I did learn something in SMU

For the 1st time I am only doing 3 modules. Keeping this in mind I had forecasted ample free time and a chilled out semester. It has been 4 weeks into my last semester in SMU and boy have I been proven wrong.

For each of my 3 subjects I have weekly readings and for strategy I have weekly case homework. I know it doesn't sound so bad. But trust me in the last semester I just don't have the motivation to even pick up the textbook, forget doing case studies. Frankly it is not so bad. I agree. What makes it so irritating are the overly zealous juniors in my classes.

All 3 of my classes have an ample of year 2 and year 3 students. Maybe its generation gap (yikes) or the lack of experience dealing with the SMU style of education. Whatever the reason they are the epitome of kiasu. They highlight their slides a week before the lesson. They complete assignments a week before submission. They want to meet 3-4 times to work on a 10% project. They are eager beavers and it irritates me to no end.

After spending 7 semesters in SMU I guess I have gotten used to completing assignments and projects in minimum time and with minimum meetings. I have also gotten used to prioritising deadlines with their respective grade weightage. I must admit that I too have gone though the period of 3 hour sleeping time and pulling out my hair.

In short I guess I did learn something from my time in SMU. I learnt to be an efficient worker, managing my time well and multi-tasking effectively. Now if only I could land a job based on these practical leanings....

Raaz- The mystery continues- Movie review

After a long time I watched a horror movie in which I laughed the least. Knowing me you would understand that this means the movie actually could have passed off for scary. Having said that the movie had many scenes and tactics borrowed from Japanese and Korean horror movies. Those just made me laugh. As for the actors Kangana was great like usual. She looked gorgeous and acted well. Emraan was alright though his French beard just pissed me off. His hairstyle too was extremely irritating. Adhyayan Suman took the cake in rubbing me the wrong way. I cringed each time he smiled or uttered the innocent sounding "baby".. His acting was only bearable in the last 1 or 2 scenes. Overall the movie is a decent watch with enough amount of scare and entertainment. Faint- hearted people might want to brace themselves.

A Girl Like Me- book review

A book that tackles the sacrifices made by a daughter in order to keep her promise made to her dying father. The story also explores how we cling onto the memories as we want them to be and not how they usually are. I personally felt the ending could have been better. A lot of loose ends were left..well loose.

Lamhe at Re:Present, SMU Arts Festival 2009

This coming Monday I will be dancing with 5 other dancers from the SMU Indian Cultural Society. Our performance will be part of the ongoing SMU Arts Festival, Re:Present. In line with the theme of time our performance, Lamhe, will showcase the transition Indian art has made over the years. Using a song from a 1958 Hindi movie and its 21st centuary remix, our dance showcases the difference in music, costumes, dance steps and socital attitude. Come down and watch us dance to the beats of Ek Pardesi, old and new, at Singapore Mangement University T-Junction at 12.30pm on 19th Jan totally free of cost!!

For One More Day- Book review

Interesting story that takes time to hook you to the story. It is refreshing to read a book about the deep love shared between a mother and a son.

I too had a love story- Book review

Amazing book! The fact that it is a true tragic love story moved me to tears. The many similarities with my life also made me scared and forced me to think of situations I would never want anyone to face in life. Please read the book and get an inside look at what true love is.

The Year That Was 2008

The year began different as she had deferred her semester. She enjoyed working life as she interned at a Financial PR firm. The internship whizzed by and soon came her 22^nd birthday. She celebrated like the kid she always became on 14^th Feb. Dinner with friends and then partying the night away. The very next day she flew out to attend her cousin sister's wedding. It was all beautiful, it was lovely but it was all too rushed. It was time to celebrate and dance and sing but she was too sick. The wedding was soon over and back to the grind of Singapore it was.

It was time to return to SMU to begin the deferred accountancy term. That spelt misery with 3 core accounting subjects!! By then she had lost all faith in accountancy and had no fight left. She struggled and suffered through the term. Tax planning was her nightmare. In the end she scrapped through, barely though. The summer holidays came late but came with a bang! She finally secured a BSM and got accepted into for summer exchange. Summer promised to be the best of her life to date.

The day after her last exam she was off to Sweden and Denmark for the BSM. The travelling was exhilarating and amazing. The sights, sounds and tastes awed her. As she soaked in the wonders of Scandinavia it was time to head back to sunny Singapore. Just 8 days later she was off again. This time to Mumbai for 10days on her way to London for her summer school at The London School of Economics and Political Science. The 10days flew by, she was happy and free and very much busy. Before she realised she was back on a plane, flying off to London. She was excited, she was nervous. Alone in a foreign land.. She wondered how she will survive.

London welcomed with open arms and with soon she was totally immersed in her London life. Making new friends and discovering a new life. She was happy and truly content. Studying hard and partying even harder, she ventured into new places. Edinburgh in Scotland, Cardiff in Wales and Paris in France made her summer all the more enchanting. She was living a dream and she didn't want to wake up. Unfortunately all good things come to an end and so did her summer in London. She was soon saying alvida and was on her way back to Singapore. However a 1 day stop in Mumbai was awaiting and she was most looking forward to it. That one day passed to fast, in a haze. It was a tearful separation of indefinite period. With teary eyes and heavy heart she boarded the plane and flew far away.

Starting year 4 felt different yet the same. It started at a feverish pace of job applications and career talks. The interview calls came and she saw hope. She gave her all, impressed and prayed for the best. The future looked bright and she was all smiles. Then came the global economy crash which faded the future and blurred the present. The interviews stopped, the progress halted and she was even shown the door. She was in shock at the complete turn of events. Who can predict the game of God? She smiled and marched ahead. She went through classes and felt the emptiness in life. She left foreign in her own life. People seemed changed or maybe it was just her. She yearned for something to fill the void. Joining painting class she found some solace. Yet she longed to escape Singapore again. She wondered what the holidays would bring and if she would get to spread her wings. She longed for that touch, those arms and that love. The distance was hard to bear and she struggled each day, the smile never leaving her face. Her pain was hers and his alone.

December loomed ahead and she was invited to a friend's wedding. How exciting she thought.. But her parents refused. Then came Chakra like a knight in shining armour. Glad to be rescued she accepted Chakra and embarked on another journey. 2 weeks in a village living the simple life. No electricity, limited water, sleeping on the floor, cooking own food, doing carpentry and teaching kids. That was her life and she learnt a lot. She fell, she cried, she laughed, she smiled. She was glad she went; she came out a better person. Then came the trip to Goa; a holiday finally. For 3 days she relaxed and enjoyed on the sand and in the sea. She left sunburnt but happy, looking forward to a wonderful wedding. The wedding was great, she felt overwhelmed. Her friend was married, would it be her turn soon? She was happy and content with life. A few bonus days to spend in Mumbai. She seized each day and made it fun. Living her life and making memories. Then came time to say good-bye again. She cried and she cried and cried some more. Good-bye was too hard, too painful and heartbreaking; indefinite separation again looming ahead. Promises were made to strive hard for progress. Promises were made of undying love. Promises were made to meet again. Promises were made to keep the promises...

The year that was 2008 was amazing. Full of ups and downs like any other year. What 2009 holds is to be seen. Pray for the best, prepare for the worst cause life is a beautiful journey; unique for each.

Dasvidaniya- Movie review

Amazing movie, very sensitive and clean. I loved every character, the acting was believable. Only glich I found was the Russian girl act.. It was not well shaped and seemed forced into the storyline. All in all a must watch movie.

Ghajini

Date Watched: 27th Dec 2008
Venue Watched: Adlabs Wonder Mall

Rating: 5.5/6
My 2-cents worth: A great movie in every way. Almost a perfect movie if not for the abrupt placement of the songs and minor flaws in the story. Aamir Khan is brilliant!!! He has given the movie his 200% and it shows. Asin is good too, loud at parts but still watchable. Jiah Khan's role at times irritates the hell outta you with her antics. But its part of the story... All in all a must watch movie!

Rab Ne Bana De Jodi

Date Watched: 23rd Dec 2008
Venue Watched: PVR R Mall

Rating: 2.5/6
My 2 cents worth: Horrible story with SRK overacting as the "hip and hap" Raj. It gets painful to watch the movie after the interval. The saving grace is Anushka Sharma. Her acting is gentle and suble, a relief after SRK's loud acting. The songs are not great either. Though the final dance sequence is pleasent to watch.

Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!

Date Watched: 2nd Dec 2008
Venue Watched: Jade
Watched With: Anju
Rating: 5/6
My 2-cents worth: Great movie with a little of everything; comedy, action, drama etc.. Love Abhay Deol as the mischievous and cunning Lucky.