Fall @ Twin Cities

Fall is beautiful here. I step out, I see the leaves changing color, I breathe in the crisp air. Mundane, daily tasks such as a walk to the bus stop, heading across campus, all of these have more beauty in them. I am trying several, small, new things in my life this year and one of them is to pause in the moment, because as I remind myself, this is my life. There is no waiting for life for when it will start. This is it, here and now.

Saturday mornings as I walk for a meeting for Council of International
Graduate Students (an organization I am really happy to be involved with)

A view of Coffman Memorial Union while waiting for the Campus Connector to
head to West Bank (our campus is divided into East and West Bank)

By the bus stop near my house. It is very close to the St. Paul
campus, which has a distinct layout and charm.

Stereotyping

Stereotyping is a common affliction. I think it is fair to say most of us stereotype and most of us are at the receiving end of stereotypes. The further you leave what I would call a 'home base' (and this may vary from colony, to city, to state, to country), the greater are chances of your being at the receiving end of a stereotype (and of your trying to understand the world by using stereotypes to simplify life). As an international student, I always knew this was something that was going to happen and that I was going to react to it, but I am still surprised by the variation and intensity of both the stereotyping and my reaction to it (as much as I am grateful for all the thoughtful and intelligent and kind people I meet).

Avatar ahoy!

Meet S. My grad school avatar. I have always had an interest in (not necessarily skills in) cartooning and I think this is a good and more productive way to deal with some of the realities of being in grad school. I am looking for help in learning how to sketch better, ideas for an occasional comic strip and suchlike. If you have suggestions or ideas, let me know. Have a great weekend! (You need to click on read more)

Notes from the Judd Fellowship Ceremony

This is my favorite picture :-).
A friend pointed out I have only one
 'funny pose'. Jazz hands.

The impetus to start this blog came when I was awarded the Judd Fellowship - it was one of the suggestions in an email sent out, and I am glad I followed through on the impulse. I am also glad for being able to keep the blog alive (mostly in spurts) after completing my summer field experience. My relative silence implies lots is going on: classes, assignments, tests, some confusing and annoying project selection processes, attending fitness classes at the gym and more.Yesterday was the Judd Fellowship ceremony, where university staff, winners, donors and friends of the fellowship came together at the McNamara Alumni Center (you know when an event is at McNamara, it is a little bit fancy!)

Winter is coming

Winter is coming. I wish it could wait a while. If winter is coming, it must mean the first month back has flown by fast. If winter is coming, it must mean Diwali, Thanksgiving and December holidays are also coming. It means the leaves will soon be replaced by intensely twinkling lights. It means that the blur of assignments, work, exams and proposals, of the weeks of hurriedly wrapped lunchboxes and hastily combed hair, have taken away a month and some of this year. If winter is coming, it means the end of 2014 will also come, and the earth and all of us will be older (except those who won't be). If winter is coming, then it makes me sad, because I just put the final shelf and blanket in my room, making sure the colors and coziness are always there to comfort me. How can winter be almost here, I haven't take enough naps in the sun, I haven't looked at the flowers and trees with the intensity I need to make them memories. I have so many books left to read. I have visits to plan. None of it matters (just as everything does). Winter is coming.

Picture updates

Work desk became much more fun

Dear Diary

Finally Target has journals that I love. Thankfully they are very expensive and so I am unlikely to be carrying these around anytime soon. But they fascinate me.