Category: Experience
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Hyphenated Homecoming: Part 2
Airports are the grand lobbies of a country—the first impression, the handshake, the welcome mat rolled out for travelers. And for years, Mumbai’s airport had been… well, let’s just say it did its job, but it never quite sparked pride. Every time I flew back, I would sigh at the dullness, the chaotic baggage claim,…
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Hyphenated Homecoming: Part 1
Eleven years. That’s how long it had been since I last set foot in India. It’s a long gap, I know, but life happens. Work, routines, and the comforting predictability of everyday existence kept stretching the years longer than I intended.
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Hyphenated Homecoming: A Journey Back After 11 Years – Buckle Up for the Ride
I had grand plans. Write everything, edit like a pro, and drop the entire series at once—kind of like Netflix does, so my dear readers could binge-read the whole thing. Yeah… that didn’t happen. Turns out, writing about an 11-year overdue trip back home is just as overwhelming as taking the actual trip. So instead…
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One Year of Hyphenated Homestead: The Blog that Didn’t Quit
Exactly one year (and one day) ago, on December 23, 2023, I did something miraculous. No, I didn’t discover the meaning of life or finally master the perfectly round chapati; still working on that btw. 😁 I started a blog—Hyphenated Homestead—and here’s the real kicker: I stuck with it. Yes, this blog’s first birthday is…
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‘Fall’ing Gracefully
This fall, the two red point maple trees we planted last year have undergone a beautiful transformation. Their once-green leaves have turned a brilliant red, adding a striking splash of color to the yard. It’s hard to believe they were so different just a few weeks ago. Watching these trees adapt to the changing season…
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Kaka or ‘No Kaka’ – that is the question.
Uncle (or ‘No Uncle’) that is the question. In the crisp January of 2001, I embarked on a journey that would not only shape my career but also introduce me to two remarkable souls who would become my lifelong pillars of strength – Mawshi and No Kaka. Little did I know that a chance meeting…
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Paying it forward…
At some point in our lives, we all benefit from the support and strength of our community. For me, one of those communities is the St. Louis Marathi Mandal (STLMM), a cultural non-profit that has been a pillar for Marathi-speaking individuals and families in the St. Louis area. As a long-time advocate of giving back,…
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Tickling the Funny Bone of Respect.
It’s been a while that I wrote something, and it was nice to be reminded recently that I should continue doing so. I wouldn’t dare to say people missed my writing, but it always is a ‘feel-good-moment’ to get asked about it. Below is the funny story that I started writing maybe couple of months…
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You won’t believe it – The Real Story!
If you haven’t read the first part of the story, I would recommend starting from the top. I sincerely appreciate the creative (and wild) imaginations that were shared earlier after I wrote the first part. I really do. Some of you took the story line in totally different direction but that’s OK. This confirms that…
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You won’t believe it.
I am telling you; you won’t believe what I did this morning. I have done many stupid things in the past, but what I did this morning made me think of a lot of things like: Not just these questions, but many, many questions like these and more. Now the real thing is, it does…
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Shampoo Heists & QR Chaos: Bonding Over Airport Delays
Picture this: I’m all geared up for my flight, buzzing with excitement about the upcoming workshop in Minneapolis. There were 5 of us and we were all ready to go. But just as we were about to board, the dreaded announcement fills the terminal – our flight is delayed for 6+ hours due to maintenance…
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My Route 66
So, it’s been a while that I could sit down and pen something for my blog. This is what happens when things get busy at work or just general in life. It’s only the second month of 2024 and things are flying so fast like there is no tomorrow. Surviving a day at a time…
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Read Once, but Giggle Twice
Did you first read the title with the word Google in it. Yeah, that happens, but I’ve got a deal that’s even better than googling and finding a chocolate chip in every bite of your cookie – it’s the “Read Once but Giggle Twice” special! Remember the Bollywood blockbuster of academic escapades starring yours truly…
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Metamorphic Moments
A 5-part story of ‘growing’ happened within first 48 hours in the land of free! Believe it or not, in just 48 hours (or less), I transformed from a wide-eyed dreamer with aspirations of studying in America into a self-reliant man. Who knew adulthood came with such a swift delivery service? Certainly not the curious…
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Stats, Struggles, and Second Chances
Bollywood Bliss with Statistical Twist – Part 2. If you haven’t read the part 1 yet – please read it here. The story will flow better for you. As the anticipation hung thick in the air, Professor Kelloy, with an air of gravitas, handed back the test results that had the power to redefine our…
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