A bit clumsy and a bit crazy (actually, not sure about 'a bit' part), I'm your average Environmental Engineer working in US, looking for better opportunities while enjoying the east Asian culture.
So, as I told in my last post, I appeared through the interview yesterday. Although language learning has been written on my resume from the beginning itself, nobody had asked me about it till now. Yesterday they asked me for the first time – about my level and all. And I told them the truth – what all I can do with Japanese and Korean and Thai. It took like five minutes of my interview. That means they were interested in that aspect of me too.
Yesterday’s firm (which is my employer now XD) was a first for me in many ways – I cleared my first GD of my life. The topic was related to current Indian political scenario and even a person, who doesn’t read much newspaper should be able to speak on this particular topic, coz it’s all over internet these days, you know?
So where was I? Ah! Yeah. The main thing I wanted to tell was that I was ย a depressed soul before yesterday – going for tests and all everyday, missing classes (though I’m not that much of a class going person), the fun others already placed people were having and such were all frustrating me. I had started searching for a career in languages.
And then I came across this particular articleย where people had listed their experiences with languages and their current jobs. Quite awesome experiences. The only difference was, they all had degrees in modern languages or the particular language of interest whereas I am a complete self learner.
And then they said, “Oh! You’ve listed Korean and Japanese in your resume. Then you can do project in Japan!!” I was on the seventh heaven…… So yes, finally, my language learning did me wonders. ๐ So now I gotta work harder for the languages and increase my level soon.
Today’s Song – Oh yes, the third and last song from my current playlist of DISH//. Technically, since my last post was published today only, I should’ve inserted that song only. But oh well….
Ok, so to declare, I’m finally free. I got placed today and now I’ve a lot of free time on my hands (or so I hope). It’s the best part of being a BITSian. If you’re a single degree student, your official courses finish in 3rd year only. All you’re left with is six electives which people generally start with their 2nd year. So by the time you reach the last sem, you’re done with at least 3 electives (That’s for 2010 batch or before. Now things have changed, so I think it’s 4 electives by the starting of 4th year.) To conclude, I just have 2 subjects this sem and then I graduate. So I’m gonna make a list here of what I’m gonna do which I soo wanted to but couldn’t till now. Here goes my list:
1. Languages – My language studies have lagged far far behind and I’m starting to have second thoughts about TOPIK this season. But I don’t want to give up now. So I’ll go ahead with it nonetheless.
2. Blogging – Ah my posts! I have watched and read so much already that I have tons of things to review, not to mention the trips I took in Thailand and haven’t posted reviews for them. I’ll start working on them now.
3. Coding – Although I was ranting about it recently, but now, I’ve seen the trend of recruiting and the firm I’m going to, also requires some amount of coding. So yeah, I’m gonna learn that.
4. Novels – Ooh the library, I’m coming to you. BITS Pilani’s library has got an awesome collection of novels and I’m gonna read as much as I can.
5. Drawing and Sketching – I soo wanted to resume with the designing and animation work. Now I can work in that direction too.
6. Coursera – I’m pretty sure, you must have heard about the trending MOOCs all over the internet. I need to catch up with the ones I’ve signed up for.
7. Reading – My GK is poor – like very poor. I need to read up a lot of material and improve in that area too.
8. Sleeping – Of course. How can the bucket list be complete without this? Gotta take a lot of rest now. No formals, no tests, no waking up early and dressing up, no going to 1 km far away institute to take tests in so cold a weather.
Any suggestions for me that I can add to the list? I think I can take up a musical instrument too. Also, look forward to a lot of reviews – be it places, mangas or dramas. See you soon…..
Today’s song – I have only this song for now from my newly discovered J-Band Dish//
How many weekends before was it? I can’t remember. But the feelings, the memories, after I see the photos are still fresh. Concluding this series (which is very very late, I know) I will take you to three places – The view point, King Chulalongkorn Palace and Yellow Buddha.
The View point is nothing more than a view point (of course, it’s name says that). There is a bridge leading to rocky beach (not exactly) which tempts you to go and check out the caves which seem very near from above. If you go downwards, you’ll be probably disappointed as you can’t reach there. I can’t say for the evening though when the water generally recedes. Anyways, not more than half an hour worth is this place. May be good for photographers though. Check out the photos below –
Next is King Chulalongkorn Palace. Also called King Rama V Palace, this is very beautiful place to visit. Itself contains a lot of places for sightseeing, do eat a lot before going to this place as you’ll need energy. Lots of stairs and rocks to climb. Especially for history enthusiasts, who are interested to learn more about royal family’s history. Each palace dedicated to various princes of their times contains books and accounts for their and people’s under them lives. Don’t miss the stone bell and the temple. If you get tempted to go to further up ahead for another viewpoint, take a lots of water and heart, as you may get a little disappointed there. A fun place and has appropriate rest points. You can actually enjoy sea too. And some spots to enjoy are just so accurate that – how do I describe it – you sit,wind blows, sea is before you, it’s peaceful, not even birds, just waves’ sounds and you can ponder about life after reading the charity works and great developments done by the Kings there. Very much coverable on foot but if you want to hire bike, I think they allow that too. The pics are below:
We went to beach (where our tuk tuk driver took us) after that but that is not a very special place. Ah! You can have your lunch there though. Lots of places to eat. And the time we reached was about right too. You can play first or take lunch first. But beware! The rocks are very slippery and the beach has a lot of shells and stones.
Lastly we went to the Yellow Buddha on our own. It wasn’t included in our Tuk-Tuk trip. But it’s not very far away from the main pier. Also, it’s a curvy road climbing – very tiring – but worth it. We were lucky that when we reached there, no one was around. Although we were afraid of entering the cave, nonetheless, we did and I’m glad we did. The big Yellow Buddha is just at the entrance and there is just an old rusted sign pointing to the cave, so it’s very much possible to miss it. But if you go down, you’ll find reclining Buddha and big Buddha’s foot.
And it’s really interesting to go down a cave. We got a little lost but if you fell like that, just take the muddy road you see before you and go down, you’ll meet with the main road which took you to the temple. But where is fun in that. It’s the only place you can explore like a real adventurer. Like in search of some treasure. The fallen apart or being newly constructed buildings are not less than that.
There is a Golden Buddha too but we had heard it had 500 stairs! Due to lack of time and strength, we decided to go back. The ferry leaves every hour from the pier but the place for leaving may as well change, so it’s better to ask first.
In the end, these are the photo of the Yellow Buddha and around –
Enjoy! Oh! And we had our lunch at Pan and David’s. Really good food. You should try out there too! They have a site about the island too –ย http://www.ko-sichang.com/
Side Story 1 – I have been trying more groups now and I was trying Japanese groups. What caught my eyes was the biggest group I have come across – AKB48. I had heard about it’s anime but never watched that and never realized that it was based on real idol group. And when you check out the ages, they start from like 12 years!! Now since they have a lot of members and a lot of songs, I don’t think I’ll be able to learn the faces anytime soon. I just hope to learn a lot of Japanese from them. I got surprised when I could get a lot of lyrics from their songs. Really boosted my confidence. I am very happy!!
Side Story 2 – Oh well! I think I am going in depression now considering I had lots of plans after I would have got placed but it seems, everything is falling apart because the companies are not coming on campus TT_TT. If there was such problem, why were we called in such winter and our holidays in the first place? It’s too unfair that I have to spend my holidays and the festivals almost all alone in the college.
Side Story 3 – Since there are very less people on campus right now, I got to join this group of people and they are really fun. Why did I not meet them in my past three years here? Oh well! My mistake only. I was the one who was reluctant to come out of my room. But now I want to change. Thailand has already changed me a lot. Although it’s my last semester, but I am finally getting to know people – good people. Also, one of the girl told me today that I am fun to be around. Oh! I am so happy right now. It’s probably the first time someone has told me this. Thank you friend ๐ ๐
Today’s song – Isn’t it obvious, it’s going to be AKB48? Nopes, it’s MissA today. I have been stuck on two songs from them and if I am not trying out Japanese groups, then these two are the only songs on my playlist. Posting one of them. Here:ย
Alright, before starting, I need to say some things first. If you donโt want to hear my story and want to know about the the places I went in Kanchanaburi only, skip to third para. And if you specifically want to know about the waterfall, then you may skip to sixth para directly.
Hello all. Itโs been a while. Iโm taking break from blogging, coz Iโve got tons of work โ final reports + A daily journal by college which has to be completed no matter what + last experiments + last sightseeings in Thailand. Iโve got 15 days left and now I want to cover as much Thailand (and work too) as possible. I havenโt visited any of the mainstream places nor have time for that now โ Pattaya, Phuket, Krabi etc. etc. Last trip for me in Thailand would be Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, if we areโฆ
I am back to Pilani where my college BITS is situated because placement season has started here. I still am in love with the life I had for the past six months and it’s hard to adjust back here. Not to mention the chilling winters.
I know I said I would update on my several last trips in Thailand and I indeed had fun in mountains there. Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai are really cool places to visit. But I really didn’t get any time to even update my Erawan Waterfalls post after 4th level which I said I would update that very day.
So I’m here to reminisce about my last week in Thailand – 9th to 15th Dec and my recent life. I with my friends came back from Chiang Mai on 9th morning. Went straight to office and slept a little in the office itself. My friend had the leverage to take a leave so she did that.
10th was a holiday so I went to Bangkok all alone. But my fate, I had less money than I thought left with me so I had to come back earlier than I had planned. But I wanted to buy gifts for people. I could only buy chopsticks for some Japanese enthusiasts in my college. Damn! I should’ve asked for money on monday itself.
Rest four days went into last parties with everyone and farewells to us. Enjoyed a lot. Thais are really fun and caring as well as carefree people. I learnt a lot from those around me. They know how to enjoy life. Indians are a bit lacking in that. I was fearing if I would be able to reach India considering the protests going on but everything went on smoothly (except the excess luggage I had to pay for and then my worst experience at IGI International Airport, India but well, that’s not Thailand)
I would just say I had time of my life there and it’s the best thing that could happen to me in my college life. One must surely go to Thailand and enjoy life there. I generally don’t get attached to people or places but this experience really is unforgettable. I will rest my main post here for now. Many photos are to come in one-two days (Since I am jobless right now. Chemical companies, where are you? TT_TT) but I can’t promise anything either.
Side Story 1: I had prepared gifts for people there. I wanted to do more but since I got my stipend second last day, I had to go for old style wooden photo frames and company color printed photos. The people whom I gave them to did seem touched by the gifts and I got Korean chopsticks from one very dear couple as a return gift. Now I own the things directly from Japan and South Korea. Very happiieeee!!!!
My Korean Chopsticks
Side Story 2: I had my first job interview yesterday. At least I was comfortable and did not shake in between. I would still say I am lacking in my technical knowledge and I really won’t deny that fact. If I had technical knowledge, I would’ve got better grades. But how do I tell people that I love learning by doing? Those textbooks don’t appeal to me, what attracts me are the real life equipments. Sigh!
Before everything else, I need to update my previous post. So much work >.<
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Above are some of the things which were kind of very amusing to me. India has variety of fruits but the fruits of Thailand are very different and tasty. And you can get the already cut and packed fruits very cheap. The best part, you can eat them coz they look hygienic.
About Christmas tree, yes I haven’t seen those big trees in India. You may find small ones and I don’t know the trend now but there, the Christmas spirit is much greater than here.
Food is really delicious too. At least I didn’t have to see people savoring them before me considering I am veg. They had veg food for me too ๐ Ah! So hungry! Gotta go and grab something…..
๊ทธ๋ฆฌ๊ณ ,
์ฑ ๋ฐ์์ง ํ ๋ฌ ๋์๋๋ฐ, ์์ง ๋ฆฌ๋ทฐ ์ ์จ ์ฃผ์๋ ๋ถ๋ค!!! ๋นจ๋ฆฌ ์จ ์ฃผ์ธ์. ใ ^ใ
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This book is suitable for upper elementary level learners.
Please remind that workbook is not included.
Book Info.
[์๊ฐ ํ๊ตญ์ด] New Sogang Korean 2A Student Book
This new Sogang Korean series is an updated version of its predecessor with the following changes:
โ new Grammar textbook
โ Information on social and cultural context updated and modernized
โ New illustrations and more effective layout
โ Complete guide for Korean language learning, covering grammar, reading, speaking, listening and writing
The objective of this book is to assist readers to improveโฆ