First class in the United States

After completing my B.E., I decided to follow the M.S. option. I gave my GRE in my 7th Semester and finished the application stage towards the end of that semester. The 8th semester saw the admits and the rejects coming out. It was in this term that I decided to opt for Drexel University. This university was located in downtown Philadelphia and had a good Telecommunications program. I finished the visa interview in June and in the month of September, I found myself in Philadelphia. Our term started on the 24th of September 2007 and I was eagerly waiting for this day. I was having a class on the first day itself. It was going to be DSP lecture by Dr. Walsh. All excited about it, I made my way to the class. I used to think that I was quite well versed in DSP. After the first lecture, I knew I was completely wrong.
So the first lecture starts and I am finding it very difficult to comprehend what Dr. Walsh is talking about. May be I was not that used to the accent, but I just couldn’t understand a thing what he was speaking. Sagar was sitting next to me and once or twice, I thought of asking him whether Dr. Walsh was speaking in some new language that I was not aware of. It was a weird situation where I knew something about the discussion, but I just couldn’t understand what the prof was speaking. This was a lecture I will never forget.
Fortunately by the next class, I had some exposure to people speaking fast in American accent. I could manage to understand what Dr. Walsh was saying. I managed to do decently in his course and ended up with an A-. It was certainly a relief to get through his class, especially after the experience in the first class. My first class in the United States is something I will always remember.

Mr. Professor kumar, a typical professor in an engineering college

This is a poem which was composed by me and Alhad during a lecture in our third year of engineering. KBC 2 was about to be released that time and there was lot of excitement about it. All the channels regularly ran promos of it. There was another promotional spoof making the rounds at that time. It can be found at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQCKHtt3wl8
The tune of that song as well as the other promotional ads is the inspiration behind this work. Hope you like it. Please leave comments/brickbats...



Yeh hai Mr. Professor kumar,
Bachpan se inko tha padhai se pyar,

Badi mehnat se mili inko engineering me admission,
Char saal ke badle lage aath saal for graduation,

Twelth me mara tha inhone bade style se ninety,
Engineering me inhe lage bahut saare KT,

Bahut niraash the, baar baar yaad aati thi nani,
par professor kumar ne kabhi haar nahi maani,

One day, while recollecting his technical knowledge,
Unke dost ne unhe pucha,
Kabhi professor ban ne ka socha,

Professor kumar bade soch me pade,
engineering college me ek professor bane,

Fir professor banke inhone dhoom machayi,
Har lecture me pucha, woh nahi aayi??,

engineering ke funde ko ulta ghumaya,
answer nahi aaya to student ko khopche me bulaya,

aaj bhi yeh, aaj bhi yeh karte hai dil se sikhane ka prayas,
bachchon ka hota hai future bada satyanash,

jinhone sikhe inse engineering ke funde,
exam me mile bahut saare ande,

par jinhone prefer kiya classes lagana,
exam me mila bhaiyya, umeed se dugna...

Two years on...

September 1st will always remain a special day for me. Its not only my grandfather's birthday, but also on this day in 2007, I had started and reached US for my MS. Its an interesting coincidence that I spent 1st September this year in India. As I look behind at these two happening years, I do realize that they have overall been two lovely and fun filled years.

I have learnt a lot in the last two years. This learning is not just restricted to the academic field, but also has served as a learning program for living and enjoying life. There have been lots of good incidences which I have thoroughly enjoyed. I have also learnt a lot from the not so good incidences. I have made some terrific friends over the last two years. And most importantly, I have learnt to live independently.

As I look behind at these two years, they give me confidence that I will easily be able to pull off the next three to four years as a PhD student...

That unforgettable ride in the rickshaw

I just remembered this incident yesterday and decided to write about it. This happened on one Sunday morning when I was in class XIIth and was on my way to Agrawal Classes.

When our college started, we used to have Agrawal Classes on Sundays. Usually our classes would be from 7 in the morning to 1.30 in the afternoon. But this sunday, they were from 10.25 to 1.30. So I started from home. Usually I get a rickshaw immediately from the station, but on this day, there seemed to no availability of an empty rickshaw. Rickshaws passed by continuously, but none of them were empty. And while I was waiting for a rickshaw, I happen to notice a pretty looking girl standing close by also waiting for a rickshaw. Finally, after what seemed like an eternal wait, but was only about 10 mins, a rickshaw pulls up. And of course, that rickshaw stops right in front of her and picks her up. (Of course, gender discrimination is present in India. But its not only discrimination against the fairer sex. The discrimination takes place against both the sexes.) By now, I am really sure I am going to be late for my classes. And also hoping that the next empty rickshaw would not take 10 minutes to come. But as the rickshaw passes in front of me, it stops. And the girl asks me whether I want a ride to the station.

The ride to the station always felt long and time consuming. This was partly due to my habit of leaving at the last possible time so as to just catch one of my pre-decided locals. But today, this journey seemed very short. The road to the station passes parallel to the railway tracks. Since I am a big rail fan, I get happy when I see a train passing by while I go to the station. But today, I hardly paid attention when a train passed by. After what seemed to be really short ride, we reached Goregaon station. The girl swiftly paid for the fare and went her own way. And I too decided to go my own way.

It's funny that eventhough that girl obviously stayed in Pandurang Wadi, I saw her only once later (and it happened the very next week). Over time, I forgot about the incident till I remembered about it yesterday and decided to write about it here. Thanks for the reading...

Chemistry Pracs in XIIth, an exam to remember

Today, I am writing about the experience I had in my Chemistry practicals in Class XIIth.

The day started brightly as I went about doing the Volumetric analysis. After performing it quite nicely, went onto the second part. This one involved 8 marks for Acidic radicals and 2 marks for nature of chemical compound. As I went to the acidic radical part, adding some compound (I forget its name) gave me lot of effervescence showing presence of carbonate. With one radical already found, I didnt take much time to get the other one. With the acidic radicals done, I went on to the nature of organic compound question. The white chemical smelled a lot like naphthalene and I was quite sure it was just that. This meant that it was neutral in nature. But being the sincere student that I am, I went religiously over the different tests that we needed to perform. With the mind quite sure about the answer, it didnt take me much convincing to write the answer as neutral. With all the experiment done and the results tabulated in the answer sheet, I proceed to leave the hall.

I dont know what made me do this, but as I reached the entrance, I turn back and head to the internal examiner, Mrs. Paranjpe. I inform her that I completed my exam and could I leave. She feels that I should verify answers before I leave. (Dont ask me why she did it, even I am wondering the same all these years. I was the only one with whom she confirmed the answers and she didnt even know me. I surely am thankful to her for doing so.) In a confident manner, I give her my results from the volumetric analysis and acidic radicals. As I come to the nature of compound question, I get informed that my answers to the previous questions are correct. As I tell her that the compound was neutral in nature, I see a horror filled look on her face. I get shocked to know that my answer is wrong. I am informed that I should go back and do it again. But the problem is I have already submitted my answer sheet.

As I worry about my 2 marks (and 2 marks mean a lot in PCM), Mrs Paranjpe talks with the external examiner about my mistake and requests her to give me another chance for that experiement. Fortunately the external examiner is a very kind lady. She agrees to giving me a second chance on one condition. That I show her the results after every test. As I await the compound to be given to me by the peon, I am quite worried. As I add a basic solution to it, I get a small effervescence. I show the external examiner and her first question is "Pehle kahaan tha effervescence?" (Where was the effervescence when you did it earlier?). I give a smile and tell her that I have no idea how I missed it.

The fun is not yet over. Now that I have done the experiment again, I need to write the results in my answer sheet. And the external examiner cant find my answer sheet. After searching for five minutes, I finally get it. Making the necessary changes, I finally submit the corrected answer sheet again.

As I look back, I really want to thank both the examiners for their kindness. Those 2 marks meant a lot to me and decided the path that I took. When I had decided to shift to Sathaye, I was told by many people that since there are hundreds of students in Mumbai Colleges, the examiners are not that linient and helpful towards students. Hence I should have continued plus two in Boisar. But having this experience has made me understand one thing. However number of students may there be, when a student needs help, teachers are always there to provide it.

7 terms 7 memories...

Fall 07 - My first quarter at Drexel. I still remember that day. John Walsh's lecture. I had difficulty understanding what he was saying. Eventually by end of 3 hr lecture, I was getting a hang of things. In the second lecture, I remember telling him, the zed-transform of ... A few mins later, had him saying zed transform instead of zee transform. Of course, he immediately corrected both me as well as himself and suggested we stick to the American zee rather than British or Canadian zed. The big break came on my birthday, when seeing my performance in the midterm, Dr. Petropulu took me in as a TA/RA beginning Winter. This term had my first short visit to NYC as well as a weekend spend in camping and hiking with Shyam. Cricket was a hectic activity during this term. I cant forget that evening during the Fall tournament. Afterall, how many can claim to drop three catches in a single 7 over game? The entire winter break, we played regularly and I continued my legacy. The big break came during our last match in the winter, where I finally held on to one. Overall, was a fun filled quarter. Jay had also visited during the winter break.

Winter 08 - Fun time over, serious time starts. It takes me the entire 3 months time just to understand something about the paper Dr. Petropulu had given to me some time in Fall Quarter. After trying out different things, finally work out something and look at it. And then realize what I am trying is surely going to finish off wireless communications. I am trying to send an infinite bandwidth signal over a finite bandwidth channel. Now I realize why they call research as 90% rubbish in the hope the remaining 10% works. I was looking forward to snow in the winter, but am disappointed. It snows only once, and the snow melts immediately next day. The break is used for regular CS sessions in Bossone. The CS craze sweeps through Drexel.

Spring 08 - The quarter begins with a bang. I have to commit for a PhD or leave the lab. Since I am not ready for such a major commitment, take the decision of leaving. This quarter I thought was the most relaxing. Only TA work and 3 courses. The 3rd one is of Kevin Murphy. One of the coolest profs I ever saw. Whatever your performance, grade is guaranteed to be A. TA work was also fun. Electronic Devices under Dr. Basu. The quarter ends with me getting an interview call from Motorola for a summer co-op. After a nervous interview, I still manage to get a co-op. Overall, this remains my favorite quarter at Drexel. Not too much work, good enjoyment and decent pay.

Summer 08 - The start of Motorola. Work for 5 days and then enjoy over the weekend. This term had my visits to Ocean City, Niagara Falls and Cleveland. This was the term that got me involved with the corporate life of the United States.

Fall 08 - Motorola co-op continued. And the term concluded with a visit to India in December. I celebrated my birthday with first visit to Pittsburgh. And really liked that place. Remaining term was the same. Work on the weekdays and relax on the weekends. Due to winter arriving early and low temperatures from second half of October, not much roaming around on the weekends. But the time was spent as a countdown to December trip to India.

Winter 09 - The terms first week was spent in India. Returned back to chilly Philly on Sunday of week 1. Two heavy courses meant that I was mostly busy with course work throughout the quarter. Nikhilesh came in early March and his visit coincided with the worst weather I have experienced in Philly in two years. It was so cold that we had to cancel our NY trip. Poor Nikhilesh felt really bad about it.

Spring 09 - The term I complete my MS. Commencement is on June 13th. I have decided to pursue a PhD. Before I get totally involved there, I thought I should compile a small para for each of the 7 quarters I have spent at Drexel. Not much happened in this quarter other than that big decision to go for a PhD. And of course, the convocation.

Thanks a lot....

Yesterday, I completed my MS. As I look back at these fantastic two years, I would like to express my thanks to people who helped me a lot during this time with their constant support and help.

Madhavi Tai, Ratnakar Dada, Manasi, Sanika, Kaka and Kaki : They were my guardians for this span. Without their help, I would not have settled down here so fast. Whatever be the situation, they were always there to help. Thanks a lot. A huge part of the credit for me completing my MS goes to you and I will always remember your kindness and help.

Shyam Dada, Deepali Vahini and Sarang : They were my other guardians. Thanks a lot to you for your help during this time. I did learn a lot about America from my interactions with you. Your home was again a home away from home for me.

Mrinalini and Ardhendu : Thanks a lot for being such good friends. Thanks a lot for always being there when I needed help or advice. Thanks a lot for convincing me to make that big decision of pursuing a PhD.

Siddharth : Another wonderful and helpful person. Always there to help you see the fun side of life.

Charitha and Uday : Two fantastic roomies from my first year. Had a real good time with you guys.

Amitrao : Another friend who was always there for help and advice. (Another thing that I usually never ended up following them).

Pramod, Khushali, Atman, Tushar, Uday and Arezou : I had a real wonderful time on the IEEE Board along with you guys. I learnt a lot from you guys.

Vamsi and Sagar : Two people with whom I took most of my courses. Thanks a lot for your help.

George, Kim, Mai, Halal food carts : My saviors in the afternoon. Lunch was mostly taken from them.

All my friends and relatives, thanks a lot for your help and support