Hello bloglings!!
Been ages since I visited. THIS time its not out of the lack of productivity in life or to rant. THIS time, its to write about something that means something to me. A couple of months ago a BIG meltdown led to the start of a positive drive in life. In a big way. Made me realize TONS of things. But most of all it also made me realize that I don't need to realize so many things, ironic as it may sound. Made me realize that life needed to be a lot lighter. With the need to add some feeling.
So, for the most of the years I've spent on this earth, I've always thought of happiness is something you'll have when you get to somewhere in life. Whereas, the BIGGEST epiphany was realizing that its something you have to be able to see all around you. I remember seeing all the 'happy people' growing up and wondering what the hell they were happy about. It made me very bitter to see them experience a happiness that I had no clue how to feel. And instead of coming up with the SIMPLE explanation that maybe it was something I could try, I decided to think of it as this 'enigmatic' thing that 'other' people feel. And decided to not make it that big of a deal in my life. I made misery home. It was easier. Oh well, not much could be expected from a pea-sized single-digit old brain.
Then somewhere around teenage, I can SO VERY CLEARLY remember the place and the point of time when I decided in my head that my life was going to progressively get better. I decided in teenage that my 'thing' would be to be weird. I mean, define 'normal' and 'weird' anyway. Everyone is someone's weirdo afterall. But yeah, I decided that would be my thing. The somewhat outcast, troubled teenager, weirdo. It sounds pretty cliché'd and I'm not sure how many people came up with that. I decided seeing my mother's moods that I would have none. No moods. I shall blindly chase goals (upon achieving which I would also instantly achieve happy) and not bother with emotions. Emotions were for the mere mortals :P
Oh well, that's not a very good longterm plan clearly. Emotions are important. Releasing them is important too. And it apparently feels REALLY GOOD. Being a girl, there are tons of blokes (read manipulative jackasses) out there who will toy with exactly those. I guess that explains how I've managed to be a 'stable', sane girl this long and avoided those jackasses. I have however, also, deprived myself of a real emotional connection. Which was probably not even possible for someone before because of the levels I functioned on. I've decided to aim for 'the middle of the swimming pool' now since functioning on those levels was clearly doing me no good. It satisfied my curiosity and thirst for knowledge. But all that thinking and no feeling made me unhappy as well. Until last year the aim in my life was unbounded knowledge. But there are places for that. Like at work. Or things that interest you. And moreover I feel like knowledge is something that'll find me. I already have the hard work bit nailed. But for now, I'm learning to 'just be'. Who'd have thought something as basic as 'living' would be hard for people :P The lack of goals all of a sudden was just unnerving. And now that I'm living a life without 'expiries' as was pointed out by someone, the adjusting starts.
I've been told that apparently life gets harder along the way. But I seem to be doing things in reverse. I feel like I'll spend the next couple of years just simplifying my life. Growing up we're LOOKING for something complicated. Its almost like I didn't want to accept that things could be easy. However once you're in adult life, you realize that so much of what happens to you is out of your control, that you don't need to look for complexity. Things are pretty complex by themselves. Now you can either choose to look at them and deal with them simply or treat them in the 'complicated'/adult manner you always wanted things to be.
So on crossing the BIG 25, I gifted myself 'belief'!! And HOW it has simplified my life!!! I don't know if it changes the outcomes in my life. But apparently enjoying the journey is important as well! Its not about winning or losing at life! Sometimes you're ahead and sometimes you're not. And that's just how its going to be.
Other important things I discovered were imagination, being unrealistic, humour and dreaming!!!
I'm currently shifting base from misery to happy and it FEELS like THE singlemost HARDEST (yes double superlative! Single superlative doesn't cut it :P) thing I've had to do in my life. And probably feels like ALOT of the things I did in life were just to avoid having to do this. FINDING daily happiness! But whatever the motivation, atleast I know I'm headed in a favourable direction for myself. So, at the risk of sounding new-age hippie, I'd say I'm finding my centre.
I leave you with the song that's been keeping me happy for the past couple of days. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4s3dOn0GfQ&ob=av2e
Hasta la vista until my next update!!
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Stereotypes: Crutches for the unimaginative and lazy 'uns?
Being a loner for as long as I can remember, it should somewhat make sense that I have never really been able to UNDERSTAND stereotypes (if that is even humanly possible, that is) - considering I've met fewer people in my life and hence had too little data to create my stereotyping sets. But I still decided to not stereotype stereotypes as a loner vs. socially advanced thing and to actually try and reason it out. So what IS the deal with stereotypes afterall? How does it even logically, probablistically and scientifically add up that a whole race, gender could have the same personality traits? Similar physical appearances are explained by genes, similar habits by cultural factors/lifestyles, but is there a logical/scientific reason as to how personality traits could be generalized based on race or gender? I think I see Charles Darwin pop his head out of his grave to give me a look of disdain, and yes I agree that I didn't do my background scientific research on this, and hence I AM open to giving evolution its share of credit. However, considering there even IS a scientific reason to it, doesn't making assumptions take the mystery out of the whole process of getting to know someone? Frankly, the whole concept of stereotypes terribly depresses me!
And while we're at it, I couldn't write a post about stereotypes without ranting about sexism. After having dealt with my share of sexism (even the very subtle yet advanced variety wherein sexist comments are slid into conversations as pretty obvious facts) after having 'grown up', I have learnt to deal with it with my own reverse stereotype that says stereotyping is for lazy people with a lack of imagination - much easier to assume you have a person figured out than to meet someone with an open mind and give figuring out the person a shot. Yes yes, I do smell the irony in there but reverse stereotyping the stereotyper seems to have gotten the point across in most cases in the past, juvenile as it may seem. And having mentioned sexism, my honest question is 'What did men ever do to earn them the reputation they enjoy? Does 'winning' by not letting the 'competition'(read, the empty-headed, needy and navigationally challenged sex of women) participate qualify for winning? (Even more so when the competition wasn't even aware of the existence of a competition in the first place)'. Of course, this means that all men are extremely bright, including a classmate who, after doing a whole course on cryptography and hashes, retained only that hashes are reversible; not needy at all, including a male friend, who would get cranky and paranoid if we didn't speak for a couple of days or if I had too much fun without him; not navigationally challenged, including my father who has mastered the accelerator and brake usage in our car and then occasionally remembers to change gears when reminded to listen to the not-so-silent screams of the car being dragged to a speed for two gears above the one it is being driven in. Again, I REALLY had to force myself to think along these lines though it wasn't all that difficult if I switched my brain to 'security'/paranoid mode. Afterall the first step to being a good security professional is to be able to think like the attacker.
So, being a woman, here is my list of anti-stereotype rants.
* I don't like to spend hours shopping while someone waits for me. In fact, I don't like to take people shopping with me at all.
* Surprising as it may be, I drive well. Better than most men I have met. (I don't think they would be very happy with the fact that most men reading this are calling them losers right now)
* I don't like to keep speaking about my emotions all the time. Quite the opposite in fact. I have to make a VERY concious effort to feel and speak out my emotions to people, a part of my constant self-improvement mission, which ironically requires me to make a conscious effort to adhere to the 'Women love to speak' stereotype.
* I don't think there is anything chivalrous about men paying for me, opening doors for me, pulling chairs for me, carrying stuff for me (unless its something too heavy for my tiny self, in which case I would request the help of whoever I'm with, irrespective of race or gender *ahem ahem*)
* I am not confused by the various shiny buttons on my cellphone.
Anyway, all that made my brain cringe with every line I wrote. So this is all the sexist stereotypes I could force my brain to remember.
So, the basic idea I was trying to get across with this post was:
A. Stereotypers, themselves, are the biggest stereotypes.
B. Stereotypers are uninteresting.
C. Stereotyping stereotypers makes me a stereotyper too.
D. By inference, I am uninteresting.
E. This post was probably, remotely interesting, which is why you made it till here.
And while we're at it, I couldn't write a post about stereotypes without ranting about sexism. After having dealt with my share of sexism (even the very subtle yet advanced variety wherein sexist comments are slid into conversations as pretty obvious facts) after having 'grown up', I have learnt to deal with it with my own reverse stereotype that says stereotyping is for lazy people with a lack of imagination - much easier to assume you have a person figured out than to meet someone with an open mind and give figuring out the person a shot. Yes yes, I do smell the irony in there but reverse stereotyping the stereotyper seems to have gotten the point across in most cases in the past, juvenile as it may seem. And having mentioned sexism, my honest question is 'What did men ever do to earn them the reputation they enjoy? Does 'winning' by not letting the 'competition'(read, the empty-headed, needy and navigationally challenged sex of women) participate qualify for winning? (Even more so when the competition wasn't even aware of the existence of a competition in the first place)'. Of course, this means that all men are extremely bright, including a classmate who, after doing a whole course on cryptography and hashes, retained only that hashes are reversible; not needy at all, including a male friend, who would get cranky and paranoid if we didn't speak for a couple of days or if I had too much fun without him; not navigationally challenged, including my father who has mastered the accelerator and brake usage in our car and then occasionally remembers to change gears when reminded to listen to the not-so-silent screams of the car being dragged to a speed for two gears above the one it is being driven in. Again, I REALLY had to force myself to think along these lines though it wasn't all that difficult if I switched my brain to 'security'/paranoid mode. Afterall the first step to being a good security professional is to be able to think like the attacker.
So, being a woman, here is my list of anti-stereotype rants.
* I don't like to spend hours shopping while someone waits for me. In fact, I don't like to take people shopping with me at all.
* Surprising as it may be, I drive well. Better than most men I have met. (I don't think they would be very happy with the fact that most men reading this are calling them losers right now)
* I don't like to keep speaking about my emotions all the time. Quite the opposite in fact. I have to make a VERY concious effort to feel and speak out my emotions to people, a part of my constant self-improvement mission, which ironically requires me to make a conscious effort to adhere to the 'Women love to speak' stereotype.
* I don't think there is anything chivalrous about men paying for me, opening doors for me, pulling chairs for me, carrying stuff for me (unless its something too heavy for my tiny self, in which case I would request the help of whoever I'm with, irrespective of race or gender *ahem ahem*)
* I am not confused by the various shiny buttons on my cellphone.
Anyway, all that made my brain cringe with every line I wrote. So this is all the sexist stereotypes I could force my brain to remember.
So, the basic idea I was trying to get across with this post was:
A. Stereotypers, themselves, are the biggest stereotypes.
B. Stereotypers are uninteresting.
C. Stereotyping stereotypers makes me a stereotyper too.
D. By inference, I am uninteresting.
E. This post was probably, remotely interesting, which is why you made it till here.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Pointless post
So I've been in thinking mode for a few weeks now and I feel the urge to ramble on over trivial matters. And since I couldn't think of another human being who would be interested (considering people generally have a life), my blog shall bare the brunt of my nomadic thoughts.
Well thinking mode was pretty overdue considering its been 4 months since I last proved useful to this world. And knowing me, feeling useful directly reflects on self acceptance which directly affects level of unimportant brain activity. Sigh. Realization. Thou art quite the bitch. For starters, its 2 am. Weather's pleasant. The only sound I hear is my own typing and the occasional car passing by. Was supposed to go jogging tomorrow morning as part of my (not so) sudden need to feel healthy, however can't sleep due to a flooded brain. Current feelings include feeling stuffed (from a two part dinner consisting of leftover food from lunch that I couldn't stop myself from binging on before dinner, and the actual dinner that I couldn't resist either), too many thoughts whizzing around in brain (I can almost hear them buzzing around like flies), anxiety (reason : increased heart rate, indirect reason : flooded brain) and alot of other feelings along the same lines. I know matters have reached a tipping point when I feel the need to blog! We have a code red situation at hand.
I wrote my first blog post around two years back when I was dealing with a deadly combination of Manipal withdrawl symptoms and welcome-to-the-real-world realizations. Alot of the first year involved the same feelings and even though they still come back with a vengeance every once in a while, I think they just wore themself out. So now, two years later, after having finished with my Master, I am faced with more dilemnas and less realization. I have more trust in my instincts and less insecurity, one more degree, a couple of gray and white hair, more knowledge, more conviction and alot more money that I owe my father. Most of all, I feel alot more grown up now, much against my will......
Ok so the overwhelming feelings overwhelmed me and the threads of thought were too entangled to separate and write about (A situation I find myself in very very often). Its two days later now. And I'm pretty much in the same situation. Feeling a little less rattled this time. I had planned to go on about what it is that was filling my mind but, lets just say that code red's over and the concerns that caused it are just not as overwhelming anymore.
Wow! This blog gets more and more meaningless with every post \m/. My sympathies if you just spent 10 minutes of your day reading this thinking that it would make some sense by the end. In my defense, that's how I intended for it to be when I started writing it.
Here's hoping this blog gets a little more meaningful and significant sometime in the distant future
Well thinking mode was pretty overdue considering its been 4 months since I last proved useful to this world. And knowing me, feeling useful directly reflects on self acceptance which directly affects level of unimportant brain activity. Sigh. Realization. Thou art quite the bitch. For starters, its 2 am. Weather's pleasant. The only sound I hear is my own typing and the occasional car passing by. Was supposed to go jogging tomorrow morning as part of my (not so) sudden need to feel healthy, however can't sleep due to a flooded brain. Current feelings include feeling stuffed (from a two part dinner consisting of leftover food from lunch that I couldn't stop myself from binging on before dinner, and the actual dinner that I couldn't resist either), too many thoughts whizzing around in brain (I can almost hear them buzzing around like flies), anxiety (reason : increased heart rate, indirect reason : flooded brain) and alot of other feelings along the same lines. I know matters have reached a tipping point when I feel the need to blog! We have a code red situation at hand.
I wrote my first blog post around two years back when I was dealing with a deadly combination of Manipal withdrawl symptoms and welcome-to-the-real-world realizations. Alot of the first year involved the same feelings and even though they still come back with a vengeance every once in a while, I think they just wore themself out. So now, two years later, after having finished with my Master, I am faced with more dilemnas and less realization. I have more trust in my instincts and less insecurity, one more degree, a couple of gray and white hair, more knowledge, more conviction and alot more money that I owe my father. Most of all, I feel alot more grown up now, much against my will......
Ok so the overwhelming feelings overwhelmed me and the threads of thought were too entangled to separate and write about (A situation I find myself in very very often). Its two days later now. And I'm pretty much in the same situation. Feeling a little less rattled this time. I had planned to go on about what it is that was filling my mind but, lets just say that code red's over and the concerns that caused it are just not as overwhelming anymore.
Wow! This blog gets more and more meaningless with every post \m/. My sympathies if you just spent 10 minutes of your day reading this thinking that it would make some sense by the end. In my defense, that's how I intended for it to be when I started writing it.
Here's hoping this blog gets a little more meaningful and significant sometime in the distant future
Saturday, October 24, 2009
The Ladder Theory Corollary
For those who know about the ladder theory (which was introduced to me 5 minutes back in a very interesting conversation with a friend), you have to agree it must have been postulated by a guy, for it doesn't quite explain quite well the Woman's Rating System. For those who don't please refer http://www.laddertheory.com/
Here is my version of what would be the woman's perspective on the ladder theory
I propose the addition of a third ladder called the 'Goto Ladder' in addition to the two ladders mentioned (http://www.laddertheory.com/ladderconstruction.htm). And this would be the one a woman uses when classification against the other two ladders gets a little tedious and monotonous (hence the name). In some cases, standard ladder criteria may also be narrowed for the Goto Ladder. Experience shows that the younger of the female species would sometimes altogether avoid the Real Ladder in the hope that the Goto Ladder might just continue onto the former. However the theoretical destination of the Goto Ladder would be an absolute nothing that is yet alot better than the 'Abyss' at the other end.
Now the more interesting hypotheses are formed when we assume the 'unintended' end to the Goto Ladder i.e. the connection to the Real Ladder.
Scenario 1: Friend Ladder leads to Goto Ladder leads to Real Ladder
Considering the fact that men and women can't be just friends is, in fact, true, this would mean that every guy placed on the Friend Ladder is actually either fooling a woman that he's fine being placed there or is using this ladder in the hope to cross over to either of the other two ladders. Hence, it can logically be assumed that all interactions with Friend Ladder residents involve some disillusionment and deception. However, the importance of this stage cannot be stressed enough in order to climb all the way to the Real Ladder
The more interesting Scenario 2: Goto Ladder leads to Friend Ladder to Real Ladder
It helps sometimes to get the initial attraction out of the way in order to ensure a deception free Friend Ladder climb.
This is what it may seem like to the untrained eye. However, after some keen insight, it will be pretty clear that there must indeed be some deception involved at the Goto Ladder in order for it to progress to the Friend Ladder. If both parties truly abided by the Goto Ladder guidelines, it wouldn't lead to the unintended end.
Moral of the story : Deception is not always bad
Disclaimer: 1. The facts stated in this post don't necessarily reflect my personal opinions on a normal day but they seem to make infinite sense to my current intoxicated self.
2. More importantly, the author is, under no circumstances, to be held responsible for the disastrous circumstances that unravel upon use of this theory by you love deprived 'When Harry met Sally' worshipers.
(Hope to blog soon with saner posts)
Here is my version of what would be the woman's perspective on the ladder theory
I propose the addition of a third ladder called the 'Goto Ladder' in addition to the two ladders mentioned (http://www.laddertheory.com/ladderconstruction.htm). And this would be the one a woman uses when classification against the other two ladders gets a little tedious and monotonous (hence the name). In some cases, standard ladder criteria may also be narrowed for the Goto Ladder. Experience shows that the younger of the female species would sometimes altogether avoid the Real Ladder in the hope that the Goto Ladder might just continue onto the former. However the theoretical destination of the Goto Ladder would be an absolute nothing that is yet alot better than the 'Abyss' at the other end.
Now the more interesting hypotheses are formed when we assume the 'unintended' end to the Goto Ladder i.e. the connection to the Real Ladder.
Scenario 1: Friend Ladder leads to Goto Ladder leads to Real Ladder
Considering the fact that men and women can't be just friends is, in fact, true, this would mean that every guy placed on the Friend Ladder is actually either fooling a woman that he's fine being placed there or is using this ladder in the hope to cross over to either of the other two ladders. Hence, it can logically be assumed that all interactions with Friend Ladder residents involve some disillusionment and deception. However, the importance of this stage cannot be stressed enough in order to climb all the way to the Real Ladder
The more interesting Scenario 2: Goto Ladder leads to Friend Ladder to Real Ladder
It helps sometimes to get the initial attraction out of the way in order to ensure a deception free Friend Ladder climb.
This is what it may seem like to the untrained eye. However, after some keen insight, it will be pretty clear that there must indeed be some deception involved at the Goto Ladder in order for it to progress to the Friend Ladder. If both parties truly abided by the Goto Ladder guidelines, it wouldn't lead to the unintended end.
Moral of the story : Deception is not always bad
Disclaimer: 1. The facts stated in this post don't necessarily reflect my personal opinions on a normal day but they seem to make infinite sense to my current intoxicated self.
2. More importantly, the author is, under no circumstances, to be held responsible for the disastrous circumstances that unravel upon use of this theory by you love deprived 'When Harry met Sally' worshipers.
(Hope to blog soon with saner posts)
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Slumdog Millionaire
The biggest compliment I could give this movie is that it motivated me enough to want to write a blog post about it!! Considering how unmotivated I still am to keep up with the blog, I think that's quite a compliment.
I must say I am really impressed with the direction!! There's something to the movie that makes it very real. And I'm pretty sure its not the script! The script seems like a very desperate attempt to weave someone's vision into a sequence of events. However, sticking to the good things, its been shot amazzzingly well. I'm no expert at this but the camera angles..brilliant!! Special mention to the first half of the movie that shows the slums. Don't think I can find any flaws in their potrayal of the life of a bunch of slumdogs. Very real and very moving! The characters feel like someone you may have come across sometime in life. And for some strange reason, they all look familiar!!?!? Many people seem to be bothered by the fact that the slumdogs suddenly start speaking in english but it didn't seem to bother me too much.
Am also absolutely impressed by the child actors, both the young and adolescent Jamal. Great job guys!! And obviously the adult Jamal who spoke tons when he didn't speak at all (that's supposed to be a good thing btw). I really like his character's undying belief! I think you admire most in others what you yourself lack :)
My favourite bit about the movie is easily the background score. Especially that lingering haunting music everytime Jamal and Latika meet. Which brings me to the last scene which was also my favourite part of the movie (however stereotypical this may sound). And even though this has probably been done in alot of other films, I like the idea that when he's crossing platforms to get to her, he relives all the important moments of his life. Even if it has been done before, it either wasn't potrayed this well or maybe I just didn't notice. And since that tune has been in my head the whole day I checked it out and its called 'latika's theme'. One discovery led to another and I realized A.R.Rehman is the genius behind this!! Why am I not surprised.
There's a version of the song with lyrics called 'Dreams on fire' but I'd vote for the other verion anyday!
Other tracks that are also pure genius
Mausam & Escape
Paper Planes!!!!!
0...Saya (signature A.R.Rehman work..ordinary by his standards)
About the main point the movie's trying to make...that it was all his destiny...welll....like I said, am not a very big 'believer' but I guess the movie just gives hope that good things do happen..amen!! :)
(Now I'm inspired to read the book)
I must say I am really impressed with the direction!! There's something to the movie that makes it very real. And I'm pretty sure its not the script! The script seems like a very desperate attempt to weave someone's vision into a sequence of events. However, sticking to the good things, its been shot amazzzingly well. I'm no expert at this but the camera angles..brilliant!! Special mention to the first half of the movie that shows the slums. Don't think I can find any flaws in their potrayal of the life of a bunch of slumdogs. Very real and very moving! The characters feel like someone you may have come across sometime in life. And for some strange reason, they all look familiar!!?!? Many people seem to be bothered by the fact that the slumdogs suddenly start speaking in english but it didn't seem to bother me too much.
Am also absolutely impressed by the child actors, both the young and adolescent Jamal. Great job guys!! And obviously the adult Jamal who spoke tons when he didn't speak at all (that's supposed to be a good thing btw). I really like his character's undying belief! I think you admire most in others what you yourself lack :)
My favourite bit about the movie is easily the background score. Especially that lingering haunting music everytime Jamal and Latika meet. Which brings me to the last scene which was also my favourite part of the movie (however stereotypical this may sound). And even though this has probably been done in alot of other films, I like the idea that when he's crossing platforms to get to her, he relives all the important moments of his life. Even if it has been done before, it either wasn't potrayed this well or maybe I just didn't notice. And since that tune has been in my head the whole day I checked it out and its called 'latika's theme'. One discovery led to another and I realized A.R.Rehman is the genius behind this!! Why am I not surprised.
There's a version of the song with lyrics called 'Dreams on fire' but I'd vote for the other verion anyday!
Other tracks that are also pure genius
Mausam & Escape
Paper Planes!!!!!
0...Saya (signature A.R.Rehman work..ordinary by his standards)
About the main point the movie's trying to make...that it was all his destiny...welll....like I said, am not a very big 'believer' but I guess the movie just gives hope that good things do happen..amen!! :)
(Now I'm inspired to read the book)
Thursday, December 18, 2008
WeekEnd of SKI !!! - Les Deux Alpes
12th December '08 5:00 pm
I'm supposed to be in college by now but instead I'm halfway there with 4 huge bags stumbling to make it to college somehow. Luckily, not too far from home I run into Barkha who took her bags from me. So we reach college running to find NO ONE! And we're thinking that MAYBE they left without us :P. Long story short, we do manage to get to the bus somehow and manage to avoid the dirty looks coz apparently we weren't the only people to get that late...phew!!
The bus journey was fun as usual. Spent with some great music and 'The Alchemist' (which I'm starting to find a little irritating). And then there was Troy which was pretty cool!! Brad Pitt can do wonders (can't imagine it was the same guy in Fight Club). Annd so we reach the place and its frikkin' cold(as expected). However, after a while didn't seem all that bad.
13th December '08
So the D-Day arrives when I have to put my non-existent ski skills to test. Genius that I am, I left my wallet at home but with some help from Barkha I managed to rent the equipment. Fact: Ski boots are insanely heavy. And funnily but not surprisingly I was given a pair of skis for kids :P. And so we march our way over the ski slopes and it takes me some time just to be able to stand in one place with the skis on. Once that's accomplished I realized there is this setup that helps you get to the top of the slopes. Its this pole with a disc at the end hanging from a line that goes till the top of the slope. You're supposed to put the disc between your legs and hang onto that till you get to the top. Now I see people ahead of me in the line falling left, right and center and so I was really proud of myself when I managed to do it in one go and was feeling, all hopeful that maybe I won't be that bad afterall. FALSE! I reach the top and I can't stop for some reason and I fall. And with Barkha's bad luck, she was right behind me and she falls as well coz there's this big lump(namely me) lying in her way. Fact: getting up after you fall down while skiing is NOT easy.
ROUND 1: So I somehow stand up and I'm moving around and before I know it I'm sliding down the slope and I CAN'T stop. And I decide to enjoy it initially coz it felt nice that I was sliding down the slope. The amusement doesn't last too long though coz as I approach the bottom of the slope I remember that I can't stop. So I try all the techniques that I had been 'briefed' about like trying to stop with your poles, spreading the skis apart and alot of other funny stuff but I gave up pretty soon and then started searching for a comfortable place to crash :P. And just there, like it was a blessing from God, there was a pile of snow right in front of me so I crashed there in style!!! For round 1 that felt great! A very nice lady next to me decided to help me back up and after spending 5 mins to find one of my ski poles buried in the snow I head back to the top of the slope.
ROUND 2: I make it back up to the top without falling and doing it a little more non-chalantly this time, again feeling really good about myself. Not to last for too long. I did manage to stop this time without falling but yet again I feel myself rolling down the slope. And soon I have reached a speed where I wouldn't want to fall to stop myself. So I decide to be all brave and make this one work! And I did pretty well this time. Reached the bottom and the stopping technique only helped to slow down my speed but that was good enough. Now I feel I've gotten a hang of this and that I have control of where I'm going. FALSE!! I try to bring myself to a dead stop from the little speed that I was in and the next thing I know I've fallen face down into the snow right next to a bunch of kids. :P. I stand. I shall try again!!
ROUND 3: I reach up again, fully determined this time NOT to slide down as soon as I reach up. And I manage to do it for a good 3 mins. I'm just skiing around on the top WITHOUT slipping. But one bad turn later, I'm again on that uncontrollable journey back down. This time I don't want to go all the way down so I try real hard to stop halfway through by spreading out my skis which results in me falling on my face again :D
I stand up and ski down the remaining part of the slope pretty well. And I stopped too!! This time we head back up so we can go to a more advanced slope! Going to the advanced slope was a task in itself but I'll spare you guys the details coz I think the falling and standing is getting a little monotonous now. So we are now at the top of the advanced slope. Which seemed pretty scary from the top. So I waited for the slope to be empty so I can go down and it took quite some time for that to happen as people were littered at the beginning of the slope. Everyone brave enough to head down wouldn't make it too far :P. When its finally my turn, I am told to take it slow on the relatively flat part of the slope and then stop. Didn't quite happen that way obviously. I head down as usual, and after a while I'm too scared of the speed I'm in and I SIT down :P. And this is the story of how the new style of skiing was invented. To stop I fall in an awkward position and bend almost 270 degrees to take off my skis. THAT's the story of how I hurt my back. And the reason my flourishing skiing career came to a halt after the very first day. I am however, still, determined to give it a shot again. Its pretty cool!
The most interesting part was to see these little kids ski and they were soo much better than us and all we would do is stop and watch them, feel stupid about ourselves, and then continue with the cycles of climbing and falling and standing and climbing.
We then all decide to go upto the top of the mountain just for the experience and it is by far THE COLDEST place I have ever been to. You can expect that at 3000 m above. There was a time when I was too scared to move bcoz the winds were so strong that I was being pushed by them and I felt that if I would move I would go straight down. It was a very crippling 5 mins. And after a few lame attempts at photos we came back. I couldn't feel my hands and my face anymore and I felt that if I would have stayed any longer I would have frozen!
Dinner after that was nice. I tasted the Raclette for the first time and even though it was delicious it was too heavy! I was done with the eating business within 20 mins and after that just sat and watched people around me eat for the next 1 hour after that. Boy, these people can eat!! Also, the chartreuse before dinner was pretty good. Its a traditional french drink in the mountains and even though I didn't think it was too alcoholic and thought it almost tasted like hot chocolate, people seemed to think otherwise. So either my tastebuds have gotten too accustomed to alcohol or I was too tired to notice it. I'm hoping its the latter.
14th Decemeber '08
Quite an uneventful day compared to the previous one. Since I couldn't go skiing we went walking around the town. Interesting, but I really wished I was up in the slopes. However, I was told later that the weather wasn't too good for skiing the second day. So that was that. We headed back to Sophia in the bus and it was fucking raining all the way through. This time we watched Seven(Brad Pitt doing a great job again!) and Jungle Book(brought back childhood memories). Basically, the trip was great fun save for the spoilsport rain. Can't wait to work on my ski skills again! A bientot ski station!
I'm supposed to be in college by now but instead I'm halfway there with 4 huge bags stumbling to make it to college somehow. Luckily, not too far from home I run into Barkha who took her bags from me. So we reach college running to find NO ONE! And we're thinking that MAYBE they left without us :P. Long story short, we do manage to get to the bus somehow and manage to avoid the dirty looks coz apparently we weren't the only people to get that late...phew!!
The bus journey was fun as usual. Spent with some great music and 'The Alchemist' (which I'm starting to find a little irritating). And then there was Troy which was pretty cool!! Brad Pitt can do wonders (can't imagine it was the same guy in Fight Club). Annd so we reach the place and its frikkin' cold(as expected). However, after a while didn't seem all that bad.
13th December '08
So the D-Day arrives when I have to put my non-existent ski skills to test. Genius that I am, I left my wallet at home but with some help from Barkha I managed to rent the equipment. Fact: Ski boots are insanely heavy. And funnily but not surprisingly I was given a pair of skis for kids :P. And so we march our way over the ski slopes and it takes me some time just to be able to stand in one place with the skis on. Once that's accomplished I realized there is this setup that helps you get to the top of the slopes. Its this pole with a disc at the end hanging from a line that goes till the top of the slope. You're supposed to put the disc between your legs and hang onto that till you get to the top. Now I see people ahead of me in the line falling left, right and center and so I was really proud of myself when I managed to do it in one go and was feeling, all hopeful that maybe I won't be that bad afterall. FALSE! I reach the top and I can't stop for some reason and I fall. And with Barkha's bad luck, she was right behind me and she falls as well coz there's this big lump(namely me) lying in her way. Fact: getting up after you fall down while skiing is NOT easy.
ROUND 1: So I somehow stand up and I'm moving around and before I know it I'm sliding down the slope and I CAN'T stop. And I decide to enjoy it initially coz it felt nice that I was sliding down the slope. The amusement doesn't last too long though coz as I approach the bottom of the slope I remember that I can't stop. So I try all the techniques that I had been 'briefed' about like trying to stop with your poles, spreading the skis apart and alot of other funny stuff but I gave up pretty soon and then started searching for a comfortable place to crash :P. And just there, like it was a blessing from God, there was a pile of snow right in front of me so I crashed there in style!!! For round 1 that felt great! A very nice lady next to me decided to help me back up and after spending 5 mins to find one of my ski poles buried in the snow I head back to the top of the slope.
ROUND 2: I make it back up to the top without falling and doing it a little more non-chalantly this time, again feeling really good about myself. Not to last for too long. I did manage to stop this time without falling but yet again I feel myself rolling down the slope. And soon I have reached a speed where I wouldn't want to fall to stop myself. So I decide to be all brave and make this one work! And I did pretty well this time. Reached the bottom and the stopping technique only helped to slow down my speed but that was good enough. Now I feel I've gotten a hang of this and that I have control of where I'm going. FALSE!! I try to bring myself to a dead stop from the little speed that I was in and the next thing I know I've fallen face down into the snow right next to a bunch of kids. :P. I stand. I shall try again!!
ROUND 3: I reach up again, fully determined this time NOT to slide down as soon as I reach up. And I manage to do it for a good 3 mins. I'm just skiing around on the top WITHOUT slipping. But one bad turn later, I'm again on that uncontrollable journey back down. This time I don't want to go all the way down so I try real hard to stop halfway through by spreading out my skis which results in me falling on my face again :D
I stand up and ski down the remaining part of the slope pretty well. And I stopped too!! This time we head back up so we can go to a more advanced slope! Going to the advanced slope was a task in itself but I'll spare you guys the details coz I think the falling and standing is getting a little monotonous now. So we are now at the top of the advanced slope. Which seemed pretty scary from the top. So I waited for the slope to be empty so I can go down and it took quite some time for that to happen as people were littered at the beginning of the slope. Everyone brave enough to head down wouldn't make it too far :P. When its finally my turn, I am told to take it slow on the relatively flat part of the slope and then stop. Didn't quite happen that way obviously. I head down as usual, and after a while I'm too scared of the speed I'm in and I SIT down :P. And this is the story of how the new style of skiing was invented. To stop I fall in an awkward position and bend almost 270 degrees to take off my skis. THAT's the story of how I hurt my back. And the reason my flourishing skiing career came to a halt after the very first day. I am however, still, determined to give it a shot again. Its pretty cool!
The most interesting part was to see these little kids ski and they were soo much better than us and all we would do is stop and watch them, feel stupid about ourselves, and then continue with the cycles of climbing and falling and standing and climbing.
We then all decide to go upto the top of the mountain just for the experience and it is by far THE COLDEST place I have ever been to. You can expect that at 3000 m above. There was a time when I was too scared to move bcoz the winds were so strong that I was being pushed by them and I felt that if I would move I would go straight down. It was a very crippling 5 mins. And after a few lame attempts at photos we came back. I couldn't feel my hands and my face anymore and I felt that if I would have stayed any longer I would have frozen!
Dinner after that was nice. I tasted the Raclette for the first time and even though it was delicious it was too heavy! I was done with the eating business within 20 mins and after that just sat and watched people around me eat for the next 1 hour after that. Boy, these people can eat!! Also, the chartreuse before dinner was pretty good. Its a traditional french drink in the mountains and even though I didn't think it was too alcoholic and thought it almost tasted like hot chocolate, people seemed to think otherwise. So either my tastebuds have gotten too accustomed to alcohol or I was too tired to notice it. I'm hoping its the latter.
14th Decemeber '08
Quite an uneventful day compared to the previous one. Since I couldn't go skiing we went walking around the town. Interesting, but I really wished I was up in the slopes. However, I was told later that the weather wasn't too good for skiing the second day. So that was that. We headed back to Sophia in the bus and it was fucking raining all the way through. This time we watched Seven(Brad Pitt doing a great job again!) and Jungle Book(brought back childhood memories). Basically, the trip was great fun save for the spoilsport rain. Can't wait to work on my ski skills again! A bientot ski station!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Manipal Memories
Ok I wrote this post long back but didn't post it coz it needed a little editting
So anyway here's the post for 22nd November coming a little late.
Today is the day I have the opportunity to wear the coveted graduation dress and advertise to the world that I finally have a degree for four years of absolute mayhem. From struggling with the last five minutes to scribble the diagrams and tables in an assignment to this absolute intoxicating feeling of freedom every time I went to end point. Sadly, I won't be able to make it due to financial/geographical/time constraints. So I decided to dedicate today's post to that lovely psychotic feeling called Manipal. Manipal always felt like the end of the world to me. It made me feel extremely safe and yet there was occasionally this electric feeling of risk and uncertainty that gave me this sadistic pleasure. (I have a feeling that by the end of this post people would be convinced that I should be taken to an asylum. For those who want to do that please make sure I'm dumped into an asylum in Manipal or else I ain't going.)
So anyway, I remember the very first day I went to Manipal, in a beaten down taxi trying to find a place to stay in Manipal itself, something that I now know is clost to impossible without prior booking. And I remember feeling nice about the place right from the beginning. I'm pretty sure it had something to do with the fact that it was going to be the first place I would stay 'all by myself' but I would like to believe that the place had a big part to play in that as well. And why wouldn't it, the place is full of students!! You can feel the openness and freedom in the air. And since I was already pretty sure I was going to have a great time in this place, I dived into things quite early instead of aquainting myself with the place and the people, which used to be the strategy until then. However, I don't think I was still fast enough compared to some of the other people. The countless first year stories are evidence of that(the reaffirming fact being that I was hardly IN any of them..atleast that's what I THINK so..). First year was really special. The excitement and adrenaline was something we kept searching for all through 2nd year and by 3rd year we were convinced that it was just something reserved for 1st year and would never come back again. From spending numerous nights on the 1st block terrace with Alpana and Manisha(doing alot of 'prohibited' things.....being there in the first place being one of them..of course we never snuck out of there which is something we had only heard of), talking about how the hell we all ended up in Manipal, to feeling so priviledged every time we got to step out of the hallowed gates of the 1st block hostel (yes, we were few of the 'good' ones who followed ragging rules). From wasting countless evenings/nights in the library chatting/doodling/staring at hot guys(the only opportunity we got to feast our eyes on the 'good stuff') to actually studying there once in a while and enjoying that as well. From all the dinners we had in those cosy huts in 'Thaloors' to transforming KMC into our hang-out where we would 'party' every night. And alot of other stuff that is too much information for this post :P. Of all my years in Manipal, there is something really special about 1st year.
I miss so many things about Manipal. 1st block, my room, 204!!!, the terrace, the ridiculour gossip!! (don't miss the common bathrooms too much though), 13th block, 229, 503!!, all the other rooms where I spent endless hours wasting time and disturbing its residents, the laughter sessions in Manisha's and Tutu's room and the various hilarious Bollywood songs I was introduced to over there, the never ending 'chat' cum 'Cup Noodles'(courtesy Alpana) sessions in 503 with Vyanne and Niya, which would begin at 12 and end at 5 in the morning (all of us being fully aware of the time), ALLLL the eating joints in Manipal that have kept me alive for 4 years :D, the not-so-occasional parties in 3rd and 4th year, Reetesh's birthday surprise when Hardik started knocking on his own door even though it was supposed to be 'locked' from outside (lmao), the crazy classes where no one would be listening to the professors (coz they were probably playing Cows and Bulls or Noughts and Crosses or solving CAT packages sitting in the last bench), the bike rides with Meghana to end point, the innumerous Monopoly/Life/Dumb Charades(with Bichhoo and Cobra gang) nights in last sem, the Hide-and-seek games at Shambhavi, and most of all some great times spent with someone who was always there all through college(there is too much to be written here so I'll save you guys the trouble).
Andd now I think I have written too much even though everyone who lived it would know it wasn't enough. (And since I have written an expanded Hallmark card I will finish in keeping with the theme.) At the end of my 4 years in Manipal I can say that I Lived!!
So anyway here's the post for 22nd November coming a little late.
Today is the day I have the opportunity to wear the coveted graduation dress and advertise to the world that I finally have a degree for four years of absolute mayhem. From struggling with the last five minutes to scribble the diagrams and tables in an assignment to this absolute intoxicating feeling of freedom every time I went to end point. Sadly, I won't be able to make it due to financial/geographical/time constraints. So I decided to dedicate today's post to that lovely psychotic feeling called Manipal. Manipal always felt like the end of the world to me. It made me feel extremely safe and yet there was occasionally this electric feeling of risk and uncertainty that gave me this sadistic pleasure. (I have a feeling that by the end of this post people would be convinced that I should be taken to an asylum. For those who want to do that please make sure I'm dumped into an asylum in Manipal or else I ain't going.)
So anyway, I remember the very first day I went to Manipal, in a beaten down taxi trying to find a place to stay in Manipal itself, something that I now know is clost to impossible without prior booking. And I remember feeling nice about the place right from the beginning. I'm pretty sure it had something to do with the fact that it was going to be the first place I would stay 'all by myself' but I would like to believe that the place had a big part to play in that as well. And why wouldn't it, the place is full of students!! You can feel the openness and freedom in the air. And since I was already pretty sure I was going to have a great time in this place, I dived into things quite early instead of aquainting myself with the place and the people, which used to be the strategy until then. However, I don't think I was still fast enough compared to some of the other people. The countless first year stories are evidence of that(the reaffirming fact being that I was hardly IN any of them..atleast that's what I THINK so..). First year was really special. The excitement and adrenaline was something we kept searching for all through 2nd year and by 3rd year we were convinced that it was just something reserved for 1st year and would never come back again. From spending numerous nights on the 1st block terrace with Alpana and Manisha(doing alot of 'prohibited' things.....being there in the first place being one of them..of course we never snuck out of there which is something we had only heard of), talking about how the hell we all ended up in Manipal, to feeling so priviledged every time we got to step out of the hallowed gates of the 1st block hostel (yes, we were few of the 'good' ones who followed ragging rules). From wasting countless evenings/nights in the library chatting/doodling/staring at hot guys(the only opportunity we got to feast our eyes on the 'good stuff') to actually studying there once in a while and enjoying that as well. From all the dinners we had in those cosy huts in 'Thaloors' to transforming KMC into our hang-out where we would 'party' every night. And alot of other stuff that is too much information for this post :P. Of all my years in Manipal, there is something really special about 1st year.
I miss so many things about Manipal. 1st block, my room, 204!!!, the terrace, the ridiculour gossip!! (don't miss the common bathrooms too much though), 13th block, 229, 503!!, all the other rooms where I spent endless hours wasting time and disturbing its residents, the laughter sessions in Manisha's and Tutu's room and the various hilarious Bollywood songs I was introduced to over there, the never ending 'chat' cum 'Cup Noodles'(courtesy Alpana) sessions in 503 with Vyanne and Niya, which would begin at 12 and end at 5 in the morning (all of us being fully aware of the time), ALLLL the eating joints in Manipal that have kept me alive for 4 years :D, the not-so-occasional parties in 3rd and 4th year, Reetesh's birthday surprise when Hardik started knocking on his own door even though it was supposed to be 'locked' from outside (lmao), the crazy classes where no one would be listening to the professors (coz they were probably playing Cows and Bulls or Noughts and Crosses or solving CAT packages sitting in the last bench), the bike rides with Meghana to end point, the innumerous Monopoly/Life/Dumb Charades(with Bichhoo and Cobra gang) nights in last sem, the Hide-and-seek games at Shambhavi, and most of all some great times spent with someone who was always there all through college(there is too much to be written here so I'll save you guys the trouble).
Andd now I think I have written too much even though everyone who lived it would know it wasn't enough. (And since I have written an expanded Hallmark card I will finish in keeping with the theme.) At the end of my 4 years in Manipal I can say that I Lived!!
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