I left India during mid 2004. I remember the struggle I went through to be able to get a visa. It took me close to a year and a half, which i wasted sitting at home, in the hope that I would get a visa soon. After undergoing few rejections, I finally got my visa. In 2004 , I was off to a strange land, for some serious education. I remember that I reached there a week late, which meant that classes had already started. I did not have a transition period and it was pretty much like stepping out of the plane and into a class room. The first class i ever took was "Intro to Old Testament." Since it was a christian college, even the counseling students were required to take 4 theology classes. So this was my first, and probably the worst. I struggled with the requirements of the teacher. I struggled to keep pace with the required reading. I ended up with my worst grade(C+) during the last 4 years. I thought that all my classes were going to be that way, but I was wrong. Everything else was an easy flow. I remember walking in to the main building and thinking about the 4 years that lay in front of me. I remember thinking that I would never finish.
The last 4 years have made me change a lot. I have changed as a person. I have grown intellectually, theoretically and in so many different ways. My theology has changed over the last few years, but that's another post all by itself. I see that I sometimes carry the attitude that I know too much. This sometimes comes back to bite me. I have learnt to not judge anyone. I can boast that i do this pretty well now. I am now able to accept someone as they are, irrespective of their faith, belief, sexual orientation, attitude and what not. I feel good about this and it sometimes makes me mad to see people being judgemental.
Starting practicum was another milestone. I learnt a heck of a lot from my clients, than they would have learnt from me. I would not be who I am now if not for them. I learnt a lot for the hours and hours of supervision I received. I have grumbled and whined about the supervisory groups and sessions we had to attend at the crack of dawn. All said and done, I am glad I never gave up and instead went through with it. I could not imagine where I would be if I had not gone through all that. I really am thankful that I made a handful of awesome friends. Making close friends is a hard task in USA and I am glad it happened, even though it was towards the end. You guys know who you are and I will never ever forget you.
As I sit back and relax at home in Kottayam, I cant help but feel proud that I made it. This is probably the greatest accomplishment of my life till date. Apart from this, I also feel a little lost. I was at this same place 4 years ago, and now I am back at the same spot. I feel like I never left and sometimes I feel like the 4 years in between got erased somehow. I feel like I am back to square one. I know that this feeling will change once I start working and getting into the thick of things.
All said and done, I see the last four years as a journey. A journey back home. My return journey started the day I landed in USA and since then, every day was a countdown. I don't know what lies in store for me. I don't know what kind of job I am going to find. Right now I am not worrying about that. i am just going to relax at home and take some time off. Hopefully I would be ready to start job hunting by February. I am sure that things will fall into place. They always have fallen into place, all through my life. Funny.
The last 4 years have made me change a lot. I have changed as a person. I have grown intellectually, theoretically and in so many different ways. My theology has changed over the last few years, but that's another post all by itself. I see that I sometimes carry the attitude that I know too much. This sometimes comes back to bite me. I have learnt to not judge anyone. I can boast that i do this pretty well now. I am now able to accept someone as they are, irrespective of their faith, belief, sexual orientation, attitude and what not. I feel good about this and it sometimes makes me mad to see people being judgemental.
Starting practicum was another milestone. I learnt a heck of a lot from my clients, than they would have learnt from me. I would not be who I am now if not for them. I learnt a lot for the hours and hours of supervision I received. I have grumbled and whined about the supervisory groups and sessions we had to attend at the crack of dawn. All said and done, I am glad I never gave up and instead went through with it. I could not imagine where I would be if I had not gone through all that. I really am thankful that I made a handful of awesome friends. Making close friends is a hard task in USA and I am glad it happened, even though it was towards the end. You guys know who you are and I will never ever forget you.
As I sit back and relax at home in Kottayam, I cant help but feel proud that I made it. This is probably the greatest accomplishment of my life till date. Apart from this, I also feel a little lost. I was at this same place 4 years ago, and now I am back at the same spot. I feel like I never left and sometimes I feel like the 4 years in between got erased somehow. I feel like I am back to square one. I know that this feeling will change once I start working and getting into the thick of things.
All said and done, I see the last four years as a journey. A journey back home. My return journey started the day I landed in USA and since then, every day was a countdown. I don't know what lies in store for me. I don't know what kind of job I am going to find. Right now I am not worrying about that. i am just going to relax at home and take some time off. Hopefully I would be ready to start job hunting by February. I am sure that things will fall into place. They always have fallen into place, all through my life. Funny.
No comments:
Post a Comment