A crooked life

As my post no. 101, this is a dedication to a new life.

To all those who still read this blog and are still in college, don't be surprised if this turns up in Insignia..

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A crooked life

Exactly a month after reaching the US, I sort of don’t remember how it was being back in India. Now I won’t say that I don’t miss India but I honestly can’t remember how I lived life before this. Cooking your own food, doing your own laundry, spending your own damn money... it’s a very new concept for a person like me who has been living with their parents for the past 22 years. But once you come here, you are suddenly independent, you are suddenly alone and more importantly, you turn into - you. This is what your parents have raised you for. To stand on your own feet. To make something of yourself.

It all dawns on you the first day that you are here. Before that there is a lot of crying at the airport followed by shameless self-indulgence in food on the airplane, especially if you’re travelling alone. A word of advice, on the airplane, don’t ever get talking to people around you (strangers or friends) about your life in India, because suddenly you may just get sad and get the urge to go skydiving without a parachute. Don’t even talk about the future. Talk about general topics like movies, music and books. Or better, keep quiet and watch your in-flight entertainment or just do others a favour and sleep.

The first 24 hours are filled with a lot of numbness and overconfidence. One comes here thinking we can conquer anything.

“Ma’m do you want something to drink?” Orange Juice! Bring it on!
“Ma’m would you like a veg meal or a chicken meal?” Chicken! Bring it oonn!
“Ma’m that would be $5.” That’s a lot. Oh well, I’m going to get a job and start earning soon. Bring it ooonnn!

The numbness is due to the fact you don’t know how to act or react or even be. This happens a lot when you are here, better get used to it. The overconfidence shatters on the orientation day when you start imagining situations of assignments without photocopies and nobody to copy from. Also, you realize the competition that exists for jobs; you just know you cannot even afford to pay for overconfidence. That is when life begins here. And everything becomes second nature to you.

Moving on, every person who comes here comes with their eccentricities, their culture and moreover, their hygiene habits. Honestly, nothing is worse in this world than having a roommate who is a slob. Find some clean people, convince them to come to your university and you are set for the next 2 years.

A month later with no job but with lovely people around me, a lot has changed in me– from inside and outside. You lose weight because of lack of (motivation to cook) food and a lot of walking around because well, you can’t afford a cab or bus ride. How you wish auto-rickshaws existed here as well! On the inside, I am the same but a lot stronger (and numb) in addition to the happy, which is purely dedicated to the people around you.

Wish you all a wonderful life; hope to see some familiar faces here soon!