Fire on the mountain, Run run run!!

I know you might be feeling that all(or at least most) of my posts are about running. Well, yes, maybe.But that is because running teaches you so many lessons.
One of the biggest lessons is appreciation and being down to earth. No matter how fast others might be, they don't mock your pace. They know that you will get there. They appreciate that you have got past the laziness and have donned your shoes. They know what it takes to be out there and challenge yourself!
I have been participating in quite a few events here in Bangalore. Every event, I have seen these super fast runners who finish and come back to pace the finishers. They cheer you up :) It is in those moments you realise how a little bit of cheering and appreciation can make a difference.

Here is a pic from Anandayana 2013, where these little kids were cheering all the runners! "Fire on the mountain, Run run run!!"

The Calculus of Friendship- Review

I read this book by Steven Strogatz called The Calculus of Friendship-  What a teacher and student learned about life while corresponding about math. It was ~150 pages and kind of expensive. But totally worth it!!
The two days that I spent in reading that book were a pure bliss. I was so immersed. I was amazed at the elegant proofs in it. The way the student and teacher bonded over letters was something which struck me from within. The book also portrays how the teacher was ever enthusiastic to learn from his student. You might come across these proofs elsewhere, I am sure. But the approach was a smooth transition. Their discussions over letters, how they progressed from math to life, will just leave you thinking for quite some time. 
I could not stop thinking about two of my maths teachers. Before I could tell them how grateful I felt to be their students, they passed away. I could not come to terms with it for long time and tried to find peace. I would just spend days cursing myself. I hope they somehow know how I feel about it. 
If you are a person who loves math, enjoys reading, solving problems in an elegant way, this is THE book I would recommend. If you are from a non math background and happen to read it, please let me know your views.
I would like to thank one of my friends, Prasad, for suggesting this one. :) 

KannadA

Yes, it is Kannada and NOT Kannad!! I have no idea why people conveniently miss the last "a". 

Staying in Bangalore makes me happy because a lot of people speak in Kannada. It feels like home. It for sure is a bliss, as I have been away from home since almost 5 years.I am getting used to understanding Bengaluru Kannada as mine has a "slight" gult influence. My colleagues would definitely frown at the "slight" aspect though.

I felt shy to speak in Kannada with people in insti because I thought the slang was different etc. I have overcome that and it feels so natural now. I am thankful to my friends* for that. I feel like a local to some extent and easily converse with auto guys or shop uncles. Talking of auto uncles, the mere thought of taking an auto was a nightmare in Chennai and life is peaceful here because there is a meter in every auto and it works! =)

*friends= fellow Embracers :) 

Time Management and blah

I thought that I would have loads of time to write blog posts, once the internship starts. I have been proved wrong. Well, not exactly. I do have time, but I don't know how it just flies off!
I have been reading this book, Getting Things Done and I must say, it is great. If you want to get things done by yourself, then this is the book. If  you want to organize all your stuff etc, this would be a good start.
With the added responsibilities in my life, this is helping me.

Now all that apart , I wonder if this is how life would be once you start working in an office.
I have no clue how 4 months have passed already. But I am glad that I have some significant memories to take back. :)
I have been reading Steve Job's book and it just never ends!
Super Freakonomics was awesome! The facts and the way they were presented. Amazing.
The Zahir was a soul healer. The zig zag way? No comments.
That was 3 book reviews in short. :P
Also, here  is a fun event with the Engineering team :D
P.S: This is one thing crossed off my "inbox".

Engineers go for a field visit

So we went to Bijapur. 520 kms from here. 6 of us. The boring part ends here.
It was such an insightful trip. We split into 2 teams each having a Kannada speaker. Yes, it was me for one group!

We met 2 users. One of them stays ~45 kms away in a tiny village. Just 4 "houses" around theirs. We received such a warm welcome. As soon as we sat down, after washing our legs, the mother placed her 3 months old baby in my lap. Wow! Never did I hold such a small baby. She was wearing a new frock as "doctors" from Bengaluru were visiting them. They offered us some lemons and made poha.

The whole feeling can't be explained in mere words. The looks on their face, the happiness, the gratitude can never be forgotten. It is a feeling which one should experience. The whole visit has strengthened my resolve to contribute to the society. To work for the bottom of the pyramid. They shared their feelings and the connection we made, would last forever.

Good old Embrace diaries. 

Not a pessimist

After coming to Bangalore, I started to miss insti facilities. The free roads, internet, hostel and even mess!
That is when I realised, I would miss Bangalore when I go back to Chennai. I have decided to make use of this opportunity to the core.
I have joined swimming. I have tried running on one way roads. I have tried running on athletics track. I am trying to cook and looks like I am getting better at it. I have tried bowling and loved it, thanks to my classmates!
I fall short of words as I try to describe the place where I am working. It is purely awesome. I have met a lot of people and everyday is such a good learning experience. I think this deserves a new blog post.

In these moments, life tends to remind us, it is a bed of roses with thorns thrown here and there. It is in these moments we must step back and look at the bigger picture. Remind ourselves that good and bad times just follow each other. I have learnt to tell myself that there will bad days. That I need to learn how to deal with them. And yes, this isn't pessimism.

P.S: I want to say more. But some messages are better left for the others to think and reflect.

Goals for 2013

Goals, or rather things I want to do. Not resolutions as such, which tend to increase stress levels. 
I am going to keep in mind the hyped up placements, preparation, CAT, TA work, courses etc. This time it is going to be a lot about balance, spending time in activities which I love, and yes, a break from the innumerable series that I watch. Well, not a complete stop to the series. That would be insane. 
I am pretty excited about going to Bengaluru for 6 months. Maybe I can refine the way I speak Kannada. I have heard a lot about the place, would like to explore and visit a few places. (@wingies-plan the weekends!) 
I plan to run 500 km, that comes to like 10km per week, which is generous. Without the injury, I managed to do 20k in some weeks. (Only run, not run walk)
I want to read 15 books. Reading Challenge 2013. Just like last year. This time I will write the reviews. Coming to writing, around 40 blog posts would be my target. 
I want to volunteer for an NGO, hit the gym, relearn swimming(I know there is no such thing, but yes), lose the fear of riding a bicycle on the main road(gives me heart attacks!).
I hope I can accomplish them. The regular stuff is always there, grow as a person, try not to bother about simple things, minimise expectations(from everyone, everything)

Another year nears an end

2012 nears an end. Pretty happy with how the year went.
Saarang was fun with friends. I had lot of time as I was not a coordinator this year. I participated in some competitions(Face Painting!)
Then came the placement treats from seniors, some still pending. The most awesome Summer Internship as a Teaching Assistant followed. My article about the awesome internship was put up in The Fifth Estate here.

Once the sem started, we guys were unable to believe that we were The Fourth Years! Ah, so many treats, dinners, "Choreo Nite", much awaited domino's one plus one offers and the list goes on.
I tried Hapkido classes for 2 weeks. Packed that as I could not give time to running. I signed up on www.dailymile.com. Logged 176 kilometres till date. Got high on running several times(yes!). That was one awesome feeling!  And then, overtraining led to an injury. That got me pretty low. I was depressed often. Also, as the sem began,  Preeti and I started conducting training runs on Saturday mornings. We organised 3 5k races in addition to the innumerable saturday runs throughout the semester which got so many people into running. I also helped her and the Chennai Runners in organising The Wipro Chennai Marathon. They are awesome,down to earth, studmax achievers! We would be expanding the activities of insti runners club even more in the coming semesters.

The reading challenge was something which I took up in September end. 11/15 books done. Inspiring books I came across.
Some people were inspired by me. That feeling was great. 
There were some issues in my personal life which tormented me and I broke down many times. But they ended up making me a stronger person. I think they are meant to do that. I ran 10k in TWCM, thanks to the injury which miraculously vanished a day before the race.
And then the placements of my batchmates. They rocked! Those few days for sure gave me jitters about the next December.
It was an eventful year. Happiness and tears, highs and lows, surprises and letdowns had their share. But that's how life is right?