I am sitting at Logan Airport outside Terminal B10. I have just been kicked off the plane for screaming obscenities at the flight attendants.
Haha, just joking. I would never have the guts to do that. Actually what happened was, there was an electrical problem on the plane and they needed to shut off power and reboot or something. And to do this, they apparently cannot have passengers onboard. Don't even ask me. I am just savoring the last 10 minutes of warmth before I am put onto that over-air-conditioned plane, even if it means sitting and blogging in this decrepit godforsaken excuse of an airport.
...2 hours later....
AH! So the plane has decided that it will not take off before 9 o clock, which means I will certainly miss my connecting flight to State College, which means I will not be leaving today. My flight is going to be at 2:30 tomorrow. What do you want me to say. I dared to think that the weather was nice, so maybe I would have a decent journey. And maybe for the first time, I would actually be there for the first day of classes. But when it is not raining or hailing or snowing, something else obviously has to go wrong, i.e. electrical problems on the airplane. WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN TO ME EVERY TIME...
But honestly though, I am quite sad that we're at the end. For the past week, I've just been holding my breath for Penn State and itching for college to start again. But as I sat in Logan airport waiting for my stupid plane to get ready, the homesickness came crashing down on me. It's been a long summer vacation and I think I've gotten to accustomed to the free life. But three and a half months of summer is starting to feel inadequate. Well, I get to sleep in my own bed for one more night. Yay.
ERLACK What's wrong with me? I should be excited to go to my second (and final) year of college. MCATs are over, as are most of my premed requirements. I get to take cool classes like Hindu philosophy, A Survey of Indian History, Astronomy, and Hip Hop Dance. So what's my problem? I'll tell you once I figure that out.
Anyway, I am planning to write a novel about all the horrible air travel experiences I have had. Please read it and be glad that you are not me.
Sunday, August 23
Saturday, August 15
Rafting on the White Waters
Currently, I have this weird head cold sort of thing where my sinuses are kind of blocked but I don't have a temperature or anything. I can't tell if its due to allergies or a cold virus. It's nothing serious, but the weird part is I get it often when the weather is warm. Weird huh? Well the good thing is I was feeling pretty good yesterday when we went white water rafting!!
It was intense stuff. There were 19 of us total who went--five or six brown families. The unfortunate part was having to wake up at 5 AM (after going to sleep at 2. It's been a while since I've only had 3 hours of shuteye) and driving to Varun's house in Acton in a state of half slumber. And then another lengthy car ride over to the rafting place in Charlestown, MA.
The sun was hot and the water was cold when we rafted off into the Deerfield river, six to a raft. It was me, Praneetha, Mihir, Aditya, Babu Uncle and our guide Scary Larry to the last raft. Scary Larry ended up being a good choice since he let us surf the rapids. During the first one, Mihir got sucked in and almost lost his paddle. A life changing experience.
By the time we reached the last set of rapids, we were total pros. Near the end of the journey, Mihir, Aditya and I jumped off the raft and swam the rest of the way. Never underestimate the power of flowing water. And don't ever try to swim against the current because you will lose.
I'm thinking of designing a video camera that you can attach to your head/helmet when you go on epic trips such as white water rafting or mountain biking. Then you can film stuff. Wouldn't that be sick?
It was intense stuff. There were 19 of us total who went--five or six brown families. The unfortunate part was having to wake up at 5 AM (after going to sleep at 2. It's been a while since I've only had 3 hours of shuteye) and driving to Varun's house in Acton in a state of half slumber. And then another lengthy car ride over to the rafting place in Charlestown, MA.
The sun was hot and the water was cold when we rafted off into the Deerfield river, six to a raft. It was me, Praneetha, Mihir, Aditya, Babu Uncle and our guide Scary Larry to the last raft. Scary Larry ended up being a good choice since he let us surf the rapids. During the first one, Mihir got sucked in and almost lost his paddle. A life changing experience.
By the time we reached the last set of rapids, we were total pros. Near the end of the journey, Mihir, Aditya and I jumped off the raft and swam the rest of the way. Never underestimate the power of flowing water. And don't ever try to swim against the current because you will lose.
I'm thinking of designing a video camera that you can attach to your head/helmet when you go on epic trips such as white water rafting or mountain biking. Then you can film stuff. Wouldn't that be sick?
Sunday, August 9
This is freedom.
Remember at the beginning of the summer, I was talking about how awesome freedom was and how it felt so good to be free after so long? Well that was nothing.
Now, I feel truly free.
My MCATs finished themselves off last Thursday in Burlington. I hadn't spent an extraordinary amount of time studying for them all summer, but it still feels good to be done. But I wasn't completely free even then, because I still had to submit my final paper for my online class. We will return to that later.
So my MCAT lasted from 12:00 to about 4:30 since I opted not to take any of my 10 minute breaks between the sections. After ten bajillion practice tests, it's amazing how much you get sick of the stupid exam and are willing to avoid delays just to get it over with. When it was over, I was going to walk over to the mall. In the winter, I'm always complaining about the cold weather and reminiscing about the summer, so I should be appreciating the warmth, right? So instead, I frolicked around in the grass and ate the perugannam (yogurt rice) that my mom had packed for me to eat during the breaks. Mmmmm yeah
I went home and watched Aakasamantha, a really nice telugu movie. Watch the Tamil original, Abhiyum Naanum, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKbg7rWGQUg. It's sweet and funny. I felt wonderful, but the sense of freedom hadn't quite kicked in until I woke up on Friday morning. I was determined to figure out exactly how I would do nothing all day.
It was a gorgeous day. I pedaled over to the bike path and took several photographs on and off the bike. Yes. I took pictures while on the bike. I came inside. I ate things. I sat around for a while. I ate more things. I made gulab jamun. I went outside and shot hoops with my bro, who beat me twice at knockout. I showered. AND IT WAS ONLY 3:00! What the heck! Does time really go that slowly? I showered. The fam and I went to Madhavi and Shyam's place for dinner and I was pooped beyond all measure when we got back.
Saturday morning brought to Shruti's house for her grad partayy. Let's just say, I burned more calories than I consumed (despite the pie + ice cream), what with the antics and attempted bharatanatyam on the trampoline, netless badminton, volleyball, and Apples to Apples. The party didn't actually end, as we decided to go shopping in Nashua afterwards. I bought my first pair of Chuck Taylors! Turns out, my essay was due at midnight...so when we returned from the mall at about 9:30, I figured it would be a good time to start working on it. I managed to finish it just a little after midnight, as we gave Sushmita a surprise birthday cake. Wow! Procrastination is still exhilarating as ever. Mmmm. This morning, we awoke and went to Woburn to watch Magadheera. That movie was freaking 2 hours and 30 minutes long, damn it. After about 1.5 hours, it was intermission. The American cinegoers must have thought "phew, the brown people are finally leaving the theater..." but of course we piled back in for the second half. It was a pretty good movie. Pran and I went to the Chilakamarris' place for a Pooja/lunch after that. We got back just a couple of hours ago.
So, what am I going to do? I have exactly two more weeks with which to enjoy this feeling of fabulosity. Sometimes I have felt that stress is what defines my life...when I freak about school, when I desperately study for a test, when I rapidly churn out an essay...that's when it feels like I have some sort of meaning in my life. But I guess this is a nice feeling too.
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Now, I feel truly free.
My MCATs finished themselves off last Thursday in Burlington. I hadn't spent an extraordinary amount of time studying for them all summer, but it still feels good to be done. But I wasn't completely free even then, because I still had to submit my final paper for my online class. We will return to that later.
So my MCAT lasted from 12:00 to about 4:30 since I opted not to take any of my 10 minute breaks between the sections. After ten bajillion practice tests, it's amazing how much you get sick of the stupid exam and are willing to avoid delays just to get it over with. When it was over, I was going to walk over to the mall. In the winter, I'm always complaining about the cold weather and reminiscing about the summer, so I should be appreciating the warmth, right? So instead, I frolicked around in the grass and ate the perugannam (yogurt rice) that my mom had packed for me to eat during the breaks. Mmmmm yeah
I went home and watched Aakasamantha, a really nice telugu movie. Watch the Tamil original, Abhiyum Naanum, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKbg7rWGQUg. It's sweet and funny. I felt wonderful, but the sense of freedom hadn't quite kicked in until I woke up on Friday morning. I was determined to figure out exactly how I would do nothing all day.
It was a gorgeous day. I pedaled over to the bike path and took several photographs on and off the bike. Yes. I took pictures while on the bike. I came inside. I ate things. I sat around for a while. I ate more things. I made gulab jamun. I went outside and shot hoops with my bro, who beat me twice at knockout. I showered. AND IT WAS ONLY 3:00! What the heck! Does time really go that slowly? I showered. The fam and I went to Madhavi and Shyam's place for dinner and I was pooped beyond all measure when we got back.
Saturday morning brought to Shruti's house for her grad partayy. Let's just say, I burned more calories than I consumed (despite the pie + ice cream), what with the antics and attempted bharatanatyam on the trampoline, netless badminton, volleyball, and Apples to Apples. The party didn't actually end, as we decided to go shopping in Nashua afterwards. I bought my first pair of Chuck Taylors! Turns out, my essay was due at midnight...so when we returned from the mall at about 9:30, I figured it would be a good time to start working on it. I managed to finish it just a little after midnight, as we gave Sushmita a surprise birthday cake. Wow! Procrastination is still exhilarating as ever. Mmmm. This morning, we awoke and went to Woburn to watch Magadheera. That movie was freaking 2 hours and 30 minutes long, damn it. After about 1.5 hours, it was intermission. The American cinegoers must have thought "phew, the brown people are finally leaving the theater..." but of course we piled back in for the second half. It was a pretty good movie. Pran and I went to the Chilakamarris' place for a Pooja/lunch after that. We got back just a couple of hours ago.
So, what am I going to do? I have exactly two more weeks with which to enjoy this feeling of fabulosity. Sometimes I have felt that stress is what defines my life...when I freak about school, when I desperately study for a test, when I rapidly churn out an essay...that's when it feels like I have some sort of meaning in my life. But I guess this is a nice feeling too.
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Monday, August 3
no more dance? WHAT??
oh BOY
Yesterday was our show, Bhavayami Raghu Ramam. I shall tell you about it. It consisted of several Bharata Natyam pieces, including a varnam (the long, central dance) named Bhavayami Raghu Ramam. This is a song written by the king of Kerala, Swathi Thirunal, in praise of Lord Rama. It essentially tells a compact version of the entire Ramayanam broken up into separate chapters. Our little dance group which consisted of me, Mamtha, Pranathi, Bhavana, and Nityasri divided up the different roles in the Ramayanam for this dance. We also did a Pushpanjali at the beginning and a Thillana at the end. Between these dances, our teacher Jothi Raghavan presented a few solo pieces, also about Lord Rama.
The the whole thing was awesome several reasons:
1. We didn't screw up that much!
2. We actually had an audience! I would estimate about 150-200 people came, and that is incredible considering that we had expected about 30. We were even contemplating locking people inside the building after Neha's arangetram the previous day, but we didn't have to.
3. We got Lindt chocolates as gifts! Caramel!
4. We had a pizza party afterwards! We went to JA's house and I was actually able to eat pizza since I got to change into a pair of JA's clothes (how are you supposed to eat with that belt on ??).
5. It didn't rain! What more can you ask for?
So, yeah, I am rather sad that it's all over. For the past four weeks, the five of us had been attending daily rehearsals for three or four hours and so all of a sudden, there's a lot more time in the day. It's like post-arangetram again--I've got this void to fill. Well right now, I should have no trouble with that...MCAT studying...but still. It'll be weird not seeing Jothi Aunty and the musicians every single day. It has been a very dance-filled summer, what with performing at Martha's Vineyard, Nritya Haram, lighting for Nayaki, doing the little thing at Chinmaya, and then Bhavayami.
My post MCAT plans include:
- going to several amusement parks
- finishing my thesis
- designing a T-shirt
- cleaning my room,
- playing soccer in the rain again
- watching Magadheera (which, by the way, is supposedly excellent)
- attending some more grad parties
- biking to Alewife in a half hour (22 mph FTW). it's gonna be epic
- daily blogging (!!!!).
But now, I have only 72 hours left to study for the MCAT and I guess I should start. After I eat something first. Photographs from the production will appear in my next post.
Yesterday was our show, Bhavayami Raghu Ramam. I shall tell you about it. It consisted of several Bharata Natyam pieces, including a varnam (the long, central dance) named Bhavayami Raghu Ramam. This is a song written by the king of Kerala, Swathi Thirunal, in praise of Lord Rama. It essentially tells a compact version of the entire Ramayanam broken up into separate chapters. Our little dance group which consisted of me, Mamtha, Pranathi, Bhavana, and Nityasri divided up the different roles in the Ramayanam for this dance. We also did a Pushpanjali at the beginning and a Thillana at the end. Between these dances, our teacher Jothi Raghavan presented a few solo pieces, also about Lord Rama.
The the whole thing was awesome several reasons:
1. We didn't screw up that much!
2. We actually had an audience! I would estimate about 150-200 people came, and that is incredible considering that we had expected about 30. We were even contemplating locking people inside the building after Neha's arangetram the previous day, but we didn't have to.
3. We got Lindt chocolates as gifts! Caramel!
4. We had a pizza party afterwards! We went to JA's house and I was actually able to eat pizza since I got to change into a pair of JA's clothes (how are you supposed to eat with that belt on ??).
5. It didn't rain! What more can you ask for?
So, yeah, I am rather sad that it's all over. For the past four weeks, the five of us had been attending daily rehearsals for three or four hours and so all of a sudden, there's a lot more time in the day. It's like post-arangetram again--I've got this void to fill. Well right now, I should have no trouble with that...MCAT studying...but still. It'll be weird not seeing Jothi Aunty and the musicians every single day. It has been a very dance-filled summer, what with performing at Martha's Vineyard, Nritya Haram, lighting for Nayaki, doing the little thing at Chinmaya, and then Bhavayami.
My post MCAT plans include:
- going to several amusement parks
- finishing my thesis
- designing a T-shirt
- cleaning my room,
- playing soccer in the rain again
- watching Magadheera (which, by the way, is supposedly excellent)
- attending some more grad parties
- biking to Alewife in a half hour (22 mph FTW). it's gonna be epic
- daily blogging (!!!!).
But now, I have only 72 hours left to study for the MCAT and I guess I should start. After I eat something first. Photographs from the production will appear in my next post.
Saturday, August 1
Bhavayami Raghu Ramam
it's our dance show on Sunday, August 2nd at the Littleton High School Auditorium, also known as the place where my arangetram took place (and everyone else's). Please come! It has come out really well.
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