New “Fun” Experiences in Johannesburg

Inscribed by Hariharan

Accenture had arranged for a “fun-outing” event for us folks from the India location. Events included:

• Ice Skating @ Northgate Shopping Center
• Bowling & Laser Gun Fun @ Brightwater Commons 
• Bollywood Movie @ Monte Casino 

The Ice skating event took me back to my childhood days !! I had learnt skating (roller skating) in my 7th or 8th class (Something like that, I guess) … I started Skating when my Appa bought me roller skates and I started my first lessons on the corridor in front of our flat in Baroda along with other friends and then went on to the terrace of the flat. We had to soon change our location due to increased irk that we caused (due to our and the roller skates noise) to our flat dwellers. My father then figured out a Skating Rink where I used to practice for some more time before finally losing interest in it. I had seen ice skating on TV and had always wondered if it would be similar in feel … and if the same technique would apply. The ice skating rink was the right place to get my answers first hand. After a somewhat “jerky” start, I realised that it is pretty similar to roller skates and I found myself much more comfortable and enjoying myself – all I had to do was to let go of my fear. Thanks to my Appa (who took the pains to buy me roller-skates and take me to skating rinks in Baroda), I was able to thoroughly enjoy the experience. I always used to wonder how could someone balance on just two blades on the feet !! But I still don’t know how .. but I managed well. I did fall down couple of times (because I was not able to stop at the correct time and bumped into some kid there !!). The environment was initially cold because of the Ice but as I started skating, I realised that I was starting to sweat and get exhausted – the cold was then no longer a problem. I already had just started a bout of cold and cough just couple of days before, Thanks to the ice skating, it just became worse at the end of the event. But I think it was worth it !!

Bowling was another experience that I was trying for the first time. And I was experiencing something that one of my colleagues referred to as beginner’s luck !! And Luck it was - as I was consistently making good strikes and spares at will … And I defeated two pretty experienced players with my score at 108 (I guess). It did get close at the end with the two contenders coming close to my score. I don’t think my technique was exactly the correct one … But I seemed to have a knack for it. Good for me !!

The Bollywood Movie that we saw was “Kites”. It was one of the super hyped movies since last 2 years. And I can only tell you that it never came up to the expectations that the hype had created. I really cant say that it was a “bad” movie, but what I saw in the movie was a normal love story, some nice songs, some good dance, “ok” performances and sort of a drag in the ending of the movie. Just not what I was expecting out of it … I normally go open minded to movies … but this one was so hyped that I also had some expectations … of something special … from the movie which it never delivered. I heard that the Indian audience was also pissed off that it wasn’t a real “Hindi” movie. Overall … Very “average”.

But my day on Sunday was a very exciting one as a whole, with some really new and exciting experiences and some nice time out with my colleagues. Days like these are what keep me going in Johannesburg, as I pass my days here, missing my family back in India.