"Hey you wanna have Gulab Jamun?" This was actually one of the most awe inspiring questions anyone asked me in US, the answer to which is pretty straightforward: "Anyday!" One of my close friends here had ordered Gulab Jamuns online and I landed up at his place just when the pack was being opened. It was a great feeling as the stuff bottomed down to my stomach. Now that Diwali is coming we guys sure have a plan to order loads of sweets to the Online Halwai and actually visit one of the very few Indian Restaurants around here to have a wholesome Indian Buffet. This makes me realize the importance of all that Indian Cuisine we considered run-of-the-mill stuff and never actually appreciated back home.

The week was busy as usual with routine homework assignments and test announcements along with work at the office. The week passed by without a hint of when it got over. I guess discipline in life and a balance between work, study, and enjoyment is pretty much essential for living comfortably here. All of us make it a point to enjoy and party every Friday night (which I guess almost everybody does to get over with the fatigue of work all week). The place for party generally everywhere is the City's Downtown which has a bunch of pubs, discotheques, and restaurants. Friday Night sure is Party Night at each and every nook and corner of the US.

I did have a couple of surprises in store for me this week, the biggest one of which was an Interview call from Microsoft for an Internship which I am looking forward to next summer. Microsoft is the icon of the software Industry which made me feel really overwhelmed at the idea of interviewing with them. Working for any big company including the likes of Intel, IBM, Andersen, etc is a very easy possibility here after passing out [graduating] from American Universities because most of these companies have offices spread in almost all states of the US and source their personnel from almost every University in the US. This was my first interview with one of the big American companies. The two pairs of suits I brought from home really came in handy during these occasions because it is almost mandatory to dress up formally. The big companies have an elaborate selection process before finalizing a candidate which includes a series of on-campus, telephone, and even on-site interviews. The interview experience was much similar to other interviews I faced earlier except for the accent, which I had to put on. "Shucks! it's still a long way to go before I can speak things the right way".

Apart from the availability of jobs and work, the work culture in the US is very straightforward, once I commit myself to work I have to make it or in case I can't, I have to intimate the people about a change in plans, or else getting fired from the job is just not a surprise. The people (even your boss and your boss's boss) are very helpful at work; they may even come down and sit with you to help you out with anything that you face rather than subordinate tasks. I am very often surprised to see them so much committed, which I guess motivates many of us to work hard as well. I remember many a times my boss standing and dictating things to me when I am comfortable sitting in a chair and listening to him. Things tend to be informal and the only thing that has to be done is the work.

Besides working, studying, and going through all these experiences, one experience I really look forward to is that of celebrating Diwali first time away from home. The Indian Community here has chalked out a gala plan for a community dinner where each of us will cook our food in our own way and sit together sharing the food at Diwali Night. I wonder, who will face the torture of having to eat the food I cooked!!

Signing off now, I wish all of you "A very Happy and Prosperous Diwali!"

Letter 9

Nitin Ahuja

Letter 11