Entry 4 : Back To School

Going back to school after being out of it for a while can be an intimidating choice to make. When I first thought of going back to school, it had been 10 years since high school. I had barely gotten through high school and I was not sure if it was the best idea to put my current job at stake and go back to school. I was scared and apprehensive. I wondered if I would be able to balance between home, work and school.

Like a lot of other people, I wanted to go to school to ensure a better future for myself and my family. I wanted to feel smart. I wanted my kid to be proud of me. Sometimes it was hard to keep the balance between home and homework. At times, I felt running short of energy to keep up with the work. This is where my incredible family provided support. My mother-in-law provided me with valuable information as in how to evaluate my options to choose a field of study. My husband took care of me when stress got the best of me. Having the tremendous family support enabled me to quit my job and pursue school full-time.

              Food tastes even better when your husband cooks it!

Some classes like Engineering just did not make any sense to me, while others like Java was made fun by the amazing teacher.  I also discovered several helpful websites that helps in understanding the concepts better. One of my favorite education websites is "MIT Open Course Ware". An excerpt from my favorite professor is "Walter Lewin Promo"

           Going back to school has been a roller coaster ride for me. But it has definitely been among the more sensible choices I made. Education is empowerment. I believe it not only opens up new horizons in the job market but shapes up your thinking process and makes you a more rounded person. I do not think there is a better use of my time and energy than to put it into learning. 

Entry #3: How does GPS works

It is amazing how we have progressed from using a magnetic compass to using global positioning satellites to navigate. A GPS or a global positioning device uses 27 Earth-orbiting satellites (24 in operation and three extras in case one fails) to determine our exact location on the earth using a technique called Trilateration .

GPS was invented by the U.S Department of Defense. It has several applications in our day to day lives ranging from a navigation tool to a tracking device on car.  I cannot imagine being in an unfamiliar place without GPS. I love hiking and GPS helps me track my path. In fact, I do not think I would dare to go on some trails without it. I also love driving and exploring new cities. GPS provides real time voice guided directions which allow anyone to keep their eyes on the road while driving. It can also pull up places of interest nearby like a gas station or a restaurant. There are times I need the GPS device to locate my car in a crowded parking spot. 

The U.S government spent more than $12 billion on developing GPS technology.  It is intriguing how some migratory animals and birds travel across the globe without GPS. We have spent billions of dollars to develop a technology that many animals have evolved.  This begs the question, “Are we becoming more dependent on technology in our daily lives or is it opening up new doors in our lives?”

Entry #2                                                       Love at first sight

               It was June 20th, 2011. I had married the man of my dreams just 4 months ago. After a crazy bureaucratic run for a visa and a passport in India, I was finally meeting my husband in the U.S. I was excited beyond words. But little did I know that I was about to meet someone special. Someone who would make me believe in "love at first sight".

                Jasper was my husband's best friend and soon to be my best friend as well. He had big deep eyes, sculpted body, and a distinctive manly scent to him. He gave the biggest wettest kiss of all.  He was the most stylish soccer player I ever knew. He was kind and considerate beyond words.  As we became best friends for life, he also became one of my greatest teachers.

                Jasper was a rescue puppy. He was 2 weeks old when my husband adopted him. He was 8 when I first met him. Jasper was apprehensive of me to began with, but we bonded. We were inseparable in a month. And that is where I learnt several things from him.

                 He taught me patience. He would wait patiently all day for me and my husband to return from school and work. He never questioned when we were late. His big eyes lit up every time we came home. His tail wagged with joy.  It did not matter to him if we left him for 10 minutes or ten hours he was always delighted to see us home. He taught me humility.  He taught me to look beyond myself and find true joy in making others happy. He taught me to be happy with the most basic necessities of life. He taught me to share and be a team player. He would bring all his toys every time we have a guest especially young kids. He taught me unquestionable trust. He never argued with any decision I made for him. He never liked his visits to the veterinarian. His tail went between his legs and he heaved big sighs. But ever time I told him "lets go" he believed in me and went.  But above all, he taught me the purest form of love.  The form I believe is divine. He taught me to love without any expectations. He never asked for any gifts, treats, or worldly possessions.  Instead, he showered me with his selfless love. It's his 11th birthday in two weeks. I am glad he is a part of my life. He continues to teach me valuable lessons of life and help me become a better person. Happy Birthday big guy!!

Entry #1                                                     The Small World

            Coming from India, the Internet is the best and cheapest way to stay connected to my family. Even though I am several miles away I get constant updates from my friends around the world through social networking sites. I love reading blogs.  I especially like to read about fashion, cooking and science blogs. Writing has always felt like work to me so I never initiated writing a blog. 

               While researching for this blog entry, I read a few blogs. I liked the ones that seemed to have a personal touch. Some blogs like "Brain Pickings" felt like doing homework to me. It was very well researched and written. It covered a wide variety of topics from philosophy to science to politics. However it was a little too long for me. After being in school all day I enjoy a lighter read. I liked the personal touch of  "A cup of Jo".  The writer had a lot of her personality in her writing. She wrote about things like fashion, home, food and travel. All these things were of interest to me. Reading her blogs were fun. Nevertheless, my favorite blog was "Goolge's Official Blog". Even though it’s not a personal blog, it has a lot of topics that stir my interest. Working for Google has been my dream since I was 15. The articles like smart contact lens which can measure glucose level in eyes are cutting edge. I was immediately hooked.

              I am looking forward to write entries and read more blogs through the course of this semester and in future. I think it will provide me an opportunity to know my classmates better, learn new things from their experiences, and share my own experiences.