Moving On..........

I have been terrified , petrified and what not for a very long time since the thought of moving out of Baton Rouge had hit me hard! [ No exaggeration ]

Well that was the "past" [ I hope so ]. Now if I think of it, my stay here has been so wonderful that asking for more is totally inappropriate. I have completed my studies on time, completed CIA certification, had a part time job [ which reduced my financial burden considerably], had an excellent learning experience, great classes, teachers and classmates, have traveled quiet a bit, did an internship and looking forward for a full time position and to top it all I am a changed person for good [ I think so]. Off course, I have met and made wonderful friends, not to mention how much I have learnt from them as well. Little did I know when I planned to come here that I would get so much of love, care, warmth and happiness from people. It has definitely effected me both for good and for bad. Being an optimistic person I should say its more of good and less of bad :-).

So when it's time to move on to a new place and possibly a new life instead of feeling sorry and sad about what I am leaving behind I want to be happy and content that I was lucky enough that all this happened to me and I got the opportunity to experience it ALL completely! No regrets what so ever [ at least so I don't disrespect what I have received Here in Baton Rouge! Here in LSU! Here in the TIGER Nation ]


Emotional,
Arpitha!

MBA Graduation Gifts!

Well the post title says it all but will try to make it a little bit more interesting.

1.A customized T-Shirt ornament gifted by someone special who is "practical" thinking and who probably would never do something like that ever!

2. A Dear Friend shopping LSU merchandise well in advance so I don't have to buy them!

3. A Friend and MBA senior who gifted 2 personalized coffee mugs instead of 1, so even by chance I break one I still have the other ;-)

4. My favorite Sweets - Kaju Burfi :-), by my roomy . That's what I had immediately after graduations. How "SWEET"!

5. A well thought gift, which will definitely be used in the long run and something I always wanted to have!

Gifts are even more special when you understand the trouble and thought process people take before gifting you... I would say they are just Priceless no matter what!!!Thanks to my friends for gifting me such lovely things :-) Always brings a smile on my face whenever I see them!!! :-)

In Love with Michael Scofield

He is the character in the awesome series "Prison Break" :-)


If only he was not a fictional character! :-)

LSU Flores MBA - Class 2012

We are having our last set of presentations in our MBA class this week and I am thoroughly enjoying it! Each and every presentation has its own uniqueness and a personalized touch to it. I still remember the 1st semester where most of us were still inexperienced with our presentation skills.We were having notes in our hands, constantly reading out from the slides, using repaeted words like actually, now, bascially, moving forward at the beginning of each sentence, leaving a ghost image on the projector, showing our back to the audience and last but not the least having a lost expression on our faces while we were not talking!

Now I get to see people who are confident, dressed up! know what they are talking ( even if they don't, they know how to handle the pressure!!), bring in humor and genuineness into the presentation and most of all address the audience with a smile!

Well I learnt how to read a financial statement, calculate the value of a stock, implement couple of marketing strategies, perform statistical analysis and few other business related techniques! But of all things the MBA has definitely helped me groom my SOFT skills. All credits to the LSU Flores MBA Department and my fellow classmates!!!

Cheers to the LSU Flores MBA class 2012! 

Spring Break 2012- Mixed Bag

Our K-Gang has been planning for an AWESOME spring break trip for close to 2 months. We planned to go to Smokies Mountain, Destine Beach, Arkansas State Park, Mississippi State Park, Texas State Park and last but not the least our very own Louisiana State Park. Then there were plans of going for a night trail in the forest, watch 3-D titanic movie and also the Louisiana special Swamp Tour. No plan fell in place this time due to a zillion reasons :-). So all I got to do during Spring Break was "UN"PLANNED activities.

1. Baton Rouge Zoo - One of its kind and atypical to our Baton Rouge Environment. The group with whom I visited was also different and entertaining. The mishap at the Gas Station, a beautiful "perfect" weather evening and snaking at Sonic.

2. New Orleans (NOLA) - A sudden plan to drive to NOLA in the night and spend the whole night there. A drive filled with Songs such as "Made in India..." & "Dil Chata Hai.."  with friends laughing away to glory! Entering a CASINO for the 1st time ever!!! Gambling as a "Risk averse" group, the dancers "dance" , winning in the slot machines, loosing in the real GAMBLE and at last making sure we get out of there before we are ADDICTED to gambling. Yes, the CASINO visit was again a Typical DESI experience. And back in Baton Rouge having hot coffee in iHOP ;-) and seeing the SUN RISE by our River Levy!!!

3. Houston - Once again a decision taken at the spur of the moment. Booked a car and decided to go to Meenakashi Temple. A 5 hour long drive, beautiful temple with ample time to sit and meditate. Amazing food at Udipi Cafe, a visit to Galleria Mall where we got to see a Fashion Show, man created falls and finally Masala Chai with Cold Chaats! The day was just YUMMY. And off course, I think I "sang" or as my friends say recited songs for 8 hours!!!

4. Ship Island - The only planned item on the list, which turned out to be an unplanned event. The plan was to go to ship island on an hour cruise, rent an umbrella and a wooden bed sit by the beach and read a nice book. Relax with good food and  spend timewith friends. However, all I got to do was to take a short nap along with my friends at Biloxi beach with a mini sand storm! Nevertheless I enjoyed :-).

5. Mauj - Compered for the 2nd time here at LSU for an Indian Fest. Was a descent experience and off course I loved the dinner that was served that night and having good times with friends!

Well Spring Break 2012 was indeed Mixed Bag!

Uagdi 1992............Ugadi 2012!

My grandma holding my hand and walking me towards the temple opposite to our house...making sure I don't open my eyes until I see God's idol on the first day of new year.....Grandpa not eating until he has fed one poor fellow on the first day of new year...wearing new clothes and trying not to cry on the first day of new year...eating neem leaves and jaggery on the first day of new year (so the year is balanced with happiness and sadness)...Well that was in 1992....

Eating muffin with honey as breakfast..calling home to wish them "Happy New Year"....no new clothes to wear...invited to a friends place for lunch....visiting temple all dressed up in the evening..having dinner at the temple and a zillion things running in the head which makes you forget that it is New Year....well that is  in 2012.......

Time changes everything...so true.....


UGADI PICS

Missing Home!!!!
Arpitha

Angola Prison

Found in 1800's. 18K acres of farm land, covered by Mississippi river on 3 sides, 6k Prisoners, 5 camp sites, self sufficient in terms of meeting day to day groceries, bears, alligators, bloody dogs, wolves, dog, cat & camel, 1.5k guards, high security prison in US, Converted from the "Most Bloodiest to the most safest prison".

Visiting the lethal injection room - People executed, eat their last meal, allowed to hug their Moms only.

Lunched in one of the dining hall : Food prepared by  offenders , served by offenders.

Dormitory : Snooker table, Foosball table, Television, phone booths, bunk beds and offenders leading a normal life

Chapel : Listening to an offender who has served 22 years in jail. Seemed optimistic about life - Inspirational.

Museum : Artifacts showcased. Goodies sold.


10 seconds of loosing temper - Serving Life Imprisonment
Choose either to visit a Mom in coma now or attend her funeral - Only one visit allowed
Victims family can see the lethal injection execution
Death penalty take 15-20 years before its been executed
Person on death penalty can hug only his mom. This is for the mom sake not for the prisoners sake.
Allowed to eat last meal of their choice
Person served 27 years in prison, was free to move around on campus, attempted to escape - Now in cell for 23 hours a day! 
Left over food , mixed and baked and again served for the prisoners
Rodeo event 2 times a year - A chance for the offenders to earn some money