And Vahbiz again...

For all of you who didn't get the joke about Vahbiz's fictitious pregnancy - that's just what it is (fictitious)! A bit of humour and a bit of sensationalism to create a stir! Hey, it got you reading, and getting in touch with each other, right? ;)

Before you begin to think that this entire blog is a bunch of lies, we would like to point out two things: (1) Everything else is true (trust us!) and (2) Vahbiz herself sanctioned this joke (she might not have realized how far we would run with it, though!).

Well, our attempt at humor has backfired slightly. Vahbiz has been inundated with callers congratulating her. So, please don't believe our joke, and don't spread any rumors. As Vahbiz herself said to us, "If my parents find out about it in Bombay, they'll fly me back, heh heh."

Housing

A bunch of you have emailed us about housing. Rather than choosing one particular hotel for everyone to stay, we've decided to keep it open so that you all can flexibly make your plans. We've posted previously on websites about New York and New York accommodation, so please scroll through the archives for that information.

If anyone wants to share a hotel room, please email us at kodai_98@yahoo.com or leave a comment below this post. That way we can get you in touch with other like-minded people.

Nayma

Nayma! 

We've got another New Yorker coming to the reunion. NAYMA started off her email to us on a nostalgic note. She says, "Talking to Anjali yesterday got me thinking about the numerous times we'd sit and talk about how life will turn out five, ten years down the line, and here we are!" Well, Nayma, the Reunion Committee is glad that you're getting into the mood of nostalgia and reminiscing!

Nayma graduated from Colgate University and moved straight to New York. She finished her Masters Degree in International Relations from City College, New York. For the past year and a half, she has been working for the United Nations Development Program on issues related to the governance transition in Iraq. She finished this assignment about a month ago, and she is ready to start her Ph.D. in Political Science in September at the CUNY Graduate Center.

Can't wait until May 28, Nayma!

Archives feature

It's yet another month (May 2!) so March and part of April have become archived in the blog's history. You can read postings from those months (which contain lots of pictures and write-ups) by clicking on the archive links on the right hand side of the blog.

Have fun browsing!

Krishna 

KRISHNA has been working for the last two and a half years for The Marriott International in Beijing, China!

Comments

The Reunion Committee did a bit of sleuthing in New York this past weekend to put together an itinerary for the Reunion. On the agenda: Indian food (Kodai cafeteria), Tibetan food (Momos at Tibs), Central Park (Flag Green), The Park [a club] (Canteen), Bars and Bars (places we were not supposed to go to in Kodai).

If there's anything special you want to do in New York, leave us a message, let us know. You can email us at kodai_98@yahoo.com OR you might notice that there is a little "Comment" icon under each post. Just click on it and leave us a comment. We love hearing from you!

Vahbiz

Vahbiz! 

We managed to get in touch with the girl from Bombay, Vahbiz! And, what do you know, she's pregnant! Congratulations, Vahbiz!

What is Vabhiz up to these days? Well, she is doing her Masters Degree in Miami Ad School. She is studying copywriting and will graduate this year. Currently, she's putting her portfolio together, and she plans to work in the US for a while. However, she's quite set on her plans to return to Bombay in the long run because ultimately she remains a Bombay girl at heart.

*In the picture, is Vahbiz carrying laundry (1) as a ploy to cover her pregnancy OR (2) as part of a Halloween costume where she went dressed as "Dirty Laundry"? Leave us a comment letting us know your answer.

Sapna! 

Archives!

Hello,
We just wanted to let those visitors who are relatively new to our blog to click on the Archives Link on the right hand side of the blog to see our entries from March. The March archive contains some more pictures, and some useful information about the Reunion!

This weekend, the Reunion Committee is going sleuthing among the NYC bars and restaurants to find suitable spots for our reunion gatherings. We'll post back with more information about our reunion schedule in the coming days, so check back often!

Send us your pictures!

Here at Reunion Committee Headquarters, we're always looking for pictures of Class of 1998 folks. Send us your picture at kodai_98@yahoo.com, and let us know what you've been up to! If you're shy about sending a picture, just email us anyway! We love to hear from you.

And we would love it even more if you came to the Reunion!

Kamna and Udit! 

We just got in touch with UDIT! He is working at Watson Wyatt, which is an investment consultancy, and he is not doing exams to qualify as an Actuary. He hopes to make it for the reunion, although it's looking a bit difficult right now. Udit, we sincerely hope you can make it! Dhruv and Vidur will be there!

Arya! 

ARYA is working towards the end of her degree in Psychotherapy. She is combining her studies and practical sessions in psychotherapy with her studies in Astrology. Upon completion of her studies at the end of the year, Arya intends to return to Bombay and start establishing her practice there. We wish her the very best!

Kamna

Kamna! 

We managed to get a hold of this beautiful picture of Kamna, so we thought we'd take this opportunity to let you know what she's been up to. Having graduated with her Masters Degree in Anthropology last September, Kamna successfully found a job in an area in which she is so passionate. She is working in London at a community-based development organization, Newham Asian Women's Project, where she supports South Asian women fleeing domestic violence. She has recently started as a researcher on a mental health project that aims to understand the reasons why young women in the community inflict harm on themselves ("self-harm") and she is working to develop appropriate intervention services and responses.

Kamna, congratulations for staying true to your ideals and choosing to work in such a difficult and emotional field.

Pratap and Kate!

Pratap and fiancee Kate! 

Big news from PRATAP! He got engaged in December 2004 in Goa! His fiancée, Kate, is studying Fine Art and Art History, and Pratap is studying culinary arts. Both are set to graduate this June. Their wedding will probably take place in India next year. Pratap is also working in a prestigious London restaurant, The Cinnamon Club, which is one of the top 5 Indian restaurants in the country. He is still living in London, and both he and Kate are planning on staying in the UK for the foreseeable future.

Congratulations Pratap and Kate, and best wishes from the Reunion Committee! Please come over for the Reunion and help us choose some good Indian restaurants where we could host the Reunion events. Or, you could dazzle us with your own glamorous cooking! :)

Some information about New York

Hey there,

We figured we'd put together some links for those who need more information about New York accommodation and fun things to do (apart from the Reunion!). Hope these are helpful!
As a general note, it's probably best to arrange accommodation in mid-town or on the West Side, since that is most accessible to the reunion events that we are planning. If you find a place to stay, and you're not sure if it's in a convenient area, just email us the address at kodai_98@yahoo.com and we'll get back to you immediately!


www.sheckys.com
www.newyork.citysearch.com
www.timessquarenyc.org
www.comfortinn.com (room from $158 per night)
www.ticketmaster.com (for broadway tix)
http://www.justnewyorkhotels.com/index.asp?source=gg59
http://www.1stnewyorkhotels.com
http://www.newyorkcity.com/hotels

The London Crew (With a Special Focus on Lioba!)

The London Crew Take 2 

We've already told you what some of the Kodai crew in London have been up to in a previous post. We thought we would put up another picture, but also let you know what LIOBA has been up to! Since last December, Lioba has been adventuring in Nepal, working in a development organization on a micro-finance development project for rural communities in Nepal. After a wonderful and constructive few months in Nepal, where in addition to her development work she is spending time surrounded by childhood friends and family and studying meditation, Lioba plans to ultimately return to London at the end of April.

Another picture of Tushar and Roxanne, but this time with a guest star, their cat Ruble! 

Tushar and Roxanne! 

Tushar and Roxanne will be tying the knot in September 2006. The wedding will be in Bombay, ten years to the day after their first Kodai formal. They currently live in Chicago with their darling cat, Ruble, but unfortunately won't be able to make it to the reunion -- sorry guys.

Roxanne is deeply immersed in her job as a medical assistant in Chicago, where she plans to stay for the next 2-3 years. She's also starting to plan the upcoming wedding in 2006. What will people be surprised to learn about her now? She weighs a happy 300 lbs. and wakes up every morning at 5:30am to lift weights. Okay, the picture gives things away a bit, but believe it or not, the part about waking up at dawn is true. What she misses most about Kodai: dorm treat, Mr. Gopal, the annual mile run, and sunny afternoons in the quad.

Tushar is firmly ensconced in the world of academia and finishing up the third year of his PhD programme in philosophy at Northwestern University. He's especially interested in Ancient Greek philosophy -- ironic, given his Persian heritage, but he's found his passion in Plato and is currently working on his dissertation. He hopes to finish up with his PhD in the next two years, at which time he'll go on the job market to teach at the university level.

Surprising things about Tushar:
Pick one: (1) He and Dency Michael had a tumultuous affair over the internet a couple of years back that ended badly; (2) he's accepted the Lord Jesus as his personal saviour; or (3) he still doesn't like chocolate.

Things Tushar misses about Kodai:
His roommates and their room in Penryn; Mrs. B reading the bible during dorm devotion and pretending that she meant it; Winston; Coker's Walk; getting caught with five girls in his loft and explaining that the ten (very small) shoes in the room were his sister's; sneaking out of dorm at night for a walk round the lake; breaking into Mrs. B's apartment with a camcorder; finding a spot to sit on the steps of the science block.

Nichola 

We have a write-up of Nichola below, but we love this picture, so we cldn't resist putting it up!

The Motley London Crew (Take 1)

The London Crew (some of them at least): Nisha, Manolita, Nichola, Yamu and Aravinda 

Our staff reporter Dipti has been hard at work over the last few days, compiling information on her former cronies in London. So, a big shout out to Dipti for putting this together for us!

First of, here's the scoop on one of Dipti's former room-mates in Kodai, NISHA: Nisha is still working as an environmentalist, and is living with her long-term (very long-term) boyfriend, Oliver, in Oxford, England. At the moment, she's preparing for the approaching summer, where she anticipates doing many long walks along the country-side trails that she loves.

Standing next to Nisha in the picture is MANOLITA: Mano has been gallavanting all over the place. After having completed her Masters from the London School of Economics last September, Mano moved to Brussels for a five month traineeship with the European Commission. Now she has moved to Budapest, although she anticipates returning to London by the end of the year. Mano, we would love to see some pictures of your travels!

In the middle of the lot is NICHOLA: Nichola continues to work as a pharmaceutical journalist in London. She has recently been promoted to assistant editor of the magazine, and even went to Italy recently over the Easter holidays to attend a so-called "business conference"! We're not surprised about Nichola's journalism career given that she was the editor of our school newspaper and the yearbook!
Nichola recently moved into a new apartment, and is now settling down into her new life with two flat-mates and a cat.

Second from the right is YAMU: Yamu spent several fulfilling years in London, and then decided it was time for a change. She moved to Hong Kong, where she is currently working in an executive search firm and is teaching English. She's keen to return to further education later this year, and has kept her options options in terms of where her future will take her.

Finally, standing on the extreme right is ARAVINDA: We have news about Aravinda! Big news! Aravinda had a baby! Yes, she has embraced motherhood like a natural, which comes as no surprise to us. She, Patson and Pavan, the baby, are still living in their happy home in London. Before giving birth, Aravinda was working to provide nutritional teaching and advice at a charity for underprivileged communities in the city. She will be returning to work shortly.

That's it for this first installment of the Kodai lot in London. There are many more based there, so check back for frequent updates on the others!