Big Girl

The image that one is fat and not worthy of attention, friendship or any of the good things in life...This concept didn't seem too unbelievable or strange.  A book on this seemed to be apt especially as it seemed to address something that is not too uncommon.

As I turned the pages of this book, I found myself getting engrossed in the characters and the story. The story of the life of Victoria Dawson, the protagonist, as she fights the battle with her weight issues.

The storyline describes the life of a chubby girl with blond hair and blue eyes. The initial description makes you imagine a beautiful young girl but the constantly reiterated is the fact that the girl is ordinary and little on the 'Big' side. Incomparable to the rest of her family who are described as 'tall and slender', 'fine-boned' and 'dark-haired beauty', she deals with disappointment of her family with her looks.

The story is in the form of a narration where we hear the incidents rather than see and feel them. The parents are depicted as self-centered, out-spoken and with a narcissistic outlook where they leave no stone unturned in belittling and ridiculing her, little realizing what they are actually doing.

The entire book repeatedly talks about how her parents belittle her and pass remarks which chip away her confidence bit by bit till she is absolutely low on self esteem and confidence and feels that she doesn’t deserved to be loved.  Victoria's struggle and her constant fight with her weight seems very realistic. But after a point one is frustrated by Victoria's non reactive nature to her parents remarks.

Victoria's character is depicted as that of a very nice girl, good in whatever she does, having a lot of accomplishments and rarely has she ever seemed to have done something that is not right. She come out a someone who is flawless. The only flaw in her is her lack of self-esteem and this is supposed to have been caused by her parents. This flawless depiction of Victoria where she never loses it or confronts her family seems unrealistic at this age and time.

Victoria's sister Grace, the beautiful anger and the perfect replica of her parents is at the center of attraction in this family. Both Victoria and Grace, though brought up by the same parents seem to have undergone two different childhoods. This difference in them and their childhood has not affected their love and bond. Despite the tension with her parents, the two sisters are close and it is a pleasure to see it.

Victoria is also shown to meet a shrink who helps her with understanding her issues and realizing her worth. The book shows her a someone who is desperately trying to lose weight and is also worried and wanting to find a man who can love her. But it is unfortunate that the book depicts that Victoria only makes some leeway with her esteem issues once she has a nose job done. She also seems to come into own her own only when she finds that perfect guy for her, which happens towards the end of the book.

Does this tell readers that you need to get some external enhancements or get a guy for recovering some of that self-esteem? Can it not be developed from within or only by yourself? These are some questions that would come into the readers mind as we continue reading...

The story moves on to her sisters engagement where  she has selected a man who is a replica of her father and Victoria is worried that Grace would become like their mother, under the constant shadow of their father. This incident and Victoria's efforts to dissuade her sister from what she believes is a wrong step brings about a slight estrangement between the two.

The book moves towards closure as the sisters solve their issues, the younger sister gets married. After the first serious estrangement, it was unfortunate that the book ended with the sister getting married to the "wrong guys". Things end well in the book otherwise…

I loved her friends especially Harlan and his boyfriend who seem very supportive of her. While I enjoyed this book and wanted to complete, it is not something that I may pick up again...

Fun at Work - InSync 2013

In Sync...Refers to being "In Synchronization"…

The word makes you think of a dance and when applied to the organization, it sounds as though it is some convoluted management theory talking about the absolute need for synchronization and coordination...and the blah blah Management and HR jargon…

Here, I came across the usage for this term as something different. The term "Insync" was just a word, a word that connoted an activity for all the Kancor Employees.

Though not having much experience, my initial reaction and belief was that it was the "usual" annual program held in all organizations. Gradually I came to realize, that this event was something contrary to my expectations and the only thing "usual" about it was the fact that it was annual in nature.

Now, not having worked in many organizations, I do not know it this is the norm or if it is something different from the norm.

("Stop beating around the bush…", if this is the thought in your mind...Be assured, I am coming to my point)

Insync is an annual activity at Kancor instituted in the year 2009 for all the Kancor employees. The event organized and hosted in Cochin is greatly awaited by all Kancorians.  Kancorians from Cochin are divided into multiple groups with each team having a Team Captain and a Team Icon...Location being a constraint in including the Kancorians from other states as an active participant in all that ensues on that day.

Foodie - MasterChef Kancor !!!

These teams undergo many games and compete with each other in multiple games and activities that test their mettle in many ways. The ultimate aim of this activity is to ensure total synchronization between the different departments, different division, different locations (at least in Cochin).

As the multiple events and activities fold, there is a change in the air. The air seems electrified with the employees rushing in the short breaks for their Team Meetings as they prepare for their events and for the Cultural finale that takes place on the "D-Day".

Management Game

Management Game in action

The frenzy in the air and the anticipations just builds up as the days go by. Every employee, from the most junior to the most senior can be seen actively participating in the different activities. On the D-Day, the camaraderie, the competition and the anticipation can be seen writ on all faces…

The crowd

This was my first Insync and definitely an eye-opening experience. During the course of the almost one-month activities for the Insync 2013, I could meet and get to know more people than I had met, interacted in the last one and a half month.

This Insync we had different games like the Buzz Day, Foodie, Management Games and the Cultural Extravaganza which showcased the multiple talents available across Kancor. Some of the talents that you could observe and the creativity showcased would just leave you pleasantly surprised and at some instances even with our mouths open.

So now eagerly awaiting, as I am sure many others are, for the next Insync….

The Winning Team