Kuch to log kahenge..

There's a famous line from a Hindi movie song which goes like this, "Kuch to log kahenge, logon ka kaam hai kehna". Not minding their own business, they will always poke into others lives and have a say. I guess that's what being social is now-a days. That's what it meant may be when some elders used to say and even I heard in movies, aakhir rehna samaj mein hai hume. Because these people judge and have an opinion about other's lives.  Today, while reading a news report on Indian express about central govt. employees pensions getting raised, I just scrolled down to read people's comments. I was literally amused to read how conveniently people complained and titled central govt. employees as useless fellows (some even used really bad words for them) and that they don't deserve it. Seriously, so amused to read that. My father too is a retired central govt. employee and I have seen him not coming home for every 4-5 months because he was posted in highlands of Kashmir (even during Kargil war), Maoist prone North-East zones. Coming home after months was a usual routine in our house. We were not blessed to see father everyday like those other civilians children do but I am so much proud of him. He has worked in extreme environments from Kashmir's minus degree temperatures to facing Rajasthan Badhmere's intense desert heat, and many others like my father in the same fashion. And when knowing all this, you read some people calling these central govt. employees names is what really disturbs you. May God give them wisdom!.

Similarly, read another news article today where MTV VJ Bani shared how people have bodyshamed her for having a muscular body. This was specially she faced in India whereas abroad she was much appreciated for her hard work-out. Without knowing anything, and mattering to the person per se, people just open their mouth to speak shit most of the times. I have seen in the IIT itself. It is expected that people in IIT are educated and therefore supposed to have common-sense, alas, they all do the same. Bicker! It seems this is their only way of having fun. 

Some thoughts

As I grow up and higher, it seems life is getting focused. When I was a child* or a college student, honestly telling I never had a goal in my life. Never knew if I wanted to become a doctor or an engineer etc. You know when my father used to say like most of the Indian fathers that Sharma ji ka ladka cracked JEE (Sharma Ji's son has cracked IIT JEE) or Roli aunty's daughter got into AIIMS..I never knew what is that I had to crack. Not enough motivated or may be not aware of all such examinations etc. I was a very good student since my childhood and an all rounder so all I knew was somewhere in my conscious mind that I am not gonna be a mediocre. I will do good one day but what was it, not clear. Slowly and steadily, as days and years passed by, it keeps getting more clear towards my career and goal in life. But it seems it's an ongoing journey, it's never gonna end. In a way it's good, I think the journey is always better than the end, so happy being in this journey for the time being. 

On the other note, I feel little disappointed with the people around. Never meet people who are ambitious and wants to do good with a positivity in their thoughts and mind. In the past few years, have met people who were really good and nice and all, but all of them lacked that enthusiasm, that energy to achieve something, to be the best, that creativity, that adrenaline rush. Nah! I want to really meet people who have a better approach towards life, a better road-map may be. I want to be impressed. Like genuinely.
For now, I am going to get ready for my 3 days Scotland tour. After the city's tour of London, I am looking forward to see what picturesque beauty of Scottish highlands has in store for me.

Cheers
*edited

In Room No. 14

It so happens to me every time I am up for some important work or got some deadlines where I am supposed to not miss even a single minute of my life, I hold the pen (in this case, my blog). It's like before starting something, you need that drive, that rush and that, that I get it here. It's like peace, I don't know how to explain that, but It feels good here..very good.

So, this post actually has no particular agenda or topic, I just wanted to write. It's a holiday today, as it's Saturday. From my room in Walkley, I have a perfect view of the city, I can see distant roads, the cars running on them and further ahead the mountains, the dense clouds and the swaying trees. Sheffield is beautiful, serene and peaceful. I had thought about roaming in the city today as I had the bus pass and the time, but was not feeling really due to body ache and stuff and also because I am very lazy so I decided to stay back and watch South Park. It's a crazy show, man! Eric Cartman sure kicks ass!!

I have already spent 1.5 months here and the same is left ahead. I really like this place. Next week we are planning to go to London. Though I have already been to London before (In 2012) but it would be a good idea to visit again I 'm sure as few of my friends have planned to meet up there. Lets see! The next weekend after London is planned for Scotland, I am really hoping and wishing for that as I have heard a lot about it. Lets see that too.  

Work is going good, made some really crazy friends here, there are almost 10 french interns in my lab and its been great working and hanging out with them especially catching Pokemon with 'em.. I am planning to buy a scooter like Simon and take back to India, and instead of cycling, I 'd go to my lab in scooter.

Simon said he bought it at 50 GBP which is quite reasonable. Apart from all this, I am really enjoying cooking sessions here. Back in India, at my home, I was never expected to cook something as I was considered a disaster of kitchen. Here, as mom or nobody is here to stop me or raise eyebrows, I am a master chef of my own. You wouldn't believe how awesome I am with this cooking thing. I have made pizza, rajma, parathe, pakore and so many delicious thing. Okay thanks to the internet for being there with me but I made all of them tasty and I am so proud of myself. I only had this doubt on me whether I could cook like normal people/girls and this UK trip has certified me as a good cook. I am lovin' it. Anyways, sun has hid behind somewhere in the clouds and it's perfect time for an elachi chai.

Ciao

UK again

Hi Blog,

So, here I am again, in the UK. This time for another kind of fellowship which is Newton-Bhabha Fellowship and I am here for three months. This is the longest that I ll be staying in a foreign land in my life so far. Definitely, I am gonna learn a lot, both intellectually and personally. So, preparing for a trip is a not a term for me, because I am the worst person when it comes to planning or preparation. But, luckily, my good friend Arpit got me into 'preparation-thing' for the trip after scolding, though slowly, but surely. I packed my clothes, 2 days before my flight, now that's a big deal!! Really, Only I know. If it was not him, I would have been preparing till 2 hours before I had to start from the home. Somehow, I managed to start from KGP to Kolkata airport and reached Delhi, having spent 2 days at home, I flew to London and then Manchester. From Manchester, my friend Bhaskar, who was also travelling with me to the university under the same program, (and we met for the first time at Delhi Airport) has a brother in Manchester and London, came to receive and they dropped us in Sheffield. It was a good 1 hour ride of beautiful scenery. They were really nice people, helped us a lot, even making sure we get our rooms and settle, even made sure our first dinner in Sheffield. And then, ....

The beautiful Sheffield

Then the real thing starts, how you gonna live somewhere where you find everything new. I had initial hiccups, I got scared seeing one tall British man who was also in the same accommodation where we were living as we had to share the kitchen with him. He looked scary. Honestly speaking, I  have never cooked, as in real cooking, I could make small small things. I had stints making kadhai paneer or something referring YouTube beforehand. But when it comes to cooking for yourself like everyday and you know if you don't cook you wont get food, as there's no one who will cook for you was a damn scary thought. I had horrible time, digesting this thought and for the first 2-3 days I had hard time sleeping, may be it was a jet-lag or something. But keeping aside those 2-3 days, I kind of got into adjusting into new things, I and Bhaskar got along well, we became friends, He's a really nice telugu guy. Telugu's are really good, funny and intelligent people who likes to mingle. We got into the routine because on those 2-3 days, there was no college and nothing. The college then started, I met my lab mates, Lab seniors of the Microfluidics group in Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. I haven't yet met my Prof. Will, hopefully will meet him in the coming weeks sometime. 

Excluding me, there are 4 more interns (French) and 3 more have joined in. There's a girl Aicha and 3 guys. Simon is really funny, I jus love his sense of humor and he keeps Indian Shahrukh Khan songs in his mobile and I just laugh when I remember how he danced the other day in the midst of our MEA Desorption experiment when our senior went out for a moment. The other two, Alias and Florian are sweet and nice too. I won't be lying if I say I heard correct about French men being handsome :P

Today and day after tomorrow we have a task of making mind maps and other reading stuff, so we can work from home. After having a good 8 hour long sleep, I feel fresh and ready to work. Bhaskar made me a breakfast because last evening we had a fight, lol, so feel good to go.

Oh I forgot to mention, the place is absolutely heavenly, so beautiful and serene. 

Have a good day!

Learnings

           Living alone makes you a better person. It gives you lot of opportunities to learn, teach, grasp, distribute and assimilate. You learn from your mistakes, seriously. No preaching would make you understand and do certain things in a particular way unless you wrong it on the first place. At least, in my case its true.  Till I was a day scholar student, life was easy and uniform, not much troughs and crests followed, but a uniform average was the routine. But, as I live alone, I feel I was so stupid earlier, didn't understand people, their motives, how they put two sides to their face, never knew how to know who is your well-wisher, everybody seemed a friend. But, I am so glad, really, to have lived alone (as a hosteler) and equally blessed to have always met good and kind people in my life.            

          I got to learn a lot, and I think, Yes, I can say that, I HAVE MATURED!, a cribbing I always had in my previous posts from the initial days. I can manage myself on a new place, among new people, different people, people who don't even talk my tongue. I think, I can take care of myself, Yes :)

\m/

O God, O God..!

That time has come, again, and I am also doing the same thing like always. Nothings changed even after promising myself last time that I am not gonna be same.

Few days left, just few days, and I am preparing myself for a  kick-start.
This is a time to be a Superman!
Yes, I am gonna be a Superman for the next 3 days!

Countdown begins? eh! Na, not even that much time left.

Just hope to not sleep it away.

Superman ain't need no seat belt, Go Set Go!!
Winter has Come, Baby!

Day 0

So mission one month is : Conquer Green-Tea (GT)

I know, I just know all the benefits of GT, have always been as I am a biologist, who'd know better than me, knowing the metabolism, pathways, ribosomes and chromosomes it does have a role to play with...I have gone to the sub-cellular levels, wouldn't be boasting if I say , to the gene level..but of what use? None

The curt fact is I dont like its taste. I do not like GT. It tastes so bitter, Yuck!

I am an avid tea loverrrrrr, I would never want to replace my beloved tea, one which is made of good amount of milk, sugar, cardamom/basil/ginger etc etc and boiled above heat for long time to extract all the flavors from the pretty tea leaves.

BUT...! Today i.e. 20.01.2016. I take a pledge, to consume at least 2-3 cups of green tea DAILY. You must be wondering why all this so sudden. So, this was the outcome of my 00:45:47 hrs talk with my brother over the phone. He is to come to India in the month of march and he has already started working on his body. (He always wants to come here fit and fine, so he always does this). While I was asking him what all he is doing, food habits, lifestyle, one thing that I was stunned to know about was GT. He has included this in his daily routine like other people there do. My friend here, she also does drink GT every day and man.. she has really lost weight. It's so evident. That too after she's been home and had so many sweets. And look at me when I come back from home, I become a baby panda :(

I play badminton daily, don't eat rice, avoid the potatoes (which are served here in ample amounts in almost all the vegetables and even in biryani  in the mess), cycle, then why this stubborn layer of fat around my stomach wouldn't budge, despite much workout. Sure, sleeping late and munching snacks at midnight is responsible for it.

But, I need a solution.

And I hope, GT would come right to it. Lets see.

I gotta do this as the Winter is Coming!