New face of terror!

I just returned after giving my exam and was complaining that it didn't go upto my expectations, when I read the news just to destress a bit. And I read about the Mumbai gun attacks. Over 100 people have been killed and more than 300 are injured. There has been havoc in the entire city. With the terrorists still in the Taj mahal Palace Hotel and Oberoi Trident and the firing still on, no one can say what the final toll will be.

Actually, this is a new face of terror in India. Till now there have been bomb attacks. But now, the terrorists are coming out in the open, carrying out gun battles with the security forces. Does this mean that the security of the country is failing terribly??

I can never understand how people can get ready to kill other innocent people just to induce terror in a country. I pray for the souls of the dead to rest in peace, the ones captivated to come out safe and the families of the victims to bear the pain with full strength. This act of terror might trigger other acts of terror. I hope that no one kills others to revenge this act.

ps. England cricket team's ongoing tour of India has been cancelled following Mumbai terror attacks

Leia Mais…

Need Solace!!

I am not feeling good after giving today's exam! Somehow there was no feel good factor while writing the exam. Two of my close friends also didn't have a good exam so, I am just not happy! 

The weather is much better now! It brings some solace. Pity that I am not able to relax. My next exam is in 5 days but there is just no peace. I am pre-occupied with a lot of things.

Missing my father a lot! Talked to him for quite some time today. Discussed all the political, economic and cricket issues. Fathers are just amazing! If you want to make them feel special, just start discussing world issues and they will give all their expert advice. Sometimes I just wonder why is it so difficult to say I love you to a father? I can probably count the number of times I have said it to him. I say it almost everyday to mummy but with papa its just a different equation. Might be just a cultural thing. In fact, it extends to all male figures - brothers, male friends, uncles, grandfathers!! Hmph!

Was just you-tubing when I found this amazing speech by Obama delivered on Father's day:

I still don't understand why I wrote this post!

Leia Mais…

First Exam over!!

I just finished writing the exam for my favourite module this sem - HR2002 : "Human Capital in Organizations". While coming out of the exam hall, I realized how much this module has taught me about life in general. I have definitely grown as a person, more accepting the differences in other people, understanding so many different aspects of work life. Understanding emotions, importance of postponing judgements, human moments, the double loop learning.. the list is endless.

I think a lot of credit goes to my lecturer Ms. Chua Siew Beng who was very effective in teaching the module and motivating us to realize the importance of the module. As she very rightly said in one of the lectures that the very reason that this non-technical 3 MC module is an essential for us is that it carries a huge value in our day-to-day behaviour. I can't agree more. I have seen myself change a lot during the course of the module. I have actually arranged my notes, readings and supplementary readings to put them in use when I need them during my work life. And I think I would really want to discuss the work related issues with Ms. Chua as well.

I loved the readings, the class discussions, the group project and all the members of the tutorial group E05. Getting up for a 9 o'clock lecture is always troublesome but I used to be so enthusiastic to go for my HR class. I made all I-am-not-interested-in-listening expressions when anyone said that the module is useless. I think these things teach us the small lessons in life which are usually neglected but make a significant difference :)

The other thing which I realized while doing the module is the importance of connecting with people. When I ask the NUS alumni about why they don't come often to the university, they often reply that they don't feel connected to the university. But then who's fault is it? We can't connect to the walls and the stairs of NUS. Its the people we connect to. But once we and our friends graduate, there is no one we have connected to because we never established connections with the lecturers who will be the ones staying back once we graduate. I am guilty of doing that too. Specially Professors like Dr. Faizal Bin Yahya and Dr. Winston Kwok who had once inspired me so much, motivated me to perform well and engage in very interesting and intellectual conversations. And now I have hardly tried to remain connected to them. I realized that its time that we look at the lecturers who inspire more than lecturers and more as mentors to learn from them and stay connected to them. Its all about learning through socialization!

I think I should stop writing now and concentrate on my next exam.

Leia Mais…

Bring it ON!!!!

With the exams starting tomorrow, all I can say is Bring it On baby!! Doing 6 cores in engineering is one hell of a thing, but I am much better prepared than ever :D

Dear God, be with me as I sit to write the answers.. Keep my motivation high, mind focussed and desires under control throughout the exam period :D May I be able to remember and produce all that I have learnt till now! Help me to maintain my integrity as you always have helped and come what may, I don't want to resort to using unfair means. Keep my mind tension free and the heart willing to help others.

I say this prayer on behalf of everyone sitting for the exams!

Leia Mais…

To my Tupin!!

Do you have a FRIEND who:

• listens to you for hours without complaining (sometimes the most stupid things, and be labeled as your 'Crap Bin' for doing the same :P) ?
• Is your must-have companion for places like sheare's supper shop and clubbing?
• Becomes a just-like -that-coming-with-you friend when random guys ask you out for coffee and you don't know how to say no (he also constantly fears that he might someday be beaten by those guys)?
• Gets scolded 10 times a day by you?
• Makes sure you finish your food or finishes it up for you :P?
• You just know is there when you need him?
• Personalizes songs which suit your situation just to lift up your mood and spends nights to find that song? (Actually he wanted to personalize your fav song but it doesn't suit the situation! and it is surprising that he remembers your fav song considering you are a music buff and like almost all songs)
• Accompanies you anywhere you suddenly feel like going?
• Never ever gives a good shot when you are taking a pic with him?
• Is so innocent that you feel like slapping the whole world out of his way?
• Is the only non-drinking person in your group (apart from you) and you thank God! that you have a companion?
• Is capable of making the geographic distances inversely proportional to distance in friendship?
• Constantly asks you 'Whair are we going? hahaha...
• Discusses his self evaluations with you on board a random bus and you wonder how come he feels like that about himself?
• Acts as a catalyst to keep your group as a group and not a cluster of one-to-one friendships?
• Makes you jealous by his ability of gelling well with all kinds of people?
• Has never been seen tired? He is a storehouse of energy
• Falls for the dumb girls around until you finally take up the arduous task of match-making him or atleast approving the girl before he starts dating :P?
• Never studies for exams and becomes a pain in the butt when you try to study? (Still manages to be a dean's lister :P)

I have TUPIN (Thats what we love calling him :D ).. He is the most awesome friend one can ask for..

A very apt line :
"Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few that you should hold on to"..

Tupin is definitely one of those precious few!!! Thanks for everything!!!

Leia Mais…

Memories!!

I walked in the rain today.. Only when it was just drizzling.. Felt good :)

Something has gone into my dreams.. I am getting all memories of my childhood back (and some weird dreams) Sign of missing home, that warmth of my mum, saloni and me planning our next prank..

I wake up in my funny joker night suit and wait for my mum to do her usual waking me up exercise.. She doesn't come!! My taiji comes and tells me she went to Delhi to give exams. I would have been 2 then and for the first time I realized what is being miserable.

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My mum returns after (I didn't know how to count then) ages.. I run away and hide in the corner of my bedroom.. I am happy and scared.. She comes in and I look at her.. She kisses me.. BLISS

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My cousin tells me that it is fun to cut the sofas with the blade my dad keeps away after shaving.. I cut all the sofas and play with their foam (I did it till the age of 5 I think)

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I love ice creams.. My family eats ice cream everyday at night.. My cousin teases me every morning.. I want to stay awake today.. I want ice cream.. I sleep early as usual.. But my other cousin wakes me up and gives me his ice cream ("I know he teases you everyday. You will have ice cream everyday from now on").. It just surprises me how the traits in childhood become one's character in adulthood.. Period.

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I want the gada Hanumanji has.. I really want it! (Come to think of it, I am a Hanuman Bhakt since my birth).. My dad and I search for it.. Its not there in entire janakpuri.. We search almost the entire Agra.. not there.. My dad orders a wholesale order of gadas for me.. I was so pampered by my dad! I still miss sitting on the tank of his bike.. I don't like cars.. I want the Kawasaki Bike he had.. We had it till I was 6!

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I can go on writing.. I love my childhood :D Being in a joint family is the best thing which I could have asked for as a child..

Leia Mais…

Dimaag ka dahi!!

'Dimaag ka dahi' literally means brain becoming yogurt..
I always found this expression very funny until today when I used it for the first time in my life!

In the past 30 hrs, I have watched 12 hrs+ (stopped in the 13th hr) of webcast, prepared for the entire 2nd part of a module, prepared for a presentation and then delivered it, got my internship offer letter with some admin problems which were later settled, sat in a 3 hr long sectional teaching class, slept for only 5+ hrs, had only 2 meals (still so full), given a mid term. When I came out of the test venue I knew the precise meaning of information overload..

While walking towards the mid term venue I used the phrase dimaag ka dahi.. and a ganda followed : If more information is overloaded, the dahi will become Chhaach (The yogurt will become butter milk :P) due to the churning of the brain.

Now.. Its solace.. Awesome weather, feeling of accomplishment and SLEEP.. Need some rest! :)

Leia Mais…

Restless Bug!!

My travel bug is becoming quite restless these days.. I need to go to a different place now! The next destination is home :)

Apart from that, I can't see any other travel till July when I will be going to US.. Till then, keep the bug asleep! But how how how??

I can travel in India but I want to spend time at home this time as I have no idea when will be the next time I will be home again!

I guess I need to find something so that I can travel before July.. Any ideas?? I have my iLEAD internship from Jan to July so don't suggest a holiday in May p-lease..

Leia Mais…

Lounge Music!!

A very soothing remix by Karunesh!! One of those favourite driving music :)

Leia Mais…

Congrats to Obama!!

Congrats to a great leader!! I hope that he can deliver what he has promised :)

Leia Mais…

Too many countdowns to track!!

I have too many countdowns to keep track! Just hope that everything comes out good in the end:

15 days to first exam
25 days to last project submission
26 days to last exam
32 days to NLDS pre meeting
35 days to NLDS
40 days to home
61 days to my internship :)

I am living the countdown every moment!! Really looking forward to the break after the most stressful semester of my NUS life so far!!

Leia Mais…