Transformed ME!

Never ever..ever as in EVER had I thought I would like to look like this...Never..ever...ever......

This picture was taken today...Football Game LSU Vs Florida here at Death Valley ( LSU College Football Stadium)

I think I am going to get a "little" mischievous while no ones here to watch over me!

Arpitha!

3rd Semester - Mistake or Not Yet!!!

Blogging about my 3rd semester finally.....
Its different from my past 2 semesters in multiple ways :
1. I have taken 5 subjects this semester instead of the normal 4.
2. Had scheduled for CIA exams.
3. Outing with friends has extended from just Friday-Sunday to Monday-Sunday.
Overall, this has resulted in me having a real real busy scheduled not finding time for "myself". I have managed to Fail in an exam!!! Yes yes....I have FAILED.......and not to mention my grades have been consistently dropping in ALL classes...But I am still convinced it was good decision to take more courses this semester..The subjects are very interesting in the first place, I feel this makes this program more challenging for me that what it was already which definitely excites me and yeah multitasking, overloading oneself is part of what my work might be in the future....
I still believe this is a good decision and not a mistake...hope I am right..would take some more time until I get to know....:-)

As off now pretty geared up for next weekend..going for a Camping & Canoeing Trip ( not to mention its my 1st experience) ..hope I update on it sooooooon....

Happy Weekend

Caio,
"BUSY" me.

Frustrated!!!

Come home after a long day ( 8 AM - 9 PM ) and there is no peace at your own Apartment!!! Missing my room and my bed back in India more than ever.


By Far the shortest blog I have ever written!!!

Frustrated,
Arpitha!

Summer 2011 Rewind!

Summer was FUN! Right from the 2-3 weeks break I had before I started my internship to the last 1.5 weeks break before I started my Fall 2011 semester today!

I got to spend some quality time with friends in Baton Rouge, a lot of pot lucks and late night chats. Moving to a new place and meeting new people and in fact having no interactions with people of my origin for 2 months! Planning for a 2 day trip to Houston (NASA space center) and making sure it was a successful one ;-). Visiting places in Dallas right from Malls to Temples all "ALONE". Witnessing IT systems ranging from mainframes to the latest IRIS! Seeing planes take off and land as a part of daily routine. Interacting with different nationals - Nepalese, Spanish, African, American, Chinese, Iranian and many more. In fact living with an Iranian for 2 months with absolute peace, harmony and mutual respect for the traditions and life styles. And yes, visiting Disney World and having spent priceless time with 2k students from different parts of the world. Clearing 2 parts of CIA exam. Watching on an average 1.5 movies each day.

Yes SUMMER was FUN!

Will I do it again ? May be...May be Not...You Never know ;-)

Universally True.....Wherever you go......

As a matter of fact, I had a bitter experience here in Dallas a couple of weeks ago. And at the end of it, I feel this is experienced by many in a new place and I was one of them this time.

I  had planned on going to the Mall to do some formals shopping for my work and thought of using the MetroRail to reach there. I have had good experience with the Rail and was not much concerned to go all by myself. But before I reached the Mall some unpleasant things happened :

1. I panicked on 2 occasions
2. Literally ran away from a person
3. Tripped and fell in the middle of a 4 road junction
4. Was almost dehydrated, fatigued and energy deprived by the time I reached the MALL.

When I think of it, I might not have had such an exaggerated experience had I been in a place I am well acquainted with or rather a place which I think I am in control!!!

It makes me wonder, there has always been the issues with Tourists ( International ) who have had unpleasant experience in India...well is it that it is because it is India or it is that it is a new place for the tourist.......I feel to some extent the latter has a role to  play with the experience..just like my own experience here at Dallas.


P.S : Lessons learnt
1. Have a  A-Z plan, information and strategy before you invade a new territory :-D
2. Don't be over confident and over smart in judging your own decisions on what you can handle ;-)

Fell free to add in your own lessons if any ;-)

Dallas - Kick Start!!!

On June 7th 2011, I ventured into the most challenging and difficult phase of my life. I was moving to a totally new city, state, place, home I had not knowledge about. It was an inevitable thing because I was posted at Dallas office to work as a summer inter for Ernst & Young. A part of me was really excited but the major chunk of it was damn Scared, TENSED and "worried".

I had made the planning and taken the necessary precautions before I moved in, thanks to all the help, support and information I received from my brother, friends at LSU and many more. But still it was a BIG deal because coming to LSU was a smoother transition thanks to all the people at LSU!!!

But who knew, the transition  to Dallas would also be a cake walk!!! Yeah I am sorry to disappoint all those who thought I would be cribbing about Dallas!!!

To begin with I have to mention about my apartment and roommate!! Both are awesome!!! She picked me from the airport, helped me with the grocery shopping and settling in the apartment, provided me with the basic information I needed. Most of all for just been a clean person and having the same requirements of personal space and socializing need like mine!!! :-D

Next comes the commute part. In Baton Rouge, its very difficult and time consuming to use public transport. In fact there are some important places where there in no public commute. On the contrary, I have had a pleasant and wonderful experience with the commute options here in Dallas and makes me feel more independent :-)

I think the 3rd item on the list should be my colleagues here at EY. To date they have been so helpful and understanding and accommodating I couldn't have asked for more!! I shall blog about the work experience may be sometime when I have enough to say.

The 4th one, would be the fact that I was able to visit the Mall and quiet a few restaurants here. I was initially under the assumption that my boundaries would be limited to office alone!!! This is also because I know a LSU Senior who moved to Dallas recently and she has been of great help just like my roommate [Afis]. And at EY all meetings are LUNCH meetings and all events for the EY interns are unbelievably FUN!!


Last but not the least, Texas is HOT in summer but its definitely not HUMID like Baton Rouge so though its summer I still feel I am enjoying the weather and the city a lot.

To make it clear I am not trying to compare Baton Rouge to Dallas, nor am I saying that Dallas is HEAVEN. All I want to convey is the fact I am nowhere close to the nightmare experience I had expected.

More Dallas on the way.......................

Seeing off a friend to India...felt nice :-)

Even before my 2nd semester exams ended..I had some extensive plans on how to utilize the 3 weeks before I leave to Dallas. Then again, nothing works as "planned" ..so all I have been doing is working for 4-5 hours a day, instead of 8 hours, catching up with friends in the evenings...sleeping at 2-3 AM and back to work at 11-12 in the morning. However, today I woke up at 6:30 AM despite the fact that I hit the bed at 3 AM after celebrating a couple of friends birthday. The reason, I got up this early was to see off a friend at the Airport.

I have known him for less than a year, and have had infrequent direct interactions with him. He is moving to a different university next semester and is visiting India before that. This was my last day to see him. Though we are not the best of the buddies, we both are movie buffs and he has suggested me so many movies over the 2 semesters that I felt I ought to see him off.

Once I was in the airport, there was this evil instinct of ditching him and getting into the plane instead of him :-)..but practically it isn't possible! However when I was still cribbing about it, I learnt that another friend of his hasn't visited India since 2002!!! yeah since 2002!!! OMG I cannot even imagine what must be going through that persons mind!!!However sad it may sound that's the reality. I immediately auto corrected my thoughts and felt happy that my friend is making a wise decision by visiting India and transferring to a different university. Wishing him all the best and success in his life..because he totally deserves it for all the hardship he has been through in the past 2 years.

P.S :  I feel no more bad for waking up!!! It served the purpose :-)