I am in Atlanta, GA. I am in the United States of America, the second country I am visiting. I have been warned what to do at Atlanta and what not to. Whatever it is, as each day passes, I get more things to laugh about with friends. It’s a whole new place, filled with people who don’t have the same notions, beliefs and views I have had, and everyday, with each small discovery, my life gets more interesting.
The first morning at Atlanta was pleasant. My roommate Rushyanth and I went for a walk. Rushyanth took me to a lake nearby and we had a nice chat. Thoughts of impending surprises on a lake bench was a beautiful way to start my stay here.
My apartment, AMLI Atlantic Square, is filled with Indians, and I feel at home. I have fancied living on my own, at least for a few days, and I was enjoying it. Apart from my roomies, Suriya was the first guy with whom I got acquainted here. I enjoyed every dinner which we, my roomies, suriya, his roomies, made together.
First few days were filled with shopping. Once, when I was at a store, Target, a girl who works in the shop started saying something to me. She went on for few minutes and I replied with a blank face. Seriously, at the pace at which she spoke, I didn’t understand a bit. She didn’t even give me the time to say that I didn’t get what she was saying. She said a sorry and left. I stood still and I still wonder what she might have said. This has happened many times.
One thing that is conspicuous here is people will talk to you whenever you walk past them. Initially, when I came here, I felt it’s good. It has become annoying nowadays. People will just walk to you and say, “Hi. What’s up? How ya doin’?” and go without waiting for you to reply. Wishing a good morning is okay, but asking questions without any slight intention annoys me. I take a shuttle from my place to my college. One of the drivers is friendly: talkative :P He talks damn fast and I never have understood a complete full sentence. When I thank him and get down of the bus, he would utter atleast four sentences while I take a step. I would assume he told me “welcome” in four sentences and walk home. I would never even know if he had told, “hey guy. You dropped something from your bag.”
How could I miss mugging if I am talking about Atlanta. You plan a visit here, and most probably, you will receive advise about this. You will be warned not to go out alone for the first few days. Nevertheless, I have went many times alone and once, there was a guy walking towards me. I was curious to know how people would ask for money, and since it was one guy, curiosity won over fear I guess. As he walked passed me, he asked, “Hey ya. How you doin’?”, shook his head and went. I am yet to confront muggers ;-)
Georgia Tech is famous and infamous for it’s heavy coursework. I thought I would get busy after I come here, but it’s really hard to thwart the SSNite within you surfacing :) I am still bunking classes and stay up all night doing nothing.
Firing fire alarms when we cook, walking at midnight in a gang, losing track of time thinking sun sets at 7:00 pm, listening to incomprehensible dialogues, worrying about incomplete assignments, and eating roasted boiled rice, unlike the food here, I am happy my life is not bland.
I am in Atlanta, GA. I am in the United States of America, the second country I am visiting. I have been warned what to do at Atlanta and what not to. Whatever it is, as each day passes, I get more things to laugh about with friends. It’s a whole new place, filled with people who doesn’t have the same notions, beliefs and views I have had, and everyday, with each small discovery, my life has become more interesting.
The first morning at Atlanta was pleasant. My roommate Rushyanth and I went for a walk. Rushyanth took me to a lake nearby and we had a nice chat. Thoughts of impending surprises on a lake bench was a beautiful way to start my stay here.
My apartment, AMLI Atlantic Square, is filled with Indians, and I feel at home. I have fancied living on my own, at least for a few days, and I was enjoying it. Apart from my roomies, Suriya was the first guy with whom I got acquainted here. I enjoyed every dinner which we, my roomies, suriya, his roomies, made together.
First few days were filled with shopping. Once, when I was at a store, Target, a girl who works in the shop started saying something to me. She went on for few minutes and I replied with a blank face. Seriously, at the pace at which she spoke, I didn’t understand a bit. She didn’t even give me the time to say that I didn’t get what she was saying. She said a sorry and left. I stood still and I still wonder what she might have said. This has happened many times.
One thing that is conspicuous here is people will talk to you whenever you walk past them. Initially, when I came here, I felt it’s good. It has become annoying nowadays. People will just walk to you and say, “Hi. What’s up? How ya doin’?” and go without waiting for you to reply. Wishing a good morning is okay, but asking questions without any slight intension annoys me. I take a shuttle from my place to my college. One of the drivers is friendly: talkative :P He talks damn fast and I never have understood a complete full sentence. When I thank him and get down of the bus, he would utter atleast four sentences while I take a step. I would assume he told me “welcome” in four sentences and walk home. I would never even know if he had told, “hey guy. You dropped something from your bag.”
How could I miss mugging if I am talking about Atlanta. You plan a visit here, and most probably, you will receive advise about this. You will be warned not to go out alone for the first few days. Nevertheless, I have went many times alone and once, there was a guy walking towards me. I was curious to know how people would ask for money, and since it was one guy, curiosity won over fear I guess. As he walked passed me, he asked, “Hey ya. How you doin’?”, shook his head and went. I am yet to confront muggers ;-)
Georgia Tech is famous and infamous for it’s heavy coursework. I thought I would get busy after I come here, but it’s really hard to thwart the SSNite within you surfacing :) I am still bunking classes and stay up all night doing nothing.
Firing fire alarms when we cook, walking at midnight in a gang, losing track of time thinking sun sets at 7:00 pm, listening to incomprehensible dialogues, worrying about incomplete assignments, and eating roasted boiled rice, unlike the food here, I am happy my life is not bland.