24 January, 2008

A promise!



My first day with Emails

Today is my first day with emails. Now I’m an E-mailer ;) (Big girl!)! I have not done even one email as of now and do not intend to do any either. That’s because my very first email was a lot of research and waiting. I have to wait till tomorrow to write that email. The poor advertiser. Let him wait!

Being a Customer Service Representative is listening to customer concerns and is not easy. You need to know the product too well to deal with customers. They will write only when they have problem. Obviously, I’ve never called Hutch… OK Vodafone to tell them I love their service! (By the way I really don’t) We go to these customer service people only when we have problems. There are times when I’ve called Hutch (Past) to ask them why they changed to Pink from Orange!! Yeah… these crazy things happen when friends get together and decide to bug someone when they have nothing to do! Sometimes even at 12 am! ;)

People write in with serious problems… advertising online is a lot of money at risk! You never know if the person who is clicking on your ad online is actually interested~ it’s a gamble!

Brushing all that… I received an email from an advertiser saying, “My husband passed away. I would like his account be preserved just the way it is. There are some information there may be used by the Nevada Board of Medical Examiners.?” I almost dropped a tear… Poor thing! Money really kindles the emotional side of everyone I guess! I could not answer the email as I had to go for a meeting. Someone else should have! I really wish they said, “I’m sorry about your husband. I can help you assured.”

With a systematic process of framing advertiser answers… the manual touch of replies and answers are missing! I hope to do my best in personalizing my emails really well. I don’t want advertisers grumbling over my email. I want to serve them better. Working hard to do my best! Hope I do become a good CSR.

My promise for this quarter: Write emails that are not robotic. Rather humane.

23 January, 2008

How time flies~


Nov 26 – Jan 23 – MYSELF

This article is just an outburst of satisfaction. I work for an amazing company. I work for a team that deals with American customers. I studied in a school run and built by the English. So, I needed to change the whole thing. I meant English. To abide by the rules of writing emails to Google advertisers I’m not allowed to use British English. But, aren’t they the ones who own the language? Yes, but who is paying you?

I started the American English training everyone goes through before they start their email training. It is called Fast Track. Two whole weeks of intensive unlearning, learning and changing all the English I know. Nothing is left out in this training. Nouns, articles, verbs, tense, clauses, subjects… a lot more! It’s intense and annoying! Yes, it is a part of my job. Which frustrated advertiser who writes in with a problem is going to check if I said ‘Hi’ or ‘Hello?’

I’m not in a state to complain now. I’ve done a lot of that earlier. I’ve settled for that fact that I’m going to write good Amerikaan emails. Phew! Training for Fast Track started on Nov 26. It was 2 weeks of arguing about why a comma comes where, why this particular word is the subject, why the preposition has to come here… “DON’T GET ME STARTED! AGAIN!!”


Two weeks of English, English, more English… and a lot more English. At the end of everything my flat mates and I were correcting each other in normal speech. This is what everyone does. Everyone who finishes this training… even the ones who don’t listen in class. I was done with this training. I was graded: Meets Expectations.

Then two weeks of work. I worked on 3 workflows. I got trained in a new process - Traditional media process. We’re going offline and more now. I review reports for companies and send it to a higher sales team.


Then comes the week where I have to pass an exam to have me sticking to the company. GAP – Google Advertising Professionals. Criteria : 75%. What amount of frustration will someone get when she studies hard and gets 74.8%. After miserable attempts I passed. 83.5%. I’m a GAP certified professional. Welcome to the world of ERT – Email Response Training.


Then comes the third week – MBA week: Dec 26 – Dec 30. This week is solely dedicated to something extra. MBA – The extra three letters I’ve always wanted to get from a university in Australia. The extra three letters that I’ve wanted to do in International Business. The extra three letters that mean a lot in a marriage invitation in Tirupur. The three letters which I dedicated myself to that one week. I would finish work and get back home to study. Subjects were tough. I had no choice. I studied. I traveled 40 kilometers every morning with no breakfast and wrote these exams with middle-aged people. This happened for 5 days. Continuously! It was a rough week. I traveled a lot and studied a lot. My anger flew up the terrace those days. I was mentally loaded and needed rest.

I finish exams on Dec 30. I return and rest. I slept a lot that weekend. New year’s was the best part. I was completely de – stressed but the load of having to do something was still on. New year 2008 was good. I did nothing much. Hung out in one room and watched TV, used up the couch and lazed. This is what my fun was. But it was the best.

Then starts the week of Email Training. This is a three week long program which educates employees about the AdWords product. Online advertising makes millions of money in the US. It’s not big in India right now, but in India travel has a great thing to do with online advertising. So everything was America focused. The first week was slow and the second week was nerve breaking. The third week is called the Special Week. It’s drilling in knowledge about other products of Google like AdSense, Checkout and Analytics. Advertisers use all products to advertise online and they are linked! In these 3 weeks we break our brains and write about 29 emails totally and at the end, a test. Then, we have seniors who teach us navigate the various resources and tools. And then, the mission (WRITING EMAILS) begins. Training ends.

I finish training today. I’m going back home on Friday, which is day after. I first booked tickets for returning on Tuesday but then decided to spoil myself till the next weekend at home. That makes it 10 full days of luxury at home, cuddles from parents, gossips with grandma, helping grandpa with the newspapers, irritating grandma for all those murukkus she makes for me to take back home, welcoming aunties, and all that luxury of happiness and freedom and smiles and warmth. It also means I get to wake late, eat hot dosas, play around in the kitchen, call my brother and bug him from home (he’s in boarding school!), long hours of TV, yummy south Indian lunches. The lapful lot of words above this paragraph don’t mean much now right? Yes, it doesn’t to me. I’m going home. I’m getting my time after long. I’m going to enjoy it.

22 January, 2008

What's in a name?



What’s in a name?

Your name is your identity. That’s what you are and that’s what you’re called. It’s like your mobile number. If you change it and you’ll have to inform all the people you know and even the government! Even if you lose your number you can get a duplicate... you cant lose your name. You'll find it the next time someone calls you!

I remember those days when I whined long nights about my name. Is pra-ga-tham-bal really difficult to pronounce? Yeah, it is 4 syllables. And, it’s a goddess whom I’m named after. I remember how people looked at me when I said, “Hi, I’m Pragathambal from Tirupur.” “What from Tirupur?” Phew! I was quiet sick and tired of it until I saw this article in a popular Tamil magazine. This article was about a temple named after the goddess Pragathambal. This temple is in Tanjore and that’s all I could get from that article. I was overjoyed about knowing where the temple is. I could tell people that there is a temple now.

Truly, never felt bad about having such a name. It was unique. It is one thing that has stuck with me at all times! ;) (That’s how an optimist looks at it baby!) Seriously, the only thing sticking to me ever since I was named! Lol!

I've carried this name away from its origin... far and wide. Let's start with all the places... Switzerland, France, The Eiffel Tower, Basel, Amsterdam, London, Singapore and Hong Kong. That's a good list! :)


I haven't had people in Paris say, "What?? Praga.... ?? WHAT AGAIN??? Who named you this?"

It's just this reaction. So, how do I pronounce your name. Wait lemme try," 'pra-getham-ble' Sounds good?" ABSOLUTELY good! I love it when it is this way! It's exactly like how we Indians try to pronounce 'Dominique Cousteau.'

I love my slam books. A few quotes from my books...

"When I first heard your name I though you were one perfect 'pattikkadu'. However, later on I changed my notion about you. You rock girl!"

"Pragathambal... whosoever named you!! This name has brought you where you are now! Luv you"

This does feel nice... :) :) Well... as of now, I'm called Pragi. People find Pragi cool! (I do too) But, Pragathambal is me. I'm Pragathambal Veluswamy.

PRAGATHA - AMBAL
Pragatha - from pragathi meaning PROGRESS
Ambal - from the goddess ambal

That's what my name means! What does yours mean? Anything special? Anything unique? Put it on my comments!

Find yourself!


Harry Potter is for kids?! EH? What?!

I’ve seen this huge a line, to buy something on its first day only for Rajni Kanth movies. The final book of Harry Potter released on July 21/07. I was a part of this line myself… but a lot earlier than the other fans… I walked into shopper’s stop and asked for the book on June 21/07! Gulp! Scoops of embarrassment! I know… but the sales guy just looked, smiled and said what he had to. No advance bookings! First come first served!

I was narrating this incident to a colleague… the conversation went like this

“WHAT?? You actually read Harry Potter??”

“Well yes I do. What’s with the surprise!?!?”

“I cannot believe you read Harry Potter!”

“Didn’t I just tell you I do? What’s so hard to believe when I’m telling you myself?”

“The fact that you are reading HARRY POTTER!”

“The fact that I’M reading Harry Potter or the fact that I’m reading HARRY POTTER?”

“That tone was good…The second one!”

“What’s so surprising? Everyone reads Harry Potter!”

“You’re 21 Pragi!”

“Like I don’t know!!!!”

“OK listen… kids in school can afford to read such KIDDO books!”

“Haven’t I been though school? Haven’t I started reading right from school? It’s a book damn it! Anyone can read!”

I knew she was judging me, my attitude, my choice of things etc etc etc… it does not matter!

The fact that I read Harry Potter is that it’s a book. Simple. People read books. I could read a cookery book, a tribal book, an economics book and also a book with a language I cannot understand!

Now coming to the fact that I’m 21~ what’s wrong if you are 21? You cannot do what you did as a child?! You cannot dance and sing in the rain? You cannot read Harry Potter? When 21ers can sit for 3 hours and watch a movie like Om Shanthi Om… I can read Harry Potter!

What happens after someone is 21?

They go a little far away from parents?

Home seems like a big bore?

Friends look like life?

The ‘YO’ words come into picture?

‘Hanging Out’ is the best thing to do?

Damn it! I just read a book! You grow up kid… nah nah… YOU grow up kid…. You GROW UP kid… you grow up KID!!! It’s a world of choice and life! It’s what you want to do that you end up doing! I pity you’ve lost the child in you… I’m still alive! Alive and aloud! Wanna hear??!!! GROW UP YOU BACHHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!



The little girl in me a lot alive and aloud! I know it! If you don't know where you lost you're little girl... Go FIND YOURSELF! You should have probably left her at the door of the pub you went to last night... or try checking the coffee shop you had a hookah in... could also be the mall you bought your OFF-NECK gown... or also the day someone told u they don't wear the bindi and from the next day u dint wear yours! LOL!!

Grow up kid... Find yourself!

21 January, 2008

16 years of vanavaas!

I'm turning 22 on 17 February, 2008, i e, in less than a month's time. Of these 22 years, I've lived in hostel 13 years in boarding, hostels. Yes, a long long time away from home. Don't ask me why...

When I knew what it was I opted for it. When I didn't I cried over it. I cried just once. I don't remember crying after that at all. I don't remember those days when preparation was actually happening to send me to a boarding school, but of course I remember the day I went there. Dad was away at London. Perima, mama and amma dropped me in school. I was overjoyed with the number of pencils and rubbers, stuffed toy, new clothes, hankies with VP embroided on them. It was fun to see all that go into a trunk just for myself.

The official stuff was all done, fees paid. I was a month and a half late to join school. I joined only in August. I missed a lot. But I didn't know what that exactly meant then. Mom took me to my class and left me there and turned to leave when I began to cry. I remember crying for hours together and then the pencils became exciting again. Nights were long for the first few weeks. Then the days seemed so long, I would fall asleep on my desk in the study. I remember those animal masks that hung in my first classroom by the principals office. I always thought they stared at me, and I avoided looking at them.

This was my first time in boarding school. If you are amazed - - you have the reason to be. If you have a question - - post a comment, I'll answer. If you think

'Life can be this way too - - Believe me it can - - and trust me its fun'

That was the first time I cried in school. The next time was also the last... the last day of school!

We all cry on the first day and last day of school!

Some call it vanavaas... 13 years... close to 14! ;) I don't look at it that way... in fact I don't look at it differently. To me it's just the place I've grown up. The place that taught me the values for life and the place that made me what I'm. Trust me, it's not that bad. It's not bad at all actually. It's life lived by yourself. Decisions made by yourself at a young age. You grow up as yourself. No bonds, no restrictions. yes, timely meals, early wake ups, no TV, no music, no mummy pappa. But loads of fun to grow up with many like souls like yourself, fun to stand in lines for food, fun to follow rules, fun to educate yourself with every mistake you make, fun to be yourself from a very young age.


My kingdom~







My kingdom has the king, the queen, the prince and me the princess. I would not want to lose these people for the world. Life’s going smooth. All’s well. Every time I go back home from hostel, I get only the best. At least what I feel is the best. Favorite food is on the menu. Whining and throwing tantrums is allowed. I get to watch what I want on TV. My favorite music is always on the CD player in the car, TV till 1 am. I’m allowed to take calls and say “Dad not at home. He just left his mobile here” sitting right next to him. Chocolates from the most recent country my dad visited is in the freezer are always waiting. Waking at 9 am is totally forbidden as it’s too early (Dad will switch on the AC and I get to continue hugging a stuffed toy.)

Yes, I live a luxurious life. I didn’t have a driver who waits with a classy, glossy and expensive car to pick me up from or drop me back in boarding school. I’ve had my parents pick me up and drop me back every time. I didn’t have nannies that bathed me or clothed me. My mom caressed me instead. Instead? Yeah, my mom just did. I never had an elder sister or brother. I was one instead. The little one came 5 years after I did. He is the centre of our lives and I love him. I can pamper, pet and adore him. But, I can, on the other hand, bug him saying “he cant.”

No, I didn’t get to own a mobile phone in class 10. I got my first one when I went to Chennai for college. I don’t get to wear branded clothes. Though as a player my dad got me branded shoes once a year. I didn’t get to take leave from school as and when I wished. I was taught to stick to time and date. Yes, we did pamper the lil’ one. J I never went to the movies or shopping with friends. I lived with friends, so I needed this time for my family. Birthday party, prom nights, farewell parties, late night visits, night outs at friends houses were out of question when I came back home. I never thought of them either. I had just 2 months of summer and 1 month of winter in the whole year to spend with my family. Dressing up was never the side of me. My mom forces me always. (Secretly, I love it! It’s pampering the aggressive way!) She’s just asking me to wear gold and diamonds! J I get to choose what I wear and what I keep idle in the cupboard (Lucky younger sisters!).


Making a decision is at my discretion. I decide if it’s right to do something or when I’m confused I think again. If am very confused, so confused that I really have no way I can figure anything out - - -That’s when I feel homesick. Not like family will give me a solution, only because the people whom I want to make proud will be disappointed to see me so. This feeling does not last long. It changes in few seconds and I’m back to confusion. But the decision is mine. ONLY MINE!

Yes, I did not get to choose what I wanted to study – Journalism. I had to opt for B.Com CS which I had not heard of at all at that point in time. L But now I’m happy. At least I’m not complaining. It would not have made a big difference anyways - Journalism or Commerce.

My pocket money was limited, Rs.5000 a month which included the food charges and phone bills. I was usually left with Rs.2500 to spend on myself. With food and stay in hostel I just needed that much to eat out, go to the movies, gift my pals for birthdays, buy stamps to write to my brother in school, and use for auto. Suffice. I did spend over the amount sometimes but friends were always there to lend. Shopping was the little factor that always exceeded the budget (Rs.500 for every kurta that ended up in my cupboard).

I did travel by AC Third class every time I went home from Chennai. But, the security factor mattered much more than the expenditure factor to my parents. They never weighed us with money. In fact no parent would when they can afford it.

Initially, I got to go home once in 3 months. Then school rules changes. Once a month! This was a huge piece of chicken! Too big to eat kinds. But yes, we never said no. All the schools I studied in were this way. And in Chennai I got to decide when I will go home. So it happened whenever I needed a break - a break from a busy schedule of working, running around, social service, but never classes. J And a weekend home strictly meant, meeting all relatives, staying at least one night at grandma’s (now grandpa’s), waiting till daddy’s meetings were over, and opting to eat only chicken lollipop whenever we went out. This wasn’t too much of a task for me. I enjoyed all this. I loved the attention and the love from the whole circuit of people. My parents always spread this vibration of “keeping the family together and maintaining the equilibrium within” to us. I was the same with friends. Family is always fun-loving and inviting. No one will complain. Every periamma and periappa would repeat the same questions (and they haven’t stopped yet). It’s too much to answer the same day… but it’s my answers that will satisfy them.

And weekend also means, being hugged by my parents, talking to them before they sleep, massaging daddy’s legs and telling them a few things I want to. (The others are obviously not important). The best thing about being the daughter is you are much more your mom than anyone else. At least I believe so. I’m my mother, just an advanced, noisy, crazy, and lousy version! I cannot be how selfless, loving and mummy she is. I promise I will work on it. I can’t be her totally. It’s like seeking perfection, which is out of question. Phew!


Who said I look and I’m another version of my mom. Yeah, I did. Just before a few lines. But I never said I’m only her. I’m daddy in many ways. I get those courageous, out-spoken, leader kinds, perfectionist, and short tempered qualities from dad. And yes, they’ve taken me a long way. I’m not going to work too hard to be the same forever, cause am already it!

This is the kingdom I belong to. I’m the princess. I get the preferences after the boy. It’s not a complaint - it’s just the way it is. The lil’ one is the center of our lives and his happiness is # 1 for us. He is the best lil’ brother anyone could ask for.

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