My most depressing post ever:

I remember the time when I came to Tempe, Arizona. I was the same shy ‘kid’, struggling to push the trolley with two large suitcases and bags. I was lonely, scared, excited, nervous all at the same time. The Indian Student Association was kind enough to have arranged to pick me up from the airport. That is when everything changed!

It was time to leave Gurgaon after almost a year of spending time there at work. My admission to ASU was complete. I had always ASU in my mind as the first choice, for no logical reason. It was the first university to respond back with an admissions letter. Though I did defer all admissions to the next semester, it was again ASU to send me the admissions letter, dated on my birthday, on which day I prayed for that gift. Again I didn’t know what lay ahead. 

It was amidst great confusion I had to leave my family to pursue my higher studies. My only sister got engaged at the last minute when I had my last minute interview scheduled. Everything fell into place in the last minute. It was as though it was written that everything would happen that way and would be executed the exact same way it was planned. 27 hours later I found myself pushing the trolley up the ramp in Phoenix’s Sky Harbour airport. That was when I was met by unforgettable people. People who would make life so comfortable within one week of being in a completely strange land. It is not for the actions or deeds, it is the people themselves who they are, that counts. I never felt lonely again. Someone whom you would give up everything to meet every week.

Again it is time for me to leave to India, for the wedding. It is the same feeling that I had when I came here. It is completely unbelievable how much can happen in four months. It feels like four years of fun-filled college. I feel terribly bad to leave the wonderful people I met here. At the same time, I am very happy to go back to my own family during my sister’s wedding. It is a complex emotion that you experience. It is like there are people on both sides of the world that are difficult to be separated from.

The last three days were absolutely memorable that would serve as good memories for the three months I would miss. No matter what we did, it was being together that was memorable. Probably I am crazy but this is how I am wired inside! Barack Obama’s address at ASU was there too. That was good, but more than that, I loved how we all stood under the palm tree witnessing the fireworks. We were telling inane jokes continuously at the back of the truck, in the open, cool rushing wind. 

Well, it is all about meeting and parting, but it is hard to accept. I did the same in my school, my college, and now. I hope for the best. Three months later I will be back, probably with the same complex emotion.