Offbeat Tales Of A Crazy Traveler

I had always been a little bit of a nature freak, so like thousands of others, I braved the journey to the famed Colorado. I had absolutely no expectation from this place whatsoever because I believe that having expectations ruins the experience in itself. However, I knew one thing and that was to capture every moment in my head and pen it down to make those memories immortal.

I paid attention to every feeling, every sight, every experience with great detail. I wanted to remember it all. When I started writing this post, I wanted it to be perfect. So I carefully wrote everything I did each day, each minute – my bank account crisis at the airport, getting lost in a city called Limon, taking a ride with a strange old lady to Denver, my hatred for the Colorado public transport system, rafting across the Arkansas rapids in the middle of the snow capped Rocky mountains, the 1250 ft free falling in Royal Gorge, the bicycling across downtown Denver, watching people play chess on the 16th street mall, rappelling down the turtle rock mountain, enjoying the ear-blasting jazz music at Wild Bangkok, the view from Pikes Peak etc. I tried capturing everything.

But despite all my efforts, I couldn’t write this. Whatever I would wouldn’t seem enough, it wouldn’t seem perfect. I wrote pages after pages but I would erase it as soon as I wrote them. What was I going to say about this place that hasn't already been said before? Hence last night, I tore up my article and started writing again.

Only in three days I felt a strange love for this city. It felt like it was my own. But what was the reason for me to feel this way? – The snow capped Rockies, the liveliness of the place, the Arkansas River or my sudden independence? What has this city given to me? Actually the real reason was in my heart for quite some time now; it’s just that my head couldn’t understand it.

It was my oldest and newest friends that made the trip so beautiful in every way possible. To think about it, would the trip be as much fun without - Dina’s classic pictures? Loudly singing to Venga Boys played by D.J Shazaam a.k.a Pandu on the journey to Buena Vista? Keith’s amazing hotel prank on his cow-pal Cheryl? Saumil’s expressions when he fell into the boat while rafting? Teasing Madho and Melo about New Jersey? Me breaking Cheryl’s $ 20 sunglasses AND bag? Eating the horrible horrible Indian food with everyone that closely tasted like rubber? Cheryl’s amazing $2 coupons?

Wouldn’t the trip be less fun if they all hadn’t come? When I first started writing this post I thought that the reason my trip was so amazing was because of the great outdoors of Colorado but now I know that it is actually because of these friends who came from all parts of the country to meet one another.

Sometimes we are so blinded by the larger than life outer perspectives that we fail to see the smaller inner reasonings. Running towards our destination, we leave behind so many things that truly define who we are; which is why I feel that even if for a little while, take time out from your busy schedule and look for that special feeling that makes your surroundings, your life even more beautiful… who knows you might also find friends for life just like me.

remembrance of my days as a captain..

A character without confidence remains a candle without a wick for then there exists no light and no benefit, neither to itself nor to others, for without confidence the best qualities will remain unearthed, lost in the dark. Therefore does it follow that my major strength is my confidence and ability to compete at higher levels in the different facets of my life, be it in the sphere of culture, academics or sports. Confidence and self-belief are areas that are showcased the best in a competitive environment and I firmly believe that competition and the ability to face challenges bring out the best in me.
The post of ‘Games Captain’ was a recognition awarded precisely for my abilities on the field be it in the successful execution of the game in itself or the spirit of sportsmanship, a lesson every competitor must face at some point or the other. The post has given me an opportunity to better exploit my skills and capabilities while developing a sense of understanding and leadership. It has taught me the important lesson of patience while managing people of different tendencies and it was the task of molding the myriad perspectives into a single and unified force that remained my true challenge. The other challenge however was to understand the requirements and ambitions of the student body and how in the capacity of their representative would I be able to fulfill them. A captain has many a hat to don and many a role to essay thus, did I in my role as leader have to maintain discipline while living up to the expectations of my teachers.
Inter-school and inter-college events required a different approach; innovative ideas were the need of the day be it in conducting events or the process of putting our best foot forward. Good opportunities to represent the collective talents of the school had to be identified in which we could best demonstrate our strengths and even hone our weaknesses to potential skills. The abilities of the students had to be kept in mind lest we set the stage for disappointment in overestimating our talents and in the atmosphere of enthusiasm this was also a major challenge.
Organizing the smaller events in the beginning of the season proved to be a training ground to perfect my skills in marketing and people management, which proved useful especially in the execution of the ‘Annual School Sports Meet’, where sponsors were sought after and best appropriation of the funds the number one priority. Thought processes and creative talent were greatly enhanced during the duration of the met while giving me an opportunity to better understand people and relationships in my capacity as a leader.
Success alone does not make a person whole; I believe that it is that which we give back to society that ultimately completes our lives. I do not believe in ‘chequebook’ charity alone but the physical presence that proves to be comforting to many of the underprivileged and destitute of our world. It was the truth of the above that I learnt while being a part of the school outreach programme, when we visited a home for the aged and where people yearned not for our bank deposits but for a word or look that said we cared. The experience I believe has made me a better person as it has made me appreciate the finer things in life such as love and family, it has also added to my knowledge on how to deal with different people and I believe that I am a better communicator because of the same. Another outreach programme acquainted me with people from another spectrum—prisoners in a penitentiary. The interaction with the hardened inmates has had a critical influence on the way I view the multitude of personalities that exist in our society today.
I believe that I can better understand problems that I have fortunately never personally experienced because of the above while again developing a keener sense of understanding as to the different kind of personalities, leading to the cultivation of better relationships with the same. Both experiences have helped me perfect my skills in people management, which I believe, will help me play an important role in the University, particularly in activities that involve teamwork.
Through my experiences as a leader I have realized that life is what we make it. Character and efficiency lend to a person a continuance in whatever that person might undertake while believing in the above I also believe that both contribute to the making of a person and contribute towards all that person may undertake.
In conclusion I would like to dwell on what motivates me in life; I draw inspiration from “Ignited Minds”, a recent book authored by the President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam and I quote, “why given all our skills, resources and talents we, so obviously capable of being the best, settle for the worst”. The premise that the potential for the best is often squandered is one that I would never want to see manifest in my life; thus, do I expect nothing short of the best from life and all it has to offer while making sure that every opportunity life has to offer is undertaken zealously to ensure a personal best every time.

--kshama

Collision of cultures

I had little shivers of delight while driving along Bishop Avenue to attend my first orientation class at SMU, because it was like a dream come true to come to another country and experience thier new culture. I had mixed feelings of excitement and apprehension. Excitement about attending this new University and apprehension about adapting to a new culture, probably very different from the one I was previously used to. It became very obvious that to survive and excel in this country I had to adapt very quickly to this different culture at SMU.

“Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet …” said Rudyard Kipling in ‘The Ballad of East and West’ written in the early 19th century. While the advent of the airplane, telephones, Hollywood and Bollywood, the internet and the human race’s new concept of a Global Community have made the boundaries between the two cultures more porous since Mr. Kipling’s famed essay, the cultures continue to be different. I understood early on that there will be some collision of cultures and that I would have to reinvent myself to become accustomed to the social settings around me.

My education in India mainly consisted of memorization with a lot of emphasis on theory. The curriculum was not only vast, but rigid as well. However, to survive in the country of SMU, I realized that I need to think outside of the textbook and curriculum to compete with my peers. I learnt that SMU offers a very flexible schedule that allows for classes to be chosen at suitable times. This varied class schedule allows for more interaction, which in turn fosters camaraderie and friendship amongst the Mustangs – the citizens of SMU. I had to adapt to being on my toes from the start of the semester because unlike my previous experience, the final grade is dependent on various categories such as, assignments, attendance, class participation, quizzes, mid and final term exams. Punctuality to class is taken very seriously. I was no longer on Indian Standard (or “Stretchable” as most people call it) Time.

Having studied in the conservative environment of a girl’s school, it was very difficult for me to interact with boys on a daily basis. I was taken aback when I saw boys and girls interacting so freely and having relationships considered very inappropriate in India. This same absence of boundaries existed between employers and employees as well. While this lack of boundaries between boys and girls, and employers and employees gave me a big cultural shock, I am very much enjoying this very informal and friendly relationship between the Mustangs.

My fatalistic “As God Wills” attitude would no longer work. Realizing that no one would make decisions for me, I had to cultivate the “Master of my own life” philosophy. I am adjusting to the fact that education will be required to take primary focus of my life at this age. In India I was only accustomed to interacting with students who were typically born and raised in the local city, as opposed to the interaction with students from all over the world in SMU. The global environment is helping me better understand the human race. Appearance is now secondary to performance and there is no time for useless frills. Old world formality is sacrificed for efficiency.

The importance of education is a common thread between the two cultures, both of which believe that education is power. A person without education in today’s world is like a person without any ammunition in a war. Educating both boys and girls is of prime importance in both cultures. Both Indians and Mustangs are very nationalistic and proud of their heritage and traditions.

Even with all the differences I think assimilating into the international environs of SMU will not be difficult. This global culture has evolved out of an effort to be efficient and goal oriented, both of which are the seeds of success in the modern world. The difference is basically the result of one culture being part of the “new world”, while the other being part of a “developing world”. Every other student from the east is going through what I am going through in one way or the other. It is very comforting to know that there are other Mustangs on the same boat. I strongly believe that a person should always mix with other people with different beliefs and values to better understand his own culture. Taking risks and venturing out is an important part of assimilating into SMU. As Albert Einstein said “The ship is safe in the harbor but that is not what it is built for”.