Almost Famous

Of the famous things that have the word 'famous' in them, I can only recollect one thing ...the movie 'almost famous'. I never have watched it. Right now, I am sitting at the 'Famous Studios' in Mahalakshmi, Mumbai. This is my break between my morning run to the French Consulate office and the evening one that is going to be at 4:00 p.m.

Looks like things are all fine, but the NOC has not reached. :O. A big O. Cant close my mouth back ..O. How could that be. I am going to Business Foundations Programme tomorrow morning and I need my passport back. At worst, I would have to come back to Mumbai for the visa. At best, the lady at the desk will find my NOC that was sent from Allianze Francaise and stamp a visa. Let me see if this break at the 'Famous Studios' brings me the luck that I need.

Well, lunch time .. I always believe there should be no tension. So lets deal with that later at 4 p.m. Till then, let me share what I say and heard inside this building. "Shahrukh came here last week for three days". Thats the king Khan ... Now I am not a great Shahrukh khan fan, but when you are told that news you are expected to look like one. I did.

I just left my techie job behind. I worked on the storage domain most of my life. Never have seen a SAN environment live in a customer place. And today I did. I did. I did. Right here at the 'Famous Studio'. And then all these shots that are taken on the negative are scanned into the SGI 16 rack machine. Lots of TB space there in each rack. These are digitized and work done on them. Editing, animation, graphics ... you name it ... all for your eyes to please. And then rewritten and published. And I got a first hand explanation of all these and a look at their IRIX machine, plus the two HP machines with Red Hat on them ! Not bad at all for a finale of my techie life.

Ah yeah, back to the visa stuff. Its 2:35 p.m and I am to leave here at 3:00 p.m to make it there at 4:00. Yup, fingers crossed.

Sometime later I shall write all about getting a visa from the mumbai consulate office. Last couple of months I just didnt make the time to write it down. Now that my techie days at office are coming to a close, hope to make some time to write it all.

Fonty ! Do I get there ?

Admitted ! It took me two days for the feeling to sink in. And then I was terribly confused .. INSEAD or IMD. IMD or INSEAD. Finally .... yes, Fonty, here I am, this is me, this is where on I earth I would rather be ...

And then I slept the rest of the weekend. Have been doing things the last minute lately. Just two days before the last date, I sent them my acceptance letter.

Ok what next now. hmmmm.... Visa for sure. Then housing. Yeah, a car. Oh, the warm winter clothes. What else ...err.. hmmmm..... cash... yeah, all the cash for the fees. The flight tickets as well. And yes, resign - that sure feels good. I am going to miss all the limelight I am getting in my current job, but yes, have to give it up. I am going to work till the very end ... this is like a pregnant friend of mine who was in office on completing 9 months and swore to work till the very end and sure she did - very happily that is.

Lets get back to the list
- Visa
- Housing
- Car
- Flight tickets
- Cash

I just told my boss today that I will be flying to Fonty. She didnt know INSEAD, forget Fonty. Actually this is not surprising .. I myself did not hear about INSEAD a year and a half ago .. blame the technical focus our job demands ?? ... may be. But sure had this tingle in her eye .. she is excited for me. She said my case was very unique. You said it lady, thats what I have been ... UNIQUE. Thats just the perfect word. So I have knocked off resignation from my list as you can seen. Thats more of formalities to finish now.

Next let me get to the Visa / Housing.
Visa - I will have to go to Mumbai. Looks like I need to get a NOC of sorts. Got some info there. I am feeling so lazy to pick the phone and call the embassy ... for whatever reason. Will do that. When I do that, will let you know.

Housing - So far I have mailed few guys and listed out some apartments on www.bonapart.org that I liked. I have to understand the formalities involved.

Cash - well, I have got most of it, I better start counting as to how much I need and get to the bank to give me education loan.