[BIKeINSTEIN]

Thank you very much.
Season's greetings to you, TheOne, all on Tbhp and to all your near and dear ones.

[sammyboy0]

Hey Sam and Jenny,

Spreading the Diwali cheer! I can see.

Too true Sam, love can be very difficult to handle. Especially if it gets too intense. High intensity can make us run. Away.

The two of you seem to have struck a perfect balance.
You'll even look 'Made-for-each-Other'!

I am sure all of us here wish the two of you a great big God Bless for a truly heartwarming love story.

Keep spreading the faith, man.
For a whole lot of us out there, who have lost it.

A great new begining

[sukiwa]

Very nicely narrated, amazing stuff!

I would not call it a 'story'. As always, Sam has captured and narrated very special moments in his life. And his is the best blog I have come across so far.

Had resisted myself to comment during the blog, here are few.

Why can't Jenny relocate/continue to work in India? Hope that she/Sam can find something worthwhile for her to work.
Jenny looks beautiful in the White salwar kameez.
Sam: Loved the look on your face in the second photo during puja in office.
Rudra: Had that gut feeling that it would be that Mac in the corner.

[hemanthisgreat]

Originally Posted by sukiwa

Why can't Jenny relocate/continue to work in India. Sure that she/Sam can find something worthwhile for her to work.

If you read carefully, its mentioned that she is relocating shortly and looking for jobs in India.

Fantastic narration as always. So what can we expect once jenny relocates to India. Weekly blogs I guess.

[sukiwa]

I had meant relocate within Harman Kardon group (hence usage of the word 'continue').

[backrub]

Great blog and wonderful writing Sam, Was just checking through the thread and now I have completed the whole 6 pages in one stretch.

You have got wonderful narration skill

Great write up

[Sam Kapasi]

Thank you for the kind words. It feels lovely to know that you liked reading.

Originally Posted by sukiwa

I had meant relocate within Harman Kardon group (hence usage of the word 'continue').

We have 3 reasons for not doing that.

1. From a professional point of view - it is unethical. There would always be a general sense of discord and suspected partiality within the same group. We do not encourage it within the company and I must lead by example.
2. From a couple's point of view - it is dangerous. Remember that I would have to be her boss at work. Also it is unhealthy to bring work home and vice-versa.
   Just imagine if we have a huge fight at home and we come to office and I have something I need her to do for me.
   Besides, I think it is incorrect for a couple to be in each others face from morning to night. It takes away the freshness of the relationship.
3. From a personal point of view - her's - I think it is unhealthy. Jenny is moving to a new culture and a new land with new people. Her point-of-view should extend beyond mine. For her to develop her own perspective of India she needs to have her own little world.
   If we work together my colleagues will be her colleagues and my friends will be her friends. Her world will never grow beyond mine.
   
   I think she needs fresh and personal perspective on this country. She needs her own little circle of colleagues and possibly even friends. I am also hoping that she will work for a multi-national company and will also have a few German people to talk to, so she will not feel that far away from what she has called home her whole life. Plus they will be able to share problems and perspectives.
   • Why do things never get done on time?
   • Why does nothing work when it's supposed to?
   • Why do people spit on the streets?
   • Why does the cleaning lady squat on the ground and wipe the floor with a dirty cloth?
     
   • Why does everyone assume that we will be married before we move into our new house together?
   • How can your Aunt ask us when we plan to have kids? Isn't that too personal a question? I mean she only just met me!!
     
   • How can anyone marry someone they have never met before?
   And many more questions, lol

[vikram_d]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

The trick, I think is to enjoy the perfect parts of your relationship.

I totally agree with this. But life throws in the not so perfect parts in so that you can sit and laugh about them someday. For example an argument or even a major fight will be looked back at with humor in the future and then you think oh how silly we were.

More importantly there can be no perfect parts without imperfect ones. Two sides to every coin.

[gd1418]

Sammy, you write well, but this part takes the cake. How I wish I was there and taught Jenny a few interesting sentences in Hindi as well.

Now don't tell all bad thinbgs about me. I'm a good guy too..

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

My Dentist is a funny chap, full of songs and dance. Jenny is sitting with him and laughing as he makes all his jokes. I walk by with my glass, just to watch the revelry.
Jenny looks at me

Manoj is teaching me Hindi!
Really? I smile. What did he teach you?
He taught me that when I want to call you I should say
"Idhar aa kutte kameeney."

You know how it is? Just at the moment when you want things to be at their loudest, the music goes off and everyone goes silent and the entire room rings with the sound of a young german lass looking at me and saying "Idhar aa kuttey kameene"

[kartikkumar]

Originally Posted by vikram_d

More importantly there can be no perfect parts without imperfect ones. Two sides to every coin.

This my dear man is why perfection itself is a virtual impossibility. There are working parts and non-working parts but the concept of perfection in the context of a very human relationship is a paradox in terms.

@Sam, you are very right about Jenny needing to develop her own PoV and experience the altered reality in her own way. If anything, it would only help to strengthen the basic bond between the two of you for you remain the one constant and fall back in so much change around.

On a very boring note, have you taken into consideration the very mundane yet frustrating job of having to register with the FRO and related issues?

[navin]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

We have 3 reasons for not doing that.

Let me add a 4th.

Stoicly speaking, it is dangerous for both breadearners of one family to work for the same company or even the same industry. if that company / industry faces a severe downturn it might mean that both bread earners can become unemployed.

[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by kartikkumar

On a very boring note, have you taken into consideration the very mundane yet frustrating job of having to register with the FRO and related issues?

Indeed.

So far Jenny has only visited India as a tourist and with her one-year tourist visa which does not permit her to stay long-term.

When she will stay for over 90 days, she will need to be registered within the first week at the FRRO which is at Crawford Market. I will also be making affidavits taking over her financial, legal and other responsibilities, including place of residence (as she will have no other address proof for employment)

When she finally does get a job, she will have to return to Germany with her letter of offer/contract and approach the Indian embassy there for an employment visa. The visa will be as long as the tenure of her contract. If she does change her job, she wil need to leave India and get a new employment visa from the embassy in Germany.

We intend to stick to the book, no matter how difficult it may be. We have no intention to get into any trouble and I certainly do not want the immigration authorities pulling a "Negar Khan" on her, lol.
This trouble will continue until we are eventually married. When we do marry, Jenny will be entitled to a PIO document - (Person of Indian origin)

Yes I know, it is misleading - she is not a person of Indian origin, but the law states that if either parent is Indian, or the spouse is Indian, that entitles one to a PIO. WIth a PIO she can retain her German passport and citizenship, but have the freedom to visit and travel within India with no visa required. She is also free to take up employment and has every right as an Indian citizen - except the right to vote.
Basically she can live in India and work like any one of us Indians, once she has that PIO document, even though she will continue to remain a German citizen. It is the closest thing we have to dual-nationality today.

We have some PIOs on Team-BHP too, I can think of Ajmat and Thad off the top of my head. Coincidentally, both come from planet Zouk and they're both nutty.

[kartikkumar]

Ah well! You have it well worked out then. Sorry for bringing it up, the lawyer in me can't keep quiet for too long you see. One word of advice, please ask the FRRO to specify how many copies of each supporting document they would need. From experience, this varies from 3-5 depending on the documents itself. Apart from that, all I can say is ALL THE BEST!

Cheers!
Kartik

[NetfreakBombay]

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

If she does change her job, she wil need to leave India and get a new employment visa from the embassy in Germany.

This is insane....

And I used to think US immigration is tough.

[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by NetfreakBombay

This is insane....

And I used to think US immigration is tough.

Indian immigration is just as tough. The only difference is that fewer people dare to attempt it, lol

It is a lot easier if you are simply transferred from your company to work in India, then you simply arrive on a transfer visa. This is the real thing.