University Send Off

Do you remember when you left home after the 12th grade to join the University? The excitement, the preparation and the send off?

This story is about the send off party for our grandson in USA. Those of you familiar with the school education system in USA, would know the energy and scale with which high school (12th grade) graduation is celebrated. Rightly so, because higher education leads to professoonal careers and bigger job or startup opportunities.

Prior to the graduation, the high school student (and his/her parents) spend the year writing the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) exam, shortlisting the universities, preparing the essays for application, visiting the probable universities, and finalising the choice of program and the university. It is a major milestone not only for the student but the entire family. Next comes the send off. Time for the teenager to leave home. The empty nest syndrome for the parents follows thereafter. A glimpse of a nest about to feel the emptiness.

Our grandson Nikhil in California has secured admission into Computer Science (Hons) program in the University of Wisconsin at Madison. It was such a pleasure to attend the send off party for Nikhil and spend four weeks  walking, driving, hiking and playing golf together. Pictures follow.

Checking out the Tesla's Cyber Truck!

Golfers across three generations playing together before Nikhil goes off to the University. 

See Ashi's imaginatively designed gift boxes for the thank-you-gifts. Second picture shows the gift boxes being packed by Nikhil's friends.

Nikhil is a Taekwondo Black-belt 3rd Dan holder. See the picture below.

In fact the whole family goes for Taekwondo together. See Ashi the Mom with Nikhil and Naman at the Taekwondo Academy in Mil Pitas, California.

Nikhil's room filled with Taekwondo medals.

The send off party included the intro to Nikhil and Naman (his younger brother), brief speeches by the grandparents, dance performances by family and friends followed by dancing to DJ's music.

Pirates of the Caribbean by Viyaan on piano

A million dreams...

Dada Dadi's send off speech...

Nikhil and Naman - the opening performance 

Ankur and Ashi, Nikhil's parents performed a lovely dance.

When the DJ lit the dance floor..

Anchita's poetic send off

Specially composed poem by Sachi

The rocking duo

Here is what I spoke as a grandpa.

It is such a delight to be here from India.

Once in the College dorm

You can forget your Mom

But don't forget your Dad

As he recharges your Card

Everybody says it is now freedom time:

Freedom to bunk a class

Freedom to raise a glass

Freedom to eat

Freedom to sleep

'Nikhil, you are getting late!'

Such commands can wait.

Naman says:

Your room is now taken

Till the next vacation 

Taekwondo's focus and determination 

Will help in reaching your CS Destination

Go, rock the University and it's many a test

All of us present here wish you all the best.

God bless and love ❤️

------- 

Some more pictures of a memorable evening. 

Bravo Ankur and Ashi for such a grand send off for Nikhil. So many guests spoke about Nikhil and his superlative qualities. It made us all proud.

Nikhil had written a guest story for our blog when he turned eleven. You may click the link below to browse the picture story.

Why Kodaikanal - a picture story about few well known and some unknown spots in and around Kodaikanal. Check out how many of these spots  have you seen?

Naman, the younger brother is equally talented. When he was eight-years-old he already had a web site of his sketches. He too has contributed a story to our blog which can be browsed by clicking the link below.

Sketching At Eight - Sample the incredible sketches made by Naman when he was just eight! The story also has an interview with Naman.

Talent sure runs in the family!

As this Black Belt 3rd Dan, drummer, dancer and writer goes to University,  we wish him God speed.

    - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ Pleasanton/ 3rd Aug 2025

#universitysendoff #highschoolgrad #california #usa #taekwondo #donewiththeschool #enteringtheuniversity #emptynest #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh

Fighting the Jet Lag with Golf

Who hasn't experienced it? After a 16-hour flight, sleeping at odd times, extended fatigue, keeping awake and feeling hungry when others are sleeping! All these are the signs of jet lag. Flying across the time zones gives you jet lag. How to overcome? It takes its own time. May last up to one week. Any other way to fight the jet lag. If you are a golfer, you can overcome the jet lag from day-1! How? Read on.

Ghumakkad recently travelled from India to USA. After arrival in California in the forenoon, I avoided sleeping till dinner time. First night was comfortable. Next day around lunch when it was late night in India, the body wanted to sleep. We decided instead to go golfing in the afternoon. It yielded positive results. Overcame sleepiness till dinner again. The third day went well till noon when once again the body clock wanted sleep. Another round of golf and we overcame the jet lag. So, if you are a golfer just play two rounds of golf within the first two three days and you will overcome the jet lag. If not a golfer, go on a hike or a walk or a run to fight the jet lag.

Few months back we had travelled to New Zealand for the Ironman event. Again it was a long journey across the time zones. Swimming, hiking and golf together helped us to overcome the jet lag successfully. Compare the two pictures below.

Beer Cart

Las Positas Golf Club, a public course in Livermore, California surprised us during the golf round yesterday. A golf cart with beer and other drinks went from hole to hole. Beer while teeing off? Well, see the picture.

Hole-In-One!

Once you have overcome the jet lag, you continue golfing. On the 4th day after arriving in California, we went golfing again. This time at another public course named Pleasanton Golf Center. So well maintained. Lush green fairways. Tight nine-hole course located inside a race course. I hit a hole-in-one on 138-yard Hole No. 8 using a 5 hybrid. 

The green is located across a hungry pond just 30 yards ahead of the water hazard. The ball landed short of the green, bounced up and curled right into the cup. Sadly, there was no gallery to applaud except my paying partner Surendra Bhargava. It was my first ever hole-in-one in 36 years of my golfing life! Sharing few pictures of the Pleasanton Golf course.

Look at the bunkers so well kept at a public course!

So that is the power of golfing. It can even beat the jet lag!

Our previous story titled 'Golfing With Grandson In California' can be accessed here.

Thanks for browsing.

  - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ Pleasanton/ 28th July 2025.

#golf #jetlag #holeinone #california #navyveteran #pleasantongolfcenter #laspositasgolfclub #ghumakkadharsh #ghumakkadhb 

Golfing in California

'Golfer from Secunderabad, India. Looking for golfing partner in Pleasanton, California.'

Like the matrimony ads, Ghumakkad did not have to place such an ad on golfing sites! Because his threesome was already made! Yes, it was such a delight to be golfing in California with Ankur our son-in-law and Nikhil, our grandson. 

We played at a public course, Las Positas Golf Club, Livermore. The greens were top class. Fairways were also used by FootGolf where two people play to hole the football on a different green with a 21-inch hole. Sharing few pictures. We had the company of Bar headed geese and a Deer on the course. Weather was clear with strong breeze. Although a nine-hole course having all par-three holes, it wasn't a cakewalk. I could make only three Pars.

Let the pictures tell their stories. 

Teenager Nikhil, who enters the University shortly, would not walk but run on the golf course. If reminded me of 1989, when I started golf at US Club in Bombay. Being a regular jogger, I used to run between the holes. Nikhil had the company of bar headed geese.  See the pictures below.

Ankur on the 2nd Green.

See the flag in the foreground of the picture below. The cup size is larger for the soccer ball to be holed. Golf green is in upper right of the picture. 

A close up of our surprise visitor.

Golfers are always a happy lot specially when they ride a Cyber Truck!

Thanks for browsing.

More from California coming up.

   - Harsh-the-Ghumakkad with Ankur and Nikhil/ Pleasanton, California/26 July 2025

#golf #California #publicgolfcourse #pleasanton

#3GsGolfing #ghumakkadhb #ghumakkadharsh #LasPositasGolfClub