Finally-The close of the longest,hardest and most hectic academic term of my entire life!

The fact that my last post was like aeons ago goes to prove the same.

So, finally my first semester of Masters studies came to a close.My final grades are pretty decent considering my state of mind a few months back.I must say that Masters here is by no means a cake walk.Hordes of students come here for their Masters which gives us the impression that it must be easy, if everyone else is doing it.How untrue!You are made to slog out the entire semester.Right from the word go, assignments, homeworks, PROJECTS, midterms, finals, extra credits and labwork keep you on your toes at all times.This coupled with an on-campus job can literally ruin you sleep for the entire academic term.

Another new routine for me was studying in the library.Never before in my life have I spent so much time in the library.I think the latter half of my semester, I stayed more at the library than at my apartment.I even slept over at the library on one occassion.And for two of my final exams, I went straight from the library to the exam hall-after a night out and without sleep.Then the punishing OPNET assignments-takes you hours to do and if you are lucky you will get the expected tutorial output.Else, keep at it for days together-the tables might just turn.

Of course, the reversal of the biological clock.Here, we work all night and grab a few quick hours of early morning sleep. I had a punishing 8 AM class two days every week and to have to attend that(merely because it had surprise quizzes), walking to the Engg Bldng in the early morning sub-zero, windy, Winter cold-nothing can beat that.Thankfully, all my classes next semester are after noon!!Phew!!

And of course, in between all this, we have to squeeze in the time to cook once every four days, clean and other personal work.

But the bright side of all this arduous work is that I can say with confidence that I have learnt in these 4 months more that I probably have in my 4 years of undergraduation. And at the end of it all, you feel a little proud of yourself.For having made it through all this. It is frightening, that you have to endure one more year of this to emerge with a Master's degree-but hopefully, we shall manage.

Now, it is time to unwind, relax and catch up on lost sleep and that is precisely what I am doing.I am composing this entry right after 12 straight hours of sleep.Back to routine now.It feels so nice to be able to sleep at the right time and get up to see the sun rising -rather than the other way round. You have the entire day ahead of you to do what you please.This I like!!Went to an Udipi South
Indian Veg Resto here and gorged on super yummy food-a well deserved treat, it was!!
The climate here is so unpredictable.If it is rainy the temperature goes up-otherwise, it is too cold to venture out much.Anyways, much more to look forward to these hols.I will be getting my SSN, visiting my aunt and begin preparing for the next sem.All in all, a thoroughly worthwhile journey it has been so far!!