h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Feb 1st 2002 marks SIX months from the day i set foot on American soil (1st August 2001). So u can say it is a sentimental day for me! I celebrated this day with sitting in a corner and reminiscing about how it was back home and everything there!! I was also wondering at how much life has changed since then!!

This is actually a differetnt kind of TAMU DIARY... From the number of replies i used to get to my descriptive mails (ZILCH) i understand that wasting time to read about someones experiences is not a fun thing!! So relief from that drudgery!!

Six months is a long time to change ones views and stuff, but i am no more enmoured by this country then I was when I came. lot of new things to learn in this period, lots of myths exploded in my face, lots of taken-for-granted activities (eg cleaning the bathroom!!) are now becoming a routine. Cash purchases are OUT OF QUESTION. No guy here has more than 10 dollars in the pocket. Credit cards are for everything!!

One semester of American Education has left a sour taste about the very many shortcommings in our education system. I think that is more because of the APATHY that abounds there that we all loose interest eventually to really benifit more than a certain degree in our quest for a Bachelors degree.

It actually feels so much at home yet o far away. Only we guys here can understand this duality. Believe me I never felt more Indian than here. I also appreciate American Professionalism. They care a damn about ur accent/colour/race... what matters here to survive is how good u r and how u can benifit the organisation.

To cap the end of the year... vacationed in Florida.Smoky Mountains... saw dallas... saw loads of movies,,, I guess Monsoon Wedding is one of the more classy movies in recent times.. Mira Nair touch!!

This is a new year and new adventures and new stuff... looking forward to Mardi Gras... next week!! Job scene is terrible... as can be seen from the space stalls at our career fair.. I didnt get even enough pencils/pens to cover2 months...wheras last time round I had enough that i never had to BUY anything ... refils and leads were out of question...courtesy CAREER FAIR!!

I saw a couple of ABCD type of movies... American Desi...Inscrutable Americans, Chalo America, Bolywood Calling and its so hilarious and touching to be able to see movies whose storylines we can relate to now.. never in India. I started playing racquetball this semester. Its a game like squash and its tiring and SO MUCH FUN!! the guys make me run like hell and then finishing it off with 30 mins in the jacussi!! The perfect way to end Saturdays....

Thats about it for now... please comment to this mail so i'll know whether to send more or not Finishing with a motivational quote:
" In pertaining to letting go of: "Should of", "Could of", "Would of", Thoughts/Regrets... Yesterday ended last night."

Warm Regards
RAGHU
TAMU, TEXAS
[email protected] www.raghudon.com
www.picturetrail.com/raghudon : Lots of new Photos
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" The life of a moral man is plain and yet not unattractive, It is simple, and yet full of grace, It is easy and yet methodical. He knows that accomplishment of great things consists in doing little things well. He knows that great effects are produced by small causes. He knows the evidence and reality of what cannot be perceived by senses; thus he is enabled to enter in to the world of ideas and morals."