God (or coincidence if that's your medicine) is an interesting fellow...
Straight out of high school, I was a finance major at NYU (long story in itself). Whenever I would travel home for the holidays, I somehow always got stuck next to either an Aerospace Engineer or a Finance person. While the Aerospace Engineers I sat next to were generally boring, I was somehow intrigued by what they did. Other (actually significant) events happened and 'Beepity Boppity Boop!' I switched from Finance to Aerospace Engineering. Sitting next to those Aerospace Engineers actually had no bearing on the situation, but to me, it's quite the coincidence that of the half dozen or so people I sat by and spoke with, all were either my former or actual major. Maybe it was the planting of a seed...
Today, as I was flying from LAX to Chicago, I sat next to this person who evaluates technologies to determine if they are worth investing in. I mentioned what I was going to do, and we had a nice discussion about the kinds of questions I need to ask my organization (IDE-India) to make sure that they have thought this product through and that the technology is sustainable from both ends (us the developer, and the end user). This is important to me because I want to make sure that my time is used fruitfully for the benefit of your average Aashish.
Now mind you, I don't like talking to random people. When the lady next to me started talking to me, my first thoughts were "I hope this doesn't go on long" and "How do I get out of this?". After the usual small talk about her son and places she's traveled, we switched over to something relevant to me and I became interested. By this point though, we were already on our final descent.
It's quite possible that the moral here is that everyone can have an impact on our lives if we let them. Perhaps it's not a coincidence at all that based on our life experiences, we can find some way to help anyone else out. And we should probably open up and give everyone a chance instead of shutting people out. I guess I'll confirm this on my flight to India (if the person makes me talk to them that is). But if the person I'm sitting next to is an expert in steam distillation of essential oils, I'm going to attribute that coincidence to a higher power!
Just so everyone knows, it turns out the person next to me was an oil engineer! But he makes oil lubricants for seals. So close!!
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5 comments:
When on Earth did you write this? I didn't think you had a phone or laptop with you!
It made me laugh though, cause the one thing I make sure to do on airplanes is not make eye contact with anyone and look as inaccessible as possible (God forbid if I had to talk to a stranger for the entire flight - especially if it's a long flight!). Maybe I should be more open and friendly...
Have a great flight to India - can't wait to hear about all your exciting adventures!!
Um, should I take offense at the part about aerospace engineers being boring?! ;)
I went to the website for the organization you're working with -- it sounds pretty cool. Hope your flight to India went well.
Don't worry, I don't like talking to strangers either. Keep the posts coming!
so what you're saying is that finance people are even more boring than aerospace engineers?
how's india so far? did you educate them on the amazing holiday we americans call thanksgiving?
"and let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. so then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone..." Gal 6:9-10a
really enjoying the blog btw (this comment is a little late...).
that's awesome that the person was an oil engineer!
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