shopping tips, and comforts me when I feel lonely. I also joined Facebook, a networking website and found several long lost friends. Later, I joined communities such as “H4 Marathi Mandal” and “Indian Homemakers in the USA”. Through these communities, I have 500+ virtual friends. I knew that whenever I posted a query or felt like talking to anyone, I would have company. These girls also chat online and play online antakshari. Again one of my friend takes great interest in craft...I learn lot many things related to both crafts and cooking north indian dishes from her as she is excellent cook also...She guides me how to decorate our house...she helped me lot in making frames and variety of decorative articles...she follows principle of making best from waste...I look forward to make good friendship with her so also likes her company a lot...

The apartments where I stay arrange for lot many monthly events with the motto of knowing your neighbours...I eagerly wait for monthly newsletter which describes such events...Always try to attend them and participate in those...It gives me immense pleasure and contentment,satisfaction as get to know many foreigners residing near me... and sometimes you can be lucky winner of any competition like me...I was very happy to recieve my first ever prize of USA at brookside on fathers day...There was essay competition wherein we were needed to describe "Why my dad is great"...Awesome...I enjoyed writing it a lot!....Whenever I do something creative either learn something new or acheive something , I feel like a child who has accomplished something.

6.Keep updated: My biggest worry of being on H4 is that I should get a decent job after going back to India. I should be able to account for the time that I spent here at home. I follow e-mail discussions, read online magazines, and keep updated with the new tools .The biggest advantage of being in the US for me is the local library. I found several books in software field that would be difficult to find in India. I get these books,try reading them, and take notes. I regularly write articles, either for my blogs or as part of the voluntary work.This has helped me a lot in improving my language.This gives me satisfaction that I can spend my time in doing worthy things that I love ... like reading ,writing, photographing etc I do not want to appear clueless and lost when I would apply for jobs in India.

Whatever field you belong to, keep yourself updated. You may convert your visa from H4 to H1 and while searching for jobs, you should be confident and well-informed.

7.Pursue your passion: I believe that there’s a passion in every human waiting to come out. Some of us might have found that passion, while some may find it later. You may be good at singing, cooking, painting, sketching, drawing, playing an instrument, or creative in whatever you make. I discovered my love for cooking after coming to the US. I truly believe that ‘Whatever happens, happens for the best'. I never cooked anything till I came here, and then had to cook as there is no concept of cooking maids in the US. Initially, I struggled but later found that I loved cooking different dishes of variety of cuisines. While searching for a particular recipe, I stumbled upon a food blog and through this I found several food bloggers which are now my virtual friends. I now have my own food blog Food frenzy, where I write about what I cook at home and post pictures of the cooked dishes. Food blogging serves three of my passions – writing, cooking, and photography. I have several blogger friends and we have a lot of blogging events. I love participating in all of them.

A friend of mine is taking her photography hobby very seriously. She has a Canon S2 IS digital camera and captures Mother Nature’s phenomenal wonders through her lens. She shares her work on Flickr and gives a chance to people to appreciate nature’s beauty. Whatever is your passion, find it and pursue it. You will never feel alone if you are engrossed in something.

8.Exercise regularly: The one thing that my dad said to me when I was leaving for the US is “Don’t come back fat”. I always remember this. It’s natural that if you sit at home and eat, you will put on weight. Sometimes you might eat because you are bored, or eat without noticing while watching TV. And then when you see in the mirror, you will see a fat lady. This might increase your frustration and you may end up eating even more. I am not saying that I regularly go to the gym, but some form of physical activity is necessary. Go for a morning walk, do jogging, hit the gym, practice yoga, or play tennis. I try to practice meditation and do jogging on regular basis. It makes me calm and controlled. Go out from time to time. You will feel refreshed after breathing the natural air as weather here is awesome and pure pollution free!

9.Follow a schedule: During my early days in the US, I had absolutely no schedule. I used to get up and make breakfast and lunch for my husband,feed arnav then sleep again till 11 am with my baby, get up and chat with my parents, again feed arnav with lunch and do his daily chores,eat lunch at odd times when time permits, watch TV, and have bath any time before hubby came home. I soon got bored with this schedule. All of us should follow some schedule to feel positive and happy. Nowadays, I get up early, make tiffin for my hubby, look after my baby,read the news, update my blog,clean the house, do my voluntary work, and maintain a fixed schedule.

10.Be positive: Oh no, it's not my blood group. Thoughts of your family, friends, and country are bound to come to your mind from time to time. Your inability to earn may depress you at times. But, try and be positive all the time. If you are feeling lonely, then share this feeling with someone. Read books. I believe that a person will never feel lonely whilst he’s in the company of books. Try to find a positive angle to the present situation. Although I miss my family and all the functions back home, I cherish all the time I am getting to spend with my husband. Who knows, every Sunday in India might have been spent attending weddings and birthday parties? I try and be happy most of the times. I dance when I am alone, laugh out loud, take photographs, and read a lot.

11.Keep company: I see to it that there’s some form of noise when I feel lonely; this way I feel that I have company. I listen to music when I am cooking; I switch on the TV while eating. Ask a friend to visit you if you are too bored or visit her instead. Plan a potluck party with a group of friends as we do every weekend..

12.Eat properly: This point is more as a reminder to me than for anyone else. I hate eating alone. My husband’s office is far off and he can’t come home for lunch. I often neglect lunch and eat in minimal quantities. Sometimes I chuck making chapattis and settle for Maggi, a sandwich, or an apple. I sure hope that none of you do something similar, but if you do, then stop doing it. I have now become very serious about having a hearty lunch. I play my favorite movie, add fruits in my lunch, and seem to enjoy it.

13.Learn something new: What was it that you always wanted to do but never found the time to? Learn a new activity - be it sports, a musical instrument, or a new language. There are websites such as http://www.studyspanish.com/  that teach you Spanish. You can hear the pronunciations and learn the language. I am planning to learn tennis and swimming since here we have good tennis court and best swimming facility. Rekindle the romance with your husband and sign up for some dance classes. I recently found out that a local dance school offers classes for 40$ a month.

14. Learn driving: I did the mistake of not learning to drive. If you stay in a city which does not have good local transport, driving becomes mandatory. Most of the states require you to appear for a written test. You can easily prepare for this test using the driver's guideline book for your state. All the driving rules and regulations are defined in this book. Once you pass the written exam, you have to wait for a month to give the driving test. Practice driving in this one month and then appear for the test. A driving license gives you the freedom to go out whenever you want, you need not be dependent on your husband to take you out. Go to the library, go shopping with your friends,take your child to school or do volunteer work.

This is for all the smart asses (sorry to use this word, but it suits them) who think that people on H4 do nothing but time pass the whole day. Most of these girls are highly educated and know better about how to pass their time than you lecturing them. Do consider the fact that these girls are thousands of miles away from home and family. If you are not interested in talking to them, leave them alone. But at least don’t point out the fact that they are not working over and over again. Remember, if you say something depressing, you can spoil their day.

I hope that this article would help my female friends on H4 in some way or the other. Thanks for reading this article. If you would like to contribute any other helpful fact for this article, please contact me. I would love to add it to the article and give your reference. Also, if you want more information about anything, get in touch with me. I would be happy to help you out.

Till then, be happy on H4!Adios!

True Wedding Gift To My Baby Sister...

A Wedding Note from Sister to Sister....

I’m sharing with you all... my letter to my little sister whom I love dearly and who will be getting married early next year..in the month of January..And after the wedding she will be relocating to another country. Since I am not the one doing a toast, basically I wanted to write her a handwritten letter and tell her all that is
in my heart...I wanted to give her the most touching letter to read on her wedding day ...But as Iam very very far away from her, here in USA it is hardly possible..I deceided to mail her in advance so that she can refer back to it in future... Here is what I have so far - let me know what you think!

To my dearest baby sister, sukhada…

In just a few days time, you’re going to be someone’s wife.

A lover, a partner, a friend, and a full time supporter for a man that you’ve chosen to marry and spend the rest of your life with.

But dont forget that...To me you’ll always be my baby sister who is always sweet but at the same time, strong, a visionary, yet always lovable.

I know we haven't seen as much of each other in the last few months as we used to, but I hope you feel, as I do, that we are still just as close as we were when I was in India.. I am very much excited and honoured and surely desire to be a part of your big day and watch your happiness with Ketan...as you start on the path of
marriage.But dont know exactly whether I will be able to attend your marriage or not...so this one is for you dear...Ok,lets not discuss too much about it...It makes me feel sad...

As your elder sister, as a person who has lived a few years longer, had stepped into the marriage journey a bit earlier, if I may, I’d like to share some notes that might ease you in the long and winding road called marriage...Indeed Marriage is a winding road. Lots of ups and downs will definitely happen. But when it’s down, it’s not the end of the world. It could even make you stronger.

Again to tell you..This is not the end of the road, only the beginning and there is so much ahead for both of you. I hope that you will continue to take all the opportunities that come along the way, that you will always celebrate the friendship and love you both have, and that together you will draw strength like our parents
to get through life's trials.

It is hard to not still call you "kid".You are a big girl now dear! Just like you will always be Mom & Dad's baby, so you will always be my little sister.

I have always felt a close bond with you and will always be there for you as both sister and friend. I am thrilled that you both are entering this new stage of life,and that we both look forward to a lifetime of experiences as sisters, friends and new families and new relationships.

Learning from people around you, you always need to have trust, good communication, understanding, affection, and respect with your partner and always be close to god.

No matter how hard the wind blows, if each of you values and holds on to those things, I believe you will be the happiest couple alive...

Build your marriage to be this nice and cozy home for your family that is full of love and affection... Make everyday special, so that fairy tale story is not just in fairy tales, it’s part of your life. We need those magic moments sometimes, right?

we have grown up together our entire lives, being each others playmate, confident, best friend.Our childhood was one and the same; our stories both began in the same house at Dombivali. We as Sisters share the scent and smells - the feel of a common childhood.We are really different flowers from the same garden.It was nice growing up with someone like you - someone to lean on, someone to count on... someone to tell on!

Memories of bicycle rides up and down our long driveway, our visits to park,our fights for simple reasons,serials and cartoons on the television, So many indoor and outdoor games that we used to enjoy together...and lot more...really A sister shares childhood memories and grown-up dreams.

You, three years younger, you the little sister, you always there, my beloved shadow, a mini-version, a littler me.You as a sister is a gift to my heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life... But as we grew up you became your own person, no longer always wanting to be just like big sister, you figured
out who you were, you found your own way.

I clearly remember my childhood days...you being younger good at art and drawing skills...I used to force you to complete my pictures,drawing and diagrams...and next day would happily announce in class about its completion..really sorry for this dear...how very pathetic I was then...I am just so thankful that little sisters are so persistent and forgiving.But I think Help one another, is part of the religion of sisterhood.Sisters is probably the most competitive relationship within the family, but once the sisters are grown, it becomes the strongest relationship.Sisters function as safety nets in a chaotic world simply by being there for each other.

You became who you were always going to be. I am so thankful for those years we spent growing up together in that beautiful bubble- you were born when I was three, and when I went to college and after me getting married, it marked the end of twenty years...sharing clothes, laughs, secrets, and that sister language only we could understand.

All of my fondest memories include you, and I feel fortunate that we are always creating new ones too; we still laugh, and play, and yes, even fight many a times.

You are a beautiful person, and throughout our lives, I've always been incredibly protective. I only want the best for you, and now that you are 23, an adult by all means, about to get married, I can say with a happy heart that you've absolutely found the best in your hubby.

My wish for you is that you continue to follow your heart and your dreams, and that you continue to be the firecracker of a girl you've always been.

I hope marriage only continues to encourage your heart to grow in every which way possible. I believe that you and husband are meant to be, and I am so happy that you have found that one person for you.

Remember to love, and to have fun, and to never forget the feeling you have right now- so young and in love, about to embark on the greatest journey of your life...

I know this is the time that you will need me most...you will feel like to share your ideas,thoughts,meaning and ask related questions about this life long journey-

marriage...but sorry dear Iam not there for you and with you...But yes you have real gem of your life with you...MOM and DAD...you can ask any damp question to them and they are ready to answer them truly..

You are not just my little sister, but you are one of my closest friends. We’ve been through a lot together, and I will always cherish the memories we have created thus far in our lives. What a blessing that God brought us together to be sisters! and I thank him for bringing you into my life.Having a sister is like having a best friend you can't get rid of. You know whatever you do, they'll still be there.Believe me...When mom and dad don't understand, a sister always will.

I love that we’re not just sisters, but also friends.Our roots say we're sisters but our hearts say we're friends. I love that we socialize together, that we know each other’s friends, that we play dress-ups together (still) and Life wasn’t always easy growing up....We were not always lucky in getting what we desire in life...and are mostly losers and abusers we put up with for so long, but I’m very glad that we both found the real thing. Thank god we finally realised our self worth and didn’t settle for anything less than we deserved. Kind, respectful, honest, good humoured and romantic men.

Now you will be entering into a whole new life. You and ketan are no longer two, but one. God will be joining you together now...When we enter the covenant of marriage, we are agreeing to no longer be a “me” but a “we”. A marriage is not a joining of two separate worlds, but an abandoning of two worlds in order that one new one might be formed. When we get married, we make a vow, before God, family and friends... Nikhil and I got married with stars in our eyes thinking that we could conquer the world.

Same applies to you dear...Ketan is a very lucky man and you lucky woman...so dont ever take tension in life dear...I heard from mom that you are tensed about marriage and getting ill lot many times...
Dont take tension dear...Its not going to resolve any problems but ya will surely create few ones..Now onwards you need to face life boldly...Dont ever think and relate anybody's else life with you...you are born with your own future and gifts from almighty god...I think you are getting what Iam trying to say and so also
understanding the same...Hope you will relate everything to your life positively...

To watch you grow into a woman, overcome the obstacles with which you were faced, and achieve so much, has been a joy. You were always the cute, confident, creative and cool sister.. Things haven’t changed much and we’ve grown to admire each other’s differences, become proud of ourselves, and each other.

Well, now after this big lecture and hopefully this letter will prove useful to you...I think wedding plans have come more closer, and you are ready to enter a new phase of life....

I am praying that God will bless your marriage as he has mine. I pray that your marriage will bring you lots of peace, fulfillment and joy in the years to come. And just know that when the hard times do come, as they inevitably do after every marriage or anytime in life, I am there for you, Sis. I am just a phone call away.
Congratulations and best wishes to you as you become a wife! May God bless you richly in the years to come.

It was indeed painful to write all this dear...Iam unable to control my tears and emotions any longer now dear hence iam closing the subject and letter both...

Eagerly waiting to see you,mom and dad...Biding a big bye with heavy heart and watery eyes...all the best to you..

So, little sister, this is for you. A wish for love and happiness, a wish for your future to be a bright as your present. I love you and I’m going to miss you, but I also feel assured in the knowledge that you’re in good hands.

Congratulations on your special day and ‘welcome to the jungle'- take it slow and enjoy every moment. Look around you and absorb everything. It's your day!

May this be the beginning of a wonderful, happy and healthy, life together and hopefully some little baby running around soon too (hint hint).Just Joking dear...

I wish you the best of everything you do in life, my dear baby sister.

I wish happiness, request god to shower his choicest blessings for this sweet couple and life fulfillment for you and your family...

Here is the sweet poem for you...

We ran and played and shared our toys...
Now I remember our childhood joys...
We shared a home with mom and dad....
These memories now makes me glad...
Now you go to share your life....
With Ketan...to be his wife....
We'll see each other less I know...
But you"ll always be the sister to whom I can go!
Ketan is such a great guy you are blessed with!Iam so happy for you.....
Yours Supriya

With Heartfelt Love,
Your Big Sis