Whats in a Name

My work here in the US allows me to meet people from all walks of life - different economic status, cultures, religions, countries.

I have at last count met people from more that 28 countries around the world who are immigrants here - to help and create their respective "American Dreams" - apartment, bungalow, home whatever you call it.

Also at the same time I have met Indians from almost all states in India - except for 3 northeast states. I like this experience which would not have been possible living a sheltered life at home.

Now what has happened is that my name CHINTAN DESAI has unknowingly attained many variations - some of which that I remember I will jot down here.

- South Indians : They add the "a" at the end. Like it is RAMA and LAXMANA for them instead of RAM and LAXMAN - I am Chintanaaaaa

- Chinese or Korean or any orientals : It is difficult for them to comprehend the full name - for them CHIN TAN is the full name - They ask politely why is DESAI added to your name.

- Latinos, Spanish or Mexicans : For them it is Shintan or Chitan or Chinton....and last name is D'sai like D'souza

- Europeans : They cant pronounce the soft TAN (तन) they make it TAAAN (तान)

Well I do spell names all wrong or hear them wrong - one such funny incident.

Client (on the phone) : Hi my name is Kiran (now thats what I heard and spelt)

Me: Hi, this is Chintan and after the regular conversation and taking down information we setup a meeting to meet at a parking lot from where we had to walk to his house.

At the lot - I am waiting in the car for 15 mins. Nobody showed up. So I call Kiran.
A guy standing at near the parking lot edge lifts the phone. He is Kiran.

So we both go and shake hands - the the confusion was :
He had seen me waiting but was expecting a chinese guy named : Chun Tan
and he was an Irish guy named CIARAN (pronounced you guessed it right Kiran)

Lastly - naming this blog CEEDY also has a small interesting tale. Around last year this time had called Pizza Hut for delivery. The guy at the other end asked me my name and could not get it.
So I said just jot down CD.
When it was delivered the bill said "SEEDY" - which has a shady meaning - but it stuck in my mind and when I started to blog I changed SEEDY to CEEDY - works well numerologically too :P. So thank you Pizza Hut dude.

Well some people get offended and start correcting people to pronounce their name correctly, I was taught very early in school - proper nouns do not have an exact pronunciation - I just like collecting my variations. Can one call it a hobby - I dunno.

Also still am a PC orphan - so will visit everyone in due time - just posting this from a friends laptop.

अ B (Now) C डी' s Tagged

A to Z of my life!!!
Tagged by Carolinagal
Before the actual Tag - another ABCD version -

American Born Confused Desi Emigrant
Father Gujarati Housed In Jersey
Kids Learning Medicine Now Owning
Property Quite Reasonable Salary Two
Uncles Visiting White Xenophobia Yet Zestful

(disclaimer - the above is from various sources with some modifications - not original)
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A nti - histamins - Its spring and this is my life for the next few months. Antihistamins work as earplugs to curb the noise and get me some sleep, as the pollen from the trees and my sinuses decide to copulate without my consent. The noise from their coitus rattles my nerves and leaving behind colorful trails of love juices.

Gateway of India - Colaba, Bombay
B ombay - No matter what they call it - I am still a BOMBAYITE at heart, soul, mind, body and spirit. Simply love the city and its DENSE aura. This tag could have just been listing A-Z of Bombay that defines me.

C my first initial and chocolates and Capricorn

D my last initial

E nigma - I am to others as well as myself many a times.

F cuk - The most versatile word in the English Language. Hear it in the voice of OSHO - a spiritual guru. No wonder its commonly used by many. (this is hilarious and NSFW - not suitable for work)

G ujarati - Thats what Iam - just an adulterated version from Bombay.

H onda - My first car that I totalled (scrapped) on the 11th day, skidding of the highway in heavy rains.

I nternet - If not for this medium, I dont know how life would have been - it has now become an integral part of my life.

J (ust) Like That Only - JLTO - syndrome - like to do many things this way - without rhyme or reason.

K ites - Love flying them - used to do it for months when a kid - perfect way to be all alone and talk to the skies, the birds, the sun, the wind, the clouds - miss it here though.
L icensed Architect for NJ - took 5 yrs bachelors, 2 masters, 3000+ hours of internship, 9 exams and plus continuing education (have to keep updating myself every year, collect points to keep the license active)

M ba - The (M)ane (B)addhu (A)avvde (Gujarati for I know everything ) people - if the person really knows everything I like them but if they are pretending - then you know what can happen.

N ew York - The city I love after Bombay. Having travelled to many big cities around - I simply love NY as it is closest in spirit to Bombay - physically completly different though - taller, cleaner and not as dense.

O cean - Love walking on the beach, being near it, sand, swimming, jet sking, sunset, sunrise, babes, beers ;) - everything about it (common I am a Tum right!!!)- recommendation - South Beach Florida

P az Vega - I like this Spanish actress - (spanglish was one hollywood movie) - very free spirited - we share the same birthday.

Q atar - Reminds me of this city when peole keep enforcing "krupaya prateeksha kijeye, aap qatar me hai" Please wait you are in 'Q" - now if I have to wait Why dont I have a choice of Paris or London or Bombay!

R oads - This is where I spend a lot of time getting lost, nostalgic, thoughtful, enigmatic - with my best friend (mentioned later).

S andwich - The best food on earth - can combine anything and everything in between two slices of bread - and can get variety of tastes - my survival food - am an eggetarian - and still can find abundance of things to pack in between.

T ime - I am extra punctual and it irritates people - Indian here want to work on Indian Stardard Time - means arrive an hour after the decided meeting time - even after an hour I am first.....had this one incident - was invited to a birthday party in NY - reached on time at 7.30. Parking in the city is more expensive than food - called this couple up - said that they havent still left home - I was like WTF - so he says why dont you take some drinks - I will get the tab -OKAYYYY - he regrets that moment till date - I drank like a fish.

U mbrella - dont like carrying it ever - like to get wet.

V olkswagen - My best friend with whom I spend those cosy moments on roads.

W ander - My favorite hobby - forests, beaches, roads, parks - I just like to wander to wilderness.

X aviers Boys' Academy- My school - I miss it every day....

Y why - Sometimes I wish I can stop asking so many questions....

Z yrtec (anti histamin tablet) to stop that deep grinding noise the pollen and sinuses are making!!!!

Wow!!! This was long - most people have done this tag - whosoever is still interested - be my guest - but you still have to pay the bill :)

A Pause in Time Slows you Down

Started a new blog - now have to keep it chugging..The link is across ------------>
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Have been drinking lot of Campbell Alphabet Soup.

Had been tagged by Carolinagal - on ABCD's about me. There are some alphabets that dont like me - cant get them to talk to me. So the soup - trying to be friends with them. Hopefully next post I will post that.
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Lastly - Have been putting up posts like God's Inc. Guess what he is listening or sending me some signals - telling me to stop tinkering with HIM or accept calls from other and ask him the PERTINENT QUESTIONS.

Maybe I will get zapped just like my laptop did yesterday - we parted ways after 4 year relationship. There were bouts when it got red and hot and angry and simply shut down - had to wait and console it to work. Finally it bade farewell. Now I am back in the market - Single again and looking for another mate for my E-life.

The reason I say that is at work I recently finished a big addition to a Mosque. Designing an addition and alteration to a Temple and today got invited to the to a Church.

I will be slow at responding and visiting for few days.

New Blog

I have started a new blog where I will scribble Short Stories periodically.

Here is the link.
Short Stories

Copied the first story from this blog - The Red Card

and posted a new one - Mismatch

Hope you enjoy it.

Thanks

6 Words Memoir _ Update_4

Tagged by Jeevy and an earlier link provided in a comment by Preethi in my post Lifes Resume
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18768430

A Memoir in Six words.

Chintan Desai aka Ceedy (my pen name)

Slipped from Doctors Hands at Birth

I tag everyone whosoever is interested on my Blogroll
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There was a lot of interest and lot of memoirs - I am collectively posting them here:
Good to know what each one is thinking and experiencing.

Jeevy : Perched between twin realities of shadow worlds
-xh-Anoop : When God got bored,created me
Ankur : Reincarnated after cheated at lovers end
Mel : I live and die for Christ
Carolinagal : (I) Don't drink, (I) just sip a lot.
Aneri_masi : Seen some (of the) world...wanna see all!
Backpakker : I am not what I am
Kp : Life without Sports isn't worth living!
Veens : FELL OFF BED, BROKE MY NOSE
ReetaSkeeter : Wikkidness born with an innocent face
Noushy Syah : Without you I won't be here
Solitaire : My apartment ruined by Midwestern floods
Cinderella : 'Struggling with the 6 word memoir..' !!
Pavi!!!!! : Pavi's last conversation with U