My First Car

The first car i own in my life...   Honda Civic

Very happy own this. Although my favorite color is blue, i opted for "Urban Titanium". I felt this color has more professional look. Here are few pics..

Me and My car

Shanthi my Boss helped me buying the car.

It was already 8:40pm while i took the car from showroom, So decided to take pics next day in daylight.

Power window and child lock.

Multimedia and other controls in steering wheel.

USB port under the arm rest to charge electronic devices.

Door open indicator

Digital speedometer

Ok...My car is waiting for me to get it to temple for Pooja...

Ganesha Chathurthi

First time I'm celebrating Ganesha Chathurthi without my family and friends.. Lord Ganesha is ubiquitous that you can find him in all the forms everywhere. He is loved by billions. I'm one among those who love him.

Isidro send off

My friend and colleague Isidro Acosta had left to Florida to continue his studies. So we as a team gave him warm send off.

We had been to India Palace. The speciality about this restaurant is the rare pics related to cricket were been portrayed. Any cricket fan would definitely love this restaurant. You could observe the photos on the wall. When we had been to this restaurant, they had cricket displayed on TV (IPL finals Mumbai Indians vs CSK). My colleagues were so excited about the game that they started watching the game very curiously and asked few questions related to cricket.

Ulka Kumar, Joelle camp, Mona Khanapurkar, Gang xu, Saranya, Cecil Stradford, Isidro, Paul Jacobson, Daniel, Rose Chang, Jim Donald, Luke Snyder.

Procedure for getting Driving license in Texas

Driving License

Texas, the biggest state in USA . So the public transportation is not that great. Very rarely you can find DART(Dallas rapid transport) which provides both train and bus service only at specific locations and less frequent. So it's always better to have personal transport like car.

In 2013, the rule to apply for driving license is that the person has to produce 2 address proof to Prove that he has resided in USA for 30 days.

Most of times we can't have 2 address proof, in such case any person living in the same address as of you can produce his address proof for you. The list of documents that are accepted by DMV (driving motor vehicle) office can be found online in their website.

Once you have necessary documents, prepare for online written test and then go to nearest DMV office so that you could take the written test on the same day.

After online test, the results will be informed on the computer screen itself. If you are not prepared for driving test, then ask them for driving permit to practice driving. Immediately after this book appointment for driving test online.

Initially you would be given temporary permit in a paper, later you would get permit as card by mail in few weeks. Then look out for driving schools to practice.

Usually in american driving schools the fee will be quite high. Go for some desi school where they charge less. In 2013, the lowest fee was $80 for 2 hours. If you have a car then you could take one class and then practice yourself.

Since I did not have car I took 4 classes with the driving school. In driving test one parallel parking, 10 right turns, 10 left turns and one straight or angled parking will be asked for. The test lasts for 10 mins.

On the day of test, be in dmv office Atleast 30 mins before the appointment time. as you need to fill some forms before test. During the driving test carry all the documents produced for applying the driving license. And make sure the car you are driving is in good condition with all indicators , brakes, head light are working. Your name should be on insurance list of the car you want to drive.

Don't be nervous, just be calm. Practice a lot and be confident while driving in road test.

Once you park the vehicle after the test, the examiner will tell your result. The driving license will be received by mail within 2 weeks.

$25 for online written test
$11 for road test

Procedure to get ssn

Social security number (SSN)

One of the very important and essential number without which we can't stay in USA. Till work 2013, We had to apply for ssn only after 10 days from day of arrival to USA. but after computerization nowadays we can apply within 3 days. We need to produce i94 and passport which we would have got at airport. (Very recently The i94 is not been stamped in passport, it's sent online.) Fill the application form available online. Visit the nearest SSN office and submit the documents. Once your i94 is verified, the SSN will be sent via mail (post).