India

The International Airport in Chennai (MAA) is a statement. But before you start assuming its cultural significance, let me quickly say this: I don’t know how to frame the statement itself, but I’ll attempt to elaborate my understanding. As someone interested in UX and wanting to improve UX every here and there – no I haven’t improved UX anywhere yet – I cannot help but notice this about the MAA airport. The departure happens from the new terminal. This building has constructionally stabilized and withstood Vardah, so I guess its a safe place now. And since its a new building, they have incorporated a slightly better queueing system for immigration. Nothing great here and of course, there is a tonne to improve. The arrival happens in the older terminal. The arrival immigration hall is probably half as big as the new terminal itself and yet, it is the most time consuming and unorganized aspect of the entire “arrival” process. Baggage should have taken the spot, but immigration wins hands down. ...

Currently, am an NRI. Wow!! And an expat in Singapore. Super wow!! I never thought I’d be any of that. You know only NRIs are able to afford housing in Abhiramapuram and Mylapore, right? For Teynampet, you may need to be NRI banker or something. And you know the kind of life expats live in Chennai? Splurge is the word. They are the only people who buy stuff at KNK road and that European coffee boutique off-Gopalapuram. Someday, I’ll be an NRI expat in Chennai. ...

I was in Chennai last week. I had to go out someplace and I had hired a cab since I am not very keen in driving in Chennai any more. It was a 40 minute drive one way and it was a pretty hot day. The cabbie was the only relief all along the drive although both my wife and my mom found him a tad too annoying. The man was naturally gifted at talking. He spoke a naturally funny dialect of tamil. And he picked up topics from the road. Every street name, car, building, office space that we cross, he had something to quip. Some where just a rant or a while, but a lot many were just good humor. It is clear that he doesn’t mind. That’s like the best stand up comedy show I have been in – not that I have been in a lot. I listen to them a lot. ...

Vaidy took about 6 hrs off his schedule to talk to us. And I feel extremely honored that he did that for me. I have a lot of lessons from him, some for the two of us put together. It is my job, now, to put it in perspective and apply what I could. Quite important! I couldn’t catch up with a lot of people though. I guess I underestimated the work involved in organizing a wedding. Some people I really wished to have caught up with include Balaji, Ramaseshan Sir, Nallen, Bala amongst others. We couldn’t spend much time with Noni’ parents either. Although they understand, it really counts as bad planning on our side. ...

Kuti got married last month. So I went to India to be present as the brother and to help organize the last minute stuff. The wedding itself went very well with a few WTF instances. The couple is very happy. And that is all really counts. I am going to write a multi-part account of my 3.5 week long trip. That is the number of things that I’d like archived for the rest of my life. But this post is about the most important realization that dawned on me – I might not be ready to go back to India in the near term. ...

I had to file my taxes in India for the 1 month that I worked last FY. And my auditor wants a Form16 from the company. Dude, I quit the company about 1.5yrs back! Anyway, I am trying to reach out to them to see if I can get this sorted out quickly. I don’t know if there are other better tax services in India. I have heard of a few companies that claim to make it simple and straight forward. If I remember right, one even made it to YC demo day (right?)! ...

The counting is starting in a while and the internet connection at office is flaky!! Not today, I say! I should have sent money y’day. Tomorrow there is at least a 50% chance, I stand to lose on exchange rate. Unfortunately that is also what I wish for my country – for the rupee to gain in value because of good governance and economic policies. All the best India. You gave your exams well ( fairly good turnout compared to earlier, right?). There is little you can do about the results. By EoD, at least the short term future of the country will become clear. But I hope we didn’t burden ourselves with another electoral spend. I hope and wish we gave a clear mandate. ...