Tag: BITS Pilani

BITS Pilani is one of the best engineering colleges in India ranked as no. 1 among the private engineering universities

Farewells and Exams and Final days

Farewells and Exams and Final days

by eastasianlover ♥ 2 Comments

“Yo b****es! I’m back!” (Just Kidding)

After a long break of one month, I am back. It’s farewell time here, farewell to the place where I stayed for 4 years, farewell to people whom I got to know and make great friends with, farewell to a phase of my life and most importantly, farewell to downloaders and easily available anime episodes on DC ｡･ﾟﾟ･(>д<)･ﾟﾟ･｡

And in the mean time, I have added 50+ anime to my list. Bwahahaha, my speed! (￣▼￣) And many are on my plan to watch list. I was able to get hands on a lot of good series. I’m sure I would be writing about them soon. That reminds me, this season’s anime line up is too good. I am liking most of the anime and I am always looking forward to the episodes (though I know they’ll come on saturday or sunday or monday lol)

But my language studies went in a slump, same as my will to write. I mean I haven’t even finished with my Thailand’s journey (-_-*). Not that it has come back, but I am writing now because I should. 1 year back when I started writing, I was just writing for my sake. Then, sometime later it became a task – not fair. Now, I am a little refreshed and I have a lot of material to talk about which includes anime and anime.

That again reminds me, we formed a small anime group in my college. Anime club was a dream which couldn’t be fulfilled. It’s nice to meet new people though who have same interest as me, at the end of the semester, talk about anime and have dinner. But the clashing schedules posed a lot of difficulties. After so many cancellations and reschedulings, we finally met… Finally, a small custom kind of thing from past two years…. I hope the juniors continue it after we’re gone.

So, anyway, I was thinking of doing a monthly post on “Why anime is not for kids only” starting from tomorrow. The main motivation is that a lot of people either think that they are just cartoons meant for small kids or stop after watching death note because that becomes the ultimate story for them, anything else unable to surpass it (which actually frustrates me a lot (ノಠ益ಠ)ノ彡┻━┻ I mean, are we anime lovers stupid or something, devoting our time to other anime if death note is the end? Not against the anime though, people do find it really different than what they usually watch. But so are the others… that nobody understands.)

Oh, yeah! I was talking about last days in my college. 2 days left and I’ll be out. These carefree days will be gone. And I’ll step into reality, from which I was running away till now, hiding in the 2D world. I won’t be able to do it anymore…….

Today’s song – This song has been on my playlist for quite sometime. And the name is so suitable – 

And My Blog Turns ONE!

And My Blog Turns ONE!

by eastasianlover ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Happy birthday to my blog! I am glad I am able to maintain it and am still writing though my schedule has always been random. And thank you to everyone who has supported me till now. Please support me in the future too.

About the past year – Reflecting on the last year, there were a lot of changes in my East Asian loving life. I got to experience a country which was a mixture of all the cultures I am fan of. I will call the last year as the most fulfilling year of my college life. Otherwise, I had lost hope with respect to my dreams. There were additions to fan girling not only from South korea and Japan but Thailand too.

Last year was a year of discovery of lost resolves and passions and taking some great decisions and making some great friends too. And I am very happy with my progress. Thanks to all the people who joined me on my journey and helped me out there.

About the recent happenings – Well as I told in my last post, I went to my home for around 9 days and I haven’t been able to come back to my normal life, thanks to the messy food of the mess and the high temperatures in Pilani. It’s so sleepy all around in the afternoon.

On the other hand, I don’t know, but I have become too hungry for good anime and all I keep doing is trying the ones which I once deemed not good enough after reading the plots and asking people for anime recommendations. I have started covering two series in a row, in one day sometimes. Now I realize, I have lost the patience to read manga too.

I am trying with Japanese novels (translated to English) and I got a book from library on Anthology of Japanese literature. I hope I finish them soon. And I started writing for a website too. The topic I chose was anime and manga reviews again since they didn’t have anything related to it before I started. It’s getting a little tiresome though, to be honest.

Not to mention, I am getting tired of people who, when hear anime, only talk about the mainstream ones – Naruto, Bleach, DeathNote, One Piece, Fairy Tail etc. I am not saying that these are not anime or I dislike them. I know they’re the ones that generally introduce people to the world of anime but anime are far more advanced and varied. To use just these names and then say that you’re anime fan, I personally, don’t approve of it. EITHER say you JUST like the series OR watch some MORE anime before claiming you love ANIME!

I must add, that I am still inexperienced even after watching 300+ anime series and movies in last four years compared to the real hardcore fans out there…… Coz coz, when I ask someone for anime recommendation, I get to know that I haven’t watched 5+ series out of 10 being recommended, till that time, just because I won’t like the plot after reading it. But the fact that the recommending person has watched them and I don’t know about them, makes me mad!!! 

About the future plans – I was going to make a page listing all the anime I have watched. I got this idea from a Korean lover’s blog I followed recently. Hmmm…. the list will become too long then. But I need to list them somewhere, at least. That reminds me, Fairy tail has started again. 1st episode with subtitles was released yesterday only. I am not a big fan of long running series. since they tend to be full of fillers but fairy tail was stopped at a very crucial point. And the secret of Dragons is coming out too, slowly.

I am thinking of making a page for different pics like a Thailand gallery may be, so that the people who are just interested in seeing the pics and not reading the posts may refer to there directly.

What else? Oh, my language learning, of course. I have decided to take a small break from Korean as of now. Since I am taking JLPT this July, I want to focus on Japanese till the time I get confident enough for passing N5. I’ll keep working for the vocabulary part for Korean though. Actually my Korean study wasn’t going that good anyway apart from the vocab.

I think I have rambled enough for today. Subsequently, I am gonna write about the anime I have watched. A lot of reviews are to come soon (probably)….

Today’s song – I actually like the Chinese version better for the song – 

K-drama Recommendation: KBS Drama Special – The Memory in my Old Wallet (내 낡은 지갑속의 기억)

K-drama Recommendation: KBS Drama Special – The Memory in my Old Wallet (내 낡은 지갑속의 기억)

by eastasianlover ♥ 4 Comments

Alright, a little background here. None of the video sites works here, in BITS, except youtube and now I realize, there is a huge scarcity of subbed dramas on this particular website. Other sites are either blocked here, or they just don’t work. And this has led me to discover some gems in the sea of whatever is left to me. Out of those, is this collection of drama specials by KBS World.

I absolutely love this channel. They themselves provide the eng subs to such shows and their popular variety shows. I know, they are almost one month late to the original airing date, but let’s be honest, I don’t have anything else now. So, I’ve been watching anything Korean I get and these are not bad. The Drama Specials are around 1 hour long – so not as long as a movie and definitely not as long as a drama series itself. Some of the specials may have as long as four-five episodes, so it’s just enough to feed your hunger.

Also, there are new actors and actresses. I remember watching the one in which BoA made her debut as an actress, though that is for other review. Now I’m writing, I’m getting a little reluctant, but oh well, whatever.

Plot – A heart wrenching mystery revolving around a guy Lee YeongJae, who has lost all his memories after an accident and has nothing to remember his past except a bookstore, a bar exam passing certificate and some other things (which just tell him his name) and now a wallet which he receives after two years of the accident, the present time, which contains a photo of him and his girlfriend. He has secluded himself from the world and is not interested in his past. He just keeps reading a thick book on civil laws. Sua is a high school student who was saved by YeongJae in the past from her abusive stepfather, and has fallen in love with him. Though she likes him, she persuades and helps him to uncover the mystery of his life and that’s the story.

Analysis – Since, it is about love and I’m a little weak in that area, I wasn’t able to relate it to the life in general, as I say it. But yeah, the selflessness of Sua did touch me a little. And those books in YeongJae’s bookstore! My God, someone gift me that kind of store…..

Also, in India they say “Agar kisi ko poore dil se chaho to poori kaynat tumhe usse milane mein lag jaati hai” translating to “if your love for someone is pure and sincere and you love that person with all your heart, all the forces in nature help you to get him/her.” (That’s a dialogue from a very famous bollywood movie ‘Om Shanti Om’. Yeah yeah, I do watch or to say have to watch them occasionally) I don’t know how much it’s true in the real world, but this is kind of basis for this episode too.

Other Things – Coming to the acting and all, it seemed alright to me – not overdone, not underdone. Well, of course I’m not an acting major, so I don’t know the technicalities, so I can write from a general audience POV. That’s why, if you don’t agree with me, well, that’s your thinking and mine is mine 😉 Also, the parts where YeongJae goes to the places of accident or last memories with his girlfriend, made me spill my tears a little. I’ve got them a lot lately. Anyways, yeah, the plot is kind of different too. I mean, who is not interested in knowing about themselves after losing all their memories? You can find the guy here.

Watch here – 

Enjoy!

Side Story 1 – As I mentioned above that the video sites aren’t working, it’s difficult to find thing I so want to watch – like Wooyoung in WGM. I know I know, I said, I was against the show. But I so want to watch some first episodes of this couple. Heck, even Khuntoria isn’t available on Youtube. I was going back to listening to f(x) and suddenly had this urge to watch their first meeting. I couldn’t find the episodes TT_TT

Side Story 2 – More than that, the internet was so slow last night that I wanted to publish this post yesterday. But I tried for one hour and when I couldn’t after some 10 tries, I gave up. But I wanted to write one post per day >.< Guess, I’ll start the count again from today. *Sigh*

How language learning helped me in my interview

How language learning helped me in my interview

by eastasianlover ♥ 2 Comments

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  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 article 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. 🙂 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….

Freedom

Freedom

by eastasianlover ♥ 3 Comments

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//

From Thailand to Pilani – Last thoughts on Thailand

From Thailand to Pilani – Last thoughts on Thailand

by eastasianlover ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Hi all,

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
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 🙂 Ah! So hungry! Gotta go and grab something…..

My mentor in college life – My roomie

My mentor in college life – My roomie

by eastasianlover ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Although I love anonymity but I finally told my roommate about my blog, today. She was so impressed by it that she became senti,  and has read all the posts in one day(I know, I’m amazing. Thank you Thank you).

She has seen me grow from my first year (This was one of her lines in today’s chat with her) and I have seen her too (Alright, I accept. The change in me was way bigger). So I’m gonna bitch about her today (Ooh, I was dying to do so).

In our college, in first year, students get double rooms. We are both from the same region so we should have been fine with each other. But as I mentioned earlier, I am a socially inert person and like to be alone and work alone. Last two years before entering my college, I had worked alone only – my study room was my whole world. In the college, it took me two years to open up with people around and I think this hurt her the most. I talked very less to her. I had an inferior complex and she used to talk to other people more. (Okay, I am not making excuses and I am coming to my mistakes too!). And she and my other current friends seemed to be from a totally different world (Even now, when my sister sees my pics with my friends, she says I look like a country bumpkin T_T and here I thought I had changed for good). They had different habits, different styles and a lot of knowledge about worldly ways (which I didn’t have “initially”). And her habit of reading out loud! That I can never forget. Although I could never say to her, even after her asking me again and again, I did have problem with that. And that sometimes enraged me so much that I would go in the room of some other girls I had made friends with, at that time. How sad would that have made her. Oh God, how much did I make her suffer? Now, when I am writing this, I am realizing.

My biggest mistake was I didn’t even try to talk it out. I am one of those who keep things inside until it becomes a volcano ready to be erupted at any time, any place on anyone. But now I have been given a chance, I apologize for that. I don’t think, I would be able to tell you this directly, ever (And no discussions on this after whenever you read this, alright? It’s embarrassing!)

And then come the good days. The things I learnt from my friends, she has the biggest part in that – from about boys and boyfriends to curse words (and things which can’t be told 😛). Her influence totally changed me. She was the one, with two others in my circle who took me to the beauty salon, for the first time in my life, for things other than haircut, in my third year of college (Yes, third year OF COLLEGE, that too was almost end of it) verrrrry forcefully, since I am not particularly interested in make-ups and all. I don’t think I would have even given it a second thought if they hadn’t been with me (This is really becoming something but now I have started confessing then let’s see it through the end).

What else? Ah! She knows every habit of mine. She never, even once, complained about my love for East Asia. Rather she helped it grow. She had to bear with the Japanese songs (She even learnt some lyrics including OSTs of Cardcaptor Sakura 😛) and anime all the time. If she had stopped me at that time, I don’t think I would have discovered my real passion for east Asia. She knows the secrets even my sister doesn’t know (not that I have that many but you do need that one person in your life apart from your sibling and boy/girlfriend). And “boyfriend” reminds me, she desperately wants me to have a boyfriend. She still keeps asking me, if I have made one yet. (Haha! That is never gonna happen my darling.)

This post, I dedicate to my bestie. I know you’re reading this (Obviously, I’m the one who gave you the link). In the end, I would only like to say thank you for being in my life.

And I think this song would suit here: 

Yes, talking helps!

Yes, talking helps!

by eastasianlover ♥ 1 Comment

Ok. I did say I would write a review but as soon as I start preparing, I watch something else and then I move on to the new thing and the cycle continues. So I have not been able to do any. Moreover, I find writing my everyday experiences easier and more interesting. My semester exams are also near so I haven’t been able to focus on anything (including THE EXAMS! God!! I am screwed!!!)

So I had been preparing an animation movie to send to companies for internship for past one month or so. I missed a lot of tests and assignments for that but I don’t regret it because I was happy doing the work. In my college, BITS Pilani, it is compulsory to do training for one semester and mine comes next sem. The companies are arranged by the institute only, but through some procedures you can change that. I had my mind set on doing my training in an animation company, so I prepared a video. But it didn’t turn out how I wanted it to be. Of course, it was my first attempt and some of my friends have praised it a lot but I myself am not satisfied with it. How will other people be?

Recently, I got to talk, heart to heart, with a long lost friend of mine. She was having similar problems as me like losing interest in her own discipline, wanting to explore other areas etc. etc. Well, I am one those few, who chose their own discipline. In India, it’s difficult to get your own choice of trade when you get a rank which lies in middle – not too high but not too low either. I left a lot of good colleges just to get chemical engineering at this prestigious institute. Now I have come to realize that this is not my cup of tea. We talked for one hour or so. And she advised me a lot of things like how I can improve in the given time for my training, by joining some courses while sticking to my discipline. I can think through my options too. And I was like “what was I doing?” I directly wanted to jump to a different field without any background. Just wanted to do it. She totally changed the direction in which I was thinking. Then again, she told me to talk to some seniors. As I am an introvert, I don’t have many contacts. But her advice was enough for me to take some big decisions of my life. This post, I dedicate to that friend. Thank you very much for helping me clear my mind (a 90 degrees bow to you).

Yes, I have a habit of solving problems myself. I don’t tell people my concerns and like to keep things to myself. But sometimes, when you don’t know what to do, where to head, telling your worries to a friend or even a stranger works wonders. Yes, talking helps!

PS: Another song, this time its from SS501. I have been randomly listening to various South Korean groups and stumbled upon this song just yesterday :  

The story

The story

by eastasianlover ♥ 2 Comments

Greetings,

This is the story about how my love (or obsession?) for East Asia bloomed.

This all started when, one day, one of my classmates back in my school (I think it was 6th class) suddenly said that I looked Chinese. I mean, come on. Having small slanted eyes doesn’t mean you’re Chinese (no offence to anyone). But let it be!

Around the same time, a variety of anime started on Cartoon Network. Cardcaptor Sakura was one of the first anime I watched. After that came Pokemon, Beyblade, Captain Tsubasa, Ranma 1/2, UFO Baby etc. etc. and then started Naruto and One Piece. (Me and my sister used to get up at 6 on Sunday mornings to watch One Piece at 7 am!) Their old houses, falling sakura leaves and martial arts used to intrigue me as a child. I was so amused by their culture that I made it my aim to go to Japan once I grow up.

Later, I found a Japanese language learning book in my school’s library (It was due to envy towards my best friend who got French learning book from her brother as a gift but that is another story) and it was the final blow. I couldn’t get it photocopied because it was quite thick and I was afraid of my parents (Of course, it was my 10th class and if you are a good student, your parents would like you to concentrate on studies rather than “wasting” your time on such things). I used to copy the book in a diary myself during the time my mother used to go for her walk ( hehehehe ^w^). They still don’t know I have such a copied book!

Then my college. Now BITS Pilani is a place where, once you get your laptop (I got mine in 2nd sem as most of the people did here), you get access to vast variety of media. A lot of downloaders (I thank such people from the “bottom of my heart”) download movies, series and ANIME (and much more as you can expect and guess!). The old series which I could not complete because they stopped airing and some series I wanted to revisit, were all there. Now, my most enjoyable time started. (I did screw my grades due to that)

And then I was introduced to manga. After that, I started devoting around 16 hours(!!! <My poor Roomie>) to these things (f*** studies) and my curiosity and love for Japanese language and culture (and  people especially handsome guys appearing in J-Dramas) kept increasing. I started listening to Japanese songs (OSTs) and learning the language. It was fun.

Now since there is manga, manhwa and manhua (Korean and Chinese versions of manga respectively) can’t be left and it takes some time for a beginner to figure out which is which. So before I read manga, I read manhwa. Then came webtoons, K-dramas and ultimately K-pop! Chinese was almost the same too.

Its amazing how these things keep introducing you to other related things and you keep getting absorbed. Now I am all into K-pop and considering how their songs are copied in India, it increases my interest more (I am totally against it. These people just ruin the songs!). I think I should add frustration in the name of the blog……

I have written a lot more than I had planned to but it can’t be helped. Once I start on this topic, I can’t stop (I am the same with my friends here and they are now irritated >:-) ) In due course, I’ll keep posting J and K-pop songs and may be some of my fandrawings. Now that I have introduced you to my story, I can start for real from my next post. (I still haven’t figured out what specific things I would write – maybe reviews and more stories?)

Thank you, Gomawo, Arigatou, Xie Xie for reading this and here is a song from one of my favorite boy group, Super Junior (I found it yesterday and I am totally hooked to the song) :