What does that look like?

I just saw this picture of mine, while I was driving and was on the phone. Dont I look Good :) Mashaa Allaah Mashaa Allaah!!! I was so busy talking on the phone did not realize I was being clicked.

Looks like taking care of some serious business on the phone!!!

Indian Price

What is the Indian Price? Its a common term that my senior uses around, Will I get the Indian price? Whenever we discuss about anything. SO what is this Indian price referred to. I got the explanation today when he was explaining it to an egyptian in office. If you go to any market in Kuwait places like Hawally, Fahaheel etc. mostly shops either belong to Indians or the salesmen are Indians. So his point of view is that they give a cheaper rate to Indians, so if you can act like an Indian and ask for the price of a commodity, you will get it cheaper. For example if they sell an external hard Disk for 30KD to a Kuwaiti, they will offer it to an Indian for 25KD.

SO Thats the Indian Price!!Will I get the Indian Price?

My Baby's Passport

I learnt this lesson, after making the same mistake second time, not applying in Tatkaal"Out-of-turn"issue of passport scheme where you get the passport in 15 days. It had taken 5 months to get my wife's passport. And now for my daughter I applied on 8th August and everyone told me for Minor baby there is no police verification so you will get it in 15-20 days. And thats what I was hoping for. But unfortunately the status message on the passport site said "The passport will be dispatched on 13th October 2009 if all documents are in order". Which means after 35 days of applying it was expected to be dispatched. Still I was checking the passport status site every alternate day on an average, assuming that 35 days was a default message and since it was for minor child, they might complete and dispatch it earlier. Unfortunately it did not happen until 13th October. When I checked the status today on 17th October. I get a Good News and a Bad News. The message has been updated and now it says: "The passport has been Granted and will be despatched by 19th November 2009". The Good News was that the passport has been granted, so nothing was missing in paperwork Inshaa Allaah. But the bad news was that the dispatch date was after a month and when I was planning to get my daughter to Kuwait by 30th November. So it was a setback. But because I am praying for the passport more than for myself. I think it was a typing mistake, they typed in 19th November instead of 19th October. So Inshaa Allaah I am hoping to receive it by 21st October.

Lessons learnt: Always apply for a passport in TATKAAL scheme if in INDIA. The good part of being a Resident abroad is that if you apply it in INDIAN EMbassy, you get a brand new passport in 2-5 days.

Update: Passport has been despatched by post on 20-10-2009 vide postal Registration Number 571

Alhamdulillaah the passport status has changed with above today. SO should get my babys passport tomorrow. I love My INDIA

Touching Story

A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the door.

SON: "Daddy, may I ask you a question?"
DAD: "Yeah sure, what is it?"
SON: "Daddy, how much do you make an hour?"
DAD: "That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?"
SON: "I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?"
DAD: "If you must know, I make $100 an hour."
SON: "Oh! (With his head down).
SON: "Daddy, may I please borrow $50?"
The father was furious.
DAD: "If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I work hard everyday for such this childish behavior."

The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.
The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy's questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?
After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think:
Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $ 50 and he really didn't ask for money very often. The man went to the door of the little boy's room and opened the door.

DAD: "Are you asleep, son?"

SON: "No daddy, I'm awake".
DAD: "I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier. It's been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the $50 you asked for."

The little boy sat straight up, smiling.
SON: "Oh, thank you daddy!"
Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills. The man saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his father.

DAD: "Why do you want more money if you already have some?"

SON: "Because I didn't have enough, but now I do.

"Daddy, I have $100 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you."
The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little son, and he begged for his forgiveness. It's just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts. Do remember to share that $100 worth of your time with someone you love? If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days. But the family and friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives. And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than to our family.

Reference: http://ritemail.blogspot.com/2009/10/100-dollar-touching-story.html

Busy...Busy...Busy

As I get involved in more and more work at work, I get busier and busier and you know what's the best part of it. I am Enjoying It!!! As I will get to work on different aspects of business, I am excited about it and looking forward to giving my best to it Inshaa Allaah!!!

Reminds me of those old days in India when I used to work like round the clock. But now I dont want to work round the clock as I have a family to take care of being A FATHER of a cute little girl.

But I want to learn more and more, want to work in different aspects of business, want to be involved in everything that I can work on. I have friends who always tell me. Awwab you need to learn to say 'NO'. But I guess, I haven't learnt that yet and don't want to at this stage of my career. I am still young, energetic and on the learning curve... Have soo much more to learn, understand...and so far to go in life.... and you know what I learnt two more things today 1. About the circle of Influence vs. Circle of Concern and 2. About the Ladder example of Manager and Leader. That's why I like to work with this Gentleman, every time I sit with him, I learn something new that will help in all aspects of life be it work or personal!!!

About Oil Industry

I was seeking advice from a Senior Consultant in our office. He has ample amount of experience in the Oil Industry. It is an honour that he has been invited to give a talk in a Carbon Conference in China in which even Hillary Clinton is a speaker. SO imagine, how much experience he must be having. As I am getting more focussed towards how Oil works, was seeking his advice about the industry and what can benefit me to be valuable in Oil industry. He explained to me about the different areas like Exploration, Seismic 2D/3D/4D, Surface facilities, Dry Holes, Drilling and the business/economic aspect of Oil business. We discussed how advancement in technology was reducing the error factor. How GeoScience is soo important. It was a very good discussion. I found it very interesting...and I guess I am getting more and more focussed towards Oil industry. The baseline was you get more knowledge by working in the fields and attending conferences on different areas of Oil. It is a wide industry with lot of potential. So I was thinking of doing some masters but seems I will learn more by studying about all the different areas and speaking to people in the different groups in our company. Have to invest more time and effort to excel in learning the Oil business. He is such a gentleman likes to share his knowledge and help anyone who needs his help/advice.

I love my INDIA !!!

I was at MUMBAI airport this time coming back to Kuwait, the flight timing is early morning Yaani U have to pray Fajar at the airport. Until last time Yaani June 2009, U had to pray in some corner near the seating place. The issue that comes with that is to identify the Qiblah direction. And thats what I was trying to do this time also at the airport when the shopkeeper whom I asked told me that there was a Prayer room made near Gate 8. And Yes I went there and it was a Prayer/Meditation room and once I went Inside, there was Qiblah direction marked for people to pray. Mashaa Allaah! I Love My India!!!

Also reminds me of some of my previous bosses whom I might have asked for a place to pray in Office, they would so happily provide a solution/permission to pray. This is how much support you get when you want to follow your religion in India even after being Minority!

So next time you are at Mumbai Airport and want to pray just look for Gate No. 8