HOW IT BEGAN..
About to start education in an altogether different country, miles
and miles away from home!
It was super exciting and also intimidating! Also, as it was my
first time to go on a flight, I was on cloud nine! Right from the day when I
booked plane tickets, I had begun the countdown! Waiting eagerly for the
departure date! On the other hand, I had lots of shopping and preparation to do
so that I could settle there properly! Moreover, emotionally there were mixed
feelings..I wouldn't be able to come back home for next 1-2 years.. :( :( But I
would be free and independent there..first time in my life when I would be
going out and spending lot of time away from family.. :) :D As the departure
date got closer, I would suddenly wake from my sleep imagining my situation in
future! I would be dreaded by the only thought! I was not at all experienced in
cooking and stuff. Mom had given me rigorous training in the last 2 months. She
was more tensed about me than myself! :D
CAME 28TH JULY,2014!
This was an important date for me..as it was my grandpa's
birthday! :) I had booked the date accordingly. I was not at all crying! :O But
my mom couldn't stop crying! I was feeling bad and also nervous..as I was going
to travel alone to my destination. But I was determined..It was going to be the
best experience of my life! The Mumbai International airport was awesome! It
was recently developed..inspired from the Indian art.. We clicked lot of photos
together..me and my family! I also got a wonderful opportunity to see London and Chicago airport. Unfortunately, I couldn't click any pictures because I didn't carry a camera. But it's okay..I may visit these places in future!
I reached next day in USA.. according to Indian time.. But I was
actually time travelling! ;) :D I reached on 28th itself in USA!
INITIAL ROUGH DAYS..
Initially, I felt so homesick! I would cry each and every
day..somehow controlling it and not displaying it to anyone.. :( It was hard
adjusting to new surroundings..since I was pampered in India.. after
coming here, I realized how hard it is to do all your work by yourself! I also
fell ill, that's when it hit me hard that my mom won't be near me to take care.
But slowly I overcame those feelings.. I was not alone in this matter.. Even my
roommates and friends felt the same. Slowly, I began doing all household chores
like cooking, washing utensils! My God! I never felt like doing those stuff.
Initially, we would eat outside, but you begin to realize that it's not so
cheap to eat everyday. So we have to stress ourselves to cook food! My initial
experiments with food were not so good. But I learned from my mistakes, also
started to reduce my cooking time!
START OF SEMESTER!
The lectures started after one month. That's when our real
challenge began! Attending lectures and performing all chores! I was tired of
it.. But couldn't help it! I resorted to buying half cooked readymade food from
groceries.. Less that I knew that time, that I would be bed ridden after few
months!
Attending lectures was fun.. I was used to travelling by bus to
college in India, for 3-4 hours everyday! So here I was relieved that my
apartment was just 5 min away from my department! But the education system is
entirely different here! Assignments each week for all 3 courses, to be submitted within
deadline! Also, mid-terms in the semester! It was hard coping to that schedule. But we also had lot of exciting
adventure visits! Like Kansas City zoo trip, tour of churches in the town etc.
SEMESTER WITH ALL FUN and WORK!
As it was no piece of cake to spend all of parents' earnings in
our expenses..I started to hunt for on campus jobs.. Got many rejects, but
finally got one! It was an hourly pay job with no tuition support, but still "Something is better than
nothing!" I kept on trying for newer jobs and got better ones till the end
of 1st semester. I'm still trying to get tuition support. It's hard to get tuition and health insurance funding from KU mechanical department in the first year of MS program. It feels satisfying to know that you earn yourself, atleast for the living costs.
Feels like heaven!
Also, we enjoyed American festivals like Thanksgiving Day and
Halloween.. We spent time with the American families and learnt the meaning behind
these traditions! Also, we celebrated our home festivals enthusiastically here!
Had our first exams and also scored well! The Christmas vacation
was good. We explored a lot in Lawrence town! Had the start of New Year in this
new town, new state, new country!!
During this semester, I had acquaintance with variety of people from various backgrounds and fields. There were researchers, professionals, lone rangers, religious people, students etc. I had different experience with all of them and learnt a lot from them.
I observed different seasons here.. Each day, the climate would vary..
I also prepared lot of dishes. Now, I'm "Chicken Biryani" expert! :D Here are some samples:
6 MONTHS COMPLETED..
As the 6 months are gone.. I look back to what I was and how I
have transformed! Now I can cook at faster rate, get ready quickly and take
interest in performing all chores (though not completely)! I take decisions
myself, have learnt how to save money and survive in this world! Though this
may be (it is obviously) too much self - praising... But..
From the dependent child to independent girl, I feel proud of
myself! ;) :D
Yet..there's a long way to go ahead!
