My life @ NTU

“ I think Silverspoon will be closed today. Get down at Lee Wee Nam, we shall have lunch at FC , collect some goodie bags at LT1 and proceed to TCT for the career talk”.Might be Greek and Latin to you, but these terms have become an integral part of my vocab in the past six months. So is the case of every NTU student. We are a proud gang who are respected as the cream of Singapore academics and yet enjoy and celebrate every day of our college life to the core. NTU somehow has a ‘cool’ tag attached to it. NUS people are geeks and nerds, SMU and SIM are uncles and aunts (May not be true though) and we the NTU ones are the cool yet the tech wizard type. That’s what the world thinks J and we are happy with that. As a Master’s student here, I am loving every bit of it. Name it and you get it in abundance at NTU. If you are a foodie, you are showered with sumptuous treats from the Food Connection, Silver spoon café, Palette, Sakae Sushi, the vending machines and every other Hall canteen that you can find at a stone’s throw away. Want to have some fun, yes we do have our own NTU Bar, with good music, dart boards, pool tables and an enviable collection of drinks. Fitness freaks get their share from the Sports and Recreation Centre with its swimming pools, and a state of the art gym. Sounds like the pamphlet of a club ?

Now comes the part I do love the most – the academic face of NTU. I am here since August 2010, and I am finding this to be the period of my life when I feel I will be learning the most. As a Digital Media Technology student, I am working in the Computer Animation and Simulation Lab(CacAni) , Forensics Lab, and other labs of the SCE. Those are the moments I realise what actually I know and what I don’t. Working on game designs, creating animations, discussing strategies with team mates, trying my hands on realistic night time photography, experimenting with cameras, working with eminent professors and every activity I do at NTU have shown me a “new me”. I should mention about the Lee Wee Nam Library – the massive and adorable structure where I find peace in times of stress. Sitting in the plush cushions, with a copy of the evening lecture or a book in an atmosphere of future scientists, surrounded by columns and columns of invaluable literature gives me every bit of confidence and hope on the days when I shall take up bigger challenges in my career. Looking forward to every moment of it.

Love you NTU J

Death is not the end !

It has been 10 days now, since my grandfather left our family. But it is very hard to believe that he is no more and that his presence can never be felt physically again. He was always there, right from the day I could recognize people. On seeing this tamil short film,  “ The Dream Symphony” , I am reminded of the days we spent with each other, the moments when generations old wisdom and experience was passed on to me shaping my inner soul. The love granddaughters and grandfathers share is something really unique and very very special. My story is something beyond this.

My grandfather always wanted me to become the best. With his wrinkled and kind face, he used to dream for my future. Maybe he knew that he would not be there to see me become what I would really be in few years from now. When he saw a flight and he would say,  “Preethi, I want you to become a pilot”. He would convince me how interesting, challenging and rewarding it was. There were many jobs in this list. He wanted me to become a model, a professor, a photographer, a news reader, a politician, a singer, a dancer, an editor, and at the least an engineer or a doctor. For each he had a story. As a child I used to hear those stories with my jaws open. His enthusiasm would drag me to boundaries of dreams and imaginations, making me cherish my moments in a world of fantast. As I grew up, my dear thaatha’s enthusiasm to inspire me was still intact and I would keep   listening to him just for the sake of his love and care.

He was very passionate about reading books and newspapers.  Every day morning right after his shower he used to narrate the day’s head-lines with the happiness of a child to everyone. By that time I would have glanced the newspaper, but I used to sit and hear him with keen interest just to keep him happy. He used to sit and read the newspapers and books all along the day. How much I compel him to take rest, I always end up in failure. He keeps on reading as if he has examination, the next day. I feel like kissing on his forehead at  this moment L

I simply love the time, we go for walking. He used to walk very long distances. He wanted me to be aware of all things in the world. He used to keep telling me international politics, and as soon as we see a supermarket, he starts in the price variation and ends up in the stock market. I still remember my kindergarten days, when he used to take me to the school. Every-day to prevent me from crying he used to gift me a lollypop and only then  drop me in school.

It is a real tragedy that, I was not even able to see him, in his last days. We never knew, he would leave us on the same day, 1 year after his 80’ th marriage anniversary.

But my beloved thatha, I believe death is not the end, and you are always with me. I am always your dearest granddaughter, u always wanted to see. You will be my guiding light forever.

Love u thathaJ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5N3gKtDiqXg