Two months and beyond

The craziness of Grad School is all around. As I sit in Cabot staring at that System Dynamics assignment, I can't believe how far away from home I am and yet in some ways this is already home too.

Life has fallen into that routine that I crave. Yet every week is a different crazy. Each week seems like an insurmountable mountain. I know for sure that the assignments will get done, angst and despair will return at the thought of the next one, weekend plans will be made, weather shall be cursed, free food shall be found and life will go back to normal again. Though no part of this life seems normal to me.

I am beginning to realise this is turning into quite the rant. Must go back to that chapter on delays.

Happy Halloween! 

Pretty much what I am surviving on

“Would you care for a cup of tea?” I said.

“Tea?”

She spoke as if she had never heard of the stuff.

“Nothing like a cup after a journey,” I said.  “Buck you up.  Put a bit of zip into you.  What I mean is, restores you, and so on, don’t you know”.

—Bertie Wooster in The Aunt and the Sluggard, by P. G. Wodehouse

Boston calling.

Every time I tell myself that I'll write regularly. Every time I look back at the last post and curse myself.

This one was supposed to be written on August 18, just before I left for videsh.

But now I am here, on my first rainy evening, in a nice cosy room, with an Ikea bed waiting to be assembled and I've finally pushed myself to type.

One week away from home has been a strange to say the least, mornings the most difficult. Little things bring back memories, the smell of zeera in the kitchen or a piece of colourful woollen textile in my museum class. Strange doesn't even begin to describe it but I am thankful for many things.

A beautiful city. Some very friendly people. A pretty room. A stuffed fridge. The anticipation of many museums. The colour of the leaves changing right outside my window. Being this close to a swimming pool after years. Cooking on my own and not killing Suvidhi with my culinary skills. Being by myself and learning to enjoy it :)

The year ahead I've been told will be crazy. I am just preparing for the ride!

First Time. Whole Class Miss.

I want to see them. All of them. Go back in time. The winter sun. Chai on the table and bright shiny faces around.

The world seemed so much simpler with them. Happy and content.

If only. 

Ab Hum Chale, Yahan Se Nikle.

I've been mulling over this post for a while.

"Ek post toh banta hai", Siddharth said.

Watching Hawa Hawai made me think of my little ones. The crazy days, the nerve wrecking days, the I-can't-believe-I-am-doing-this days, the hot days, the extremely hot days, the normal days, no wait, I don't think we had any of those.

I remember thinking I'd love to have a job where I couldn't wait to get out of bed. Almost. Each day had something new to offer, no two days ever the same, even if it was just a new irritating beat that they had decided to master on the tables of class.

I wanted this to be a What-I've-Learnt-in-the-2-years post. Maybe I'll save that for a later day. Maybe not.

I am thinking of Jo the mouse except I am storing my memories not dreams in little balls and storing them somewhere in my head. Storing them for days that I will not be around to see them hit teenage or when they do reach their dreams.

The world is a strange place but the little ones kept me sane through it all. I hope someday they realise that.

Being Religious. Part 2

M: Went to the Mandir today?

P: Umm.

M: Tikka mat lagwaya karo. It looks funny.

New beginnings.

H: Toh now that you have holidays, what do you do all day?

G: I have lots of work ya.

H: Like what?

G: Applications, unit plans and more.

H: Hmm. So where all are you applying? MBA?

G: No. It's called International Education Policy.

H: Hmm. So what are your plans? Are you coming back to India?

G: I don't know ya. Haven't decided.

H: No like what are your ten year plans?

G: No clue.