The thought of going back home in India is what helped me sail through the highs (far fewer than the lows) and lows of the semester. After the last exam which made me wonder if I was in the right frame of mind when I decided to pursue MS, I went to work to …
It was my turn to experience the American tradition of tailgate parties, on the day of the football game between USC and the University of Utah. It was the first time I was in the university on a game day. The streets leading up to the university lived up to the fervor associated with …
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 …
Nothing is as simple as it seems anymore! Here I am, lying on my bed, contemplating life, wondering if I am not able to sleep because I had a three hour long nap soon after getting back home in the evening (certainly an odd time to sleep) or because I was feeling sad. Yes, …
When our first semester ended, combined with the relief of finishing exams was the mild bother of not having a job for summer. It was important to have a job because I had opted not to take any course in the summer semester and desperately needed to earn money to justify my decision to …
I have always felt delighted about having the opportunity to celebrate my birthday twice in a year, thanks to the Gregorian calendar and the solar sidereal calendar followed in Kerala (Malayalam calendar), my birthplace in India. It is especially wonderful because payasam, my favourite sweet dish is made at home for this occasion. This …
Ultimately, the day I was anxiously waiting for had come. It was time for me to get used to the routine I had forgotten, the routine of going to college and presenting myself at the classes held. I was thrilled and apprehensive at the same time. A lot of questions popped up in my …
For international students gaining admit to the University of Southern California, the passport verification (PPV) is the first official activity on campus. We roamed about the campus holding a map, trying to find the venue for the PPV. It was time to think how we would get to classes held at various locations across …
I am staying in Los Angeles for 10 days now. This is my share of the myriad exploits in the first 10 days in a different country altogether. A ‘science center’ reminds me of Visweswaraiah Industrial and Technological museum back in Bangalore! The first time I went there when I was a mere primary …