[Assam] Studies in US; work visa; my US Army experience

Sat May 1 17:21:08 PDT 2010

Absolutely,

Whenever you are in this neck of the woods, do look us up.

Ram da

On Sat, May 1, 2010 at 7:18 PM, umesh sharma <jaipurschool at yahoo.com> wrote:

>
> Ram-da,
>
> It is more of a cameo appearance. Will visit u anytime I am around texas
> area.
>
> Regards.
>
> Umesh
>
> --- On *Fri, 30/4/10, Ram Sarangapani <assamrs at gmail.com>* wrote:
>
>
> From: Ram Sarangapani <assamrs at gmail.com>
>
> Subject: Re: [Assam] Studies in US; work visa; my US Army experience
> To: umesh.sh05 at post.harvard.edu, "A Mailing list for people interested in
> Assam from around the world" <assam at assamnet.org>
> Cc: "Jyotirmoy Sharma" <jyotirmoy.sharma at gmail.com>
> Date: Friday, 30 April, 2010, 16:19
>
>
> Welcome back, Umesh
>
>
> On Fri, Apr 30, 2010 at 3:13 PM, umesh sharma <jaipurschool at yahoo.com<http://uk.mc1146.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=jaipurschool@yahoo.com>
> > wrote:
>
>> Jyotirmoy-da
>>
>> You are right that military life is not for everyone; it cannot be equated
>> to white or blue collar jobs of the civilian world. a soldier has to be
>> mentally and physically tougher than the terrorist. Thats why the process of
>> becoming a soldier is really tough. Hurt Locker , oscar winner movie, was
>> quite positive, showed how soldiers bravely faced the daily problems of
>> their bomb disposal unit.
>>
>> The pics u see of army celebrations of christmas are true, but only for
>> those in the garrison or camps. many more are out on patrols and missions or
>> training. If everyone celebrates then who will provide security?
>> As George Orwell has said: "People sleep peacefully at home because rough
>> man stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
>>
>> About remote colleges : How many international students go to Alaska's
>> Univs even though they may be accredited? Not many I would guess - becos of
>> the weather. Edu is expensive so go where you get scholarship. that would be
>> a good start.
>>
>> Reverse brain drain is a farce. Only those who lose their jobs in the West
>> go back to where they came from. One of my nieces'
>> family went back to India from los angeles after 10 years on work visa -
>> her husband is a CPA - becos he kept changing jobs , so remained on work
>> visa and lost his last job and went back to Mumbai - his hometown. My cousin
>> sister (her mom) was so proud that her daughter had found herself ahusband
>> who earned hundreds of dollars per hour in The US in famous companies like
>> Sony. Atleast my cousin sister would not be happy by her daughter's reverse
>> brain drain I'm sure.
>>
>> Umesh
>>
>> --- On Fri, 30/4/10, Jyotirmoy Sharma <jyotirmoy.sharma at gmail.com<http://uk.mc1146.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=jyotirmoy.sharma@gmail.com>>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>> From: Jyotirmoy Sharma <jyotirmoy.sharma at gmail.com<http://uk.mc1146.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=jyotirmoy.sharma@gmail.com>
>> >
>> Subject: Re: [Assam] Studies in US; work visa; my US Army experience
>> To: umesh.sh05 at post.harvard.edu<http://uk.mc1146.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=umesh.sh05@post.harvard.edu>,
>> "A Mailing list for people interested in Assam from around the world" <
>> assam at assamnet.org<http://uk.mc1146.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=assam@assamnet.org>
>> >
>> Date: Friday, 30 April, 2010, 9:57
>>
>>
>> Hi Umesh
>> Good to hear from you.
>> There are some points you mentioned which seemed alarming - like
>> applying to a University where no international student applies. What
>> is the repute of such a University? What is the motive of the
>> applicant - education and career or migration to the US at any cost?
>> Would a degree obtained from such an institute hold any value? I am
>> not sure how welcome one would feel being the "odd man out". Just
>> clearing the customs at LA airport, one gets a real feeling of how
>> welcoming people can get.
>> I was also surprised to hear of no Christmas, 4 July, Easter etc. The
>> photos on the television show big feasts during such days. At least
>> that's what we see of the Australian camp during Australia day,
>> Christmas. Maybe no holidays, but it is still celebrated, isn't it?
>> Another issue that maybe you have skipped or forgotten is mental,
>> family trouble that often soldiers face because of their long stints
>> abroad coupled with seeing all the blood and gore in real life. "Hurt
>> Locker" movie is a good pointer.
>> I think while US still attracts talented professionals, job market is
>> tough ( that is what I heard from a friend from US who came to Aus on
>> a business trip ). And the reverse brain drain is already happening,
>> at least in the IT sector.
>> Hope you have positive experiences.
>> JS
>>
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Apr 30, 2010 at 11:25 AM, umesh sharma <jaipurschool at yahoo.com<http://uk.mc1146.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=jaipurschool@yahoo.com>>
>> wrote:
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Hi All,
>> >
>> > I think this is the first time since I joined US army that I am sending
>> this as a message. Life has been busy but now before I get my US passport
>> and head back to Asia (to Iraq - not India) , I would like that other
>> friends also benefit from the experience. Friend Kamal who also helped me
>> get to the US as my Harvard sponsor, yesterday mentioned that I should write
>> a book or something about my US Army experiences, even if I have to omit the
>> secret stuff for security reasons. Well, I would have to omit most of what I
>> do here, but also cannot take any pictures at all or even mention where I am
>> and what I am going to do next. Its called "Need To Know " basis.
>> >
>> > Recently, my unit posted on their Facebook site that we are going to
>> Iraq (which I have known for atleast 6 months now), thus, I was able to say
>> that I am going to Iraq - becos it was already publicly declared by the
>> army.
>> >
>> > Military Control
>> >
>> > We have many many rules here, which I cannot share, just like some of
>> the others who work cannot share their work secrets/rules. Army rules extend
>> beyond normal work area and govern us 24*7, even when we are on leave. If
>> one soldier makes a mistake- traffic violation for speeding or beats up
>> his dog and is put in jail - everyone in our unit is punished extra PT on
>> weekends. Noone can leave the job, noone can just take leave offhand. Most
>> likely leaves aren't granted unless its a matter of life and death. When we
>> go to Iraq we cannot just decide to visit Turkey, Greece or Egypt on a
>> weekend for sightseeing. We have to work all 12 months - no holidays! No
>> Sundays , No 4th of July, Christmas, New Year breaks etc. Atleast for most
>> of us. We do get some leave time - but again its a secret - I think.  We
>> would be told at the last minute - in case some soldier leaks the info while
>> telling friends. The enemy also accesses FaceBook, Twitter , Orkut, reads
>> >  soldiers blogs etc.
>> >
>> > Enemy is watching
>> >
>> > If we place pictures, videos on such sites or on youtube the enemy can
>> also see them. That limits what we can and cannot do.
>> >
>> > So i thought that life becomes more complicated as we come closer to the
>> day we board the plane for Iraq let me leave some pointers for those who
>> wish to come to the US to work/study.
>> >
>> > US work/study
>> >
>> > Things have changed a lot as far as working in the US is concerned , esp
>> for those who are in the IT field. Gone are the days when consultants could
>> get people to get visas , come to the US and then look for jobs. Thats why
>> so few are applying for H1B work visas now.
>> >
>> >  However, I didn't come by that route. I got my work visa only after I
>> had a job in hand. For students things are still the same - though job
>> market is still slow to pick up. Students can apply for scholarships. I know
>> of atleast one IIM Lukhnow graduate (Syndham's College, Doon School) who got
>> FullBright Scholarship from US Embassy in India to study at Harvard. All
>> expenses paid. A few have gone to remote universities who look forward to
>> international students and are ready to give full scholarship to those who
>> apply - esp to bright ones.
>> >
>> > Friend Santanu mentioned that the "Rule of Thumb" was to choose a
>> University noone had heard of in a location noone had heard of before -
>> becos there hardly any foreign students would be there - and those who apply
>> would be welcomed with open arms - for diversity, multi-cultural feel,
>> international experience to local students.
>> >
>> > Those who feel confident enough should try the top univs as well - who
>> have more money to give schol. Harvard has been thinking of making its
>> college education (BA, BS) free to all those who get admission (becos they
>> are all great students and also becos Harvard has so much money that the
>> intrest alone can take care of the tuition etc)
>> >
>> >   New opportunities are opening - like those who are in the US for over
>> 2 years on any kind of visa could join the US Army and get US citizenship -
>> they will have to work for the army for atleast 4 years to maintain their
>> citizenship.
>> >
>> > A few of my US students are currently planning to join the US military
>> - some directly joining US Military colleges, some following ROTC - where
>> one completes a college degree and also trains to become an officer.
>> Something like NCC , but here after 4 years one gets college degree as well
>> as a job as military officer.
>> >
>> >
>> > Technology
>> >
>> > The other day friend Akshay Jain of DeltaNet CyberCafe sent me a message
>> and I was reminded how important - I would say crucial- his cybercafe was in
>> my coming to the US. I still remember how I was celebrated by offering free
>> iced coffee to all guests/customers at DeltaNet (Dhuleshwar Garden) when I
>> had got everything lined up - inlc my US visa - to got Harvard. Internet is
>> critical for everyone - including the US Army. Some might recall that it was
>> the US Military which invented the internet.
>> >
>> > Using technology to get ahead is a key - ofcourse many would waste their
>> time in video chats and computer games. Ofcourse, those who are skilled in
>> video games and joy stick can fly unmanned planes etc - so useful to US Army
>> - even Indian army is taking it up against the naxalites.
>> >
>> > Fitness
>> >
>> > Well, keeping physically fit has its advantages too - one can join the
>> military. I wonder how many of us are as fit or fitter than we were while in
>> high school.
>> >
>> >
>> > Umesh Sharma
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
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