My F1 experience

Location:  Begumpet, Hyderabad

Time: 10:20 am

I entered the clean and green gates of the Embassy of United States at Hyderabad. I was spruced up and feeling confident about the interview.  After asking directions to the gate, I was in a line with 4 people ahead of me (2 girls I suppose came for F1 and an elderly lady who was accompanied by whom I assumed to be her daughter-in-law). There were people coming out of another gate and I was trying to trace  their emotions only in vain. They have succeeded in putting up a nonchalant face

I was asked to show my appointment letter and passport at the gate and was sent in after the guard highlighted some lines on the paper. The place was very sparsely populated to my surprise. However, I went in and stood behind the elderly lady I met before in another queue. There  we were given a tray to put the documents. Apart from that,  all were asked to remove their watches and belts and put them in the tray. I was confused however I obliged. Then we were led into the security room where all the trays were scanned and verified that they dint pose any harm.  We were again led to another room which had 4 counters, each with a glass slab separating the person inside and the people in line. When my turn came,  I passed on the i20, passport, appointment letter, SEVIS receipt, D forms and the HDFC fee receipt and the polite Indian lady stapled the required papers and asked me to fill in some blanks which were incomplete. She even took electronic fingerprints, I found that procedure funny

I was then led to the waiting area where my token, C-106, was given. After sitting in a comfortable place, I started to fill the blanks.  There was a question, ‘ name of the present school of employment & address’ for which I have written the University in which I was admitted. In the next page another question, ‘name of the uni you have been admitted & address’ was mentioned. I got confused and asked the girl next to me what had to be filled.. She told me to mention the present college in the first page.. I was damned, had to strike the whole thing and fill again. My token number was nearing so I got pretty tensed and nervous. I was just hoping the Visa officer would overlook it. It took me a while to regain my calm. Eventually, I again succumbed to  observing .. there were different kinds of people and I was trying to guess which Visa each one had come to take. There were many couples, both young and old, a lady with her child, students, employees (there were two Infosys employees really smart!! had to mention it ), etc ..

Finally, my number was called and was told to go to counter number 13.  I suddenly felt my heart skip a beat,  stood up and went to the counter. As mine was the last counter, I could see the visa officers at each cabin. When I went to my counter, the lady with the child was being interviewed by an American lady.

My turn had come.

Visa officer(VO): Hi!

Me:  Hello, Good Morning!

VO:  Can you pass on your documents.

Me: Sure. (Passed on, still trembling)

VO:  So, why do you want to do your Masters in Computer Science at the University of Texas at Dallas?

Me: (dumb)

VO:  (Still looking at me)

Me:  (uhh, hmm, god what’s happening to me!!)

VO:  (bent her head forward, still looking)

Me:  (come on, say it!!) I am interested in Multimedia and there is intensive research going on in this University led     by Mr. Prabhakaran.

VO:   Okay, so how did you come to know about all this?

Me:   I browsed through all the Universities in US and zeroed in on ones which suit my course interests.

VO:  So which all universities have you applied to?

Me:  Purdue, Iowa, Cincinnati, Stephen F Austin (forgot to mention TAMU)

VO:  And you have got admits in?

Me: Cincinnati, UTD, Stephen F Austin

VO:  (typing something fast on the computer) Please give your fingerprints.

Me:  (pressed really hard on the machine)

VO:  Okay, please do the same procedure a bit gently.

Me:  ( )

VO:  What’s your GRE score?

Me:  1310.

VO:  (noted on a piece of paper) What’s your undergraduate percentage?

Me:  78% (couldn’t help noticing that she was a left hander )

VO:  (noted again) Do you have any backlogs?

Me: No.

VO: What are your plans after MS?

Me:  I intend to return back to India and get engaged to my boyfriend. ( )

VO:  (laughing loudly) Okay, what does he do?

Me: He is working in..

VO: (cuts me..) So , you want to work along with him?

Me: Yeah.

VO: (types again) Your application has been approved.

Me: (relieved and smiling) Thank you so much! Have a nice day!

VO: You too. Bye!

The interview was over and lasted for about a minute and a half. I was relieved. I walked back happily out of the gate, trying to keep an indifferent face and keep people guessing!!

Though not spiritual or devotional, thanks to ‘Visa Balaji’ !!  I had been to the very famous Visa temple (Lord Venkateshwar temple) at Hyd the day before and circum-ambulated 11 times. Many people come over there before taking their visa interviews. Its a great experience!

Holidays.Love them.

My holidays have come to an end and to think of it, I am not yet tired of them. I don’t think I can ever get tired of holidays. Man, I love them. Did lots of things during the hols. Will update more on that soon. Got to watch football now. Just thought would fill in something to make it look as if it has been active. Bye friends.

Why always ‘me’ ??

Recently, a friend of mine had posed a question(if I may call it), “Why do all your posts say only about you? “. Initially, after feeling embarrassed about my narcissistic pleasure, I retorted, “My punctilious nature doesn’t allow me to write about anything else.” I would justify what I said in the lines which follow.

The usual blogging topics include politics, philosophy, music, religion, etc.. But, as wordpress agrees with me, the most popular tag is ‘Random’ and I’m glad I fit into that The listed “reasons “(pun not intended) below tell you how difficult it is for me to select a topic for my blog. I put reasons in quotes because these parameters might be time-variant, i.e., I could disagree with them later on.

Politics : Firstly, there is no point in writing about topics being scoured by everyone. It would bore me and even the people who read because I wouldn’t be contributing anything new on the subject being discussed. People can say, you can take your own stance and write about a issue, but then my stance would be based only on what I’ve read elsewhere and not really on ‘my’ analysis. And to analyze situations, in this dirty ocean of politics, I’m no Joe Klein.

Philosophy : This would be an interesting topic to write on. I opine that every living person should have their own philosophy towards life. Emulating someone else’s philosophy or reading self-help books are only for momentary inspiration and would do no good as every person is different from another. Clichéd as it might sound, but I guess I’ve already put forward my philosophy . Thinking, maybe I could give it a go sometime later.

Religion : My knowledge on religion and mythology is barely enough to support what I claim.Moreover, I’m not a religious person ad lib.

Music : Music had been a part and parcel of my life since long yet music is only a source of pleasure to me and I prsonally feel I would destroying that sublime feeling by attempting to write anything on it. I don’t usually dig into the nitty gritties of the bands and artists I prefer. I hear music, not listen. In the sense, I cant remember the lyrics of a song even if it keeps playing 24×7 on my pod .

Technical stuff : Putting it simply, though I’ve substantial interest in technology, its still superficial and half-baked. So, it boils down to the fact that I cannot pen(type) down anything worthy.

Others : Well, I do write on some random topic and relate it to me so I guess it fits into ‘others’.

And now, returning to my response I said I would justify- if I wouldn’t be finicky enough, I would have well written on any arbitrary news floating around. I guess it makes sense now, and so I remain.

News about me. Recently :

Read : We The Living- Ayn Rand

Watched: Catch me if you can, Aviator

Listening to: Nirvana, Alanis Morissette

Project sessions: On a marathon towards a brick wall !!

Suggestions pls!

Hello Readers..!

My next task starts on monday, i.e., my project sessions. I’m planning to model an online library management system. The platform would mostly be java based. Basically, the task is to retrieve useful information which the customer(the person who comes to the library) requires without having to go through all the shelves and tracks. If anybody has any kind of suggestions on coding, design, application, database, etc..,  please post them as a comment. Even other feasible ideas for the project are welcome .. I’ll keep updating more on my project to be.

Just another blog entry

Its that time of the year when all students would dust the cobwebs from their old books and revise the basic maths and computer concepts. We are supposed to complete and fulfill the purpose of joining engineering, i.e, earn a job in a good profile organization. And, finally the D day has arrived in our college and we were subjected to a fair trial and I’m glad I’ve realized the raison d’être of my degree. I’m happy that I’ve no more pressure from parents, teachers, and peers and also as my job would suffice as a backup in any case when required.

I was pretty casual with my preparation for the pre interview exam. Thought it would be nice if I could make it and even better if I didn’t as I wouldn’t have second thoughts on my MS. Though. me getting through hasn’t really deterred my plans of doing my MS, my parents having second thoughts now.

I was just thinking of my life if I ever take up my job- initial excitement, training blues, heavy pocket, heavy expenditure, routine job- no strings attached, happy go lucky life, outings, et al in some metropolitan city. I would be one in a million software engineers who don’t know why they are where they are and why they do what they have to. I’ve never thrown brickbats at the field I’m pursuing my engineering (information technology) and I have loads of respect for all software engineers. But, I somehow don’t cater myself to the category which can really program and code and debug softwares.

Now, on the other hand I’ve my Ms program waiting(though only half the process is completed), and though the same one in a million statistic would apply here, at least I would still have the option to pursue whatever I like in future after studies. I mainly doing a post graduation because of two reasons: firstly, I am yet to get bored of studying and secondly, I hope to get a new life. Seems funny, but true.

I still have a year left to chalk out my plans and I really hope I do them wisely. I thank everyone for the wishes and all the mighty supernatural forces which have brought me my luck.

More in coming posts.. keep reading. ciao.

busy bee me

I know the blog hasnt been active in the past couple of months and feeling pretty guilty for that(as always!..)

Last couple of months have been shambled away by my GRE exam, internals, and now my semester exams. And now to think of, immediate campus recruitments and then summer project and then toefl..ahh, so monotonic!!

i’m making a resolution now..

* to write a proper post as soon as I’m done with exams or before.

k..gotta study! take care, people..

whack your brains!

I’ve spent a great deal of time googlewhacking lately but always in vain. Today, though, I came tantalizingly close to being a whack!!

For those of you who haven’t heard of googlewhacking, it is a kind of game developed by google which stacks(records) your name when you get a ’single search result’ in google for two different words. Of course, it has many other rules and conditions which have to be followed. For eg: when you type ‘ fibbertiggibet boogers’ you have to get a single search result matching the name.(This word has already been whacked long back, it doesn’t yield a single result now).

I tried lots of words many of which narrowed down to two search results. Two more of my attempts produced even one result but those words couldn’t comply to the googlewhack rules. One of them was ‘blas-bleu couleurs’ which was eliminated as the punctuation was not allowed. The other one was ‘ metalmania bluestocking’ which also gave a single result but according to GW, it was not linking to definitions. There was one more entry which was also rejected(i already can’t remember the name) as GW thought it was from some sort of a wordlist.

Just have a look at the stack list, it contains many weird words.. and its really fun! This game is a pretty old one, and in case you already know all about it, please help me by giving out all the bizzare words you know. Wish me the best.

ps: I’m not subject to the meanings of the words I typed, so please refrain from asking.

It’s a new day..

 

I’ve never known staying at home gives you so much of pleasure.

I’ve spent my past few days sitting at home and randomly doing gre mock tests. Though, my gre was the main purpose behind me staying back home and bunking college, there was a whole new gamut of things I could do.

Firstly, I’ve started to live nocturnal, which I’d always loved. Now that I din’t have college to attend in the morning, I could do anything I liked at random. Its only at night and when I don’t have anything much to do can I actually feel the time passing by. Its so eerie ,yet so endearing. It feels like the time I spend doing nothing an dark is so abstract when compared to time spent in the daylight.

I take a break for few hours in the early hours of morning and again get ready for another day of mine with new dimensions. I just realised I’ve been missing on so many wonderful TV programmes while catching some Z’s during college hours daily. I’ve made a supercool chocolate ice-cream dessert after being inspired by ‘Nigella Express’..and it was all for myself! I’ve also caught up with some latest music ..wonder why all good numbers are played only during the mornings And the news channels have drooped down to pathetic levels flashing trivial news the whole day..If you have any queries on the latest wardrobe malfunction or the who-is-dating-who, it’s better you switch on to any news channel which gives you an instant answer than to any entertainment channel.

Nevertheless. now I can even discuss mtv’s roadies, the lousiest show ever.. I just can’t understand the rationale behind conducting ‘tasks’ to get some ‘immunity’ and decide who is better instead of just deciding that on the basis of who-can-bitch better cos’ that’s the only thing they seem to do. There used to be a program on AXN called ‘pirate master’ which runs on similar lines of Roadies but is really watchable.Anyways, let it be.

I’ve also found time to read my magazines..I almost read about 10 pending ones one day. Watched three movies.Saw some episodes of himm. Played computer games. Remembered birthdays. Daydreamed.Read a few pending novels.Kept my iPod really busy. Spent some time in my garden.Watered plants. Prepared some farewell lines and invitations for the farewell party at college. And also, almost stopped texting and cut down the time spent online.

Not to forget, I do allot substantial time( which of course gets reduced to meager) for my word and number session which whatsoever is going at snail’s pace.

And lastly, I found time and topic to write another blog entry

Joy, Life, Sorrow..

 

 

True happiness can be felt only by a child. A joy sans hatred, a joy sans envy, a joy sans malice- a consummate joy. It is because children are the only ones who are ‘yet’ to get maculated by the corrupt people and the world , is that we get to see a mite of innocence which can at times prove to be the ultimate retreat. This I’ve realized after going to the orphanage cum ashram last week with my friends where the little hearts have broadened(well, literally narrowed) my perspective of happiness.

Our pell -mell lives have never given us chance to enjoy the beauty of innocence, the beauty of silence, the beauty of darkness, the beauty of nothingness. A visually challenged girl singing sweet, muffled songs; a physically challenged girl who dreams to study well and improve the world ; a little girl who captivated us with her dance steps; a sweet boy whose joy knew no bounds when he saw a balloon; children rejoicing when their picture was taken.. are some of the incidents I can never forget. They seemed so blissful and serene with whatever little they had. They were oblivious to everything else- the barren lands around, lack of proper clothes, proper sanitation and proper education.

We take everything in our life for granted. I felt a tinge of guilt pass through me when I heard them thanking God before and after every meal they had.

There is no definition for happiness, per se. But, it has its roots in every being’s heart which decides what brings it to her/him. Small, simple things, achievements, music, nature, love, birds, animals, anything can give u pleasure. But our lives have been mired in such spite that we often seem to enjoy others’ suffering more than our success. A greed driven heart can experience only transient happiness. The Darwin theory, very truly, describes our ’survival of the fittest’ way of living life.

 

We’ve been inured by self-pity and sorrow that we’ve never known what we’ve been missing all the way. So, have we become monsters who have become insensitive to feelings of joy and love.. I don’t say that but these intangible assets can be possessed by them who have a great sense of wisdom, a true definition of happiness and an enlightened vision of love; it takes us a lot to appreciate something of such sorts.

We’ve been moved by their incessant requests for us to visit them back. They’ve even taken our phone numbers in case we forget our promise.

As Mr.Keats has said, “A thing of beauty is a joy forever”, those guileless, beautiful eyes of the children have brought all of us who went immense joy.

(photography: Santosh Tej)

Random thoughts

I’m updating my blog today only as it has been long since i last updated. Till this moment i was contemplating on what to write on. Finally, i have decided and what i decided is what you are going to read next..
I’m typing down my thoughts at random,i.e., what i’m writing now is what had been running through my mind since past few days or weeks, or some  even which i’m thinking right now.These subliminal thoughts(most of them) do not have any meaning or ratiocination nor are connected in any way.They may just end up giving you a sneak-peek into my constantly vacillating mind.

* I must have erased and written the above sentences at least 7 times.
* I’m feeling too sleepy to write anymore.
* But i have to write cos i don’t want to stall it anymore.
* Readers would have to bear me through this post for writing down such drivel.
* Thinking of whether to put ‘blog updated’ tag in my social networking profile cos’ i usually disparage others for publicizing their blogs.
* What i’m writing is not supposed to be funny, so if you are in that is-this-supposed-to-be-funny attitudes,please refrain.Anyhow, if you are thinking ‘what-bulls**t-is-this’, you may continue to think so.

* I like clumsy people.

* I’m getting sick of attending too many classes.

*Boys are of two kinds: chauvinists or despos.If you think you don’t fit into either,then
there are two more kinds: chauvinists and despos.

* I’m on cloud 8.5.
* My to-do lists have occupied significant space of my mobile.
* I just snapped a mosquito.I ,usually, dont kill mosquitos.
* How would the world look after a nuclear destruction if cockroaches being the only

animals unaffected evolve into a higher and more intelligent species?

* Writing is a very difficult job.
* Many IITians project themselves as stupids but at the same time make sure everybody knows that they are from IIT.They fail to realise that many people ‘know’ they are stupids.
* I don’t want to go to college.I LOVE holidays.
* I’ve started watching foreign cinema to start sounding intelligent.
* I have to start preparing for my big day.
* I’m so jealous of people around me who are vigorously blogging. How I wish I were more

creative..
* Read the 16th point 100 more times.

* A huge hug for people who have counted till the 16th point.

* thanks for bearing.Bye.