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Almost 9 out of 10 people I meet ask me the same question. 'How did you land up in MTU?'. I wish I knew the concrete answer. I had admits from other Universities, but why I chose MTU out of them is something I still have to figure out.
On 12th Aug, 2002, after picking me up from the Hancock airport, Siddharth (better known as Sid) did for me more than I asked for!! Realizing that this was my first day in this city where I didn't know a soul and since my would-be roommate was out of town, I'd have to live by myself for an entire week, he made sure that he introduces the city very realistically to me. He started with 'If you've heard that this is a small city with extreme winters that last for more than half of the year, there isn't much to do except in summers, there is a small population of students and smaller of Indian students; then you're WRONG. It's worse than all this.'
Thanks to him, it took me nearly a whole day to recover from the depression! He still smiles sadistically when reminded of this talk that he had with me on my first day!
Rashmi was the second person from Houghton I became friends with. We attended the 'Independence day' celebration together on Aug 15th, where they made me dance while she escaped with a speech.
Then came Anshu with whom I instantly clicked! We took the same courses in the first semester and used to hang out together almost always! I also became friends with Piyush, Neil, Kartik, Saumil, Roy and Niharika during this time and we all started hanging out together! Watching movies, playing pool, bowling, Perkins, Taco Bell, long drives, balderdash, Uphill 41....there was little time to miss home those days.
I also met Manasi (my roommate , an year senior to me) in Aug. We adjusted with each other magically and have never (touchwood!) had any issues even after living together for almost two years now!
In second semester I met this shy and very polite girl in the CS lab unsure of what courses to take for spring. I helped her with it and within days this girl, Beena, happened to become my closest friend in MTU. She's my family here.
In second semester I also made friends with this Italian hunk Aric who for one, is an amazing cook!! He and John cooked Italian dinner for me and Steph, which was followed by a long session of monopoly. We've probably set a record of sending mails back and forth at the rate of 60 mails per hour sitting in the same computer lab.
This semester also gave me a chance to know this person who's unanimously considered 'wonderful' - Namritha ! Namritha, Beena and I have talked for hours late in the night, have gone out shopping followed by lunch and icecream, and had extensive photo sessions. Too bad she had to leave Houghton for better career opportunities. :(
Summer was probably the best time I've spent in MTU! I got to work with the SYP (Summer Youth Programs) for the entire two months and trust me, each minute of that job was as interesting and eventful as it can ever get. The funny thing bout this job was that you got to take the kids to movies, to beaches, for swimming, playing basketball, working out in the gym, camp fire, outdoor games, shopping...basically anything spelled as F-U-N and get paid for it as well!!
I made some very good friends though SYP like Stephnie, Gordon, Sarah and Chad. Chad is the guy who'd leave no chance of hiding my shoes or hanging me upside down in front of the SYP kids. And then he has the nerve to call ME 'nasty' and a 'trouble maker'. This is the time when I also came close to Neil and Niyati , both working as SYP counselors, just like me. I related with Niyati almost immediately, once I talked with her. Not only do we share a taste in clothes, guys and wine but we also excel in 'conversing without actually talking'. ;)
By the end of summer and the beginning of spring, I discovered a friend who's influenced my outlook towards a number of things in life. All positively. People know him by the name Ajay. He was always around but we became friends only when Beena, Manasi and I moved together in 1801-D, an apartment which was right in front of his. Having dinners together at our place followed by a movie later at his, became a common ritual for us in fall 2002.
Having two classes and a friend (Ajay) in common, I became good friends with this ever-lively, always-up-to-something guy Alok and his girlfriend Diana (Dee). Again, thanks to Ajay, I made a lovely friend Anita! Together all of us (Ajay, Alok, Dee, Anita, Vishesh and I) have done a lot of freaking - Cooking dinner, watching movies, eating out at Quincy's, trip to Copper Harbor, singing songs during long drives, sitting in Perkins till almost 4 am, picking on each other (remember Alok mimicking Ajay on "Gyaan..chaai idhar aayegi..!" ??? and Anita's 'I want to check where Latur is written on the Taboo card!' and my (mis)pronounciation of the 'sesame chicken'??? and Alok's reaction in the car when Ajay asked him in front of Dee 'what if Anita was your wife..'!! and Vishesh without his 'V' !!!)
By the end of Fall 2002, Beena, Manasi and I, received a Co-op offer from the STORA ENSO North America in Wisconsin Rapids which we obviously accepted and so we continue to be roommates here as well. :)