US of A!!!!

Reading my previous blog would have made it clear to many that I am in the US of A now. United States of America..Big words to describe a nation..unlike a five lettered word like India! And a BIG place indeed, though I am not sure whether that "unity" really exists in these states. Come next Sunday and it will be exactly a month since I landed in this "foreign" country. Recalling the day I set foot here, I was actually reactionless. Most of the student-friends who flew along with me were talking of calling cards already. Some were actually crying! I wondered when it would be my turn to become homesick. Fortunately untill now, I haven't experienced it. According to me, the real value of parents/friends shouldn't be felt only while we are away from them. And if anyone thought that I am used to staying away from my parents, u guys are wrong. This is the first time ever that I am so far away from my family and staying with roommates. Fifteen thousand miles away from home sweet home!! Well..,nothing great though. Technology has made it so favourable to connect to them anytime. So, no issues I feel. Still,there is this fact that there is no way I can shake a hand with someone physically now. Maybe this is where perseverance comes into picture, followed by determination to achieve what I am here for.

Coming to the point, there are many people who have asked me to describe my experiences, right from the day I stepped into the first flight. Lufthansa treated me well, except for a few minor issues of leg space and food. To be frank, the Vayu Vajra in "Namma Bengalooru" would have been more comfortable! But, owing to the fact that I couldn't afford a business class seat, I cannot really complain. The journey was not so exciting, but not bad either. Frankfurt was my first stop over. Its a beautiful place with much of the green space retained without exploitation. And yeah, Germans are beautiful. Bold and beautiful rather.(The word beautiful may be replaced by handsome for the opposite sex). Two and a half hours later, another Lufthansa flew me to Dallas. She pierced through the air at an altitude of over 40000 ft with a speed nearing 500mph. Yet, it took a solid ten and a half hours for me to reach my destination. Seriously, that was when I realized how vast our planet is! :)

Indian students from UTD had come for my pick up by the time I had landed. They gave me a glimpse of Richardson and its telecom sector on the way. First sight of my school was rather appealing. I could see the buildings amidst widespread greenery. Here and there were a few squirrels extra-large in size when compared to their Indian counterparts. What surprised me most was the sun still brightly smiling at 8:00 pm in the night. Never knew Americans did so much of daylight saving! From the day I came in,I had one week before my classses started. A seven day off from classrooms was considered blissful back in India. Conversely, I waited for school to begin here, since i knew only a handful of people with whom I could hang out. And life just doesn't move on without a computer. So, initially I had to put up with the 'handicapped days' of no-phone, no-laptop, not-much-contact with the rest of the world, which is a striking contrast to my character of socailizing with more and more people.

Fast forward,its been two weeks since I entered the "back to school" days. Believe me, the very first day was enough for us to get digging into our books. I remembered one of my seniors' words that getting a masters degree is as tough to tread as on the edge of a razor. Assignments and projects are making their presence felt eventually, and all I can say is life is not at all easy. Added to this is the part time job of cooking, cleaning the house, shopping, working etc etc. I sometimes get a feeling that we could get another degree in home science!! However,looking at it in a different sense, this life is making me more responsible. Its all about time management. So, no complaints.

The other side of college days-Fun also has its share parallely alongside studies. It was a great feeling to celebrate "Ganesh Chathurthi" in the most traditional pattern which included doing the vrat,performing bhajans,hogging a typical Indian feast, and immersing the Lord's idol in a lake the next day. My first trip to Downtown Dallas and ISKCON temple yesterday were indeed satisfying.(For pictures, see my orkut account).We also had this cultural event called "Fall Bash" organized by and for freshmen of 2009. Participating in various events, such as singing (in languages we have never spoken before!), walking the ramp for the fashion show, tapping our feet to the tunes of DJ night was a truly memorable experience.

Summing it all up, America is treating me in a way different from the desi life. No doubt it is difficult staying away from near and dear ones and managing everything by myself. But,the optimistic feeling of becoming more independent is what is carrying me across. Personally, I never took America to be a fantasy while being in India. That mental preparation is kindof helping me out now. So,I feel its left to the individual to see life in whatever fashion he/she wants. The broader the perspective, the better.

"We must each find our separate meaning in the persuasion of our days until we meet in the meaning of the world." -Christopher Fry.