Russel Peters in Malmo Sweden

For the first time Russel Peters is touring Sweden and I am going to be there! For those who don't know him, he is the most celebrated Indian (yes with that name!) stand up comic. He is a viral marketing phenomenon who has made it to Hollywood through his jokes on racism. Yes, he makes he most politically incorrect statements, something that people are scared to laugh at in public but laugh their asses off in private. No wonder You Tube made him big.

I have been his fan for a while now and am looking forward to see him perform in public. He promises new material. If you fancy to join give me a shout. Here or on Facebook.

Svenska

Jag heter Sumeet.

Jag kommer fran Los Angeles.

Nu bor jag har i Lund och laser ekonomi. 

Sweden - Lund

As I wait in the LAX International Lounge for my delayed flight, it has given me time to look back at the last one year at Pepperdine and to think about what lies ahead on my adventure. It should be interesting to say the least since Sweden would have been the last place accessible to my otherwise straight-jacketed life. 

Here are few of the things that worked for me to prepare for an exchange semester abroad.

Working out and then trying to stick to a time-line. The school will provide the initial framework but quite a bit of the research will go in by you. From getting the papers ready (insurance, bank statements, etc.) to buying tickets and arranging for accommodation requires a lot of careful execution. 

Be prepared for the roadblocks. There will be some and they will be unique but things have a way of working out. 

Get your credit cards opened so that they are not blocked if you use them for the second time outside the country. 

Get your phone unlocked so that you can put another sim card in it.

Plan on buying what you would need the most and try to travel light. Since Scandinavia is relatively expensive, have generals with you if you are traveling there. 

Connect with people over Facebook. And if possible try to attend the orientation week as it helps a lot to make friends.

Be open to new experiences and people while traveling.

Will update more in the coming next few months.   

    

Three Sheets

The best travel show I have seen since Lonely Planet. Go to Hulu.com to watch it under Fashion & Lifestyle genre. 

Zane Lamprey goes to different countries exploring their drinking culture and alcoholic beverages. He travels to remote places in search of genuine alcohol, meets the most interesting drunkards, and of course has a hilarious time doing all this. 

Zane Lamprey has taken the show to another level with his comic timing. Having made travelogues and worked for a Travel Channel, I can tell the show is great because of the solid research that goes into it. Even if you have been to the places before Three sheets will  amaze you with new info and more importantly, entertain you. 

Voice to Die for - Frida Öhrn - Oh Laura - Release me

Although I have mentioned about this voice before but the more I hear it, the more it gets to me. It has a certain degree of pain and compassion that is heartbreaking. Their new video of well-deserved hit - Release Me. And it's not just the voice, the words make as much sense.  

A fairy tale

I seek therefore I am.

Posting the script for the video. Fought a bit to get it approved and tie it to a travel brand, etc.


"MARATHON"
SOUND OF PANTING

FADE IN:
SLOW MUSIC

Lots of feet covered with colorful shoes working their way ahead in tandem with THE BEATS OF PERCUSSION. Tightened fists cutting air. A pair of eyes looking straight on.

GRAPHIC
I seek the challenge

A sea of people running next to the Arabian Sea. From far we smash zoom in to different faces in the crowd. They have different colours and expressions on them.

GRAPHIC
I seek the unknown

More images like tightened jaws. Calves straining, Biceps flexing, chests jumping, wind through hair. A man comes running towards us and stops, gathering his breath. He leans with his hands on his knees, coughs and breathes deeply. He starts again.

GRAPHIC
I seek the truth

Chest crossing the ribbon. (Optional- If we get the permission)
GRAPHIC
The needle on the compass vacillates before settling in one direction and then leaves Voyages Logo on screen.

The following text comes under the logo and fades.

I seek therefore I am.

I seek...

A video I made in Mumbai for Voyages. The marathon was three years old and the idea was catching up.
I have always been fascinated by the image of a runner. Cutting the wind with nothing but his body. Pushing the limits of the human heart as they say.
I used to run a lot at one time when a lot was on my mind. But after the run, I felt a peace which is unparalleled. Maybe it was the tiring of the limbs including the mind but I still can't explain it fully.
I also wrote a script to get it approved. Am afraid it didn't come out as I had written but still came out good.

Sweden

Later this year I would hopefully be in Sweden finishing one term at University of Lund.
While working on a Multi-national presentation on Saab, I came across this excellent ad by Saab, a company which takes pride in its Bio-Power initiatives. The video features amazing vocals by a Swedish singer Frida Ohrn from the band Oh Laura.
And Sweden plans to be the first oil free country by 2020. In 2003, 26% of their energy needs were met by renewable resources.
I am turning a fan already.

Jaguar - OK TATA - Bye-Bye

I was having this interesting conversation with my Marketing Prof. and was amazed how closely Tata is being watched here in US. She ended up asking me to write the change such deals are bringing to the overall entrepreneurial morale of the country (she is writing an entrepreneurial guide for emerging economies along with numerous other Profs from different schools in US).

Here is the story that she didn't know and is going to use it :-

For-Profit Business – Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, India’s First Prime Minister told J.R.D. Tata, then Chairman of Tata Group that ‘Profit’ was ‘a dirty word’. He was to be proved very wrong. Little did he know that Tata Motors would go on and acquire UK based luxury brands Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford Motors for 2.3Billion USD. Although a relatively small deal for Tata, it sends a very clear message to people. Profit is NOT a dirty word. In fact, it’s the opposite. Today an Indian seldom would have his or her life not affected by the Tata Group somehow; be it through employment, use of Group’s products, value addition to his shareholder’s wealth or through Group’s philanthropic efforts.
As immense opportunities surface in emerging economies for entrepreneurs to satisfy the needs of market, For-Profit Businesses will capture more pie of the National Income. Entrepreneurs will want to create more profits for themselves and their shareholders. Free Market forces are already taking over what Govt. used to do earlier and forcing it to become more of a facilitator.
The need to create, better one’s life, leave a legacy, etc had always been a basic human need. With more economic freedom and right to self-ownership satisfying that need seems to be hard-and-smart work away. That is the reason you are reading this book. Congratulations and all the best for your Entrepreneurial journey. It is going to be one hell of a ride!


I think she is throwing away 'one hell of a ride' from there. Rest all stays. It seems the world is watching. The foreigners who are traveling to India say they feel a different vibe now. Sign of better times to come?

Biji

My favorite memory of Grandma is how she would shower us kids (I being one of the twenty) with money and gifts, every time we visited her. There were always reasons like belated birthdays, good results or simply because she was seeing us after a long time. Yet, every year she would refuse to buy slightly expensive 'Woodland' shoes for herself. Things would heat up to the extent of us fighting with her to get new shoes. But she would politely brush it off by saying that her other shoes were more comfortable. It wasn't brand loyalty. It was something that I couldn't fathom then.

Twelve years on, I am still to meet a richer woman than her. She was frugal with her needs but most generous when it came to giving her family and people around her. Her humility and the way she would pass her wisdom to me by calling me, 'Bhai' (Brother) is what I would miss the most.

I pray to God that I get some of her character. May she see us kids grow into better human beings and feel proud of us. 

She will be missed. Dearly. Fondly. Badly. 

 

Conversion

I have converted. 

Apple is my new religion.

Work is worship.

Rewind

The Video reminds me of James Blunt's 'You are Beautiful'. However the voice is better than his. Apart from a small patch where the lyrics go amateurish, this is a guy to look forward to. Very promising etc.

'Pickin up the pieces

Of the wreck you went and left

And I'm dealing with dilemmas

In my not-so-stressful life

And I'm drinking stronger spirits

I made my home here on the floor

And I'm losing all ambition

I'm a ghost

And I'm going all out

And I'm thinking you're just as bad

No sleeping at night

But I'm going from bar to bar

Why can't we just rewind

Why can't we just rewind

Why can't we just rewind...'

This is for you.

One more night in Hollywood

Counting Crows' A Long December used to be one of my favorites a few years ago. Today, going over my old music, I wondered why I have 'four-stars' against it in my i-Tunes. And I played it again.

Few songs in the past year have made such a sense as this one. Maybe because I live 'up in the Canyon'. Maybe because 'there's reason to believe that this year will be better than the last...'

Maybe because I am a wee bit sad again. Oh well.

'Its been so long since I have seen the ocean...guess I should...na, na, na,..'