Learning how to live...

Hi,

I've sure many of my friends who has Facebook saw my declaration of exploding introspectives but have seen none of them appearing on the blog. I must say that the inertia was great.

Thankfully, every now and then, there will be a unknown force in life that will hit you like a truck and put things into perspective. I have just learnt that Dr. Randy Pausch from CMU has passed away. Although I have heard of his story, I never found out more. I never saw or read his book and I didn't see his "Last Lecture". But somehow, I was prompted today to search for it on Youtube and here it is.



I think it is just awesome to watch inspirational people. I'm a dad too and I've been truly touched. I think the most important point was not about how many people it helped. Or whether he was just being showy (which is some of the negative comments I've seen). The point was that it was his life and he lived it well and he lived it with meaning.

His sharing only meant one thing. That we've all been beneficiaries of receiving a reminder that will energize us into motion.

For me, I am also thankful for reminder that brickwalls are there for a reason.

A window of perspective

I'm all set. The visa for everyone has been approve and we should all be well on our way to Boston in a month. The process was laborious and difficult.

The amount of probity checks and paperwork that needs to be amassed is unbelieveable. Ironically, I understand from a small print on forms for the whole visa episode is that there is a real effort to cut down on paperwork. Haha... I think I remember repeating data for several different forms, countless times. Then again, it is reflective of how a couple of people without rationality and with no respect for the sanctity of life can inflicit so much inconvenience on people whom they will never know. The result is so much layers of check and cross-checks to regulate the passage of people travelling across borders.

The interview for the visa at the American Embassy was another highlight. I was by a counter window with a charming Asian American interviewer. She ran through the protocol and worked through the papers. I was asked why I was getting a visa and of course I told her the reason.

"So which university would that be?"

"The Fletcher School. Tufts University"

"Oh great. That's a really good school."

So we ran through the questions to talk about my course of study, how I will be paying for it and then the next thing caught me by surprise.

"So why did you leave your job to this programme."

"Erm, I didn't. I took a sabbatical. I'll be getting back to my job once I'm done"

A look of confusion. It didn't click. I've just mentioned that I was paying my way and then of course I said I was going back to work. After some questioning, I told her about the No Pay Study Leave and directed her to the letter of approval. Then she was livid.

"Why? Oh my gosh." She couldn't believe it because it didn't make sense.

I then proceeded with my standard text of explaining why I did it, which I use to everyone whom I knew. I've said it so many times that I lost count but this was the first time I had to say it to someone whom I just met. I wondered if I was even believeable. Did I sound so unreal that she smelt a rat? Perhaps then I would be in trouble because my visa would not be approved.

Anyhow, we moved right along. She went on with other background questions and spoke to my missus. Before we concluded the interview, she had only kind words of consolation for me.

"Alright, we're done here. Good luck okay? I hope you can find some way to get compensation and get it all back."

I most certainly will. Thank you "lady at the window".