Glasgow

Glasgow. How it is, to me? 

It is, I must say, a perfect blend of old and new. There are old, sturdy buildings that just make you feel secure and warm, and then there are the glass and modern ones. I love the steep hills! 

The campus is very much a city campus. 2 minutes from my house (off campus it seems) to school, and about 8-10 mins to city centre. The library is on the hill (obviously) and its pretty cool. (Starbucks included)

People are friendly and (mostly), informative. Ask any kind person where something else and they will tell you the best way to get there and do it nicely. :) 

Oh, I must mention that my uni handbook listed  the gurdwarey in the chaplaincy section. Thank you, God! (pun intended) 

What else. It isnt as cold yet, but the nights are chilly (hibernating in room advised). The other day when it rained on my way home I took off my jeans and my thighs were cold, so I guess that means it is pretty cold. Haha. So far, I wear one tshirt and a sweatshirt/hoodie with a scarf for my neck and jeans with trainers. Does the job. Oh I bought a parka but havent used it yet. (I know, and its in my bag too)

The rain comes whenever it likes, and its fine by me (as long as it doesnt POUR like it would during the monsoons back home).

Loads of international students around( my course has a large number this year they say) and its nice meeting new people from around the world. My flatmates are from Ghana, Bulgaria and China. I have a coursemate from Mumbai, India and I think riding the trains I shall do with her when we go to India! :D

Okay ,lets get to it, here's my room. Enjoy! 

Masters

So.. I am finally here!! In Glasgow! :D
Its been about five days since I have been in this city. Tuesday onwards, it was orientation types of things at school. Plagiarism (much stressed), timetable, meeting staff, and yesterday met the centre director who gave the FIRST LECTURE!! Intro to Forensic Science. Very cool lecture. I shall now go find the book Bad Science and give it a read. It is feeling very real now. I am in my masters program huh! Hahahah. Since I am away (and here I try to make another fake promise that) I'll write more. Now I actually have to, because people actually want to know what I m doing (instead of mauj masti) and all the gory details I shall dish.

So this is the first weekend that I am here, in my room. I should be meeting some home walley people soon, Kesh and parents. Then its on to laundry. (I actually still have kacherey - bet you were thinking that!) Also, labs will have to be read (nerdy but true).

Besides that, I ll probably go get some food stuff for cooking. (My friend tells me theres a store nearby with Haldiram stuff) Not forgetting, Gurdwara is the plan for tomorrow. I found one, so tomorrow shall take a trek to the other one.

Right after this I'll go take some pictures of my room so you all can see what it looks like. (Finally unpacked)  Its very cozy and cukup cukup lah for me and my stuff. With a sleeping bag, an overnighter can be accomodated. :D

Will tell you all about the place in a new post.

Lots of love,
Ash.

Writing

So.. Last post January 15? hahahaha.. I have been away, oh keyboard.
As I am now in cough,flu and fatigue mode, perfect time to write!

Tribute To Mardana - Dhan Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

t

Samelan part 2

[Per's bag still lies in the hallway. Abandoned,like a broken discarded limb. Articles of clothing peek out,playing a silent game of peek-a-boo with me. As I type, she has finally started a load of laundry and the bag now looks at me with a blanket or two resting on it. My unwashed suits wait patiently in a pile, i've done all my laundry except this. I reason that im too tired and will do this soon.
Rewind to the saturday night before samelan when the bag had only just been taken down. I had tried talking,cajoling,forcing even my little sister ( not so little anymore,i tell you) to go and she pleads that she really does not want to. With a pitiful face she types her status and I watch a movie,resting after im done packing. Then suddenly as I lose hope , its 2 am at this point, she hauls out the bag. I grin from ear to ear.
The next morning some very lovely people give her the news she wants to hear, and wham! She's a happy kid. Thanks to you satpal,amrit penji and whoever else ;)
Now rewind to a couple of years back, when I had realized that as much as I loved being a JC, or how amazing langgar,utility or any other sewa was, my heart was into darbar sewa. It just was. Maybe it was the meetings,missing ips,etc. Or maybe I just liked being near Guru Sahib.
Anyway, imagine how I must have looked when Ajeet kaur says, oh ashvin, you're the emcee the next day. Casually nonchalant,i should think.
Boom. Just like that, I m semi initiated into the darbar team. Sheepishly I smile remembering how I found out how tired I was one night. Forgetting the next line leading Sohila. Oops.
I had an amazing time,helping out (i hope I did) with darbar sewa.

Now, lets move all the way forward to day 5. Amrit sanchar. EVERYONE knows how special this day is. Baney worn since morning,blue, orange,white,even pink. Boys in kurtas. Paggs extra nice. Girls all falling over each other to get their dastars done. This time there was a white theme, and boy,did I enjoy looking at the Million kinds of white suits to be had! Chikan work, sheer with camis, cutouts at the back,cutouts at the front ( windows), salwar,pajama, long, short, stripey material,plain white,patterned, white with colored flowers, among others.
Its after rehras. Kids stream out for dinner ( bhaturey or puri I think) while we stay back. Gurleen has assigned pinday and I water duty. Big girls we feel, as we set up the huge drums Logistics has sent up. Water filled,thanks to the ever ready guys,and then candles. Hundreds of tea candles are ready, and some of us set them up on the huge stage, while others light em up on a path to the darbar. There are candles outside the main door, and they flicker, reminding us that rain is impending.
It starts drizzling. There has been a whole discussion since afternoon. No,it wont rain. No it definitely wont rain when Guruji arrives. Well we should prepare the vans in case. They use the vans. Drizzling stops. We light the candles again.
Kids file in,pledge in hand. Some solemn,but mostly they smile, looking around at how pretty the scene is. Then sewadars go to metha tek and emerge.
3 minutes to arrival, says walkie holding person. Ajeet kaur? Manpreet? Both? Its a blur now, the candles are long gone,wind whipping and drizzle steadily builds up.
The Alphards pull up, and the skies open. Rain spills. The guy holding umbrella carefully escorts Panj pyare holding Guru ji and the water begins to flow. Pour water wash feet wipe feet tears drop. Suddenly, all the panj pyare, the new amritdharis are all inside. With one last look, we head in. Manage to get spots somewhat behind. And sigh.
Darbar sewa. Amrit sanchar.
Piercing screams. A snake is placed on her shoulder. Well, serves the dude right for doing it. Puzzled? Moving backwards to the mighties carnival. Biggies have their modified paintball ( colored water) and mighties have pony rides, dunking pool ( never have I seen a line that long to GET dunked!) , sand art, face painting, gladiator, some animals; snakes,birdies,a vechara looking deer, some carnival type games, popcorn and even a chicken dance by the penjis. Not to forget the jumpy castles ( kids LOVE this) and the football thingie.
I see the look of pure joy on the kids faces. Well on the adults too lah! Meanwhile the biggies are multicolored now, paint on their selves.

Penji, are you sisters? Pink tshirt day. We were all the talk, all day. Why pink,oh guys wearing pink, oh that certain place dey lok wearing pink. And such. I tried combing her hair during cha and chill, and as we debate ( read: argue) about something, a cute little girl makes us laugh. Yes,darling. We are.
Samelan 2011.

]

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Samelan 2011

[Every time I listen to the vaheguru simran, im transported back to that hall in the school in klang. Our darbar it was for six days.
The moment I see in my minds eye is that time on friday night. I had tried,as I stood at the entrance, right at the bck, to take it all in.i feel like a movie cameraman on panorama,the view sweeping all over. That night when the darbar was filed with bodies,all white,moving in prayer. White gauzy curtains billowing under blue light. The jatha on stage , the magnificent look of Guru Sahib.
Rewind a few days to Day 0. Arriving at the school thinking, im here. Whatever may happen in life, whatever you go through, and no matter how long u missed out, this is how you feel. Meeting all these people, who make you feel like a million bucks.all these people that love,support, and are inspirations to us. Veer jagdave says in his interview in the latest Sikh that he was attracted by the brotherhood concept and well, aint it true.
The penjis i've had for quite a while nw,who never stop awing me and who never stop teaching,loving and inspiring me. The friends i've made and the loads of new ones I continue to make each time. The older generation that never stops to amaze me with experience,wisdom and love. The kids who never stop making me smile with their mad antics,reminding me of my own wild self,the questions they lean on you for,of how mature they are,how smart and how innocent and needing they are.
The endless endless sewa to be done,the endless endless sewa that gets done. Every time. All those unhuman strength people that work without rest.
I look back at the tropic thunder when the children had to make a cup of cha,and how I smiled when it was the perfect,sweeet one. The questions at are you smarter than a 5th grader when my heart swell each time they answered correctly. The day our team did darbar sewa and jagdish and rajkiran led ardas and hukamnama beautifully.
Every day charanjit's latest comment,pengay,shouts, you name it. He kept us entertained and baffled. And the time during langgar sewa that they rushed to decide who served,washed dishes,poured water and all else. Keep that spirit going.
Throughout the days all the little kids that just come and give you hugs and kisses, those little bodies emanating love and innocence and extreme adorability.
All those times we laughed like crazy over something reaaaly funny,and those times more so for not so funny stuff.
The tears sliding out of amrit penji's eyes at uncle dya singh's soul nation gig. I will never forget the goosebumps (gurubumps,says sukhindarpal) when he sings,voice soaring,flute sweet,tabla beating in my heart. Of how ajeets eyes were glassy when it ended.
Of how we shouted ourselves hoarse since veer vaar on the first day of SN.
Fast forward to the last day and the feeling of increasing dread in my chest. Nw this feeling starts for me on friday during samelan, knowing that, the panj pyare will come,and take Guru sahib away. And that Darbar will once again become a dewan. A measly hall in a school. And after He leaves, so will we.
Back up a little to cha and chill. Girly girl talk, women's talk with the best aunties and penjis. Hair and makeup sessions.
Classroom sessions. Realising that I m better than I thought ,thanks to gurpreet who got me to help out with waja. I enjoyed the sounds of waja,tabla,taus and rabab surrounding me. And of all the laughter,chatter,commotion and general shuffling with occassional bursts of voices by lecturers. I think all the kids,adults had something to learn from blast to the past,sikhi today, gurbani.
And our lunch/breakfast/tea/dinner sessions. Ahh those. Talking,debating,people watching,yes,even eating.
My fingers are cramping up I m typing on my phone. More to come.
Samelan 2011.
]

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Samelan 2011

This year's samelan was fabulous. We just got back yesterday and all over the social networks there are posts of people being exhausted,who had greaaat times and that wanted more.
More in a bit, read The Star yesterday for an article on the annual camp.:)

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