The last day...

No matter what, the last day of any journey is a really special one. The journey might have been a bad or a good one and consequently the last day is either a moment of relief or a moment of nostalgia but it is surely special. In both the cases however, one always looks forward to making it better the next time. Journeys such as an internship in a foreign country have luckily remained for me such that the last days are filled with nostalgia. Coming to Purdue has changed me forever. The amount one learns in a research internship is measureless. The pleasure of meeting intellectuals and people who are the best in what they do leaves such a positive impact on your mentality that even the darkest corners of your mind and heart are flooded with optimistic ideas. These are the moments which make me feel grateful for all those days where I slogged when I wanted to play, was busy thinking about puzzles when my mind wanted to wander like the blithely flying birds and every time I calmed myself down when I heard comments like “You’re a nerd!” or “Stay at home! Loser”

Life has added so much more meaning to my very existence. Although, I still do not know whether we have a purpose in this life or we just happen to be alive, but having a goal definitely gives you a sense of growth and direction. Inevitably, the future is always hazy but there seems to be a path: A path which I can walk even in the darkest and the most depressing hours of my life and feel safe, a path which is similar to those school days corridors where I spent my entire childhood. Those corridors! Full of life, innocence and intellectual growth. Now with this life of research, I think I can experience those corridors once again, just with one different ingredient - Adulthood.

I believe as adults we take our childhood too casually at times. Just remembering it because there were lesser responsibilities. I feel there is much more to ruminate over about one’s childhood than just think about it as a responsibility-free period. I believe, one can actually discover one’s way of life by realizing what (s)he really wanted to do as a kid. Although I wanted to be a rickshaw driver but well I am sure your childhood had a little more self-esteem than mine. Jokes apart, I have been an incessant talker since I was a kid. Be it intellectual debate (1%) or random crap (99%) I have always loved to discuss on various topics. I realized I could take this a step further by investigating my own arguments. It then led me to organize my thoughts and in parallel I fell in love with classical physics (Yes! I need to specify ‘classical’ otherwise these engineering physicists will sit and laugh -_-). In this world of remix and interdisciplinary research my actions naturally amalgamated my childhood habits with my love for physics and a geek was born. A geek that took me places literally and metaphorically.

We all have such a person hiding in us, just waiting like a guy is waiting for his dream girl, just waiting and expecting from you that one step of courage to make your move and waiting to change your life forever …Such a change that even on that last day of your journey when you are sitting alone in Starbucks sipping your coffee, that person within you is happily feeling that calm one feels sitting on Marine drive, allowing you to enjoy your own company, making you feel liberated.

The US visa..

6th sem began with me trying hard to get my NOC re-done as soon as possible (1^st January, 2013). I was so excited about the US trip I booked my flight tickets on 31^st December,2012 even before getting my NOC. A pretty good deal but with a great risk: The tickets were non-refundable and I had not got my visa approved yet. Anyhow, I as always wanted to finish off things as soon as possible. Got the NOC in a day and submitted all the documents. My head was totally into the paper work and also subconsciously aware that I had to do much better in this semester. 

Trying to keep balance between paperwork and acads, walking on the tightrope, finally DS2019 arrived on the 22^nd of January. My excitement had no bounds. The envelope of Purdue University was classy and elegant. Ebullient as I was, I decided to get the interview dates just a week before the mid-sems. I couldn’t wait for the mid-sems to get over. It was a nightmare to think about the visa getting rejected. I booked my interview for the 14^th of February. What a day to choose!

Decided to go to Kolkata, as the acceptance rate was high there or so I was told. That whole consulate experience was very interesting. Went there at 8 am, waited for 2 hours, got in the line, 3 people got rejected just before me and I was shitting in my pants.

I went there:
The officer asked “Undergraduate from IIT Guwahati?”

I replied a faint “Yes “

“Okay so what’s your work gonna be?”

“3D printers”, I said.

“Can I 3D print my car?” he asked

“Ummm..that’s exactly my research work, you might just be able to, if you allow me to go there”, my heart was beating fast.

He looks at me, smiles and says, “Congratulations sir, your visa to the United States of America has been approved!”

Just 2 minutes I thought! I was allowed to go out and there was a light smile setting on my face. United States of America buzzed in my head in that sweet city of Kolkata!