Those were darn, dear and sweet days where I'd to do nothing more than study, attend lectures, eat and sleep and of course drink too. Pursuing Masters in English Literature compelled me to read and read, sit like a stone in the University Library; play with the computer though I have very ignorable knowledge about the miracle box those days. HTML codes, PHP, CSS, and scores of other coding and documentation tools would have sounded like rocket science to me if at all someone mentioned them to me back then. Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, etc, etc, who were so unfortunate not to glare at the computer and to be alive today occupied my days and filled my term papers. Never did I think a giant leap and a totally different world awaited me to suck me deep inside its process. Here I am working as a Senior Technical Writer, far away from home and exiled from literature. A world totally different; making me confused whether I am here for good or for worst but not in the least scared. This is a metamorphosed life indeed.
After completing my Masters, the dictation of life blew me to Hyderabad, a city that I’ve fallen madly in love lately. This is where I started my tryst with the corporate world and also smelled the lovely scent of corporate money. I found the bestest of my friends as time flies by; who often times make me forget that time is juggling us all along.
I often think my first employer did a terrible mistake in hiring me for my computer knowledge was pathetic. Initially hopping around in search of job became frustrating when I got rejected righteously for my low typing speed. I remember cursing for not having learned computer in the way people consider is proper. Nevertheless, I got an offer and this was the first place where I slowly have to start shedding the skin of English Literature. Subjects like Project Management, Risks Management, Disaster Management and other Management topics start to seep into my semi-awake conscience. Well, I punched the keyboard slightly harder than Ringo drums. A happy ending, no keyboards get spoiled by the time I learned to hit the keys more gently.
It was in my second job where I started learning about editing, authoring, and conversion tools. RoboHelp, Photoshop, Dreamweaver, and whole lot of Adobe family became my relatives at work. Release notes, User Manuals, Presentations, Brochures, became the wick and oil for me to move forward. VoiP was everywhere on the wall. I love the place and the technology for letting me stuff into my head so much in a short time. Colleagues were professional but warm and welcoming with no secret reservations and grudges. There won’t be much of this kind of ideal work environment to freak around, poke and joke; yet learn a lot.
Wow, the next assignment within the same organization was something of a detachment from what I usually do. It was a chance for me to bid adieu to writing about software updates and related documentations, I squeezed into the world of gaming; iPhone gaming. This was where I blogged, writing about games and everything that has to do with Steve Jobs and Apple. I was gifted an iPhone to kill my days and play my nights. Blogging, writing out game description for whatever my company developed, beta testing games and applications became my daily bread. Great as it sounds, I grew extremely fond of crashing in late and crawling home in the dark.
After deciding to take a break, I made a very risky decision to experience the life of doing and thinking nothing. This was when I left the city I’ve fallen in love and the work that I thought would lead me to superannuation. Eight long months, I eat and stayed idle, surprisingly gaining no extra calories, which I very much desired. Idleness has its own addiction, but I failed to see why I scorn it in many ways than I like. Good that I have someone who loved me despite my precarious mindset. After so much thinking and pondering, I headed back to start and new beginning in the city I'd toiled and smiled for three years.
Coming back, I landed in different organization and into a totally new process area. Core Banking Solution is what I am dealing with as a Senior Technical Writer for now. Life is going on smooth and running fast. I kind of think (often) I've learned a lot oblivious of the fact that I need to learn more and more just even see the kernel of learning. For me, the pleasure of life lies in the willingness to learn whatever life throws on me. It is not what I know that matters, all that matters is what I can learn....
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