SMC 2009 Graduation Weekend March 29, 2009

The graduation exercise is a public celebration of self-achievement. As I watched each graduate marching down the aisle and going up the stage to receive the certificate, I can only imagine what went through his/her mind. I don’t remember much about my own graduation during high school or college. There was a myriad of thoughts for sure: Man, I feel stupid marching like a horse; Darn! I wish my armpits would stop sweating; Can’t believe it.. no more agonizing exams; Well, I hope I don’t fall flat on my face when I walk up those steps; So sad, everyone is going to leave everyone soon.

These pictures brought back some of my own memories of the past. Maybe they might of yours, too.

Falling Slowly March 24, 2009

 Falling Slowly
(Glen Hansard)

I don’t know you
But I want you
All the more for that
Words fall through me
And always fool me
And I can’t react
And games that never amount
To more than they’re meant
Will play themselves out

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We’ve still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You’ll make it now

Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can’t go back
Moods that take me and erase me
And I’m painted black
You have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It’s time that you won

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We’ve still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had a choice
You’ve made it now
Falling slowly sing your melody
I’ll sing along

* * * * *

If you haven’t watched the movie “Once”. Watch it! Plenty of music for the restless souls. This song is like a soothing balm.

Almost March 23, 2009

Tomorrow 8AM. Last exam. Statistics. Aiya.

A few more days and the semester will be over. This weekend is a special one. Final year students will be marching down the aisle with their black robes and a proud look on their faces. I will miss the friends who would be leaving the campus upon Commencement, heading for their respective homes and assuming roles and occupations that they have been trained for during their stay here.

I envision myself too in their shoes. And I can’t see where I will be when and what I’ll do then. Plan, plan, plan. I use to say. Well, I don’t feel like planning anything anymore. Unless it’s my next meal or my next travel destination. The sequence of events the last many months defied conformity to any prior planning no matter how cockadoodle-sure you are of the turnout.

I shouldn’t label a detached feeling as negative. We shouldn’t fear detachments from the norm and the familiar. Never be confident of the ground that you stand on. It may turn out to be just an island that can disappear at a snap of a finger or at a blink of an eye. It may just turn out to be a mirage in a middle of a desert.

To me. There is nothing wrong to be negative. If the cup is half empty you would strive to find the source of water, bring your cup over and make sure the cup will be full again. Sometimes being overly positive brings you an overconfidence that is unrealistic. Building an empire of egocentrism within.

Aiyo. What the heck am I’m pointing to? I don’t know.

Hence. Almost.

Daund, Pune March 15, 2009

Almost a month ago, we visited a rural school in Daund for a weekend. Only today I managed to edit some pictures for uploading. Daund is a small town about 2-hours drive southwest of Pune. There are several schools established by ISSA which is founded by a welfare-minded, educator cum economist, who has a vision of providing urban education for rural children at an much affordable fee. It was a good weekend getaway altogether.

Mary Memorial High School

The view outside one of the classroom. Pretty kan?

Teachers of MMHS after the seminar we attended together.

Kitchen staff preparing delicious foods.

US!

One of the campus kids that attended the morning program Saturday.

School girls doing errands at Bhima River (if I’m not mistaken).

Gateway into the bullock market. Interesting sight.

Hill trekking. Very dry grounds. With plenty of thorny bushes around.

Watering dry grasses :)

The Week Before Finals March 13, 2009

1. Days are still zooming by. Eventually I did finish one term paper. Two more to go. And I just realized there’s another unfinished reading report consisting of seven damn-long chapters! Aiyoyo, tambi.

2. My first exam is on Wednesday. Then an exam each day thereafter (except weekend) till Tuesday next week. I’m pleased with the schedule.

3. I should learn to stop grumbling. Do what can be done within my ability despite the expectations and leave the rest for the universe to swallow.

4. Picked up tickets from the travel agent today. I’ll be home soon! Been daydreaming about fish-ball noodle soup.

5. Wow, it rained today – the first since November. It cooled the earth and anchored the ever-flying dust to the ground. Early summer heat is dreadful. What more in April/May when walking out there feels like being baked literally under the sun.

6. Currently reading “Statistics for the Terrified” by John H. Kranzler. Wished I had this book earlier. It would have eliminated all those unnecessary fear of numbers. Still cradling some in my bosoms. My mid-term grade looks like pants with a tear right there on the butt.

7. Saw a glimpse of Holi celebration in the streets. Children make good subject of photography – naturally. Missed taking photos.

8. Attended a farewell meeting of a friend without saying good-bye.  All goodbyes are temporary parting.

9. Do you believe in destiny or fate?

10. A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects. (Lazarus Long)

Marching On March 10, 2009

1.  It’s been a  whirlwind of a semester. Finals coming up in about a week. I still have at least three term papers to type and several assignment to be strangled and buried. Then I can pretend normalcy and prepare for the exams.

2.  My laptop finally came back to me in one piece. Well, almost one piece… The guy who helped me sort things out discovered that the operating system was originally for Vista. Those people who sold me the laptop installed Windows XP instead. Maybe cause it’s cheaper? He found this out when he reinstalled all my “Windows XP” drivers. Some of the drivers were neither compatible nor functioning. Took him at least two days to figure out the puzzle. He cautioned me, no more reformatting in the future. Doesn’t do any harm to be reminded frequently that the world is full of quack-y people and products. Sigh.

3.  I love books. Surround me with them. Even with my eyes closed they seem to always give me a ray of light when I’m in the pits.

4. Summer heat is on already. I can feel it burning my skin even at 9 in the morning. By April, the heat is known to keep people off the streets until the sun sets.

5. Homecoming to look forward to sometime in April. Can’t wait to call my dad Sigot in his face :D And drive my white, dented Kelisa to the nearest beach.

6. Contemplating on whether to get a haircut or keep it long. Or wear an Afro wig. Don’t know what to do with my current hairstyle. It’s neither long nor short.

Laptopless March 2, 2009

Does that sound like a legit word? Laptopless? Well. I’m still laptopless and I do feel like a limb of mine is missing. Luckily I’ve been kept busy especially the last two weeks with some help needed at our department that the lose doesn’t really feel that bad.

One thing for sure, I will need to go look for my supplier once I come back to KK and demand from them for my installation CDs whatever they are.