Gli Uniti Stati

11 days have whizzed past, and still the feeling that The United states of America is a land of dreams and opportunities is something  that i have not felt. But then, it might be because i am in Ames, a small village, which boasts of a total population equalling a crowded Chennai mall.

The place is quiet, infact, too quiet for my liking. There are buses which cover nearly every major road in Ames. The city is so perfectly maintained. It is covered with grass, except those places spoilt by mankind. The traffic is orderly, i haven’t seen any  instance of rash driving. I sometimes wonder how drivers from Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai are able to maintain their calm under such excrutiatingly painful lane driving. The bikes are a luxury and i have hardly seen them around.

Then you have the departmental store called Hy-vee, a grocery store called Cubs Food and an Indian store called Pammel. I am yet to shop from the latter, but do know that the entire stock available in Indian departmental markets is available here, except that the price is sky high.

And most importantly, this city plays host to Iowa State University, my home for the next two years, and under some circumstances, this might extend upto 5-6 years.  Still to get an assistantship however, i am waiting for the most electrifying moment i have experienced in the US of A.  I have gone around the engineering buildings about a dozen times, and am quite enjoying the scenery and quiet that the place is symbolic with now a days. However, according to my seniors, this place would be quite a hand full during college hours.

Anyways, lots more to find out as college begins this monday. I hope for the best

Federer – End of Impeialism

End of imperialism, that’s pretty sure. Can the fallen king summon his army to reconquer his lost territory? Highly impossible. Not when the elder wand has chosen a new master.

Hail Rafael Nadal, clay court specialist. Hmmm…Ok….So now grass court too. The list might be extended to the hard courts in the following years. But i will have to time to write for him. So let me get back to the fallen king.

Where is the man in the white cardigan? Where is the warrior whose arrows were poison? Where is the greatest player ever? Or is he? But if he isn’t, there will never be one.

The man closest to impersonating the Rockhamton Rocket, climbing Mount Sampras and surpassing Ice Borg is being laid to rest in 2008. He is 26, old in this world. His nemesis is 22, ripe and ready to replace him.

6 months ago, we were talking of him overtaking Sampras this year end. Now we will be talking about him passing 12 when. Surely, if he cannot win in Wimbledon, where he achieved greatness, he can win nowhere else. Only  2 titles this year, but 9 losses already. He has not amassed so many losses in the past 2 years together. And to top it all, 0-4 vs Nadal in 2008.

Move aside King Federer, its time to start betting in tennis again. Because we know for sure that the greatest time of the greatest player is gone. Will he retire with grace or will he be disgraced, the next few years will tell. But one thing i can say, 14 looks a leap year away.