Monday 26 March 2012

Another Monday with all its morning blues, official engagements, short evening nap and some face booking went by.  Monday morning has always been not so welcome right from school days, and things have not changed even now. It is that time of the week when every minute of that extra sleep means a lot to you. Outside, the Mother nature too is slowly coming out of its dull brown winter blanket.  Flowers have started blossoming and Spring is on its way.  Very colorful sight indeed.
Winter has not left its cold grip completely.  It's been cold wind blowing throughout the day and for a moment it felt like it is going to snow again.  The sight of people jogging was beginning to turn a common one, but today they were found with all winter clothes on.  Nature is unpredictable.

Behind the wheel

It was nice to be holding the steering wheel again after a gap of some 6 to 7 months.  I was a little apprehensive about driving on these roads initially, the main reason being the wheel positioned to the left side of the vehicle.  But it turned out to be a not so difficult exercise.  I could manage it, and could do it pretty well. 
The rules are there mainly for helping people.  Ironically, it was these rules that posed a certain degree of difficulty today.  Mostly because I was born, brought up and had my first driving lessons in a land where people never care about rules and laws.  I believe anybody from my background would find it a bit uneasy to be forced by rules to stop at just a stop sign, since back in their homeland, they don't stop even in the presence of traffic police if they have a chance.  Evading law has become our principle.  We feel it a shame to abide by the laws and regulations of our own country, but in a foreign land, we are left with no choice.  The rules are strict here.
There was one similarty though.  It was the attitude and temper of the instructor.... ha ha... These guys want their students to be Mr Perfect right from the take one.  The moment you sit behind the wheel, you are expected to be an expert and drive with perfection.  I have had enough of this irritating experience during my initial driving classes back in India, because of which I did not have to go through the same ordeal again this time.
Today I had a chance to come across an article titled 'Cruel Punctuality' posted by the popular traveller Mr Santhosh George Kulangara in his website..  He was throwing some light on the punctuality of westerners and how it turns out to be 'cruel' in our views.  It made me think how long still we have to keep waiting to acquire these basic qualities that make up our lives organized and disciplined. How far are we Indians behind the west in almost every single quality that goes into nation building.  May be a few hundred years seemed an obvious answer.

It is almost 12 AM.  Tomorrow is another day and another hectic schedule begins.  Have to take some rest now. Time to collapse on the bed.