Can Indian Matchmaking take me to Vienna?
Can Indian Matchmaking take me to Vienna?
Hi, there.
Two weeks have passed since the last issue. Honestly, I have not done much between now and then except waiting for my Austrian residence permit, reading books, and watching videos online. I hope the authorities will decide on the permit next week.
I talked to my online best friend (we met twice in person) last week, and she told me she was watching Indian Matchmaking. Something shifted in me, so I decided to start watching the show. Even better, I convinced my girlfriend to watch it with me.
Poor soul, she agreed without much protest. We have just started watching S2. I wouldn't say I liked Season 1, per se. I liked certain aspects, such as the part at the beginning where they ask couples how long they have been married. Hearing numbers such as forty years, fifty years of married life, etc. surprised me. It is cute in some ways.
However, the most fun part was judging the people on the show. This guy had always complained that something or the other was not “clicking.” But, he settled as soon as he found a “beautiful match.” He should have said that in the first place. I don't think he was looking for anything other than an attractive girl. Sima Mami had to do a lot of due diligence for no reason.
Another girl had a bunch of criteria for what she wanted in her future husband, and no matter how nice the potential match, she would find fault in them. She is the kind of person who thinks nothing could be wrong with them, and everything is the other person’s fault.
Towards the end, I concluded that I couldn’t blame her because that is how some parents raise their kids. “You are the best; nothing could ever go wrong with you .” I could probably find a dozen of my batchmates who think like that.
I also finished reading The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles. My favorite part of the book is:
“…everything of value in this life must be earned. That it should be earned. Because those who are given something of value without having to earn it are bound to squander it.”
The book is nearly 600 pages long. At times I felt like giving up and moving on to a new book, but the author did a great job keeping me engaged. The book teaches practical lessons through complex story plots. Initially, I felt that a few details were too much, but the author connected everything beautifully towards the end, and I had an aha! moment. I could totally see myself in Billy Watson. I would love to explore from Nebraska to New York someday.
I am currently reading Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng. It talks about family dynamics in an Asian-American household and how children get affected by the actions of their parents and vice-versa. I know it sounds like I am deviating from my “I read only non-fiction” character, but the storyline is gripping thus far. I’ll finish reading it in a day and let you know my thoughts on the next issue. You can see my bookshelf here.
My girlfriend also introduced me to “Silicon Valley.” It is a web series if you are not familiar. It talks about a bunch of brilliant engineers who struggle to fit in. I related to the show and its protagonists instantly. It constantly reminded me of my life and the life I could have if I had just dared to take some risks and call my shots right.
I don’t think the engineer in me is going away anytime soon. I know in my heart that someday or the other, I will probably go back to engineering. I have always pictured myself teaching engineering in a classroom. I shall keep you updated.
The weekend dates gave me plenty of opportunities to try out new coffee variants, and I love it. I tried Americano, and Macchiato. I guess I am aging, after all! No, not in the wrong way.
I loved both and would try them again. It felt very nice. I wonder if it was the cup of coffee, just the act of watching the brewing, or both. I love this small part of life and am unwilling to trade it for any other hot beverage.
That is pretty much it. Life is quite relaxed right now. I wait for the permit daily, read books, watch shows and videos, and try new coffee variants. Strangely, for the first time in my life, I am waiting for the weekend to get over so that I can finally receive an email saying that they approved my residence permit application.
To find out what happens to me, keep an eye out for the next issue. And subscribe to the newsletter if you are not a subscriber. Until then, take care. 👋🏻