Keshav's ITBS:
When Keshav was denied from the 'Create & Think' program, I had no idea it was going to transform me into this overly obsessed person I have become today.

Since, the very first day of First grade, it has secretly, deep within me, been my goal to make Keshav get into the "Gifted & Talented" program in Second grade.

I did everything I could. We bought practice books from amazon & made him work on it, both for his NNAT & ITBS. In all his practice tests he did very good. From the whole book, maybe he got 10 wrong.

His NNAT score was awesome. He scored 46/50. Wonderful.
But, out of 150 1st Grader's only 20 are selected for the GT. So, he has to score well on his ITBS as well.
He took the test in Apr. Today, it is the 15th of May. Chances are the results are not going to be in until Jun. Jun 6th the school closes for summer. It is really really making me nervous.

14th May:
I spoke with Elaine: (For the very first time) Her son Thomas, Keshav's soccer mate from CT seems to have a lot of homework. She says even more than her elder son. Whereas Keshav gets one page homework. She is a dedicated PTA. Is that how she got her son into CT? Her son is a little stout & runs really weirdly. It is hard for me to accept him as a smart person. Would a dedicated PTA, after all her time of work at school, still sit with her son, like I did & made her practice for ITBS?
I need to know the ITBS results.

15th May:
Keshav mentioned Krish's photo was on the school year book. He won something. I remember Keshav saying Krish won the Spelling Bee competition. Is that why his photo was there?
I need to get my hands on a copy of the year book & find out.
Can Krish & Keshav be classmates next yr?

Jennifer, Giana's mom at Sabella's B'Day party @ Colorado Canyon: Out of context, for no reason came up to me & says "Giana is in Mary Morelle's class. She likes it very much." I answered "Good for her".
Oh, I so want to get a payback. Prove, Keshav smart.

If the system works well i.e., purely based on NNAT & ITBS we will know who is really smart & who isn't.
 

More hurting truths...........

After a long, lovely stay, my mom & sister left back to India, 3 days back.
Though their support was enormous, I was waiting to discuss the options about moving fwd in terms of Vaithi's job pursuits. This evening I got it started.


New findings:
1. Vaithi's 6 yrs period of  H1 work visa ends Oct 2011.


2. I order for us to continue living in the United States after Oct 2011, Vaithi should have filed for an Green Card, a year before his H1 visa ends. i.e. he should have applied for a Green Card application by Oct 2010., which is just a month from this date.


3. If he has to get a Green Card application filed within a month's time, the only option is to get it through his current employer in EB2 category, (b'cos his possiblity in EB1 has already been denied twice).


That seems simple enough, why not apply for a Green Card, through his current employer?
1. His company which he works for has only 2 employees, including Vaithi.


2. This boss plays monopoly - i.e., he is capable of changing the company's polices at his own discrimination.
    Eg: His boss has previously reduced Vaithi's salary charging him on less work efficiency, when we had our first baby. There was no board meeting, no performance review, no prior warning ............nothing. Just like that he randomly picked a percentage & started detecting it from Vaithi's pay slip.


3. This boss didn't agree to pay for our previous Green Card process - WHICH USUALLY IS PAID BY THE EMPLOYER. So, we ended up paying approximately $10, 000 for 2 Green Card applications, (one for Vaithi & another one for me) lawyers fee & additional fees for the appeal part. We were hoping we could earn it back in less than 4 months, if I also start working once we get our GC.
Now after 2 yrs, with no GC and less $10, 000 .................what have we gained?
This $10,000 is what we manage to save a YEAR. So, my one's years worth of sacrifices over the things I love, questioning myself over each $ spent, clipping coupons, waiting for sales and purchasing in clearance has been for nothing.


4. His company almost ran out of finance, even to pay the two employees their salary, b'cos they didn't have any project, nor funding. My husband was supposed to stay home every other week for no pay. But, luckily they seem to have got a new project. However, that is the state of affairs in this company of his.


5. Our lawyer mentioned that Vaithi's EB1 GC application could have gone through if he had applied it through a big renowed firm say like Cornell University/Exxon/GE........now we are here & another application through this same small company, I have my own doubts!


6. Ok, ok I will see things more optimistically, as I have been for the past 6 yrs, (since the time I came to U.S.). Ok, let us go ahead & apply for our GC, through this same company & luckily we will get it eventually.


But, what are the changes that this company will even exist 4 - 5 yrs down the lane, again optimistically speaking our GC will be done by then?
What job motivation or liking will Vaithi have towards this job as the days go by?
Already 4 years in, plus another 4 - 5 yrs - is this going to look good on Vaithi's resume? 
Will this company do him any good?


Tommorrow, Vaithi has a tele-conference with his lawyer & his boss.
God knows, what Vaithi has in mind.................I hope he doesn't agree to apply for a GC, consider the problem solved for now, be happy & continue his routine as life takes its course.

Dated for yesterday: 08/09/2010 - 9 Aug 2010 - Ithaca, NY.

3 p.m - I was supposedly taking my after-noon nap with my 3 year old son. Hearing me sob silently, he looked at me with a question mark. Unable to face him, I turned around & couldn't stop the tears wetting my pillow. Worries & fears keep flooding in, each competing with another.

Fear of, the transition period that my family will have to undergo leaving U.S. to India;

Fear of, leaving my dreams behind in U.S. - a good education for my kids & me, a beautiful, small house to call our HOME; 

Fear of, starting a life in India - MY OWN COUNTRY. 

Why does it have to be that difficult?????????? Why can't I stop crying????

It was because, around mid-day, Vaithi (my husband) called from work. It was 'THE CALL' I had long waited to hear. The moment I heard his 'HELLO' I knew it was the one. And the news is "OUR GREEN CARD APPEAL HAS BEEN REJECTED IN EB1 CATEGORY". 

Yes, our appeal - meaning that our Green Card application was already rejected once & now the appeal asking the U.S. Government to reconsider has also been rejected again.

I replied coolly over the phone "That is Ok, at-least we know it is over."