Ok this was long due and I wasn’t sleeping well because I hadn’t gotten this out of the way yet. Such is the torment of iMuslim who very kindly tagged me hehe.

• I was a FOB when I came to USA back in 1993. I was skinny as a twig, had big big hair almost a desi fro and I used to put greasy coconut oil in my hair. I would roll up my shirt sleeves (almost to a sleeveless) and stone-washed jeans because I thought that was fashionable. The concept of deodorant and cologne was new to me. I was taught that all I ever need is a good soaping in the morning and I’m set. After spending a few years in USA, I wisened up and went through a massive makeover – crew cut, contacts, working out, smelling great all the time etc.

• This is continuation of 1. Basically, I had a thick Indian accent. When I interned at Motorola, I felt inadequate speaking the way I did. I don’t know why. I tried on the American accent and I was so good at it that everyone would comment, “Are you American? were you born here?”. So now I am stuck with speaking in perfect fluent american accent with americans and total desi style with my desi buddies. If I use my american accent with them, they will think I am showing them attitude and if I use desi accent with others, they will think I am a FOB and be a tad condescending. This conundrum bothers me a lot even today. I would like to be able to speak just my american style to everyone some day! Also, if you wake me up from bed I speak my default desi style in my sleepy state. I have to be awake to speak perfect american accent. Complicated arent I?

• I can’t stand people who stink. An example of this is when I was flying to India from Dubai. I was standing in the line with my mother all cramped up with desis in front of me and behind me. One thing you will notice with desis going to India is that they tend to stick very very close to you. So this one fat guy with a fat belly with some nasty fat BO was sticking his tummy into my back. I was 2 seconds away from staring him down and asking him to back up. But since my mother was there I did not make a scene and instead I told her quite loud and clear, “Aaj kal kay logh nahatay kartay nahin kya?” (Don’t people shower nowadays?) LOL. I think I got my point across to the disgusting gentleman behind me.

• I have a pet peeve of wet socks. If my socks get even a little wet, I have to get them off my feet immediately. Don’t ask me why but I just can’t stand it even for a second.

• I get a lot more satisfaction from achieving greatness in sports than achieving greatness in career. I remember in high school when I represented my school amongst 20 regional schools and I won a silver and a gold medal and my entire school was on its feet clapping for me. I was a celebrity and that gives me way more satisfaction and pleasure than say making a million. Really, its true. I have this argument with my friend all the time, I tell him, I would take an olympic gold medal any day to a nobel prize. But hey, thats me.

• I hate getting into discussion on politics. Always have. Such a waste of time that doesn’t get us anywhere but sometimes creates rifts between people. The Kashmir issue, the Gujarat issue, how BJP is good/bad etc etc. I believe the if you can’t say anything good, don’t say it at all rule applies here as well. I have strong opinions but unless I can do something to change the way the world is, I ain’t saying it.

• I am not a tree-hugger. I am sorry but I can’t seem to go out of my way to do things for mother earth like recycle and stuff. Don’t get me wrong, I do recycle, I don’t pollute etc. But I spend my efforts trying to help humans before endangered species, and endangered species before mother earth. Mother earth is strong, she will take care of herself by the grace of Allah.

• I have a huge motion sickness problem. So much so that even when watching something in 3-D I get so sick that I feel like throwing up and passing out. Last time when I was at Disney world, I sat on something called “Mission To Mars”. Boy was that a huge mistake. I was getting scared waiting in line because of the numerous warnings, “Please do not take this ride if you suffer from motion sickness.” But I did not heed because there were kids all around me and I did not want to hide my face and back out of that line. I wanted to show that I can take it. So we sit in this pod with 4 seats. The door closes, it is a small and tight space just like in a spacecraft. As soon as the door closed my heartbeat started racing, my bp was way up and I started to sweat profusely. Then, the pod starting going round and round like the G-force testing they make astronauts go through. I swear I thought I was going to die. When I got out, I had to lay down totally or I would have collapsed. I was intensely sick for 4 days after that. I could not eat, sleep, walk, it was terrible. NEVER again…never!

I guess you guys got lucky and got 8 random facts. One’s a bonus .