My kid

I came home after 6 weeks in a business visit to US. My daughter (2 years 4 months) saw me and very happy to see me again. I was too tired of 35 hours journey. But she gave me no rest in the whole evening. The following day I decided to stay home with family. My kid wanted to me to be closer to her whole day. She was so afraid of loosing me again. I was not even allowed to go to the bath room. One moment I went upstairs and observed what she is doing. She searched for me everywhere for 5-10 minutes and finally cried saying "Thaaththa aayith rata gihilla wage" (Daddy seems to have gone abroad again).

I used to call home everyday through internet with live web cams. But I can imagine how she was feeling without me.

Heathrow Airport Terminal 4

Most of the flights departing from this terminal are destined to Asian countries. Yet there are no any restaurants that offer any Asian food. I happened to stay 14 hours transit and thought what a f**king terminal it was.

Luckily my flight back to Sri Lanka is a Sri Lankan airlines. It is really like home. Nice food, smiles and courtesy. Thanks SriLankan airlines.

Making regional friends

I was staying in the hotel 3 weeks without knowing there are friends around. Fire alarm went off one evening. Everyone happened to come out of the rooms. Met 5 Indian people and to my surprise one of them works for the same company as I. Thereafter we helped each other, cooked and had meals together, did shopping and became good friends. Had lengthy chats, arguments and learned about everyone’s country, culture, opinions.

My friend who works for the same company originated from a very remote village in India and being the first graduate from her area is a great achiever in her life. Yet long way to go. I wish her all the best and courage

Tax Rebate

I missed filing for 2007 tax returns in USA. Anyway I took the W2 form to ask some one if I can do something about it. In a free time I browsed Turbotax.com and came to know that I can file for a refund before 15th October. Created an account in turbo tax and did e-file for refund. I was said that I would get a rebate of $300 too. But I am getting all the tax I paid back. How come I get more???? State tax was in my account sharp at the estimated date. Then federal tax refund was in my account another 3 days later. One week passed, the rebate $300 was in my account. IT REALLY WORKED. That is how taxation happens in United States. On the other hand I have not received my 2004-2005 tax refunds yet in Sri Lanka.

Frightened Seeing me?

It was just getting dark. I got lost on my way to find an Indian grocery shop after shopping. I was driving through a lonely road for 15 minutes. Finally saw two persons walking beside the road. I just slowed down my car to ask for the directions. The two people were some 50 meters away from me. So I got out of the car to ask the directions. To my astonishment they were two girls (not sure what the ages are)and started to scream. I got shocked as to why they are so afraid of me. I shouted “I am lost. Tell me where should I go to find nearest gas station?”
Still frightened they screamed back to me “Call Police”. I said “I got no phone”. “Go ahead. Go away. Go away” they said.

I thought it is better to go away as soon as possible. Went ahead and found a gas station in 5-6 minutes. Went inside and asked the sales person “How can I go to I-95?” He started to explain me the route but suddenly looked at me in as if I am a robber. I guess something appeared on his computer. He said “Sorry I don’t have an idea”.

I went out and got in to my car. Just then a police car came and stopped near me. They asked me to stay in the car. Took 2-3 minutes and the police man asked me if I frightened two girls 10 minutes back. I admitted. By that time he knows I am from Sri Lanka and that the car is a rented car.

I wondered about the security system. He took my driving license, told me the directions to my destination very clearly and finally apologized for the inconvenience caused.

This happened in Wilmington area in MA.