College Hunting, Hostel Life, Nostalgic phase and more

After finishing my +2, my father questioned me, as it is usual, about my future prospects. Since I have always wanted to study Psychology, we began pursuing colleges in Kathmandu that taught so. My father and I hunted down the colleges, but never found any suitable ones that focused on Psychology. I mean to say, the colleges never had any majors particularizing on Psych. So, we concluded that since there were no suitable colleges here, we would look in another place. As during our holiday in India few years ago, my father had mentioned that it would be a suitable place to study owing to the familiarity with our own country, it was final. India was the place I would be studying, He consulted with a cousin, who had studied in Bangalore before, and made us acquainted with a dealer and that was it.

I was on a plane to Bangalore after some few weeks and was admitted to Jain College soon thereafter. It is not the only option left to me as I was already a month late. The cousin before mentioned that Christ and St. Joseph’s were one of the best, and we were actually planning to get through; but somehow the admission didn't work through. After admitting me to a hostel near the college itself and helping me get acquainted for a few days, we bid farewell and I was left on my own.

The Hostel Life

The great thing about staying in a place near to college is that you really can manage your time more efficiently and there is no commuting cost whatsoever. But the only complaint I have about the place is that the neighborhood around is not an attractive place.  I mean to say, it is not a safe place. The hostel is great and the services functional, but the place around is quite dangerous to live, due to the slums around.

Things I like about the city

Bangalore is a place I think, mostly known, for its pleasant climate. The temperature moderately falls between 22-24°C even during winter! It does get chilly during mornings and evenings when the winds are high, and also quite hot when it is sunny during noon’s, but other than that, the weather is very pleasant.

 

Staying away from home for the first time- Nostalgia! Learning new things, being penny wise!

At first, for me, it was really overwhelming, since I had never been away from my family. (I had never even stayed at a hostel in my school days). But as time goes on, you get hang of everything and slowly I also stopped getting homesick. I am really thankful now towards my parents because if it was not for me studying here, I would never have learned so many things that I know today.  I am currently in my second semester and had passed my second semester with first division. You do learn many things on the way. I have really learned how to manage money, punctuality and fulfilling your duties. If being away from your loved ones is one of the conditions, I can say that it’s worth it. I can say that I am fairly happy here and satisfied with whatever I have been offered.

Message to the readers

I have fairly been told by people here in Bangalore and back in Kathmandu that getting admission in the colleges is not really appropriate to be done through a broker. They tend to increase the expenses and many even cheat us of money. So I prefer to get through the colleges through ones connections; relatives or acquaintances.

I also prefer others applying to depend mostly on word-on-mouth rather than the internet for hunting down colleges. You get to know more depth about the colleges from people than the internet. The internet can be less reliable at times.

Do's and Don't's While hunting for colleges in Bangalore

Do's

• Do a thorough research about the colleges and the course offered.

• Try to get in touch with friends and relatives who are or have studied in Bangalore, they can give you a better picture of the education scenario in the city  than the ones given in the internet. 

• If possible , live close to the college or hostels inside the college premises. You can save your travel expenses and above all, you feel secure.  

Don't 

• Never take helps from brokers for you may end up coughing extra money , in fact much more than the regular fees excluding the broker charge.

 By Tashi Gurung , Bangalore 

love, Itself !! an article on love by Laxmi Gurung

LOVE , ITSELF !!!
          As I sit here, my mind wanders and so does my gaze,away from the blank paper. I am suppose to write about Love, after all. When it comes to Love, the feeling deep down is so confusing. I don't understand Love but then who does, For real?

When I was a kid, I used to think holding hands together and sharing lunch is Love. When I was in high school, people used to exchange roses on Rose Day, I thought may be love resides in the smell of roses but as I grew up, my perception about Love changed. The way I see it and how people visualize it is different. They say it is all about the feeling but i wonder how long these feelings last? If its all about Promises, I believe promises are meant to break. If Love is about growing old together, I wonder if I will ever be able to compromise with the things that will eventually happen and takes one to give up on his/her perspectives about how the things should work in a relation.

Confusion.Its always there.They say Love conquers all but it makes you loose too.Not all the people in love have happy endings.There is a lot more inside stories behind.
Looking at the bright side,Love is the most wonderful feeling one can have,as long as it lasts.Its when you know the other person more than you know your own self.You feel the pain of other person like your own and smile when he/she is happy.happy. Isn't it so blissful to have someone who takes care of you,fights for you and most of all,accepts you the way you are:) So keep falling in love until and unless you don't find the other half who makes you Complete.
 
                                                  Love conquers all, "Are you ready Yet?"



Article by : Laxmi Gurung

A Book Review On The Dalai Lama's Cat by Tenzin Yangzom

Book : The Dalai Lama's Cat

Author :  David Michie 

Author David Michie introduces his readers to 'Tibetan Buddhism' through non-fiction
books and thrillers. He explains the basic concepts of the religion in his latest novel "The Dalai Lama’s Cat." The main character is a stranded kitten saved by His Holiness the Dalai Lama from an uncertain fate of being sold off to an unknown destination. She becomes a part of his household in Dharamsala and grows into a beautiful Himalayan, worthy of her various names including His Holiness’s Cat (HHC), Rinpoche and Snow Lion.

The Cat describes her daily life in the temple, surrounded by the community in which the everyday 'us-like' characters are all impacted by the wisdom of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Much of the book consists of the Cat's observations: of His Holiness, of his followers, of students and of the personages that come and go through the temple doors.

Not only the monks but also the passionate Italian cook and the narcissistic owner of the Café Franc gain insight and change, carefully observed by HHC. She is also witness to the conversations between the Dalai Lama and his, often high profile, visitors. One tends to spend a lot of time figuring out who the various famous visitors are; one of which i conjectured to be my favourite t.v host Ellen Degeneres from "The Ellen Show."

HHC becomes familiar with the Buddhist teachings on mindfulness, meditation, love and compassion. The notions of Buddhism shared in this Novel are not `preachy' - you don't have to be a Buddhist or even religious to find them both interesting and useful in every day life. This book is a good thought-provoking and a mindful read, the kind which one would like one's friend to read or give it as a gift.

Book Review by -Tenzin Yangzom