Its been eight months in Columbus and finally the initial froth has settled. That means the initial euphoria of meeting new people and exchanging warm embraces is now over and people, the very same who smiled and shared details about life now do not go beyond the weather.
But what is nice to know is that its just not me who is feeling spaced out. Way back in middle school I had learnt this poem called Leisure by William Henry Davis. It starts and I quote " what is this life, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare...". The situation of graduate students here describes exactly that. And this is where Facebook plays an important role. Sad but true. We are so lonely as individuals that we put up our daily, no wait, hourly activities on facebook. Letting the world track us. However, through facebook, I have found, that its not just me, but almost many of my friends turned acquaintances have felt the lack of intimacy.
Here are in my opinion, the top five spaced out status messages that I have come across. I do not wish to name the folks, but somewhere I have struck a chord with that emptiness that these folks have felt. Some of my readers will surely recognise these messages :)A friendly warning, its not my intention to hurt you all, in fact, I too am in the same boat....I care, but demands of work stop me from even asking how are you guys.
1. Don't look for your friends when you need them.
2. I think I think a lot.
3. Am I alone?
4. Give me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
5. The first test of married life : Living with a room mate :P
So there, guys, lets just go beyond the weather, and beyond facebook and ask how we all are doing. Till then, adios, the weather is nice, I shall go out and enjoy it :)
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Ekla cholo re
Its snowing in Columbus, its white outside, just like what I had seen all these years in movies, white and pretty like a dream. In fact its better (I am sure opinions would defer after three months of snow :P)!
So I sit here trying to finish my readings for my classes, drinking my Nth cup of coffee and listen to Tagore amongst other things. I think of moments that match to the legend's words (he has a song for every emotion) and the "Jodi tor daak shune keyu na asshe, tobe ekla cholo re" booms out. This is when I am reminded of a tale that very few know, but one of my life's alpha moments!
It was in 2008, on a trip to Berlin with some friends. I do not know how to ride a bicycle (bike for Berliners), and Berlin is full of them. Our hosts had organised a Bike tour, to explore the charming city. So everyone sets off, and since I cant join them, I decide to set off alone. Colleagues ask me if I am okay with it, I lie saying I would be fine, cursing myself deep down of being a suck ass in this field of human endeavour.
Its a bright sunny day with a slight cold breeze. Winter is slowly setting in, but its still comfortable to walk. All I have for the day is a map of the city, the bus and tram and tube (S Bahn) routes. I take a bus with no specific aim in mind, and yes after fifteen stops, I get off. I find myself in a residential area with children playing in a park. The date continues and it doesn't disappoint. The Berlin flea market comes next ( I am still walking aimlessly), followed by a middle school, followed by a residential complex which seems upmarket as there are flashy cars around. I cant follow a thing on whats written along the shops (its all in German), but can some what make out whats being sold. I walk for another hour, I am lost. I have no idea where I am. Am I scared? Far from it, I am liberated.
There are no expectations, no aims, no one to answer to except my own self, just doing something and enjoying it. When was the last time that happened? I cant remember. I was free. We are scared, to walk alone, to seek the path less travelled. But now I cherish that day, in a city where no one knew me, in a country where language was alien, where I was wanderer in every sense. The joy of it, the thrill of it, my craziness of venturing alone into an old abondoned garage before I knew what it was (I am "functionally illeterate" in Bernard Schlink's words), my clumsiness in finding a bus back to the hostel, my efficiency in tracing my way back way before people got alarmed. I perhaps have at the most five pictures of that day (people who know me, will be shocked, I usually take five dozens). But I dont need documentation, the memory shall never fade, the next experience, if ever, will never be the same, even if I do manage to trace back my ways.
For me, it was, it will always be, a walk to remember.
So I sit here trying to finish my readings for my classes, drinking my Nth cup of coffee and listen to Tagore amongst other things. I think of moments that match to the legend's words (he has a song for every emotion) and the "Jodi tor daak shune keyu na asshe, tobe ekla cholo re" booms out. This is when I am reminded of a tale that very few know, but one of my life's alpha moments!
It was in 2008, on a trip to Berlin with some friends. I do not know how to ride a bicycle (bike for Berliners), and Berlin is full of them. Our hosts had organised a Bike tour, to explore the charming city. So everyone sets off, and since I cant join them, I decide to set off alone. Colleagues ask me if I am okay with it, I lie saying I would be fine, cursing myself deep down of being a suck ass in this field of human endeavour.
Its a bright sunny day with a slight cold breeze. Winter is slowly setting in, but its still comfortable to walk. All I have for the day is a map of the city, the bus and tram and tube (S Bahn) routes. I take a bus with no specific aim in mind, and yes after fifteen stops, I get off. I find myself in a residential area with children playing in a park. The date continues and it doesn't disappoint. The Berlin flea market comes next ( I am still walking aimlessly), followed by a middle school, followed by a residential complex which seems upmarket as there are flashy cars around. I cant follow a thing on whats written along the shops (its all in German), but can some what make out whats being sold. I walk for another hour, I am lost. I have no idea where I am. Am I scared? Far from it, I am liberated.
There are no expectations, no aims, no one to answer to except my own self, just doing something and enjoying it. When was the last time that happened? I cant remember. I was free. We are scared, to walk alone, to seek the path less travelled. But now I cherish that day, in a city where no one knew me, in a country where language was alien, where I was wanderer in every sense. The joy of it, the thrill of it, my craziness of venturing alone into an old abondoned garage before I knew what it was (I am "functionally illeterate" in Bernard Schlink's words), my clumsiness in finding a bus back to the hostel, my efficiency in tracing my way back way before people got alarmed. I perhaps have at the most five pictures of that day (people who know me, will be shocked, I usually take five dozens). But I dont need documentation, the memory shall never fade, the next experience, if ever, will never be the same, even if I do manage to trace back my ways.
For me, it was, it will always be, a walk to remember.
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