Where do I start from self, All I can say is that Chennai was fun....every single day in that city was ended with happiness. All 61 of us had flown in from various cities of India for the event.

From arriving in Chennai and preparing for the event...to next day when we had the Global  Village, to finding out the logistic team had bought us some funny looking thing called Kidney Beans (Dal in Hindi) for us to make the moin moin and some funny looking leaf in place of the Spinach leaves (Ugwu) we ask for...to making the dish and have a wonderful time at the global village to the trip to Mallapuram to see the beach and some temple.


I will allow the pictures to do the talking, because this event is uber late. The pictures are so many and would actually come in batches

The Naija Clan

My room at the serviced apartment

TCS Siruseri, Chennai, venue of the Global Village, soon to be largest office in Asia, currently accomodate 12,000 associates and upon completion will accomodate 25,000 TCS associates

I was about to post about the Chennai...the fun I had, but that will be for another day.
Then I read P.E.T Projects post: 27TH JANUARY: WE STILL REMEMBER 
I  remember not just because I witnessed it all, from the first shattering sound
To the running out of the house with the whole crowd with only one place in mind.
I remember because my former neighbor lost her daughter, who I was not particularly fond of but enjoyed her company
I remember because it happened right next to the grounds of my high school Alma matter and every day I just kept imagining if it had happened on a school day.
My Alma matter lies in ruins today, because the Military Authority are not even yet sure if the bombs have all been detonated.

No one is sure if the armories are safe...and it is sad to know the whole of Nigeria is sitting on bombs which can explode any moment.
Do we just sit down and pray that when the explosions goes off, we and our loved ones are not affected?

Last Sunday, friends and I decided to visit the Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad. All I can say is Ramoji is breath-taking. Learnt that most of the movies are actually shot on Locations..I was unable to take pictures of the movie sets, was tired and we were in the tour bus...
Ramoji Film City (RFC) is the world’s largest integrated film studio complex at over 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) of land.

Off to Ramoji

Right now in Chennai, the company is organizing a global village for all AIESEC interns, we are going to be cooking our country dishes and dance to Naija songs. In Chennai till Sunday.
♥ Lara  from Incredible India

First of all, I am sorry for not replying comments left on this blog or reading your wonderful blogs lately. We have not gotten internet at the flat...and I hate reading on my phone....so for now, my internet connection is limited to the weekends, when I visit my colleague/Friend's flat.

My mum had her convocation on Wednesday along with other Unilag graduants...I am so happy for her...she really worked hard for it...I used to envy the woman, despite her hard schedule, especially when she was transferred to Warri for more than a year, she would read so hard to make up for missed classes...I wish I was there with her...but in all the woman was just too happy to remember 2 of her daughters where not there with her...Lil sister, Zainab was with her, so she did not really miss Aisha and I.

Thank you Naija Lines and Blessing for the Stylish and Versatile Award...
So as the rule goes, I am supposed to:
1. Thank the person who gave me the award and link back to them in my post.
2. Tell you 7 things about myself.
3. Award 15 other bloggers.
4. Contact these bloggers and let them know that they have won.

So once again, I say thank you to Naija Lines and Blessing for this prestigious award.
 7 Things about me...

1. I love breaking rules it’s just fun when you don’t do what people expect of you 
2. I have got a commitment phobia...
3. I am a hyper active person, easily get bored and can’t stay on things for too long...is that bad?
4. I love music...I do not have a favorite genre...I listen to anything that is pleasing to the ear
5. If I were taller would have been a model...attended modelling class for a day and when I woke up the next day with pain all over, I forgot about it.  
6. I just discovered this recently...but I think I am shopaholic...I will start avoiding the malls which are all over the place here...I buy the necessary in excess and the unnecessary.
7. Family is first...that’s after God sha oh…my mum and sisters are my world…subsequently future husband and children can take over.

So there you have it, some of the lines are from my 25things post on my birthday last year, nothing really much as changed about me.

Since like practically every body has been tagged for the award, I think I will pass on that one...So rather I would upload some pictures.

Last Sunday, went back to Chaminar, this time in company of Nigerians...

Ibifiri and I

Micheal and I

Getting a Saree for mum...

 Pictures from my first visit to Charminar...

Lunch out with the team at the Inorbit mall, it was an optional holiday for some harvest festival...the boss and his second in command did not come to the office, but because of the nature of our work in the department, we had to be at work...Ibifiri and Micheal were also at the mall, so we had lunch together...

Team mates minus the boss and his 2nd in command

♥ Lara  from Incredible India .

Today is my 30th day in India and 28th day in Hyderabad.

I am still having fun, weekends are spent with my Naija family, most of them are leaving soon, so I am enjoying every non work free time with them.

Yeah, It is my blogoversary...Yeah the blog was 4yrs on the 13th of January...
Four years of Randomness and discovering the woman I am and still intend to become.
The blog has been my outlet, emotionally and all all....(most emotional post deleted already)

 By the time I leave India I will have to check my sugar level and my English...My English is upside down, don't know which is worse, speaking English with the Indians or the Europeans, all I know is my English has developed K-leg. All I hope rice, egg and chicken does not grow in my head, because that is all I eat everyday.

The Fire alarm in the office went off during the week, and JJC me parked all my load and moved out gently with every body else...only for me to get out and be told it is a fire drill which takes place every 3 months. The Lithuanian chick and I felt so dumb when we realized what was happening.

I finally moved into the apartment last Friday....my flat mates are Kristina(Lithuanian team mate), Sandra ( German, also with TCS), Jose(Columbia, also with TCS) and Fernando (Brazilian dude with Novartis) whose former flat we went to on my second night in Hyderabad and He was kicked out of the flat. The other tenants said they did not want him staying in the apartment, that he was disturbing their peace. 

At the moment, only Jose and I have moved into the flat, the other girls are still not sure when they would move and Fernando is out of town. By the end of this week, we would all be complete in the flat.

Another Nigerian is joining the ever-growing TCS family and he is coming to Hyderabad, so I guess we will be rocking Hyderabad together, when the others leave.

And please what is this talk about an addition to the Zodiac Sign, now I am no longer a Taurean but Aries...I love being a bull, even though most of the predictions were never true for me.

♥ Lara  from Incredible India

They say it is a New Year,

They say it is a new decade,

It is just a change in date to me.

I am sorry, I do not share the enthusiasm of the new year/decade as most people.

It is just coincidental that the start of the year/decade is the beginning of a new dawn in my life.

I am not one for new year resolutions, so i don't have any list

The last 17days, I must confess as been wonderful.

I have met people from all continents,

met people of various backgrounds, characters and way of life.

I am experiencing a whole new world

I have and still am experiencing culture shock.

But in all I am loving it.

I know it will not always be rosy, I have decided to be open minded and intend to learn from every experience I gain here.

Sometimes it feels like I am dreaming, like I am here on holidays and I would be back to reality soon.

But this is now my reality...I am spending the next one year or more of my life in India.

I love where I am this moment,
Emotionally and Mentally...

Not just because I am on an internship in one of the subsidiary of a global organization

But because I have paid my dues this year, I have grown and developed into a woman I never thought I could be.

Last year I met a lot of people, most virtually.

I thank you guys for all the comments, also included are t e silent readers...you guys  cannot imagine how much impact and mark you have left in my life.

I do not want to mention any names but just to say Thank you all.

Even though I partied into the year...I know it is going to be one of fun, dreams achieved and plenty blessings.

5 of us, all Nigerian, we came together to spend the new year together and I have never been happier.

I am surrounded by my own and we represent the geographical divide of Nigeria.

We have done our best to bring home  ourselves, and at this moment, even though I miss home and family, I would not trade today for any moment in life.

2011 is going to be a great year for us all...Happy New year

♥ Lara  from Incredible India

Going on twitter on Christmas day made me miss home like mad, Chatting with my Sister did not help matter at all. Even though we are not Christians, we still make sure to enjoy Christmas in my house.

My number one problem right is that i do not have a mobile number, my BB has gone sick, and MTN is billing me like crazy to roam...500 Naira per min for calls and 100naira for a text.

The fun of Christmas did not start here till I went to the club with the other interns and I hooked up with my Naija people. Yesterday was the best part of the holiday, from eating tomato Ketchup sweetened stew and salt less rice prepared by the boys to the roof top farewell dinner for some of the interns going back to their Countries....
.....................................................................................................

His name is Mustafa and He is from Turkey.
He hates Mumbai right now.
His hatred for Mumbai started the moment he stepped out of the Airport
and took a breath of Mumbai.
He hates the traffic, the smell and the nonchalance of AIESEC Mumbai members
I heard he was crying at some point
He wanted to go back after one day.

Every one talked to him
They understood how he felt.
No one steps in Mumbai and not wish to could back back home.
I felt that way when I stepped into Mumbai.
The sight of Mumbai, made me think I had made the worse decision of my life
Berna from Uganda too wanted to go back.
Feyi, my friend and fellow Nigerian felt the same way too.

Later, they all got tired of talking to him.
I talked to him when I was in Mumbai.
I still talk to him now that I am here in Hyderabad.
I have stopped telling him about how beautiful Hyderabad is.
Because he started comparing cities and wished he was in Hyderabad.

But like the AIESECers we are, we keep an open mind
We do not pretend the craziness is not there,
We do not pretend like the poverty does not exist,
We do not pretend not to notice the ugliness,

Rather we take our mind off the poverty, the Ugliness
Rather we see the beauty and the potential
We keep an open mind and enjoy the opportunity to experience the world from a different point of view.

I do not blame Mustafa,
Neither do I judge him.
Rather I know,
It is either that he had an Unrealistic Expectation of India.
He might have heard of Chandigarh, which has an European feel and according to some is not Indian in anyway.
He might of have expected Mumbai to be like Hyderabad, the so called Silicon Valley of India.
He did not expect Mumbai to be dirty, crowded and with mad traffic.
He did not expect things to be expensive in Mumbai, the story says things are cheap in India.

I know for one thing, Mustafa did not read the AIESEC reception package which was sent to him.
If he had read it, he would not have been disappointed when he saw Mumbai.
He would not have had his hope dashed.
He would have readily accepted Mumbai for what it is.
He would never compare Mumbai to his home town in Turkey.

I just hope he would sit back, relax and enjoy the beauty of Mumbai.
Because even with its poverty and fast life.
Mumbai is beautiful.
Even though I did not get to explore Mumbai, I know it is beautiful.

It reminds me so much of Lagos.
The Lagos I knew before the days of Fashola.
The Lagos I grew up in and fell in love with.
I hope and pray that Mustafa would fall in love with Mumbai
Just like I am in love with Hyderabad.
------------------------------------------------
Happy Holidays people and may the new year bring us more joy, blessing and the best of this Life.
Happy New Year in Advance


♥ Lara  from Incredible India

Merry Christmas...wishing you all a love and fun filled Christmas...

Yesterday was work free day for us at TCS.
Like some people said, we were lucky to get a work free day, as India is not a Christian Nation.
So yesterday, Kristina, Sandra and I went out to tour Hyderabad.
The girls did not inform me that I was to take my resident permit, I actually thought Chaminar was a market. I was so mad when I was told to pay 100Rupees instead of 5Rupees the other girls and Indians payed.

Charminar (Telugu: చార్ మినార్, Hindi: चार मीनार)  meaning "Mosque of the Four Minarets" and "Four Towers" is the most famous mosque and monument in the city of Hyderabad, capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh, India.

Charminar is also home to Hyderabadi Pearls and Jewellery...If you are planning an Indian themed wedding, Charminar is the place to get the very best in Hyderabad. We did not get pictures of the Market, we were busy looking and forgot to take pictures.

Chaminar...home of De Chaminar van Haidrabad..."The Arc de triomphe of the East"




Chaminar...home of the Makkah Masjid...one of the oldest and biggest Mosques not only in Hyderabad, the whole of India.

Pictures of the Girls and I



This is all I can post for now...make sure to enjoy the holiday and make the best of it...Happy Holiday people.

♥ Lara  from Incredible India