It is only now that I truly understand what people mean when they say they are busy and have no time to talk. Into my second semester of classes at USC and I can sum it all up in one word – Abuzz! Being the kind of person who needs at least seven hours of sleep every night, I have now become sleep deprived and am left with little choice to decide between completing assignments and sleeping.

The activities following a bed bug scare at home made sure we had a jump start to the semester. Those tiny insects managed to disrupt our lives for a few days. It was a subtle reminder, the more thought you give to a problem, the more it will destroy your peace of mind, no matter how trivial it looks. It was something to think about that this country which takes pride in being a superpower today, cannot get rid of bed bugs! We threw our beds away and I was rather excited to be in a house that looked brand new and empty again. Sleeping on the floor reminded my roommate of NCC camps back in India. It took us a couple of weeks to get everything at home back in order.

 My first Onam away from home was on the first weekend after classes started. I and a couple of friends were happy to have discovered the existence of a considerable Malayali population at USC, which we were previously unaware of. The day before the scheduled get-together, we tried to make our own small ‘Sadya’ (feast), minus the many side-dishes my mother would put together with a painful amount of preparation. We had ventured on an Onam shopping one of the preceding days too, to make sure we did not miss anything important. Our preparation which started at 11 AM went on till 3:30 PM or so, all of us starving for lunch. It was under the supervision of a Malayali friend, assisted by a few of us. I was in awe of the ‘Aviyal’- my favourite dish containing yam, drumstick and some other vegetables.

For the bigger Onam celebration, I was very enthusiastic to be dressed in a Kerala Saree. It was another occasion to miss my mother, but my roommates made up for it. One of them draped the saree perfectly for me. They seemed to be a lot more excited than I was, trying to find matching accessories, encouraging me to put some makeup on and complimenting me. We met and spoke to fellow Malayalis, bonding over food that was ordered from a nearby restaurant. During the ice breaking session after lunch, I felt small amidst intellectuals who had made it to reputable companies as interns. I made a mental note that I have to be one of them next year. I had met most of them for the first time that day. The house resounded with laughter as some of them took a dig at each other, while each person tried hard to be serious introducing themselves. We parted ways after a group photo as is the protocol.

 I managed to get away from studies the next week too, going on a hike which was roughly 10 miles with seven others. A huge swing and a zipline brought out the childishness in us as we competed for a chance to try them. I think this is the first time I had walked so much at a stretch, and I felt I could not move my legs for another day.

 Here I am, busy again! Sometimes so lost, wondering if it was a mistake coming here, leaving all that was familiar to me. I missed a friend’s birthday celebration last month only because I was frustrated and in tears that more than six hours of effort had led me to write hardly three lines of code, which did not serve the purpose. When friends send me photos of the places they go to, I reply with images of the beautiful libraries on campus. I am particularly fond of the Doheny library with its remarkable architecture and eerily quiet atmosphere.

 As I write this post, bleary eyed, I realise that it is not always about the result that we should be concerned, but rather about what we learn on the way. Through all the frustration and sadness, I am moving forward, learning to be a lot more patient and not giving up when things do not exactly happen the way I want.