My Cool New Life

The End in the Beginning

2010-01-01T14:58:00.005Z

Hello, all!

HaPpY nEw YeAr!!!! : )

Consider it a new year resolution if you will... but here I am, back from the blog-wilderness! On today's menu is a whirlwind random recap of the past eight months of my increasingly awesome UK sojourn...

***

Kshitija Rane, MSc

In January, 2009, I optimistically blogged about my expectations from the new year:

"2009 could well be a watershed year for me. Hopefully, in ten months' time, I will have completed my post-graduation. Needless to say, they are going to be, possibly, the most challenging ten months of my life. But the accomplishment and peace of mind that awaits me at the end of this journey makes it all worthwhile."

Here we are, on the other side of those ten months and I'm surprised by the accuracy of my own predictions. I began this arduous journey in September 2008, besieged by self-doubt and an overwhelming sense of responsibility. I even attempted to abort this mission right at the outset. But my wise parents made sure that I stayed on course till the very end. Encouragement from friends back home coupled with the therapeutic company of new-found friends here further powered my support system. With all this support as fuel, I made my way along the long and winding road to post-graduation.

Vivid seasons flipped by... a windy autumn, a chilly winter, a sunny springtime, and a colourful summer. Assignments and progress tests passed by in a blur. The Group Project made rich additions to my set of experiences and friends. Mamma came by for a breezy, morale-boosting two-week visit. Gruelling exams turned life upside down. Vacations sped by all too quickly. The final MSc project and dissertation writing turned my brain to mulch, requiring large investments of sleepless nights and many, many mugs of coffee. But it was all worth it, because it contributed to taking me one rung higher on the academic ladder... a rung named "MSc in Advanced Wed Application Programming". I am now finally a post-graduate.

***

My Daddy's Strongest!

Most of you probably already know about the gruesome accident my father was in, last August. I credit his miraculous escape to all the goodwill he has collected throughout his life, helping people with all kinds of big and small things, sharing his vast store of knowledge and expertise selflessly, and generally making a positive difference to the lives of people all around us.
I also admire and appreciate Mamma's superlative handling of that situation. Her calm and steady manner helped blunt my apprehensions. It also slightly eased the inescapable guilt I felt over my inability to help them both in any way.
I often jokingly ask my father if he is superhuman, given the insane number of things he gets done in a single day. After I saw a picture of the post-accident wreckage of our car, I have come to the conclusion that it must be true! But superhuman or not, I am MOST grateful for his continued presence in my life.

***

Kitchen Queen... or at least Handmaiden

While still at university, I often felt that I existed in two universes: the unwieldy academic universe and the real world universe. While I had to put most of my focus and energy into my studies, I needed to also take care of myself, eat and sleep well (or relatively well), and do chores like groceries, laundry, hoovering, and such. A pleasant side-effect of this was that I finally learnt to cook! Most of you know (and have probably experienced first-hand) that Mamma is a phenomenal cook. While I may not have inherited her culinary genius (yet!), I did manage to implement recipes she wrote for me before I came here. If I were to grade my kitchen skills honestly, I would say that I used to be a -3, and now I am a +3. Personally, I consider this my next biggest achievement after my post-graduation itself : )

***

Battle-ready Quarter Centurion

I turned 25 three months ago... stepping into exciting 'mid-twenties' territory. It was a landmark birthday that I had to celebrate all by myself. I did manage to entertain myself throughout the day with a nice mix of movies, music, pizza, and cheesecake. Tons of good wishes and blessings from family and friends, spectacular cheesecake, and a really long and indulgent conversation with Mamma made the day almost perfect.

All through 2009, even as my mid-twenties arrived, I found myself doing many grown-up things. First, I learned to subsist on my own. Then, towards the end of my time at university, I looked for, and found, a new place to rent. I then made the big move from university to my new place in the London suburbs. Then, I spent a considerable amount of time looking for a job. Recently, I even applied for my post-study work visa. Phew!

I did thankfully manage to find a job, which is by far one of the most wonderful grown-up things one can do. The opportunity came along thanks to me being in the right place at the right time. But I was pleased to realise that I ultimately got the job because of the combination of my work experience, the content of my brand new Masters degree, and my willingness to learn. It suddenly made everything, all the blood, sweat, and tears I had put into this last one year, totally and utterly worthwhile.

When I look back on all of this, it almost feels like an out-of-body experience, as if these are someone else's actions I'm looking back on. But I did indeed accomplish these things. It is indeed me who is living this nice, new, grown-up life.

***

Mumbaikar and Semi-Londoner

I don't live IN London. But I live quite close to it... and this idea thrills me. This city is gorgeous. Every nook and cranny, every corner you turn, every building you lay eyes on... there is subtle and obvious beauty, grandeur, and history everywhere and in everything. It is one of the most famous and fascinating cities in the world, and now I get to live near it.

It was a huge gamble moving here, mind you. It would have been more prudent (and significantly cheaper) to stay back in familiar Colchester. Yet, in the spirit of 'nothing ventured, nothing gained' and powered by my parents' unflinching support, I threw myself out of my comfort zone and brought myself to within touching distance of London. The first two months were not pretty. The lack of any good opportunities or even reassuring faces around brought back the same self-doubt and despair. My conviction in moving to London began to slowly fade. I was even prepared to wrap up and head home. Then, my awesome job came along and changed everything. I am finally on the way to the life I want to build for myself. My world makes sense again. The London 'thrill' is now real again.

Having just raved about lovely London, I have a simultaneous confession to make... I miss Mumbai! It is true that no matter where you go, you always belong to your home town and your home town always belongs to you. I miss my parents, my family and friends, my home, the entire Girgaon area (so much of which I have no clue about but still love!), the seaside and Marine Drive, Churchgate, the little of Mahim/Dadar that I have come to know well, and so much more! Every now and again, I can't help be nostalgic about all that I have left behind. There are so many things here that have influenced the early days of Mumbai, back when it used to be Bombay... red double-decked buses, for example. In fact, almost everyone here knows it as Bombay and knows that it's home to Bollywood, the great Indian movie machine. When I tell people I'm from Mumbai, there's a always a glimmer of recognition, and then they usually exclaim, "Oh, you're from Bombay!", to which I reply proudly, "Yes, I am."

Little Mumbaikar

***

The End in the Beginning

I started this blog to write about my new life at the University of Essex. I lived that life to the fullest. In the end of that life was wrapped the beginning of my new one. It is then only fair that my new 'cool new life' gets a blog of its own. And this will be its home:

http://kshitijarane.wordpress.com/

I still have so much to share with everyone. There are little trips I still have to rave about... at least three significant weddings to still gush about... and so many other little and big random things. My new blog will now be the destination for all of that.

On that note, I shall wrap up this would-be whirlwind recap and say adieu. I'll leave you with lines from a cool Beatles song, 'With a little help from my friends'. While they're singing about singing, I find it relevant about my writing. In the course of writing this blog, I have often rambled, cribbed, and even ranted, but you all have still read and appreciated it. That is why I have absolutely loved writing this blog, knowing that all of you, my family, friends, and family friends, are with me on this journey... and I am immensely grateful : )

What would you do if I sang out of tune?
Would you stand up and walk out on me?
Lend me your ears and I'll sing you a song,
and I'll try not to sing out of key.

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends.

Love,
Kay

Mamma's Baby - Part 3

2009-06-18T22:57:00.029+01:00

Hi, all!

Continuing my account of Mamma's UK visit...

Mamma at London Bridge Underground Station

***

Food Paradise and Simple Pleasures

By evening, we returned to cozy Orpington. From then on, it was a series of days filled with earnest studies and lots and lots of fun times. Anu Maushi very graciously gave Mamma complete kitchen freedom. Together, they made me all the food preparations I could possibly think of... I was quite literally in food paradise! We also sang songs and had wonderful discussions on a variety of issues. I gleaned several pearls of wisdom from both ladies, beautiful on the inside and out.

A glimpse of my personal food paradise

Good times

Siddharth dada, despite his super-busy schedule, drove us to London one Sunday. We visited the uniquely splendid Science Museum and also drove past some cool London sights on the way back. We also visited his new house, currently under-renovation but still breathtaking and a beauty-in-the-making. Thanks to him, I also had the good fortune of tasting a delicious Irish cream liquor drink and those super-addictive lime-n-chilly tortilla chips. Our trip-concluding 2-a-team Antakshari session was also rather memorable.

Mamma & Anu Maushi; Us at the IMAX show at the Science Museum

***

Say Goodbye ... again!

Two weeks evaporated into thin air and it was time for Mamma to leave. It broke my heart to let her go. To my credit, I was not clingy or cranky and I did not childishly ask her to extend her stay for me, no matter how much I wanted it. On her part, by visiting me, she had already given me the strength and courage to continue my journey alone, without me even realising it.

And then she flew back home.

Through it all, this Mamma's Baby spent some precious and priceless time with her Mamma and is eternally grateful to her parents for giving her what she wanted most... her Mamma's company.

Signing off,

Kay

Mamma's Baby - Part 2

2009-06-18T22:57:00.028+01:00

Hi, all!

Continuing my account of Mamma's UK visit...

***

Mamma at the University

Apart from the psychological comfort of Mamma being here with me, I was most excited to show her glimpses of my life here. We arrived at the University in the afternoon. We first went to my room. I was happy to see that she was happy and comfortable in my living space. She loved the view too (who wouldn't!). We shared a nice pizza for lunch, relaxed some, and then stepped out to visit the campus. I pointed at or took her to all the places I could possibly think of... the accommodation offices, the laundry, the campus squares, the library, the Ivor Crewe hall, the lecture theatre building, the places where I eat or hang out on campus, my department, the labs... we even met one of my lecturers... and some of my classmates. Then, we walked to my current shopping mecca, Tesco, taking in the budding greenery on the way and the cool, fresh evening air. We bought some groceries for the weekend and also shared a cappuccino : ) In the space of a few hours, I had taken her through six months worth of my life here. For the first time since coming here, I realised how good I had it here, and it was all thanks to my parents!

Mamma at the University

Meet the Friends

That evening was special too. I took Mamma to meet my family away from family ... Aparna and Abhilasha. They bonded so well that it seemed like they'd known each other since ages... and that was the icing on the delicious cake that was this day.

Mamma with Aparna & Abhilasha

Shopping Spreeeee!!!!!!!!!!

The next day, Mamma and I joined Abhilasha, Aparna, and her friend Yukti to a shopping visit to the retail village, Freeport, at Braintree. The visit was lots of fun. I hadn't shopped for the sake of shopping in a long time and having Mamma there made the experience even more enjoyable. Abhilasha and Aparna also gifted her a beautiful white purse. We capped off the visit with a coffee/hot chocolate visit to Starbucks and returned home.

Fun day at Freeport, Braintree, with Yukti, Aparna and Abhilasha

Meet the Flatmates

On Sunday, Mamma had the opportunity to meet my dear flatmates Nadia and Buthaina, who made us parathas and coffee respectively. She was even more relieved to see that I was in excellent company all around.

Mamma with Buthaina & Nadia

***

Continued in Part 3

Part 3

Mamma's Baby - Part 1

2009-06-18T22:52:00.011+01:00

Hi, all!

Many months ago (eight to be precise), I had planned to return home briefly in April for my best friend's wedding. As fate would have it, I was to have my evil final exams at that very time. My best friend, Trupta, was unbelievably calm about the whole thing. She understood that exams, evil as they may be, were important and entirely unavoidable. So we let the thing rest. But it saddened me to know that I wouldn't get to meet my parents, friends, or family for many more months. Then, my genius parents came up with a solution! My mum volunteered to come visit me for a few days... and then she did! : )

***

The unbearable wait

When she confirmed her two-week trip, I was beyond ecstatic. I went about grinning so broadly that people must've thought I'd lost my marbles. Our family friends in Orpington, Mrs Anupama Deshmukh (Anu Maushi) and her son Dr Siddharth, graciously agreed to host us for the duration of her trip. At my end, I also made arrangements for her visit to the University.

The stressful spring term ended on the 20th of March and Mamma was to arrive on the 1st of April. I had to also start exam preparations around that time... and trust me, that was not easy! I had to really push myself to focus and not drift off into sweet daydreams of all the fun I would have when Mamma would be here. When I would step out, I would make mental notes of all the things and places I wanted to show Mamma. The days could not go by quickly enough. But before I knew it, the 31st of March had arrived.

***

And there she was...

I travelled to Orpington that evening so as to go to Heathrow the next morning to pick up Mamma. Early next morning, I went to the airport. Her flight landed, and the wait was now unbearable. And then, I saw her... my mirror image... older, but far more beautiful. I ran to her like a little kid and hugged her tight. I felt like a weight had been lifted off me and I was filled with that warm feeling one gets when something wonderful happens.

We then made our way back to Orpington. Once we arrived, Anu Maushi welcomed us warmly and we spent the day catching up on this, that and everything, exchanging gifts, and enjoying delicious home-cooked food. That evening, Siddharth dada helped us plan our visits to my aunt's in Norbury, then to the University, and finally back to Orpington. It would be a slightly hectic beginning to her trip, but the latter half of the trip would be a relatively calm one.

So, as planned, we travelled to Norbury to visit my aunt and Mamma's cousin, Nirmal Mantri, whom I had visited in mid-January. We spent a nice day with her; we relaxed, reminised, went out for lunch, did some window-shopping, and then came back and relaxed some more. Early next morning, we made our way to the University.

Mamma at Victoria Station, then at the University

***

Continued in Parts 2 and 3

Part 2

The Other Sun

2009-05-31T09:51:00.033+01:00

Hi, All!

During my first week here at the University, I did myself a huge favour by signing up with the Computer Society. I thus got the opportunity to attend several interesting seminars on a variety of tech topics and interact with different people in different capacities. But I was most pleased about the prospect of a visit to the main UK campus of Sun Microsystems.

Jenya, my enterprising friend and Computer Society founder, thought of and planned the whole trip. She was ably supported by the new president of the society, Bogdan Suvar, a dear friend of mine and a real genuine guy.

Early morning on 25th March, a bunch of us from the Computer Society set off for the Sun Microsystems campus at Camberley, Surrey. It was nice of our fellow society member David Snow to drive us there and back.

Welcome to the Sun

The campus was quite impressive... sleek orange-brown-silver buildings contrasting nicely with the lush greenery. We spent the day at one such cool location, Solaris House. After getting our visitor badges, Senior Staff Engineer Tim Graves welcomed us and explained to us our agenda for the day. Kim Austin, the university co-ordinator, also spoke to us about Sun's interaction and involvement with universities across the UK. Sustaining Engineer, John, told us about the workings of this particular Sun campus... attempting to fix significant errors in their clients' systems by reproducing their configurations and mimicking the systems' workings in real time. He also explained to us this awesome piece of smart card-based technology, Sun Ray, which allows Sun employees to work from anywhere without having to actually carry their work around. Pretty cool, eh?

The Future is here

Next, Services Lab Engineer David Cole showed us around the lab. Now, this place totally blew me away! To be honest, computer hardware is not exactly my strong point. But the moment we entered the lab, that didn't matter any more. It was like entering a futuristic science fiction movie... like being on a spaceship... blinking lights, miles of cables, walls and racks lined with shiny speedy machines ... an out-of-this-world experience indeed!

Sun Lunch

After that blast from the future, we all went to the cafeteria for lunch, complimentary from Sun. We got to choose our meals from a colourful array of foods and desserts. It sure was good fun.

Sun's colourful cafeteria

Expert Voices

We then spent a better part of the rainy afternoon listening to talks from experts. First up, Chief Technologist, David Levy, spoke to us about the power of open source software. Then, MySQL's Mark Baker told us about just how big this little database product had become. Next, Jarod Nash let us in on some secrets of the Solaris operating system. Finally, Dave Walker gave us an in-depth talk on a variety of security issues and how Solaris combats them.

Expert Voices: (Clockwise, from top left)
Tim Graves, John, David Levy, Mark Baker, Jarod Nash, Dave Walker

CSoc, Sun, and Rainbow

In the span of a single day, we had seen and heard very many cool and interesting things... about Sun as a company, and also about its technologies in general. But above and beyond that, we bonded as a group and had a really nice time hanging out. All too soon, it was time for us to head home... and on the drive back, as if to top off the day, we saw a rainbow!

***

It's been a fair few years since I've been associated with the field of IT and computers. It's been just as many years that I've known of and been fascinated by Java and Sun. To then be able to visit the Sun campus, that too, one in the UK was a very big deal to me. This day will thus go down as one of the more significant days of my professional life. A big thank you to Jenya, to Bogdan, to David, and all the CSoc members for adding another memorable day to my growing collection.

Signing off,

Kay

Spring Sunshine

2009-05-17T20:15:00.014+01:00

Hi, all!

Here's a recap of the ten weeks that made up my very interesting Spring term here...

The Spring term began in the second half of a fairly chilly, snowy winter. The term was to comprise of two study modules, one group project, and the all-important MSc project proposal. I knew from the outset that it was going to be a heavy term, and I have never been proven more right!

***

Project matters

Preparing the project proposal was a very important part of this term. Not only would it form the basis of my MSc dissertation project, but it was also excellent preparation for formal report writing.

***

Go, G7!!!!!

One of the most significant things that happened this term was the group project. It is what made my Spring term very special. There are eight of us here at the Uni of Essex who have undertaken MSc in Advanced Web Application Programming (AWAP as we call it), and we were banded together for the purpose of the group project. We were to work on developing a web-based nursing staff allocation system. For this purpose, we held official (and inofficial) meetings, did all the required groundwork, spent endless hours in the lab working on the application, put together all the required documentation, and did our best to submit everything on time. Finally, we presented the application to our assessors and gave them what I think was an unbelievably good demonstration of the system.

In a matter of a few weeks, we went from being mere acquaintances and classmates to becoming colleagues and finally, friends. Initially, it was a challenge coordinating eight different mindsets and work styles, not to mention, timetables! But somehow, over time, everything came together rather nicely. So evident was the positive chemistry and camaraderie in the group that even the assessors and our fellow classmates could not miss it.

As for me personally, I had spent about three years working by myself before this. So, the prospect of a 'group' project made me apprehensive initially. But then as we started on this journey together, everything fell into place so perfectly that the apprehension melted away before I knew it. The whole experience was made up of these little and big moments... burning the midnight oil with Tony over scheduling algorithms... working with Laurence for hours and hours on the scheduling code... Ali bringing us piping hot evening tea as we struggled through some tricky bits of the system... Jane managing work, family, kids et al to make a contribution to the system... brainstorming with Andreas, Maria and Demetra over a million issues we came across ... Andreas' trademark opening statement "Tell me, Kay..." ... Demetra and Maria saying "Kay, breathe!" and randomly checking on me to make sure I wasn't in a state of utter panic :D

It was a pleasure working with this group of wonderful people, getting to know them better, sharing those 'eureka' moments, laughing and joking around with them, and also learning from them. Life will probably take us in different directions from here on. But we will always have this incredible experience that binds us.

***

Spring Sunshine

As the spring term progressed, the weather changed too. While we were all toiling away indoors, lush sunshine fell on the campus, and the greenery that had disappeared in winter began to return ever so quietly. Pretty daffodils sprung up all over the place, as did tiny white and yellow flowers all over the lawns. By the end of March, the spring term came to a close, but it seemed like the spring season was only just getting started.

***

Sleep deprivation, anxiety, utter exhaustion, and complete satisfaction... these terms characterised my spring term. I learned a host of new things and made a bunch of new friends. Towards the end, there were moments of sheer desperation as the submission deadlines grew closer and closer. I was more than satisfied with how it all turned out eventually. Also, thanks to the concluding group project presentation, my spring term ended on an excellent, unforgettable, heartwarming high.

Thus, in the honour of our amazing G7 Group Project..... my dear team members - Ali, Laurence, Jane, Maria, Tony, Andreas, and Demetra - I dedicate this blog post to you!!!

Signing off,

Kay

Back to the Blog

2009-05-17T19:19:00.007+01:00

Hi, all!

Time for me to come out of hibernation : )

The last time I blogged was at the start of my spring term, some time at the beginning of this year... and lo and behold, half the year has disappeared already! So let me start by briefly listing my goings-on here since then:

Spring term was super-hectic, tiring, and very special
I visited the Sun Microsystems campus with the Computer Society
My mum visited me for two weeks!!!!! (woohoo!!!!)
My best friend Trupta got married!!!! (woohoo!!!!)
My exams came and went in a whirlwind
I am now embarking on my final MSc project
Also, my friends and I took a trip to Norwich in December, which I never blogged about

So there... that's what I have been up to in all these past months.

In my subsequent blog entries, I will elaborate on these goings-on. Rather than cram everything into one giant, endless blog post (that puts my cousin Akshay to sleep :D), I'm putting up multiple, relatively small posts this time.

Till then, adios!

Signing off,
Kay

CSoc

2009-02-08T21:27:00.010Z

Hi,

Sometimes, we go to far away places to give ourselves a better education and a better future. But it is a challenge like no other. It is thus important to develop a sense of belonging in the new place, which could come in many shapes and colours. For me, it came in the form of the Computer Society.

When I first came to the University of Essex, I found it very welcoming. But I was particularly pleased with the idea of being a member of the Computer Society here. It is my field of study after all... and after the very first meeting of the same, I knew I belonged.

The Computer Society (CSoc as I like to call it) was set up singlehandedly by Jenya Kovalchuk, a charming and enterprising PhD student from the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering. While it is still in its first year, it is already flourishing.

We, members of CSoc, gather on Wednesdays to attend seminars on very interesting topics by experts in the field. So far, I've had the privilege of attending the following seminars: Glassfish by Jenya Kovalchuk, Sun SPOTs by Bernard Horan, Wonderland by Bernard Horan, and OpenSolaris by David Cole. Some of the technology presented in these seminars is quite cutting-edge and left me very impressed indeed. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to get a first-hand taste of such concepts that are changing the world around us.

As members, we also have the opportunity to give presentations/demos on tech topics of our choice. So far, Bogdan Suvar, one of our society's most active members, has presented the much talked-about topic of Web 2 to us. I have been wanting to make use of this wonderful chance myself, but have been unable to, due to the frantic pace of my post-graduate academic commitments.

CSoc also backs the concept of Open Source. It has enabled people all over the world to not only access different kinds of technology but also contribute to them and make them better. Some of the coolest new innovations in the tech world are open source. One of the trailblazers of this concept is Sun Microsystems (which has proven to be a source of excellent speakers for us). In fact, when Bernard Horan demonstrated the awesome technology of Sun SPOTs to us, he emphasised the fact that it was accessible as open source and students could also make a difference and help take the technology forward with their contributions!

We are therefore also associated with the Essex Open Source University Meetup community i.e. Essex OSUM (pronounced "awesome", as says the website : D) Becoming a member here is quite simple, very beneficial, and totally FREE!!! For one thing, it provides us with means to keep track of new ideas emerging in the open source world. We can also attend web seminars (smartly called webinars), interact with other members (from Essex and other tech schools all over the world), keep track of upcoming events, read blogs, view relevant photos and videos, and so many other cool things. Here's how you get there:

http://osum.sun.com/group/essexuniversityosum

Another CSoc advantage is SAI. As members of CSoc, we gain FREE access to the Sun Academic Initiative portal. Here, we can undertake various online courses and there is plenty to choose from! I must also mention that members who do these courses would be in the running for an iPod touch! Not just that, we also get a 50% discount for getting certification; so also, members who obtain these certificates would be in the running for a trip to Sun ONE in California!!! To access SAI, here's the link:

https://sailearningconnection.skillport.com/

(You would need login details which you can easily obtain from Jenya - yvkova@essex.ac.uk)

The positives don't stop there. One of the coolest things about CSoc is the excellent goodies we get thanks to Sun and Jenya! Installation CDs, other freebies, free giveaways during seminars... too cool, I say!

CSoc and OSUM are here to stay... and it's time you joined the party!

CSoc: http://www.essexstudent.com/organisation/6490/

Essex OSUM: http://osum.sun.com/group/essexuniversityosum

Kshitija Rane (Secretary, CSoc)

Past, Future, Present

2009-02-06T12:26:00.046Z

Hi, all!

***

Reminiscing

Between my last post and this one, a new year has come upon us. Would I look back on 2008 fondly? Yes and no. It was a roller-coaster year with some sweet highs and a fair few bitter lows. Two significant positive things for which I will remember 2008...

1. I learnt a whole lot of French... ah, what divine fun!
2. I finally took up my MSc ... that too in the UK!!!

***

Crystal Ball

2009 could well be a watershed year for me. Hopefully, in ten months' time, I will have completed my post-graduation. Needless to say, they are going to be, possibly, the most challenging ten months of my life. But the accomplishment and peace of mind that awaits me at the end of this journey makes it all worthwhile.

***

My Cool New Life

I have recently realised that in all that I have written to you, I have never given you an account of "My Cool New Life"! The "cool" factor sort of comes and goes depending on my mood. Also, given that I've been here 4 months, it's not exactly "new" anymore. But of course, it is my life now... and I believe that I am making the most of it. Here's a glimpse...

Humble Abode

I live in a small perfectly square room with a bunch of furniture, a brand new mini-fridge, an antique black radiator, two large windows and the most magnificent view I could ask for. One of my walls is plastered with posters. My bookshelf and desk are cluttered with things all the time. I use my easy-chair as extra storage space. My big grey suitcase doubles up as a bedside table. My duvet is cuddly and warm.

Kitchen Karma

The kitchen here is large, bright and the best place to run into and hang out with my flatmates. Each one of us owns a kitchen cupboard. Mine is full of some things I use and a lot of things that I don't but I wish I did. I also have a shelf in the fridge. Until recently, I didn't do much cooking. Now, with the new fridge, I have new motivation and I recently had a marathon cooking session where I made mixed vegetables (with Aparna's help) and daal. I also make instant noodles from time to time. My diet generally consists of (some) veggies, (some) fruits (actually, only bananas and apples), soup, bread/toast, naan, cereal bars, orange juice, biscuits and sandwiches. I also indulge in flavoured yogurt for dessert.

Bathroom Break

We have 2 bathrooms and 3 toilets to be shared among 14 of us. So far, no queuing has been necessary : )

My little flat family

The ladies: Tomona, Buthaina, Nerys, Jade, Nadia, Ardak, and me
The gentlemen: Ajmal, Mohammad, Asai, Aditya, Adam, Zackaria, and Alan.

Some of us are post-grad students, others are under-grad students, and a special mention to Buthaina, who has just started her PhD and to Alan, who is almost finished with his. I'm happy to say that we are a well-behaved bunch of people who, despite several inherent differences, coexist in excellent spirit.

(L-R) Zack, Mohammad, Nadia, Buthaina, Tomona, Jade

Tawney and the Fire Alarm

I live on the 12th floor in a 14-storey building called Tawney Tower, in the university's North Campus; hence the spectacular view! The building itself is quite nice. It also has a reputation for fire alarms going off a bit too often. When that does happen, we drop everything, climb down the stairs (takes forever to reach the ground floor!) and wait outside the building (in the freezing cold, most of the times) till the authorities give us the all-clear to go back in (which takes about 15-20 minutes). The upside is we get to socialise with our building-mates in the meanwhile : )

Washing Powder and Weekly Weight-lifting

Of all the things I do in everyday life, laundry is my least favourite and grocery shopping is my most favourite. Every Monday, I do my laundry in between lectures. Then when the day is done, I set out (usually with friends) to do my grocery shopping at Tesco supermarket. Its great fun and I always follow the same aisle routine... yogurt, milk, cheese, veggies and fruits, bread, soup, cereals, etc. I love being in colourful places and this is one of them. While the shopping itself is supremely enjoyable, having to carry all the groceries home is a little spirit-killer. But a little pain for a little pleasure is only fair : )

Speed-dial the Weatherman

The weather here is pretty fickle. Rain, sun, sleet, clouds, fog... they all come and go at their own whim. It could be pouring one morning, spic-and-span dry with bright sunshine the following afternoon and freezing cold that same night. It can also be crazy windy sometimes, so much so that I feel like I'm going to get blown off course.

Snowfall... you little beauty!

I've been to places before where there's been snow. I've walked in it, played around with it, and heck, even fallen in it! But I had never seen snowfall... until November 23rd, 2008. And what a sight it was! Watching the snowflakes literally dance past my window has to be one of the most awesome sights I have ever seen. At first, it was barely noticeable, then a bit more, and then it really came down. It was incredible. In no time, the campus had turned into a beautiful, pristine white Winter Wonderland. This part of the UK does not get much snow. But this year, it has snowed thrice. The last snowfall was particularly heavy, record-breaking some say. Despite the mess, disruption in services, and the fear of slipping in the snow and breaking a bone or two, I have concluded that snowfall is an extraordinary experience that I recommend to everyone.

Keepers of my sanity

In my first week here, I wanted to quit. My parents made sure that I didn't, thus keeping me from making the worst mistake of my life. From then on, they have been my long-distance support system. Through their actions and words, they have kept me comfortable and motivated. I owe all this to them.

My friends here are my second tier of support. Aparna and Abhilasha are my pillars of strength and have seen me through some of my darkest days here. Most of my happiest moments here have been spent in their company... whether it's our unbelievably awesome trips to London and Norwich (coming up in another blog entry), our ritual of hanging out on alternate Tuesday evenings, or our random visits to Colchester, just to name a few. I love the fact that we are in sync with each others thoughts, sensitive to each others problems, and that we can unabashedly rejoice each others successes. I'm happy to have them in my life.

Another friend of mine who deserves special mention is Somiya. I must admit that, as classmates, we didn't exactly get off to the best start. But we saw a potential of friendship in each other and that has led to us becoming close friends. We are drastically different people and that means we have to sometimes work a bit harder at our friendship. But the upside is that we do share several ideas and interests... British humour for one! She has loads of experience behind her and she has given me invaluable help and guidance on several occasions. We also have nice conversations about a variety of subjects. All in all, its nice to be friends with someone as unique as her.

Just because I have new friends does not mean I've forgotten the ones I already had! I've met most of them online at some time or another, and I've spoken to them all at least once on the phone. In particular, I've had the good fortune of being in regular touch with Reema (in Vancouver), Prashant (in Mumbai) and Akshay (in Ahmedabad). I must also mention that my two relatively not-so-techno-savvy friends, (bride-to-be) Trupta and Sumedh, have both written emails to me!!! All in all, writing to all my friends, talking to them, and occasionally cribbing to them gives me inexpressible comfort.

Home away from home

Around Christmas eve, I paid another visit to Orpington. Even as the happy memories of my (post-birthday) visit were still fresh in my mind, I made even more happy memories spending time with Anu maushi and Siddharth dada. They also gave me excellent UK-relevant advice on both occasions. I spent two days in their glorious company and time just seemed to fly. It really broke my heart to leave.

I also paid a weekend visit to my aunt (my mum's cousin), Nirmal Mantri, who lives in Norbury. Having spent nearly 40 years in the UK, she also gave me precious advice on living here and beyond and gave me some nice goodies too... the Milano mint cookies were especially to die for! Visiting her felt good and was also a welcome change from the regular scenery.

Here and now

So what is it that I do here? Well, I regularly attend lectures, labs, and classes. I do some reading and studying. There's assignment work from time to time. There is also tons of project work looming on the horizon. I also attend seminars of the Computer Society (of which I'm Secretary). The campus is always buzzing and full of people (during term-time anyways). The infrastructure here is excellent. It is the sort of setup that I have always wanted to be part of... and now I am!

Ballerina

Every week, I also make a weak attempt at fighting the flab by going to a fun exercise and stretching class run by my friend, Jenya. She's a PhD student here and founder of the Computer Society. She is one of the most enterprising people I have come across. In the class she runs, she incorporates some ballerina-like dance moves as well, as she is trained in all kinds of dances and martial art. It's quite an experience!

OK, I'll shut up now...

Its been a while since I last blogged, which is why this one is soooooo long. Hope you are still awake :D I actually started this blog entry three weeks ago. Since then, I have chopped and changed, started and stopped, added and scrapped... this blog post has almost been a journey in itself! In the end, I hope it has turned out to be an interesting read : )

One last special mention... Siddharth dada was the one who suggested that I should buy myself a mini-fridge; then, Reema helped me find the right one... so a special "thank you" to both of them.

OK then... signing off!

Kay

My City

2008-11-28T21:06:00.013Z

Hi, all...

First of all, I hope you are all OK.

It was a sad week for humanity. Trigger-happy murderers gunned down innocent lives and set out to destroy the spirit and reputation of Mumbai, my city. This city, which I call my home and love most dearly, has been the target of several such attacks in the recent past, that too with alarming frequency. The sequence of events is almost always the same... terror attack, loss of lives, destruction of property, slight upswing in vigilance, life back to normal, someone somewhere concocting another attack... and the vicious cycle continues.

This time, one was struck by the radical sight of the commandos dealing with the situation. It was somewhat reassuring to see that they were able to implement their rigourous training so appreciably. Politicians also got to show off their ample mud-slinging talents. It is a sad fact that incompetence and corruption are deeply entrenched in our political system and this is clearly why that vicious cycle of death and destruction will never see an end.

While this despicable series of events was playing itself out, my friend Reema (who lives in Vancouver) and I were hooked onto the news and despite the distance, strangely together, going through the same emotions of outrage and sadness for our city. She reminded me of some lines we'd read together and the more I absorb them, the more fitting they seem in the circumstances:

"The Dark Arts are many, varied, ever-changing and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster, which, each time a neck is severed, sprouts a head even fiercer and cleverer than before. You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible. Your defences must therefore be as flexible and inventive as the Arts you seek to undo."
- as said by the character of Severus Snape in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

"It is important to fight, and fight again, and keep fighting, for only then can evil be kept at bay, though never quite eradicated."
- as said by the character of Albus Dumbledore in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Despite all the pessimism I have expressed about the safety of my city and my country, I would like to end on a positive note and tell myself that no matter what, one can still imagine...

Imagine (John Lennon)

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one.

Tales from Oxford

2008-11-23T08:21:00.113Z

Hi, all!

After a relatively sombre entry, I bring you bright tales from the crowning jewel of UK's education setup - Oxford...

After the euphoria of our stupendous London trip had quietened, I started to look forward to our next adventure destination, Oxford. The name of this city is hallowed in academic circles as it is home to the renowned Oxford University. I always knew that it was the kind of place that would charm me... and I was totally right.

Although Aparna and Abhilasha couldn't make the trip due to unforeseen academic commitments, I did have the company of my friends, Nadia and Nida. Nadia and I, in fact, even managed to do some map reading and draw up a rough plan of what our day could be like.

Thus, on a pleasant, clear mid-November morning, we, members of the Travelling Society, set out to explore the historic city of Oxford. Gregory, our Society president, drove us there, just as he had driven us to London.

We began our outing with a visit to the beautiful Ashmolean Museum. Given that we were on a time-leash with several places to cover, we breezed through all the sections and lingered in only some. Starting with the Roman and Greek statue collection, we proceeded to the expansive Ancient Egypt section. Then, after a quick look at British Porcelain, we walked through several painting galleries and rooms full of unique artifacts. Though we wrapped up the visit in quick time, it was time well spent.

We then made our way to Broad Street, where we booked ourselves places on the City and University Walking Tour at the Tourist Information Centre. After a look-see at the quaint impromptu French market there, we proceeded to our next stop, the Covered Market.

Covered Market is a cute little indoor market that sold all kinds of things... chocolates (see above picture), cakes, clothes, shoes, fashion jewellery... and so many other things. Here, I left Nadia and Nida to shop in peace and headed to Carfax Tower.

Already breathless from climbing the 99 spiral steps of the Carfax Tower, the magnificent view still managed to take my breath away. In every direction, I could see the spires of the several colleges that make up Oxford University. They are symbols of the students' dreams and aspirations and hence aptly named Oxford's "Dreaming Spires". I looked around and realised that though Oxford was a rather small city, it was absolutely beautiful. In the cool breeze, I had my sandwich lunch as I took in more of the view. I then took to the dizzying spiral stairs once more and took leave of Carfax Tower and its unforgettable view.

It was now time for the City and University Walking Tour where I was reunited with Nadia and Nida. Anyone who has ever done any sight-seeing will agree that walking is the best way to get to know a place. So it was even in this case. Our lovely tour guide (I'm embarrassed to say I've forgotten her name) took a bunch of us through Oxford's wonderful landmarks and colleges and brought it alive for us.

We started with Wadham College. Once inside, she explained to us that unlike other universities, Oxford Uni is a collection of 38 colleges, each operating independently. However, all students appear for centralised exams and the final degree awarded is that of Oxford Uni and not the specific college. Instead of lectures, every student has a one-on-one session with his/her tutor where they hand-in essays every week. Structurally, colleges here usually have a standard setup... a quadrangular lawn area, surrounded by study rooms, a common dining hall, student accommodation in the form of indoor townhouses and a chapel. While the dining hall was closed, we did have the opportunity to visit the Chapel. As always, the colourful stain glass work left me spellbound. We then walked around the campus for some time. Our guide also mentioned that Sir Christopher Wren, one of the greatest English architects in history, was an alumnus of this college.

We then walked by the old and new Bodleian Library buildings. This library, the second largest in the UK, is a Copyright library, which means that a copy of every book that is copyrighted has to be given to this library. Another cool fact: books are stored underground and the old (Claredon Building) and the new library buildings are linked by an underground tunnel through which books are passed on a conveyor belt!

Here, we also stopped to admire the Sheldonian Theatre. Famous as Sir Christopher Wren's second architectural endeavor, this building plays host to degree awarding ceremonies at Oxford Uni. These ceremonies were originally held at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin (not far away from this site). But authorities did not like the idea of students celebrating too hard and turning up drunk in the holy church. So, they requested Sir Wren (then new to the field and not yet knighted) to develop a secular building for this purpose. This building stands proof of his talent and vision. He, however, had nothing to do with the out-of-sync white cupola that was added later.
Next, we walked through Divinity School. I was thrilled to bits to know that some of the scenes from the Harry Potter movies have been filmed here.

Going past Divinity School, we arrived at Radcliffe Camera, a magnificent sight if there ever was one. Formerly the Radcliffe Science Library, this building is now part of the Bodleian Library. In fact, the underground book storage stretches all the way to this area.... that's way too many books! The building itself is a wonderful piece of architecture with a great sense of symmetry.
Our next destination was New College. Contrary to its name, this is one of the oldest colleges in Oxford. Set slightly apart from the other colleges, this one has a slightly bigger and greener campus. This, actor Hugh Grant's former college, has a small piece of infamy attached to it: it was built on a plague cemetery. But apart from that little gory detail, it is a gorgeous place, with lush lawns and beautiful buildings. In fact, it houses remains of the old city wall that surrounded Oxford centuries ago. Here, we did get to visit the dining hall. Scenes from the Harry Potter movies jumped right at me when I entered the hall, especially given the seating arrangements and the teachers' High Table. We also had a quick look at the calm oasis-like Cloister and its bell tower. On the way out, our guide showed us an alley that is a popular spot for filming old-world England as it is lined with the original soot-covered walls of Oxford.

Then, we proceeded to another interesting destination on the tour: the Bridge of Sighs.

The Bridge of Sighs is actually Hertford Bridge, linking the old and new sections of Hertford College over . Although it bears somewhat of a resemblance to its more famous Venetian namesake, the resemblance is not deliberate. That as it may be, it is an impressive piece of architecture and good fun to walk under!

We then made our way to beautiful campus of Exeter College. This college has a rather rich set of alumni, one of them being revered author, J.R.R. Tolkien. I found the autumn-coloured ivy-covered buildings rather lovely. We visited the Chapel here and it was absolutely spectacular. The mosaic floor and the embellished church organ were especially beautiful.

A famous British series, Inspector Morse, was shot in several places all over Oxford. A corner of the Exeter College quadrangle lawn is where the title character of Inspector Morse is shown to breathe his last. In fact, the series is so popular that they have walking tours dedicated to tracing places where the series was filmed.

While still at Exeter College, we arrived at a small area that gave us a lovely picture-perfect view of Radcliffe Camera. It was with this final, memorable sight that we wrapped up this entertaining and enlightening walk through Oxford.

Since we had some more time on our hands, we worked out, with some advice from our guide, that we could still make two more destinations before hitting the home track. So, we bade goodbye to our rather helpful guide and started off towards the Museum of Natural History.

After a relatively long, breathless walk to the Museum of Natural History, dinosaur footprints welcomed us in. Stepping inside, we entered a unique world... a ribbed high ceiling, dinosaur skeletons and so much more. While there was nothing particularly unique about the subjects of the displays here, the displays themselves were quite well done and attention-trapping. For example, in the picture above, I'm leading a parade of skeletons of all sorts of animals! Two other displays caught my attention, both with a common thread: Charles Lutwidge Dodgson aka Lewis Carroll. Having been a fan of 'Alice in Wonderland' all my life, I was all ears when our guide explained to us Dodgson's connection with Oxford. It was here that he had met the girl after whom he named his legendary character! The two displays I referred to earlier are both displays connected to elements from 'Alice in Wonderland'. One represents the remains of the Dodo bird and the other is a wonderful display of all the quirky animals described in 'Alice in Wonderland', such as the turtle, the flamingo, the hedgehog, the walrus, and of course, the rabbit. We didn't spend much time on the other displays and didn't even go up to the first floor. But we were content with what we did see and we came to the conclusion that choosing not to visit this museum would have rendered our visit to Oxford incomplete.

We then took off towards our last destination for the day: Christ Church College. Why this one, you ask? Our principal reason was Harry Potter. We were very much eager to visit the Dining Hall where dinner scenes from the Harry Potter movies were filmed. Even beyond that, this is quite a popular place to visit. It bears a rather regal and grand look which reflects the fact that it has been graced by illustrious alumni ranging from former British prime ministers to several noted personalities from the arts and sciences. At least on the outside, it seems like a college for the rich. Incidentally, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson studied and taught here.

With very little time left in hand, we raced towards the Dining Hall. Although there was no element of surprise, we loved just being there. We also managed to pay a quick visit to the magnificent Christ Church Cathedral. Though it was a brisk and rushed visit, it still fulfilled our purpose and we enjoyed every moment of it.

Darkness was starting to fall and our day was inching to a close. We summoned the little strength we had left and walked back to the Ashmolean Museum, where Gregory picked us up and drove us back to the university.

Despite the exhaustion pulsing through me that night, I was completely content. I had just collected for myself, pleasant memories of yet another wonderful city of the world and my life was a little richer because of it.

London

2008-10-25T19:25:00.092+01:00

Hi, all!

For almost a month now, I have been itching to write to you all about my day-trip to London. But it so happened that I was buried under a mountain of assignment work that I only just did away with. So, here is how my London trip went...

Eight years ago, I spent a day in London and left with no special memories. Whatever I saw, I saw in a great big rush... it was all a blur. The weather had been gloomy and the city did not endear itself to me in any way. I was eager to see how and if at all my impressions of London would change this time around. And I assure you, they absolutely, incontrovertibly did.

On a fine Saturday morning in October, we (my friends Aparna, Abhilasha and I) set off along with other members of the Travelling Society for a day-long trip to the world-famous city of London. Gregory, the president of the Travelling Society, would drive us there and back. The journey itself was pleasant. Drops of rain welcomed us into London but thankfully parted company soon. We eventually arrived close to Liverpool Street Station and parked near it. Gregory walked us to the station, showed us our pick-up spot and bade adieu for the day.

We had already planned our day out. We had picked out four places we wanted to visit, looked them up on the map and identified the stations on the London Underground that would get us there. We had also packed sandwiches and some other goodies to last us the day.

As per the plan, we bought day passes on the Underground and took the yellow "Circle" Line to Tower Hill. Our first destination was Tower Bridge.

The moment we stepped out of Tower Hill Station, we saw the London Wall and the Tower of London right in front of us. Two minutes into our adventure and we were already floored. We then made our way to the magnificent Tower Bridge.

"Simply splendid" is what we thought of the Tower Bridge. Our day got infinitely better when they raised it to let a barge through!!!

Once we got over the thrill of the Tower Bridge experience, we took in some more of the view across River Thames. But for the shortage of time, we would have visited the HMS Belfast warship and explored the Tower of London as well. But instead, we headed back to Tower Hill Station and onwards to our next destination, Westminster, where another beauty of a sight awaited our arrival.

Ah, Big Ben! Needless to say, we were instantly enamoured with this beautiful structure... how could one not be! Photographs and pictures do not do it justice. One seldom gets the opportunity to revisit a landmark such as this. On my first trip, I had only vague memories of it, which is why it really made me count my blessings to be able to come back here and truly appreciate the magnificence of this beloved clock tower. The Houses of Parliament (which I always mistook to be Westminster Abbey) were quite spectacular as well, eerily quiet but dazzling all the same. We also caught a quick glimpse of the actual Westminster Abbey and then headed on along Westminster Bridge, laughing away at our hair being whipped up by the suddenly fierce winds. On the other side of the bridge was another London hotspot... London Eye.

My parents loved it... my friend Reema loved it... and God knows who else... we knew we just HAD to ride the London Eye. We had already decided that it would be the only place we would spend our precious money. In fact, we'd already bought tickets online. Closer and closer we went, it looked more and more awesome. We made ourselves comfortable at the foot of the LE and had our sandwiches and cola. After that excellent and hearty lunch, we queued up. Within minutes, we were within one of the capsules, serenely ascending over mighty, magical London.

We were on the highest observation wheel in the world and the view was beyond heavenly! London and more gorgeous London as far as the eye could see... River Thames with its many uniquely pretty bridges, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul's Cathedral, the "Gherkin", Charring Cross Station, Waterloo Station, Wembley Stadium... and so much more! To put it simply, London took our breath away.
We descended with heavy hearts... it was not easy letting go of that killer view. But we cheered ourselves up by indulging (economically) in some souvenirs. We walked along the banks of the Thames for some time, popping peanuts and amusing ourselves with the colourful characters around.
We then went back to Westminster Station, but only after we gulped in some more of the Big Ben's breathtaking splendour. Our next destination was St. James Park. Once there, we put our map-reading skills to test as we made our way to yet another landmark... Buckingham Palace.
During my last visit to London, while we drove past several London landmarks, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace were the only places where we stepped out of the bus. The only memories I had from that visit to the palace were the colour of courtyard and the fact that the sun being at an odd angle made all my photographs come out pink. This time around, I quite loved Buckingham Palace. It may not be the sort to have an extravagant exterior, but just being in such close proximity to real royalty gives it an edge that few places in the world have. We were also full of admiration for the rather grand statue of Queen Victoria as also the impressive gilded gates.
Some extra time in hand led to a brief period of indecision about whether or not to go to Piccadilly Circus. But we decided to wind up the day early and head back to St. James Park Station instead. Along the way, we noticed (just as we had done all day long) that London had several exquisite buildings. One could spend an entire day just walking around admiring the architecture here. Anyway, We took the train back to Liverpool Street Station, bringing our day out in London to a close. As a celebratory drink, we got ourselves some nice hot chocolate and I got myself some Millie's cookies (super-duper delicious milk chocolate cookies... best I've ever tasted!!!). Soon, we met up with the rest of the group and Gregory drove us all back to the university.

It had been a long day... we were completely exhausted, but also utterly satisfied with how the day had gone. As much as I enjoyed discovering London, I think the day was made more memorable by the company of my friends. They have not only made my life here easier to live, but with this trip, they have helped me make a day to remember... a day I can look back on and know that it will always make me smile : )

Signing off,
Kay

24

2008-10-24T07:26:00.009+01:00

Hi, all!

Welcome to Birthday Week!

My second week here was better than my first one by a long shot. For one thing, I turned 24! When I was younger, my parents used to throw me rocking birthday parties. In the recent years, things quietened down and we (the three of us) now mutually prefer to spend birthdays simply, without fanfare as such. In any case, I was a bit worried when "Birthday Week" dawned that I would perhaps feel their absence more distinctly on that day... which of course I did... but even so, the week unfolded rather unexpectedly for me.

One thing new this week was ... lectures! Our academic semester officially kicked off that Monday. Our very first lecture, E-Commerce Programming, was a brilliant one. Taught by Prof. Richard Williams, it was everything I had expected it to be and I felt rather content at the end of it. The lab session that followed was not such a pleasant experience to begin with. But I got over it pretty quickly given that programming is my bread and butter.

Tuesday morning, I naturally woke up with a smile on my face. My 24th birthday had arrived. Starting with my parents, pretty much all the people important to me managed to wish me in one way or another... phone, text messages, emails... so except for the distance, nothing really felt different. The day was choc-a-block with lectures. In the evening, I took my friends out to dinner at a Pizza place on campus, Mondo's. They even got me a gift and chocolates! We spent a really nice evening together and then headed home. Yes, I was finally starting to call my room "home" and that was as good as it got... or so I thought!

At Mondo's (Clockwise: Aparna, Ritu, Me, Abhilasha)

Wednesday and Thursday are the light days with not too many lectures. So, that week, I made ambitious plans to visit Anu maushi and Siddharth dada in Orpington. It was a long way away and a rather complex travel plan had to be conjured for this. I was fairly confident about the whole travel, having gotten all the instructions from Siddharth dada. Here's how the journey panned out: I bought a straight return ticket to Orpington, started from the University at 11.15am, took a bus to Colchester North Station, took a train to Stratford, changed over to the London Underground system, took a train to London Bridge, changed over to the South Eastern Line, took a train to Orpington, finally took a bus to Wellbrook Drive and finally reached their house at nearly 3.30pm. Gosh! It was a long 4 hour journey... but a pleasant, comfortable and educational one.

Anu maushi greeted me warmly and made my day even better with a lovely lunch spread full of my favourite things. We spent the evening chatting about this and that, life here, life back home... our conversations flowed so naturally, it was hard for us to believe we had only met once before. Siddharth dada, whom I was meeting for the first time, joined us soon and we celebrated the evening with some wine and beer and then went out to an Indian restaurant, "Tamasha", for dinner. For someone who likes cars (not claiming to be an expert, I just think they are eye-candy :D), it was a special thrill to sit in their lovely grey Mercedes on the way to dinner and back. The dinner itself was quite delicious and was exactly the kind of flavour I was sorely missing. Between dinner and dessert, something unexpected happened... suddenly, I heard birthday music playing in the restaurant. I started to look around to see whose birthday it was, when I realised that it was playing for ME! The servers gathered around and even sang for me and served a special fireworks-laden kulfi complete with candles to blow out... I was taken totally by surprise, giddy with happiness, and completely overwhelmed. We wound up the evening with a delicious orange rind-laced coffee that was their in-house special. As if that wasn't enough wonderfulness, Siddharth dada gave me a little spin around the block in his... wait for it... awesomely spectacular blue sports Mercedes... with the top down even!!! Having revered cars of this sort, being inside one gave me infinite pleasure. I will forever be thankful to him for that. So many memorable moments rolled into one evening!

At Tamasha - Birthday Girl having a blast

Ah, eye candy!

I did return back the next evening and somehow, the loneliness of the first few days caught hold of me again. The fantastic time I had spent with Anu maushi and Siddharth dada reminded me of all that I had left behind. It made me sad again. But thankfully, the sadness faded away by morning and life was OK again.

Saturday, Aparna and I went into Colchester and did some winter shopping (because it was on sale). That Sunday was the first day I spent indoors. When I woke up in the morning, I looked outside my window and saw nothing but thick white fog. I found the sight quite unique, almost like looking out at endless sky! By mid-morning, the immediate surroundings cleared up and by late afternoon, so did the beyond. In all of this fog business, I also achieved the great feat of studying! Well, at least beginning to study. In any case, it was a pleasant and productive day.

All in all, in fact, it was a pleasant week.... a great week... and a memorable one!

Darkness and Rainbow

2008-10-20T22:27:00.067+01:00

Hi, all!

It's now time to look back on my first week here:

Those who've read Harry Potter will be familiar with the concept of Dementors sucking happiness and warmth out of the air around you and leaving you feeling nothing but hopelessness and despair... like you can never be happy again... like nothing will ever be right again. To begin with, that was exactly how I felt.

I spent my first three mornings crying on the phone to my parents, begging them to allow me to come back home, to leave the pool of misery that I found myself in. A million worries clouded my tired mind... the pressure of fending for myself, the impending burden of studies, no reassuring familiar faces around... I had probably never felt worse. Thankfully, my parents did not take pity on me and relent. They (gently) reminded me why I was where I was and that I had put in all this hard work for a reason - for a better future. They made perfect sense. I had no choice but to trudge on.

There seemed to be a permanent chill in the air. Up on the 12th floor, the view from my room windows was to die for. But I had no desire to appreciate this gift. The beautiful green university campus looked up at me invitingly. But I felt no attraction to it. There was so much to explore, to learn, to see, to do. But my heart and head felt heavy... like I could burst into tears any moment. I somehow managed to get through the formalities, one by one... attending induction talks, accommodation talks, workshops, opening a bank account, an English Language Assessment Test and most importantly, registration.

My days would thankfully be spent in the company of my new friends, Abhilasha and Aparna. Evenings, it was just me and my loneliness.

On the fourth morning, I woke up with a thought in my head: I should take some photographs. Those who know me well know that I'm a travel photography freak. I take and take and take photographs tirelessly. Given my state of mind, I had refused to absorb my surroundings so far. So it was a slight improvement for me to want to take photographs. I, therefore, pulled out my camera from the drawer and stood by my window. The most amazing thing happened that very moment. There were grey clouds in the sky... and suddenly, straight ahead, was a giant rainbow!!!! I couldn't believe my eyes. A rainbow was precisely what I needed.

That evening, after a final crying session with Mamma (who rightly told me off this time), I made my mind up that I would be stronger. I would be as strong as I had already proven myself capable to be. I would do this right. I would do this.

The Campus Tour was a great idea to discover exactly how wonderful this campus was. The Colchester Town Tour was an even better idea... its such a cute and colourful town! It really upped my spirits.

I also had a rather nice and calming conversation with Anu Maushi, a close family friend of ours, who is in the UK visiting her son, Dr. Siddharth. But more on that in another post.

I also finally managed to get my Internet up and running and resumed to some extent my correspondence with "my" world and opened doors to my new world. This went a long, long way in bringing a semblance of normalcy to my life (and the speed here is wicked fast!!!).

Friday, I also had some opportunity to meet people, students and staff, from my own department. We also visited some classrooms and labs. This added somewhat to my sense of belonging. I even did my laundry that evening! The pieces of the jigsaw were slowly falling into place.

Life became even better that Saturday. My friends and I went grocery shopping at Tesco supermarket. I took comfort from the fact that this place had pretty much all that I needed to sustain myself here. Then, we had a great time at the Freshers' Fair where I signed up for the Travel Society, Computer Society, French Connection Society and the Film Society. We went to Colchester that evening to meet Vinaya, a friend of Aparna's, who took us to another giant supermarket, Asda, where we shopped some more and saved a whole lot.

Sunday dawned on us with typically British weather... rainy and gloomy. We had lofty plans of going to London to acquaint ourselves with the place and also help Aparna buy a laptop. But alas, that was not to be... We improvised and decided to go to somewhere closer by, Tollgate, which also had places to buy electronics from, such as PC World and Curry's. That turned out to be an accurate decision. Not only did Aparna get her laptop, but I got my printer as well. The rain faded by the time we headed home. The trip turned out to be a great bonding experience and its only gotten better for us since then.

Thus ended my first week here. Lots of tears. Lots of new experiences. But more importantly, lots of new beginnings.

Darkness

2008-10-20T08:32:00.008+01:00

Hi, all!

My first day here was so eventfull that it deserves its own blog post:

8.30am. So here I was at Heathrow Airport, passing formality after formality. The final step was to go find the group meeting point where I would meet a representative of University of Essex. It so happened that this meeting point was at Terminal 3 and I was at Terminal 5. These terminals at Heathrow are infamously far away from each other. When I was on my way to the intra-airport shuttle train that runs between terminals, I found Aparna, who went on to become one of my two closest friends here. Both of us, new Uni of Essex students, began to make our way to Terminal 5.

Too soon, we hit a roadblock... the first of a long series that would follow during the course of the day. Luggage trolleys were not allowed on airport shuttles! So we had to haul our collective seven pieces of very heavy luggage into and out of the shuttle trains. When we managed to find new trolleys, they were the worst possible ones. We put all our focus and energies into exiting the shuttle station and locating the meeting point. Once we found it, there was no one there!!! Thankfully, we did locate them in some time. We were both on the 1pm bus and we requested to be put onto the 11am one. Big mistake!

The 11am bus was finally ready, they told us at 11.45. Just as we were about to enter, roadblock no. 2 came along and they announced that the bus had broken down. Back we went, into the airport, frustrated and low on energy.

An hour and a half later, they told us our replacement bus was here. Great! we thought. Luggage loaded, we sat comfortably in good seats on the upper of the double-decker. Another 20 minutes later, we were on our way. Just when we were ready to say 'Thank goodness!' and start enjoying the scenery, roadblock no. 3 showed up to add to our overflowing misery. Half way through, the bus got a FLAT TIRE!!!!!!!!!!!! In the middle of nowhere, for nearly two hours, we sometimes stood, sometimes sat on the insect-filled grass of the English countryside in chilly English weather, wondering what on earth we had done to deserve this fate. The only plus from this outing was that here I made another friend who also went on to become one of my closest friends, Abhilasha. In the meantime, they managed to call a professional tyre change mechanic to do what turned out to be quite a complex job. Finally, we hauled our exhausted bodies back into the bus. I slept soundly through the next hour or so. Finally, at nearly 4.30, we arrived at University of Essex.

Once we had picked up our keys, we began the arduous task of getting our bags into our rooms. Abhilasha and I were located in the North Towers, she in Rayleigh and I in Tawney while Aparna was to be in Harwich Court. Before parting, we decided to meet to grab a bite. I finally made it to my tower and then to my flat on the 12th floor. When I entered my room, roadblock no. 4, the most evil of them all, came at me so unexpectedly that it knocked me off my feet: loneliness.

I managed to hold my nerve till I told my father that I had reached my room safely. Then I broke down. Regret flooded me. I cursed myself for doing what I had just done. I had left behind a perfectly happy, cozy life full of people I loved for a life full of nothing but responsibility and despair, to be spent alone in a tiny room which I had to take care of singlehandedly, in a flat shared with strangers. I wanted to run. I wanted to go back.

I met Abhilasha for dinner. It was 7.30pm and a Sunday. Just the one restaurant was open: Happy Days Diner. I wasn't even hungry, which was lucky for me since there wasn't much I could eat there anyways. I used my food coupon to get a free coffee. We sat down and talked for a while, the exhaustion apparent on our faces and in our voices. I couldn't get myself to finish my coffee and she couldn't get through any more that half her hotdog. We soon said goodnight in the hope that we would bump into each other somewhere the next day.

I went back to my room half-heartedly, dreading the emptiness and the pressing silence. I steeled myself a bit and decided to unpack. Despite being bone-tired, I unpacked every single bag before I went to bed. Sleep, at least, was kind to me and came upon me quickly to relieve me of the horror of having to think any more about what had been, probably, one of the darkest days of my life.

Say Goodbye

2008-10-20T07:55:00.007+01:00

Hi, All!

First of all, a roundup of the day I departed:

I woke up on the morning of the 27th pretty much packed and ready, anxious and yet coolly confident that I could and would pull this off. Like a good and seasoned traveller, I had left little to do on this day except little things here and there, meeting family and friends and most importantly, staying calm. The house was full of people all day long... the arrival of my 3-year-old niece Madhushri made the atmosphere even more cheerful and lively.

My friends joined us in the evening and then nearly twenty of us set off for the airport. It was like a cavalcade and they sure made me feel like a celebrity! Having reached early at the airport, we took a gazillion photographs (which, by the way, no one, except Prashant, has sent me yet!!!). Before I knew it, it was time to go. Tears suddenly welled up inside me. But I had promised Mamma that I would not cry and to keep that promise, I dashed off inside in a hurry, leaving behind my family, friends and life as I knew it.

Trupta, my bestest friend, works for Jet Airways and was able to accompany me into the airport. This was a huge relief as she made matters much simpler for me once inside. But even this seemingly long distance between entering the airport and clearing immigration disappeared in a flash. All this while, some of my cousins and friends were still tracking me through the windows and waving at me frantically every time I looked at them. Now, there was no more window left. I said good bye to Trupta and wished her all the very best for her own cool new life (she is getting married in April). Finally, I was on my own.

Despite an hour and a half delay, I felt fine. I enjoyed my flight, just as I always do, lack of consistent sleep notwithstanding. London arrived soon... I even caught glimpses of the Tower Bridge, London Eye, the Houses of Parliament and even a football stadium or two! Finally, early Sunday morning, with a big bag full of all your blessings and best wishes and four bags full of my stuff, I landed into my "cool" new life.

Breaking the silence

2008-10-20T07:23:00.006+01:00

Hi, all!

My apologies for the month-long silence. I should have broken it sooner.

You have all been tremendously supportive and kind to me and I thank you once again for that.

My time here has been interesting to say the least. My first week, particularly, was not one of my best. Things got a little better in the second week. The third week has somewhat gotten me back on track.

To do justice to my "cool" new life, I will talk of each week separately in different posts so as to give you a better picture of my life here.

Ok then... I better start blogging... before memories fall out of my head! : )

Signing off,
Kay

Essex Calling!

2008-09-26T18:27:00.006+01:00

Essex Calling!

The countdown is now down to hours. Usually, when I’m leaving on an international tour (yes, I have had the privilege multiple times…), I’m buzzing with excitement and unusually low on anxiety. This time though, the magnanimity of the situation has dawned on me and I am as anxious as I am excited. I’m almost entirely packed. Now, its just a matter of holding my nerve.

My dad said something rather surprising to me recently. He told me I was taking 5 bags not 4. When I asked him how that could possibly be true, he replied that there was a fifth invisible bag going with me, full of all the good wishes and blessings I have received from all quarters. I couldn’t agree more!

On a parting note, here are lines from a French song I hold very dear, “Au Revoir”:

Au revoir… Mais rien ne s’arrête
Au revoir… Mais ne m’oublie jamais
Au revoir…
À une autre vie pour le meilleur
Où je sais que l’on s’aimerait… que l’on s’aimerait…

[Good bye… But nothing ever stops]
[Good bye… But don’t ever forget me]
[Good bye]
[To another life for the better]
[Where I know that we will still love each other... that we will still love each other]

Signing off from India : )
Kay

A Fitting Farewell!

2008-09-21T00:14:00.021+01:00

Hi, All!

Thank you for all the appreciation you have given me for this blog. I'm truly grateful.

***

My feedback on your feedback:

Reema was the first to read my blog and for that she has earned herself a place of honour on it. Despite the many miles that separate us, she has really been with me on every step of this arduous journey. Here's hoping that her life unfolds for her the way she wants it to!

Malvika echoed my exact sentiments for creating this blog: enabling people that matter to me to be involved in this new phase of my life.

Dhara brought another aspect to my attention... something I had done unintentionally. I was quite pleasantly surprised to discover there was indeed a conversational feel to the blog. It fulfils my purpose even more as it then allows me to remain in conversation with everyone without having to say a word!

Krupa, whom I have always believed to be artistically inclined, appreciated my writing. Not only that, she even bookmarked my blog!!!! Such an honour!

The fact that Sumedh commented on my blog was a most pleasant shock for me. For diverse reasons, he somehow managed not to be part of the Internet revolution that gripped the world years ago and is hence only now learning the ropes. It made me very proud to see him visit a blog without any hassles and even leave a comment on it!

Yadnya reminded me of just how far and close I was to my departure, a concept that made me deliriously happy and quite so sad all at the same time.

Last but not the least, my dear aunt Neetuki... she has been through hell and back in the last few months but that has not deterred her from giving me every kind of encouragement possible. For that I salute her! She's an angel in my life and her blessings count for extra ;-)

***

A roundup of the week that was:

Way back in August (it really seems like such a long time ago!), my parents and I had planned a trip to Ganpati Pule, one of my most favourite places on the planet. My visa situation until very recently has been so uncertain that I was wondering if my parents would have to go on without me. Thankfully, the arrival of my visa and the happy cascade of events that followed simplified everything for me. We not only went, but had an absolutely splendid little trip. It gave the three of us precious time to spend together and boy! did we make the most of it!

Everything seemed nicer somehow... I suppose, I was just in that sort of frame of mind. We came across such breathtaking scenery. In my mind's eye, I can still picture those rain-drenched (and at times pothole-filled) meandering roads, those lush green hills and those most spectacular waterfalls all over.

Another highlight of this trip was meeting Mr. Deepak Gadre and his wife Mrs. Meena. Mr. Gadre runs a huge company that processes fish and manufactures a variety of unique edible fish products. I had the privilege of visiting his processing units and I was left totally impressed with just how efficiently and systematically everything was being done. Hats off to this man who is in total command of his empire and is yet one of the most humble and socially responsible people I have come to know.

---

On our way back, we visited our dear family friends, Mokashikaku, Charumaushi and their family in Pune. I also unexpectedly had some fun with her very cute year-old grandson Kabir. This small set of people has a unique place in my life, just as unique as their love and concern for me. The little time I spent with them and the poignant parting moments gave me more memories to carry with me...

---

The very evening we returned to Mumbai, I met my dear friends Sushant and Sumedh over dinner. As usual, we had a rather enjoyable time. Despite crazy rumours flying around and frantic phone calls coming in, we managed to have quite a lot of fun and laughs : ) They both gave me an evening to remember.

---

For a couple of days, I also helped out my friend Gitanjali with her applications for medical residency in the US. She is not only one of the most intelligent people I know, but also one of the most sincere and hardworking. Having seen her meticulously go about her business, I hope from the bottom of my heart that everything works out for her and that she is able to fulfil all her aspirations.

---

I have always admired my father and his small group of friends for keeping in touch across so many decades. I was therefore extremely happy to attend a dinner party organised by one of his friends, Kishorekaka, as a farewell to me. I was touched that all his friends made time for me and their blessings and the happiness they felt for me was overwhelmed.

---

Yesterday evening, I hung out with another dear friend of mine, Prashant. As usual we exchanged music, movies, books etc. and had a memorable, delectable dinner - Chinese - prepared singlehandedly from scratch by my mother. The choice of cuisine was Prashant's and for that I thank him as it gave me the opportunity to enjoy this relatively rare facet of my mother's incomparable cooking.

Through magical scenery, so many blessings, good wishes and good times, it has been a fitting farewell!

***

All important things are now taken care of, so also, most of the shopping. Packing is now the biggest challenge that remains. Saturday night, I depart en famille for the airport and then, in the wee-hours of Sunday, I take off into "my cool new life"...

The countdown begins...

Signing off,
Kay

Finally!

2008-09-13T02:02:00.001+01:00

And so it begins...

[Note: I tend to make long-winding sentences. I hope you will bear with me : )]

Hi All!

Since a couple of months, I have been dreaming of this very moment: blogging about the new adventure that is my post-graduation in the UK. I remember wondering whether it would ever come to pass, what with the seemingly endless list of things that needed to fall into place. As with all such situations, the journey was hardly smooth sailing. It was however immensely fulfilling. Hey! Wait... I'm talking as if the journey is over! Not quite... I would say the prelude to the journey is over, yes... but the journey itself has only just begun!

Let me take you back in time... The day was 7th October, 1984... the wonderful day when I was born... whoa, I think I've gone way back... OK, fast-forward to earlier this year. Someone (who I do not wish to name in this blog) gave me the idea of doing post-graduation in the UK. Studying abroad is something to which I had already given considerable thought and some action. This time, although I dismissed the idea at first, certain changes in my life motivated me to give it another, more concrete shot. After considerable deliberation, my parents and I came to the conclusion that it was the right time for this to happen. A couple of sessions with Anita, my wonderful UK counsellor at Edwise International (Consultants for Studies Abroad), were enough for me to work out what I wanted to do. So, from then on, I put all my energy into turning this idea into reality.

A quick time-line of how it all happened:
End-June: I submitted my application to the University of Essex through Edwise
End-July: I was accepted at the University of Essex [soon after, I confirmed my admission]
Mid-August: I confirmed my accommodation at the University of Essex campus
End-August: I submitted my loan application [My goodness, how fussy they were about the docs! and worse, it all came to nothing!]
Early Sept: My loan was rejected [That big blow was somewhat blunted by the fact that my parents and I had already worked out that we could self-fund this project of ours]
5th Sept: I submitted my Visa application [One of the most challenging things I have ever done; submitting all my originals was rather nerve-wracking]
.
.
.
A week long super-nervous wait...
.
.
.
12th Sept: I received all my docs back with my passport stamped with a glorious student visa!!!!

While I was waiting for all of this to come together, I was pretty much bleeding time. With an end-Sept deadline hanging over my head, I see-sawed between images of me having made it in time and me facing the horror of having all my hard work come crashing down with no backup plan in sight.

I believe in Providence. I believe that there is a God-force in the universe that connects everything in subtle and obvious ways. There is sometimes a domino effect, positive or negative, wherein there is a cascade of events, one leading to another. For example, once my visa came, my confirmed ticket followed, as did my international cost-effective mobile connection... all in a few hours from each other! It has been a pretty remarkable turnaround for me to say the least!

Having poured my sweat and blood (metaphorically, of course!) into making this happen, the relief I now feel is heavenly. Tremendously excited, I've gone from "Oh no! Only 2 weeks left!!!" to "Oh no! 2 weeks STILL left!!!" : ) And such is life...

I'm sorry if I've left you thinking you could have used the time you spent reading this blog doing something not so pointless. But, I would only like to say three things to wind up:

1) My parents have demonstrated time and time again, just how brilliant they are as parents and as human beings. I owe EVERYTHING to them and I am beyond grateful.

2) Since you are reading this blog, you must either be someone I care about, or someone who cares about me, or both : ) In any case, your good wishes have definitely contributed in bringing me this far and for that I would like to say "Thanks" : )

3) The whole point of this blog is for me to post bits and pieces about my life at Essex. To just start out, I found some pics of Essex online... just so that you know where I'm going...

FYI, the Department of Computing and Electronic Systems is located in Square Two and I'll be staying at Tawney Tower (second bldg from right). I, of course, plan to put in my own pics as and when I get there.

OK then, this is me signing off...

Love,
Kay [i.e. Kshitija Rane]

PS: In case you'd rather be spared of reading this blog, please let me know... I promise I wont hold it against you [and even if I do, I promise you wont know about it ;-)]