I am like any other guy who wants to go to different places and meet people from different cultures and interact with them.Infact i used to feel a little low that unlike guys who work for the software or BPO service sector in India,the chances for guys in other profession to go abroad is very less.I had not imagined that i would be getting an opportunity aswell.
So i get an opportunity to go Singapore for training in the new company i have joined.I thought it should be great fun as Singapore is like a melting pot with people from different countries,culture making it their home country.I get into the airport with my parents and my brother prem seeing me off.I finish all the procedure and get into the plane and i saw a fellow tamilian already sitting in my seat (window seat).I politely say to him that he is sitting in my seat.He grins and sheepishly tells me that this is his first flight and asks my permission to sit in my seat.I just did not want to spoil his enthusiasm and agree to it and sit in the aisle seat.Couple of minutes later an airhostess walks up and tells me this seat belongs to the Japanese lady.Then i explain the situation and sit on the middle seat.Then all the three of us started having a friendly chat.The tamil guy Mr.Kumar happens to work for my competitor and was really innocent.This japanese lady Ms.Sao was a Japanes and Spanish teacher and has just finished her vacation in Tamilnadu for 10 days.I had been long harbouring the doubt that if Tamil Movie star Rajinikanth really has a big fan following in Japan.I enquire about Rajinikanth and ask her about him.She did not seem to know him.Then she again asked if it was the Dancing Maharajah(thats how he is popularly known as in Japan) and i say in the affirmative,her eyes lits up and says its true that he has got a big fan following.She was actually fond of tamil and Tamilnadu and all of a sudden asks in japanes accent Tamil "Unaku cricket pudikuma??" (DO you like Cricket??)and i got shell shocked.She smiles and says that her Tamil friend has been doinga all the teaching.Our friend Kumar was also delighted to see her talking in Tamil.Since he was going to Japan and works for a Japaense company he says the modest Japanese sentences that he has been taught and the lady was pleased aswell.When the airhostess offered a drink to everybody and asked for the choice Mr.Kumar opted for juice and i opted for white wine and the lady opted for Juice.Mr.Kumar suddenly realised his blunder and grins at me and asks me again "Sir Can i asks for wine?Will they give me?".Though i did feel like laughing i did not do so as the guy was innocent and travelling for first time.I said to him its absoultely his right to ask for wine and he did so.I could never forget the smile in his face when he got that.
So after we reached Changi Airport in Singapore in the ealy morning, the Sao showed me the way to immigration counter and we parted ways.Kumar had his other senior colleagues and he had parted much earlier.I could really understand and was proud of the fact that India indeed has got the soft power like howit had reached the Japanese Lady.I think after US,India is the country which has got the softpower to attract everyone.
Thought its been a week in Singapore i have just written about the flight.But I guess my chronicles about my experience will continue in the same blog.Ciao.
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