Wondering about Colombia country, I was thinking why do we have Columbia University, Washington District of Columbia in USA. How is it related… So here is what I found.
1. It started as “King’s College” (1754)
Founded in 1754 in New York City, when the area was still under British rule.
It was established by King George II of England, so it was named King’s College.
It was the fifth-oldest college in the U.S. (after Harvard, William & Mary, Yale, and Princeton).
2. After the American Revolution, “King’s College” didn’t sound so good
When the U.S. gained independence in 1776, people no longer wanted anything with “King” in the name.
The college closed temporarily during the war and later reopened with a new, patriotic identity.
3. “Columbia” = poetic name for America
In the 1700s and 1800s, “Columbia” was a poetic or symbolic name for the United States.
It comes from the name Christopher Columbus, the explorer often credited with “discovering” the Americas.
So “Columbia” meant “Land of Columbus” — and represented freedom and the new nation.
4. Renamed Columbia College (1784) → Columbia University (1896)
In 1784, after independence, it was renamed Columbia College to honor the new nation.
Later, as it grew into a major research institution with multiple schools (law, medicine, etc.), it officially became Columbia University in 1896.
5. Today
Columbia University in the City of New York is one of the Ivy League universities.
When it comes to inflating car tires, the most common options are air or nitrogen. Both have their advantages and disadvantages
Regular Air:
Easily available at gas stations and tire shops.
Cost-effective, as it’s usually free or inexpensive.
Provides adequate tire inflation for most driving conditions.
Contains about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and traces of other gases.
Nitrogen:
Nitrogen molecules are larger than oxygen molecules, so they are less likely to leak through the tire’s rubber.
Helps maintain tire pressure for a longer period, reducing the frequency of inflation checks.
Can lead to slightly better fuel efficiency and tire wear due to more stable tire pressure.
Less prone to temperature-related pressure changes, which can be beneficial in extreme weather conditions.
May be beneficial for high-performance vehicles or applications where precise tire pressure is critical, such as racing or aviation.
In general, for most everyday driving situations, regular air is perfectly adequate for inflating car tires. It’s readily available, cost-effective, and provides satisfactory performance. However, if you’re seeking longer-lasting tire pressure stability, minimal pressure fluctuations, or have specific performance requirements (such as racing), nitrogen may be a viable option.
Ultimately, the choice between regular air and nitrogen depends on your preferences, driving habits, and specific needs. If you’re unsure, consult with a trusted tire professional for personalized advice based on your vehicle and driving conditions.
To get an H4-EAD after getting your H4 stamping on your passport, you will need to file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. You can file this form online or by mail. You will need to provide your passport information, your H4 visa approval notice, and proof of your identity and eligibility for employment in the United States.
The processing time for H4-EAD applications can vary, but it is typically around 90 days. Once your application is approved, you will be issued an EAD card, which will allow you to work in the United States.
Here are the steps on how to get an H4-EAD after getting your H4 stamping on your passport:
Gather the required documents. This includes your passport, your H4 visa approval notice, proof of your identity and eligibility for employment in the United States, and a copy of your Form I-765.
File Form I-765 online or by mail. You can find the form and instructions on the USCIS website.
Pay the filing fee. The filing fee for Form I-765 is currently $520 for paper filings and $470 for online filings.
Submit your application. You can submit your application online, by mail, or in person at a USCIS office.
Wait for your application to be processed. The processing time for H4-EAD applications can vary, but it is typically around 90 days.
Receive your EAD card. Once your application is approved, you will be issued an EAD card, which will allow you to work in the United States.
Here are some additional things to keep in mind:
You must be in the United States to apply for an H4-EAD.
You must have H4 status to apply for an H4-EAD.
You must be able to pass a background check to apply for an H4-EAD.
If you have any questions about the H4-EAD process, you can contact USCIS customer service.
In American schools, the milestone of reaching 100 days of school in an academic year is often celebrated with various activities and projects. Recently, our daughter’s school in New Jersey organized a special event to commemorate this achievement. As part of the celebration, the students were encouraged to create something that symbolized their 100 days of learning. Our daughter, with her artistic flair and concern for the environment, crafted a unique artwork using 100 plastic bottle caps. Additionally, she incorporated heart-shaped stickers to display her appreciation for the wonderful journey of education. This article delves into the significance of her creation, highlighting the themes of recycling, reusing, and love for learning.
Embracing Environmental Awareness: Our daughter’s decision to utilize 100 plastic bottle caps in her artwork was a thoughtful gesture that promotes the principles of environmental conservation. By repurposing these bottle caps, she highlighted the importance of the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Plastic pollution poses a significant threat to our ecosystem, and reusing materials can play a crucial role in minimizing this impact. Through her artwork, our daughter aimed to raise awareness and inspire others to adopt sustainable practices in their daily lives.
Keeping Our Environment Clean: One of the underlying messages conveyed by our daughter’s art is the significance of reusing materials to keep our surroundings clean. While we may strive to eliminate plastic from our lives completely, it is not always practical or feasible. Plastic often finds its way into our homes, and rather than discarding it immediately, reusing can be an effective alternative. Our daughter’s use of 100 bottle caps showcased how simple acts of reusing can contribute to a cleaner environment.
Expressing Love for Learning: Alongside her creative display of environmental awareness, our daughter expressed her affection for the 100 days of school through heart-shaped stickers that formed the number “100.” This symbolic representation served as a testament to her enjoyment and appreciation of the educational journey she embarked upon. It is a reminder of the many opportunities for growth, knowledge, and personal development that each day of school brings. The heart-shaped stickers also served as a heartfelt thank you to her teachers, classmates, and the entire school community for making her experience special and memorable.
Conclusion: The celebration of 100 days of school holds great significance in the American education system. Our daughter’s artwork, composed of 100 plastic bottle caps and heart-shaped stickers, beautifully encapsulates the essence of this milestone. By promoting the principles of recycling and reusing, she exemplifies the importance of caring for our environment. Simultaneously, her expression of love for learning reminds us of the invaluable impact of education. Through her creation, she has not only left a lasting impression but also inspired others to consider their role in preserving our planet and cherishing the joys of learning.
Mount Tammany Hiking Trail is in Hardwick New Jersey. It has both blue dot trails and red dot trails. Blue dot trail is the easier one and Red dot is the harder one and which is popular. We went in October and it was good. I guess its good in most of the seasons except in peak winters. Also it might get too hot in summers. Its always ideal to start early mornings if you are a beginner and hiking with kids. Because it will be difficult to get down once it gets dark. As you can see in the picture it has got dark by the time we reached down and having some snacks. Carry enough water and food with you in the car as you will not find any shops nearby. Also the rest rooms are of temporary kind not connected through the regular water supply so you can avoid it and use the nearest public restroom service by checking in google or GPS.
Also it might be a good idea to keep a rough map handy as these are in country side and signal might get lost.
The effort is worth it, you will get beautiful views and its very near to popular cities like Edison, East windsor etc so you should visit if you are living in NJ or Pennsylvania.
Most of us face this situation whether we like it or not. If you are in the same boat, don’t feel defeated. You can always get back to work no matter what was the reason for your break. Also you need not feel guilty for taking the break, whether it was to take care of your kids, or you were on H4 visa in USA, or ill health, or had to take care of your parents, all is for good reason. So do not worry about it.
Now getting back to work can look challenging. You might feel the world has changed so much in past few years. But here is also a good news, world has changed for good when it comes to people who have long career breaks. After covid, not many people are really keen on knowing where you worked, how much salary you got, they want to to know what do you know now, what can you bring to table. Most works are online these days so they do not worry much about your age, location and other demographic details. You can also find flexible hours.
This will be my suggestions for you to get back to work
Make a note of your skills and intersts.
Check if you can find any volunteering opportunities in that field. Volunteering experience adds to your resume and you get used to working in organizations with different people. It will be easier to get volunteering opportunities than finding a job. Sometimes the organisation where you volunteer can offer you a job.
upskill yourself using various free courses available these days. some of them are
Coursera: Coursera offers free courses from top universities and institutions around the world. They cover a wide range of subjects, including business, computer science, data science, and more.
edX: edX is another popular platform that offers free online courses from top universities and institutions. They offer a wide range of courses in fields such as engineering, computer science, and humanities.
Khan Academy: Khan Academy is a non-profit organization that provides free online courses in math, science, and other subjects. Their courses are designed for students of all ages and levels.
Codecademy: Codecademy is a platform that offers free coding courses in various programming languages, including Python, Java, and HTML/CSS.
Udemy: Udemy offers both paid and free courses in a wide range of subjects, including business, technology, and creative arts. Their free courses are usually shorter and cover more basic concepts.
Google Digital Garage: Google Digital Garage offers free courses in digital marketing, data analytics, and other digital skills. The courses are designed to help individuals and businesses improve their online presence.
Linkedin – Create a profile in Linkedin or make use of the Linkedin profile you already have. Search for job, see which contact can refer you to that job.
Build your network by adding people whom you already know.
sign up for free trial of linkedin Premium and complete relevant courses in linkedin learning. showcase those courses in your profile.
Be active in Linkedin by writing posts, or liking and sharing posts from your area of interest.
search for remote work, volunteering and other jobs of your interest.
contact small companies directly by going to their website and sending your cv.
Improve you resume with key words and key achievements highlighted. Send them to as many places as possible.
Attend workshops and Webinars as much as possible in in the field of your interest. You can find them online by searching in google, watching relevant videos in youtube, in places like meetup.com etc.
If you are living in USA – actively look for postings in relevant groups in Network of Indians in America.
Hope this helps, feel free to put your comments and questions.
In the backdrop of outbreak of COVID-19, no foreigners are allowed to visit the FRRO Office for OCI/Registrations and other Visa related services without prior appointment till further orders. For appointment, contact respective FRRO Support Centers as given below: