First Snow

There were no signs and warnings for this. Only information was the weather application which indicated the probability of change in weather conditions. I was locked up the whole day in the school and seen people sneaking out to feel the change. Yet until in the evening there wasn't much difference in the color of the roads. So I resigned to the fact that it is too early to expect the whiteness. In the evening when I stepped out of the school it was a total different experience. Its cool but not chilling. There is something falling from the sky but its not raining. Within minutes my black coat had specks of white flakes. Then I realized it is snowing.My first snow experience. I let my jacket turn white while others scurried under their umbrellas. 

                                         The next day in the morning from my window. Refreshing .

NY & NJ

As noted in the previous post, life in Boston has been pretty much hectic. I have to change a lot of things to keep all the things in control. Before coming here I was rarely awake beyond 12 midnight and here I rarely go to bed before 12 midnight. Well the latest timing stands at 4 am.

So trip to NY and NJ was more than a break from the chaotic life here in Boston. The best part is meeting with Kolli. Meeting him after 5 years made me feel how much I missed the good old undergrad days. And he was more than nice to me by getting biryani and showing the city around. Guess I will always cherish my undergad days and the friends I made there. NJ was more than a surprise to me. The place where Kolli stayed is literally swarmed with Indian restaurants and shops. Heck even the street was closed just because there are playing dandiya. I didn't see that many people playing together even in India. All of a sudden my chaotic life felt connected in some way.

I heard so much about NY before and it didn't disappoint me. Even though I seen just a fraction of NY it stood up to its reputation as being running on a fast pace. I always knew that NY subway is most complicated line in the US. But having experienced the subway, 'complicated' felt an understatement. For a stranger it is like a kid trying to figure out the first day of a school. Nevertheless it was fun to get lost in a strange city. And yes subways are HUGE source of entertainment. No matter what time it is in the day, there is always someone to entertain you!

  

B-School and Boston

Life in B School is kinda formula1  race. You race for everything. Not like a competition but to see yourself on the other side of the finish line. Just to reach the other side of the finish line on time. And the next one starts as soon as you start breathing heavily at the finish line. And this cycle doesn't seem to end any time soon. Endless loops of work.

As mentioned in the previous post yours truly started doing everything on this own. Cooking, laundry, housekeeping.Trying to juggle with so many things is a huge task. I have become a better cook I must say. Even though my dishes may not taste perfect like my mothers, I am liking the way I am cooking. Initially I messed up with some of the dishes but as time passed by it only got better and better. 

My first impressions about Boston weren't so good. Coming from Singapore, this city seemed to be very substandard.I thought Singapore is a expensive city. But Boston beats Singapore black and blue. Everything is darn expensive here. Food, housing, groceries everything. The only thing that is cheap is the MBTA transport. That is because it is so lousy compared to Singapore's MRT. 

One thing that surprised me is the running culture in Boston. Here at any point of time you can see at least one person running on the streets. Noon Sun doesn't challenge anyone. May be its because it is cooler here compared to Singapore. I did my first 5K last week and it surprised me that I barely sweat! Winter has barely started but I am already feeling the shivers. Scared to even think of January now. I already started hating winters. It is making me so lethargic that I cant even wake up to my alarm. 

Sometimes miss all the little joys of Singapore. The Kopitiams, the NTUC's, Mustafa, the every 2 min MRT train, the pasar malams, the close knitted society and the easy accessible malls. 

And yes, need to finish off my next assignment soon! 

Adios Singapore

In the final year of my undergrad I was not sure what I was going to do after my graduation. The countless tests that I wrote only added to my confusion. None of results offered any bright prospects. So it was down to two options. Either accept my placement offer or join my parents and sister in Singapore for my Masters. Looking back I am glad I choose the later. Of course I needed to forgo some but the experience of living with my family and love I received in return is priceless.

I came to Singapore on 20th July 2007. Six year after living away from my family, I finally joined them in a different country. The first year of those six was tough but as time passed I started changing myself for the better. My engineering life was really smooth and it made me more independent. So the transition to Singapore was way too much. In Singapore I no need to do anything. No cooking, no laundry, no house keeping. Everything Mom does. She is a super woman. All I have to do is enjoy my family's presence. 

Five years down the line everything is going to change. Its back to square one. Except that it is not in India, not in Singapore. A new place sans my family. I need to do my own cooking, laundry and house keeping. 

I never felt more loved than the 5 years I spent in Singapore. Living with parents in a foreign land is a privilege of very few. My parents and my sister are more than enough to make me feel happy and satisfied. They made me realize what I missed in 6 years of my stay in India. They are everything to me. I will miss them in the new place. Love you all. 

P.S I have scheduled this post to be published when my flight takes off. 

P.P.S "Hello World!"

Last Day

When your graduation nears the first thing in everyone's mind and your mind is how the job search going to be? That was at the peak of the financial crisis and I didn't expect to get the job any time sooner. Luckily for me that was not the issue as I got my first job even before completing my final exams. When I first stepped in the office for the interview I seen some scribbling on the board. That was someone discussing baud rate, voltage and all the electronic stuff. As an electronic graduate I was fascinated by that  sight and realized that I am at the correct place. 3 Years and 7 months down the line I quit the same job and going back from where I came - to the university.

It was really a great 3 years at the company if not the best. I went in with almost minimal knowledge of coding in embedded systems. Now if I look back the three years seems like a light year experience. The initial days were tough but with some of the colleagues really made it easy. I would be thankful and grateful to them. Over the years I made some wonderful friends. Someone asked will I be missing JVC and colleagues? Well I can say I cannot forget some of the people over there. 

The last day went of in a jiffy. Couldn't say last minute byes to some people but nevertheless they made my last day special. Cheers to the new beginnings. Some really cool gifts.