After a very long time....

Its been close to two months since my last blog and I've finally decided to post after a very long time.

Well many things have happened and its just easier to list them, just to make it easier for you to read.

1. Job - I got a job at National Australia Bank Asia in Ops. I wanted to start on on it after my exams but my boss wanted me in 3 weeks earlier. The option was either to take it or leave it. So I took the risk and went ahead with the job. The first few weeks were real tough, especially having to learn stuff at work and then rush home to study for CFA. However, its turned out all fine and I'm having quite a blast. At least now I can't be told "but u only have engineering work experience". And I'm going to Australia with the working experience at one of Australia's biggest banks on my resume, so I'm one up.

2. CFA - Well what can i say? The exam was tough and i was literally blanking out towards the last 1 hour of the 2nd paper. What was more shocking was the amount of people doing it. I'm sure there were at least 2000 or so people doing it. Many looked like undergrads who were doing something to pass time during their holidays and PRC people. So that leaves you wondering what real worth is there left in the charter anymore?

3. Cricket - In my last update it was probably still the Aussies tour of India. it was followed by the Pakistan tour of India and they got their ass kicked big time. India won both the test and ODI series. now that the Indians are in Australia lets see how they do there. Srikanth and i were planning to catch the one day game at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) however all the tickets were sold out and whatever that's left now costs around $150. I think I'll settle for the TV.

4. Masters - The visa has been applied for, we're still waiting for the reply though and the tickets have been booked. Srikanth and i leaving on the 18th of February at 1955hrs on QANTAS AIRWAYS, QF 0006. There's much excitement as well as uncertainty surrounding the whole trip. First, is that of getting settled in and doing well at our studies.

Second, is around the Australian PR requirements. In order to work in Australia, most employers require you to be either an Aussie or NZ PR or citizen. in order to obtain an Aust PR, your course should be 2 years and without a PR you cant even apply for a job there, except at a few banks which are willing to take non-ANZ people. However, Australia is normally a net exporter of staff in the banking industry and many Aussie students go to Hong Kong or London, both of which are totally fine with me. So we're just hoping for the best and hoping that what got us this far will get us through. We'll both be 27 at the time we finish our masters as we wasted 2.5 years of our precious lives being bald and singing 'training to be soldiers, fight for our land' and the pressure is on. We'll basically be 4years behind the gals our age in terms of the number of years they had at a career then again there's 40years ahead so y look at 4 years?

At the end of the day,

"Life' battles don't always go

To the stronger or faster man,

But soon or late the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can!"

and I totally subscribe to this school of thought.