Resignation Letter - Official

8th August 2012

To,
Human Resource Head
Bank of Kathmandu
Kamaladi, Kathmandu 


                                                            Subject : Resignation

Dear Madam,

Please accept this letter as formal notification that I will be leaving Bank of Kathmandu effective from 19th August 2012, as I have decided to pursue full-time studies at university. I believe that this will help advance my career in the long term.

As per my employment contract, I am supposed to give my resignation one month in advance but as my classes commence from the last week this month, I regret to put down my papers on such a short notice.

Thanks for all you have done for me over the last three years.

Yours sincerely


...........................

The Wait Is Over

Third time lucky, I must say. I got the visa, finally on the third attempt. Truly speaking I thought I had greater chances during my previous two attempts. The letter from the professor and the affidavit from my sister proved to be the match winner.

During my previous interview I was on an official leave. As I thought there was less chance of getting the visa this time I opted not to apply for the leave. Whatever happens I had decided to go to the work. There was a strike from 6 am to 10 am in the morning called by the youth wing of CPN-UML. Lucky I was to get a vehicle to ride to the Embassy.

This time I had no fear. Whatever happens, it was going to be a new beginning. And I was already looking for colleges to continue my study here. I was in no hurry to be in line. Lucky… I will be using the word too often in this post as I think that was what I lacked on my previous attempts. Lucky I was to get a seat to wait, as there are around only 10 seats. And there came a pretty lady in black. Oh my! And with that grace I bet she was among the very best I have seen in years. And when she turned back and looked away, for some moment I forgot what was I there for?

Went inside, got my luggage [?] checked. I walked inside. Started waiting for my time inside. My eye was set on the exit door. Even I am rejected today, I won’t have any regret, I thought. I am not coming here again, I decided. As there was strike that morning, the consular had not arrived yet. But she did! Mine was #4 and her’s #16. At around 8:40 my time came. Number 9.

Luckily there was a different consular. And he had a go! Why are you going to Wyoming? So you came here before as well? I explained why I got rejected twice. Any changes to your document? I said nothing as such, only the letter from the university addressed to the Embassy has been added! Who is sponsoring your studies? What does your father do? What does your mother do? Any family member in the US? What will you do after returning to Nepal? And so on.

The funniest part… as he was smiling and asking the questions I felt, like previous consular he too will end up rejecting. He asked… Are you married? In a relationship? I said ‘Not married, but yes in a relationship!’ And that too with confidence as I was earlier said that ‘being in a relationship’ is a good reason to return and convince them!

So, the final word the consular said was ‘I think you are qualified to go to the US!’

I acted normal. Surprised again. Came outside where my brother was waiting. Raised my left hand gave him a thumbs-up! Now I wonder how did I miss the #16 after I got the visa… should have turned back and looked at her. Don’t know if she proved lucky!

So finally called home to report the good news! Called to my sister, she was the happiest of all… and I feel lucky to have given her the reason to be so. She has waited for this so long.

After receiving my passport two days later, I updated my Facebook relationship status to ‘in a relationship’ to honor the consular who finally gave me the visa. And loads of people responded! Now I feel sorry for the girl I saw that morning, #16, as she wasn’t there to collect the visa on 8^th! Only around 12 individuals got the visa that day! I wish her luck for the next time.

For me, finally I am heading to US on 18^th! Had a hard time getting the ticket as I had not booked the ticket this time around. Abu Dhabi – Dublin – Chicago – Denver… finally will meet my sister after over 2 years.

Now I wonder, how often had a professor written a letter to any embassy to grant his student a visa? There must have been, but for me it was unheard of. I am indebted to the faith he has shown on me. Now is my time to prove him right.

Wyoming – Forever West… I am coming!

My Dreams of the [Forever] West

When I finished my under-grad in 2008 I had two choices… continue my higher studies or take a break from studies and garner some experience. I chose the latter one. If you have gone through my academic record, besides few down hills, it has been consistent throughout. 3.80 CGPA in BBA is a very good score by any standard. And when most of my friends opted for MBA here in the country or somewhere abroad, mostly UK and Down Under, my eyes were set on garnering two years of working experience and gain some exposure. With the quality of education offered, the US has always been my first choice, the last one as well.

I joined Bank of Kathmandu, one the top five commercial banks in Nepal, on 18^th May 2009. Busy with my work I finally got enrolled in GMAT in November 2010. I had good grades earlier, some working experience as well and now with a good score in GMAT I was hoping I could get some scholarships as well. The rules regarding the GMAT had changed since 2011 and the passport was made mandatory. Unaware I registered for my exams for February. Since I did not have a passport at that time, the whole fee was wasted.

Finally I got my passport at the end of February and registered for GMAT exam again for 18^th March. I had been a bright student in GMAT class as well. But with the events that unfolded between my classes and exam, I was not well prepared. Contrary to what we had practiced in class, Math was easy and English weird. It was like reading a blog, almost, I wonder if anything went through my head. I was disappointed with my exam. I still managed to score 530, not so good or not so bad score. I didn’t have guts to register for another GMAT exam, a third time; I didn’t want to waste any more money on that. I thought 530 was decent enough.

Upset about the score of GMAT I wondered for months if I should give my TOEFL or not. Finally got enrolled for TOEFL and gave my exams on 18^th September. Uncertain when the results will come out, I was a bit worried about the speaking part. Late night before going to bed, it was around 11, I happened to check my mail and there was an email from ETS. My heart started pounding. When I clicked the link I was relieved to have scored 101. I believe it is a very good score indeed. My American Dream got a new life that moment.

So now I seriously needed to find a college. I was looking for universities in Mid-West as I felt the universities in east and west coast are more crowded. I needed to find universities that would offer me scholarships as well. As my sister resides in Denver, CO and as it is the major hub in the mid-west I consulted her regarding the universities. Denver University and Colorado University – Boulder were very expensive. Western Colorado State University at Gunnison was affordable but still five hours drive from where my sister lives. Wyoming who most people consider to be middle of nowhere was one of my choices, other being University of Colorado – Fort Collins.

University of Wyoming, Laramie was affordable and despite being in another state it was some two-and-half hour drive from Denver. I decided to apply for both the Universities in February. Turned out the MBA in Fort Collins was a MBA – GSSE, Global Social and Sustainable Enterprises! Thought it would have a good scope in Nepal. After re-writing my essay and little correspondence I thought I had a good chance. But after almost 8 weeks or so the university rejected my application citing ‘inadequate related work experience.’ Now I turned to Wyoming. Had not received any mail from the university this far, it was now my only hope.

My application got approved and they told me it will take some time before I receive my I20. I emailed the university to send me a soft copy so that I could prepare my other documents based on scholarship if I had got any. Due to privacy associated the request was denied, but the professor informed me that I would get ‘some’ kind of scholarship. Finally, I got my I20 in June. To my utter surprise the scholarship that I was expecting was not mentioned in the I20!

I was in dilemma what to do? A guy from the consultancy who studies geography in UW and was in town said that they never give scholarship in MBA and if they were to give any kind of assistantship, they will have mentioned it as well. So I decided to write to the university again. At the same time I came to know about a girl whose visa was ‘withheld’ because in her first I20 nothing has been mentioned about scholarship but later she got it and the Embassy wanted it in I20 itself rather than any other supplementary letter. So I included this fact as well.

The university responded positively. My new I20 was on the way. As it could take a long time I asked them to mail it to my sister so that she could send it me via Express Mail so that I can get those documents faster. After some hiatus I finally got my new I20. I got full scholarship on my tuition fees from the department and now all I have to bear was around $11,000 annually.

Delighted, I was. I had a good academic record, sound finance and now scholarship as well. To this day everyone was saying I will surely get the visa and now I had a similar feeling. Friday the 13^th was the day. I was a bit nervous but hopeful. I got my application rejected because the consular had a ‘feeling’ that I was trying to immigrate to the US. It felt bad, I wonder how my sister had felt. She must be thinking I couldn’t pursue my dream just because one of my sibling lives in the US. I decided to re-apply because first, I had never thought of settling in the US and second, I didn’t want to miss the opportunity that I was getting.

Unlucky, again. This time my application was rejected because the consular felt that my family couldn’t afford my fees! Come on she must have mistaken… I mean I’ve got full scholarship on tuition fees and you are saying my family can’t afford to pay $11,000 a year? Add to that the university is looking for assistantship as well! I was shocked. Everyone was. I decided I am not applying anymore… who knows if I would be rejected a third time, this time citing ‘I can’t study’ at all.

Since the university had granted me scholarship, I thought it was my responsibility to inform them that I won’t be able to attend the university this Fall so that they can give the fund to someone else who deserves it. I wrote when was the best time to reapply for the university to get scholarship as my visa application has been rejected. What came in reply felt so good. The MBA Director wrote to the head of International Scholars’ Department : 

“Please let me know what we need to do to get Rabin his visa.  He will be a great asset to our program and I want to do anything and everything to help him out.  I am available to meet with you at any time.”

The professor decided to write a letter addressing the US Embassy in Nepal. With the amount of faith he has shown on me I felt I should not disappoint him my not applying at all. Also by re-applying a second time I would save some precious months of my life. I don’t think my family’s annual income to change significantly in few months, if I am to apply for January session and I believe they have sufficient fund to support me; also the best that could happen would be my scholarships and assistantship fund would be mentioned in my I20… but as the letter addressed to the Embassy does mention about assistantship as well… I thought if I apply for visa again I won’t have to live in dilemma for months… even if I get rejected it would open the road so that I can continue my further studies here.

Rather than regret for not trying a final time when so many individuals have supported me, I have decided to apply for the third and final time. The worst they can do is ‘reject’ again, but I am used to that now. I remember my sister saying few days after I got rejected the second time… “I know you got your visa rejected but still somewhere I feel you are coming.” And when I recall that, you can’t think how it feels… she’s been waiting too long…

Post script : I got my next interview scheduled for August 6^th, the day I had planned to leave to the US if I had got my visa the first time... the day from when my sister’s annual leave begins. I don’t know what awaits me this Monday but be assured whatever happens I won’t be written off… I ain’t giving up!

I’ve got three years of banking experience. An American MBA with specialization in Energy Management would surely land me in a good position in most of the financial institutions here. With my family here and a very good career prospective as well I don’t know why they think I will settle in the US to start from scratch? Or am I that good that they think the Professors won’t let me out :p

Hachikō

In 1924, Hidesaburō Ueno, a professor in the agriculture department at the University of Tokyo, took in Hachikō, a golden brown Akita, as a pet. During his owner's life, Hachikō greeted him at the end of each day at the nearby Shibuya Station. The pair continued their daily routine until May 1925, when Professor Ueno did not return. The professor had suffered from a cerebral hemorrhage and died, never returning to the train station where Hachikō was waiting. Every day for the next nine years the dog waited at Shibuya station.

Hachikō attracted the attention of other commuters. Many of the people who frequented the Shibuya train station had seen Hachikō and Professor Ueno together each day. Initial reactions from the people, especially from those working at the station, were not necessarily friendly. However, after the first appearance of the article about him on October 4, 1932 in Asahi Shimbun, people started to bring Hachikō treats and food to nourish him during his wait. This continued for nine years with Hachikō appearing precisely when the train was due at the station.

Publication : That same year, one of Ueno's students (who developed expertise on the Akita breed) saw the dog at the station and followed him to the Kobayashi home (the home of the former gardener of Professor Ueno — Kikuzaboro Kobayashi) where he learned the history of Hachikō's life. Shortly after this meeting, the former student published a documented census of Akitas in Japan. His research found only 30 purebred Akitas remaining, including Hachikō from Shibuya Station.

He returned frequently to visit the dog and over the years published several articles about Hachikō's remarkable loyalty. In 1932 one of these articles, published in Tokyo Asahi Shimbun, threw the dog into the national spotlight. Hachikō became a national sensation. His faithfulness to his master's memory impressed the people of Japan as a spirit of family loyalty all should strive to achieve. Teachers and parents used Hachikō's vigil as an example for children to follow. A well-known Japanese artist rendered a sculpture of the dog, and throughout the country a new awareness of the Akita breed grew.

Eventually, Hachikō's legendary faithfulness became a national symbol of loyalty, particularly to the person and institution of the Emperor.

Death : Hachikō died on March 8, 1935, and was found on a street in Shibuya. In March 2011 scientists settled the cause of death of Hachikō: the dog had terminal cancer and a filaria infection (worms). There were also four yakitori skewers in Hachikō's stomach, but the skewers did not damage his stomach or cause his death.

Hachikō's stuffed and mounted remains are kept at the National Science Museum of Japan in Ueno, Tokyo. His monument is in Aoyama cemetery in Minatoku, Tokyo.