Phd, Pachadi, Kichadi

Enjoy maadi

"ನೋಡಿ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ, ನುಡಿಯುತ್ತಿರುವೆ ನಾನೊಂದು ತೊದಲ್ನುಡಿ
Phd ಅಂದ್ರೆ ಒಂಥರಾ ಕಬಡ್ಡಿ
ಆಡ್ತಾ ಆಡ್ತಾ ಆಗುವುದು ತಲೆ ಪಚಡಿ
ಇರೋ resultsನೆಲ್ಲಾ ಸೇರಿಸಿದರೆ ತಯಾರಾಗುವುದು (ಅ)ಸ್ವಾದಿಷ್ಟಕರ ಕಿಚಡಿ
ಪಚಡಿಯಾಗಿರುವ ಕಿಚಡಿಯ ನಡುವೆ ಸಾಗುವುದು ನಮ್ಮೀ ಜೀವನದ ಬಂಡಿ
ಇದನ್ನೋದಿ ನೀವು ಸ್ವಲ್ಪ ಕಿಸಿದರೆ ಅದೇ ಎನಗೆ ಸವಿನುಡಿ "

Sinterklaas

December 5^th, the Dutch celebrate the birthday of their friend from Spain, Sinterklaas (Sint Nicolaas). He comes from Spain with Zwarte Piet (Black Peter), brings gifts for children, adults go back to their early days lingering upon their childhood memories. There is festivity everywhere…..

Traditionally night before 5^th December, children keep their shoes near chimneys filled with some horse food anticipating to get their wished gift(s) from Sinterklaas who rides his horse over the rooftops and eavesdrops at the chimneys. Black Peter even enters homes through chimneys at night and takes the horse’s food from the shoes and exchange it for candy and other treats. Sinterklaas knows everything, so the children generally this time of the year behave well to get some good reward from Sinterklaas !!! When all these are happening, you can imagine children’s excitement. The next day morning, they run to their shoes to find their much-anticipated treasure!!!

According to tradition, especially the presents for adults, are nicely wrapped, and accompanied by a poem or rhyme in which the recipient of the gift is ‘roasted’. This in many cases is the icing on the event’s cake. Generally in families and also in the work place, they have a lottery system. Whose ever name you get, you have to write a poem/rhyme on him , signed as 'Sinterklaas' along with bringing him some nice present (you can also point our his/her shortcomings in a humorous way.....) and believe me the Dutch are terrific in writing rhymes, they are so quick and good at it!!!. (I too wish to take this tradition to India when I get back.)

Not being able to celebrate Sinterklaas last two years, and infected with festivity everywhere, this year I too wanted to gift all my lab colleagues. And I pretty much succeeded in writing rhymes for two people also….to my boss and a dear friend.

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My first ever rhymes in English

they are so childish

hope they are not borish

but definitely they are girlish :)

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(On Dies)

Elain calls him Romeo
Marisha calls him Comeo
For Labie’s he is the Supremo
He is the Schwann cell Hero

He is a passionate bio teacher
Who is also an avid reader
But, for microscope mis-user
He is a big terror!!!

He is sexy, but he likes spicy
For results he is thirsty,
though that doesn’t make him nerdy.
With cookies he keeps us happy.

At Erasmus he is “Onderzoeker”
For many he is an inspirer
He is Prof. Dies Meijer!!!
Guess what, Sinterklass brings him treasure

(Elain and Marisha are his wife and daughter, 'Labies' are lab members, ‘onderzoeker‘is researcher,in English, he has got sexiest group leader award in a cultural programme here)

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(On Martine)

She is sweet,
She is elegant
She is near
She is dear

She is a terrific mouse breeder
But also a patient listener
For fresher’s a warm welcomer
Ends up as a bench sharer

With red she looks so good
Talking with Niels she goes so high mood!!!
Always enjoyed her motherhood
Goes on bike to her neighborhood

She does lot of genotyping
though at times it is irritating
Her mornings are for driving
Which leaves her sleep craving
But She remains ever charming!!!
This is Sinterklass presenting…..

(Niels is her partner, everyday morning at 5 she takes her swimming champion son for swimming, bike means cycle here)

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In my first year, my labmate had presented me with a chocolate and a poem. Infact I was very moved with it. It was my first winter in Holland, it was wet, windy and cold, but this nice gesture filled me with so much of pleasure. This is the poem.

Dear Noorie,

Holland is wet and cold,

And still you came here, which I think is very bold,

All new things around you,

Of which you not knew,

Dutch food is not too hot,

So you don’t eat that a lot,

I brought you a gift,

So unwrap it now swift,

And see what I got you this year,

Hope you will enjoy it, my dear.

Groeten

Sint en Piet

Twinkle Twinkle desi style - Mind blowing :)

Sab dard ki dava "Twinkle Twinkle little star-desi style". Tan tana....
For viewers information, this appeared in a TV serial ( Kaasalavu Nesam by K.Balachander) few years ago. Styles used in the video

1. Tamil Carnatic Music,
2. Kannada /Telugu,
3. Malayalam (Kerala),
4. Punjabi Folk,
5. Bollywood Oldies

By any chance, if you have forgotten the lyrics, here it is.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,
How I wonder what you are!
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky!

Hasna mana hai !!! (Forbidden to laugh !!!)

Collections of leave letters and applications for your use ☺
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1. Application for leave
"Since I have to go to my village to sell my land along with my wife, please sanction me one-week leave".

2. Another one
From an employee who was performing the "mundan" ceremony of his 10-year-old son:
"As I want to shave my son's head, please leave me for two days."

3. One more gem/ Leave-letter from an employee who was performing his daughter's wedding:
"As I am marrying my daughter, please grant a week's leave."

4. From an Administration dept:
"As my mother-in-law has expired and I am on Hack=y one responsible for it, please grant me 10 days leave."
"Since I have to go to the cremation ground at 10 o-clock and I may not return, please grant me half day casual leave"

6. One more leave letter
"I am suffering from fever, please declare one day holiday"

7. A leave letter to the headmaster:
"As I am “studying in this school I am suffering from headache. I request you to leave me today"

8. Another leave letter written to the headmaster:
"As my headache is paining, please grant me leave for the day."

9. Covering note:
"I am enclosed herewith...."

10. Another one:
"Dear Sir: with reference to the above, please refer to my below..."

11. Letter written for application of leave:
"My wife is suffering from sickness and as “I am her only husband at home I may be granted leave".

12. Letter writing:
"I am in well here and hope you are also in the same well."

13. A candidate's job application:
"This has reference to your advertisement calling for a ' Typist and an Accountant – Male or Female'...As I am both(!! )for the past several years and I can handle both with good experience, I am applying for the post.