In Ireland...

I stepped into Ireland on 9th September 2013. I still remember how the sky looked - serene, innocent, warm exuberance and jiggling laughter all rolled into one. The slight chill added the tinge of suspense and perhaps a pointer of the good things to come. The the years of despair, months of struggle and the days of hope all came to a good ending when I stepped on the soil of Dublin. It has been over two months now and I have come to appreciate what this fantastic place has to offer to an alien. I should say it was love at first sight. The architecture, civic sense, bustling activity and awesome landscapes are indeed a sight to be seen. No wonder, the influx of tourists never ceases!
    Being accepted to Trinity College Dublin was a dream come true. I received this wonderful news around the 3rd week of June 2013 and had no words to express. My parents said they haven't seen me this happy for quite some time :-)  All the time that I spent checking out Google Maps about TCD was indeed true. Thanks to Google for enriching our lives with great access to information! I am simply in love with the college and what it has to offer. The support for students everywhere is overwhelming. The range of activities, enormous. The things to get done, gigantic. 24 hours just seem to whizz away soooo soooonnnn. In fact, I started losing track of time that I spent in college and finishing of course work. It just seems like a few minutes away. And it is not just me. It is the case of each and every student here. Everyone is so involved and so intensely focused on what they do, that they are empowered on their own to achieve the best. They set lofty goals that they attain. They dare to dream big. They dare to soar. They dare to challenge the invincible. This experience of reaching deep into your soul, experiences and life's knowledge is what education is all about. The innate curiosity that we had when we were kids and that was beaten to death with a hard club full of thorns is on its path to rebirth. The gentle nudge from the professors here to wander, seek and dig out the facts, figures and knowledge that is out there but just not thought about, surely expands one's vision. I could keep going on but I guess you get the point!
     One life changing experience that happened was, I came to know that I could cook!!!  Good gracious me :-)  I know what you are thinking. A self-professed geek who can cook. Not in a million years!  Yup, it is true in my case as it turns out. Secretly watching MasterChef on AXN had sowed some seeds of cooking recipes, instruments and creative edge. I have been experimenting with food for the last few months thanks to the facilities offered by Trinity Hall - the student accommodation  that is situated in Rathmines. 5 of us have a common kitchen with all amenities. We had to get the utensils though. That took some time hunting around different shops ultimately Euro2 and Dunnes satisfied my demands. Then it was time to show off. Made a few mashups and took pictures. Sent it home and waited fervently for feedback. Well turns out that it was a surprise for them too  :-D  Nothing beats the feeling of knowing how proud your family is about you. Now they are comforted in the knowledge that I can survive on cooked and clean food instead of drowning myself in junk.
     I was a bit laid back about blogging for some time now. I will start writing more in the coming days.  Watch out this space for more...