Shalwar Kameez, Teaching, The new generation and other things...

If you follow my blog (shame on you if you do) then you might find an article where I discuss my inspirations for writing and how the choice boils down to writing about yourself or hurting others. I am not saying that those are the only choices but for me they seem to be. So this is about me (you are allowed to not read any further).
When I started looking for a job after my graduation, my very first interview was at Mobilink IT. I was quite excited and scared. The interview went OK until I was told

“You do know that your get up is not really conducive to working here.” The interviewer said pointing to the whole of me.

I was wearing a skin tight red t-shirt which read – “I know I am hot” – over orange shorts. A black ‘peshawari-chappal’ was on my feet and a gold chain with a big ‘A’ around my neck. I had a silver bracelet on my left wrist and a huge shiny ring on my right hand. I had highlights in my hair and I think there was some make up involved as well.

I know what you are thinking – why did the interview take place in the first place. Unfortunately, the last paragraph describes how I would have liked to dress given what I was told. Actually I was wearing a white shalwar kameez with a black sweater and black shoes. If dressing was going to be the problem I would have worn all that and maybe a tie on top of my t-shirt. Anyways it turns out Mobilink has a policy against shalwar kameez. You can’t even wear it on Fridays.

It was a fun experience though. I am mildly religious and yes it’s sometimes an adjustment but to not get a job because I choose to wear a shalwar kameez is sad. Don’t get me wrong, I am not Einstein. Maybe my interview didn’t go so well technically either but that one sentence I could have done without. We love our arguments and our theories and whatnot but little things; the simple things they don’t really matter. All our efforts are driven by a need for personal grandstanding. I have heard my fair share of arguments against growing a beard and wearing a shalwar kameez but this definitely took the cake…I salute you Mobilink. “kal ke liye aaj badlo” just make sure you are not wearing a shalwar kameez while you do so.

Disclaimer – To all my friends who work at Mobilink – I still love you and if someday Mobilink does get over its shalwar kameez complex and starts hiring ‘real’ telecommunication engineers then I would come running.

On a more serious note (what is a serious note anyways) after the Mobilink debacle I was offered a teaching post at my Alma-mater. No not FAST. I did not wish to subject new students to the torture that I had undergone myself. I have this brilliant habit of not really planning ahead and not thinking much at all so I gladly started teaching at SISA (O and A Levels) unaware that it doesn’t really count as ‘technical experience’. Oh boy was that an ego trip; I still have a plan of about two months but here was a whole generation that had no idea where they were heading two days into the future. I felt pretty awesome about myself. I was not alone at all in fact I was way ahead of the curve (Dark Knight reference) – two months. Surrounded by such awesomeness and attractiveness (by the way that was a reference from Kung Fu Panda) I quickly settled in. I just like dropping names – of movies.

It turns out that we as a society don’t really respect teaching as a profession. On more occasions than I care to remember I had very weird encounters with my parents involved. We would be somewhere and someone would ask me

“So what do you do?”

“He is a telecommunication engineer and he has applied for masters abroad and while he is waiting he has taken up teaching as a hobby.”

A response to this effect would be delivered by my mom or dad or they would tag team it between them before I had even began to open my mouth. ‘A hobby’ – I mean come on. I guess people who are not good at anything else end up teaching and since we don’t encourage anything to the contrary that’s how it’s supposed to be. Different family members also inquired at various times when I was going to get a real job. Granted that given my circumstances teaching was not the best option for me but apart from a few choice people every one who discouraged me was pin pointing teaching and not me in particular. The icing on the cake was delivered by a senior teacher at SISA. We were having a heart to heart when he came up with this gem

“When are you leaving; go do something with your life. Live a little; teaching is for washed up people like me – why are you getting stuck here?”

Anyways, due to huge public demand, I finally left teaching and started looking for a real-technical-labor-intensive-job. And I am looking to this day – 1 month and counting.

Q: Did I get through to my students?

A: umm…maybe two of them. No – make that one.

Q: Am I bitter?

A: Yes.

Q: Does it have to do with the fact that I haven’t found a job yet?

A: Definitely.

Q: Does that change the facts?

A: Unfortunately no.

Q: Will this piece of writing bring down Mobilink?

A: Yeah right.

Q: Will it inspire a new generation into action?

A: Are you high or on drugs or something. Chill dude!

Q: Will we see teachers in a different light?

A: Are you kidding me – even I don’t like teachers.

Q: Do I stand firm on my beliefs?

A: What do you think? Sucker!

Q: Is this piece of writing useless?

A: Pretty much.

Q: Then why did I write it?

A: “And therein – as the bard would tell us – lies the rub”. Oh another movie reference. This one is from Inside Man. Am I dope or what?

Q: Could we get an honest answer here please?

A: Personal grandstanding – personal grandstanding my friend!