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Move to Moscow Kamini Singh Kamini Singh is the Graphics Editor for Sawf. She is currently stationed in Moscow with her husband, an Indian Air Force Test Pilot, who shares Kamini's interest in computer graphics.

We had recently moved to Moscow from India and I was still struggling with the language. I improved with each passing day but shopping at the Supermarket would usually stump me.

It was during one of my visits to the meat shop that I learnt an important lesson in communication. I spent a long time looking at the assortment of meat, trying to identify Chicken from other similar looking products. Having failed to make headway, I spent the next 20 minutes trying to convey to the lady at the meat counter that I wanted chicken, while she merrily tried to sell me every thing ranging from beef to lobsters. Just when I had given up and reconciled to a vegetarian dinner, from the corner of my eye I saw this Russian gentleman walk up from the far end of the counter. He had apparently been watching my desperate attempts to shop and finally had decided to give me a hint. He stood squarely in front of me, flapped his arms and quite simply let out a loud "cock-a-doodle-do'!

There, amidst loud clapping and cheering by others, I did get my chicken!

Now, nearly two years later, I know my 'kuritsas' and 'bara ninas' (chicken and mutton in Russian), however that incident did prove that language is no barrier to communication. Well, didn't someone say, "Actions speak louder than words".

Frolic of life Bhawana Upadhayay Bhawana Upadhaya is a freelance writer.

"Hi, honey! I have got something interesting for you today", said my husband returning home from work. I, a desperate job seeker, was pretty sure that it must be another job vacancy advertisement.

It sure was! A cutting from the day's national newspaper, inviting applications from fresh university graduates with biology major. Applications for the job were being solicited by a Korean non-government organization, working in Nepal, known in short as HOSANA.

We promptly decided to apply. After a few days, I was happy to get their call for an interview. Delighted, both of us went to their office as per the assigned schedule.

When my turn came, I blurted out nervously, "May I come in please?" Inside I found 5-6 Korean executives, one of who requested me to take a seat.

Then, they asked me several questions related to biology. Since they were from my field of study and interest, I answered all of them easily and correctly.

Finally, one question on injection procedure puzzled me and I could not answer it. Immediately one red haired executive, holding a laptop in his right hand, asked me, " Are you a paramedic?"

With a great surprise, I answered, "I am afraid, not." I am only a fresh biology graduate. After saying this, I found the whole room breaking up in laughter. It was only then that gentleman revealed to me that they were looking for a paramedic to work in their new health care center.

Credits

• Editing : Reeta Sinha
• Graphic : Kamini Singh