I know in my last post I said that the next time I update would be from the land of India, quite sadly that wasn’t the case and here I am, typing this, in the beloved land of Malaysia, having already spent 3 months in India, which honestly felt much longer than that.
Vidhana Soudha- parliament bulding in Bangalore
Quite frankly I don’t know how to start but that it has been one enormous experience in every single way possible. My first month there was tough and often I wished that I could just pack my bags and go home because every part of me felt alien and foreign where I was, annoyance at the way the academic system in India was run and discontentment at the simple way of life. Not to be too over-exaggerating or what but it was a pretty low point of my life. Lol.
our hostel
At that point of time I really thank God for all the love, prayers and encouragements first and foremost to my amazing family ( I happen to have the most incredible family btw), a supportive home church, and many encouraging friends no matter where they were. Each day was a new challenge and I had to literally drag myself out of bed amidst morning blues to go to class- yet finding His steadfast love to be ‘new every morning’ and His grace sufficient, one day at a time.
outside my uni
my uni’s admin building. pretty impressive, eh?
Studies. It has been pretty intense to put it mildly. Classes are from 9 to 4 daily, (2 hours of lectures, 2 hours practicals, 2 hours dissections), Monday to Sat (save one Sat a month). Most Mondays we have a Part Completion Test (PCT) which means we have to study almost… all the time. Lol. I have never studied more in my life before and yet theres always something you haven’t studied. Maybe its because its medicine, and maybe its India. Everyday lecturers and PGs randomly pounce on you- be it during lectures or practicals or dissections with all kinds of questions, so you do have to study, or you’ll end up feeling really stupid. Each day you are taught a gazillion new things and are expected to master them by the next day. And all those assignments! Haha. But I love what I’m studying, finding it really interesting, and I have no regrets choosing this. (Though it is rather A LOT.)
our driver loading our medical books to the top of the jeep
As a whole, India is a really interesting country. The roads are crazily bumpy and once I took this what I call a legendary trip 9 hours roadtrip to Mangalore which was…let’s just say legendary. People horn all the time I don’t think they know that signal lights exist, if you want to turn left or turn right, just sound your horn. In fact, just horn the whole time. Lol, even all the big trucks have a sign behind asking you to ‘sound your horn’. In fact since they horn all the time, some of their horns even have melodies to it to make it sound more…melodious? Lol. Even when cars reverse, some have melodies to it. Traffic is c-r-a-z-y. Auto drivers whiz in and out, left and right, leaving you with near-death experiences. Lol. But its unique, the whole experience and I can’t wait to travel to other places in India.
soundhorn! and do notice what else is written on the truck, haha
an old auto used for carrying goods
Studying in India is an experience that I guess is really different from elsewhere. Where else would you be able to find 6 girls crammed into a tiny auto on a rainy night speeding away in Kolar, or being in an auto at 10 plus in the night whizzing through the streets of Bangalore to bring you to your hotel room which so happens to be on top of a pub which *phew* plays modern Western songs instead of Bollywood songs. Lol. Or the extremely strong green-sareed indian aunties (ayamas) who grabbed my 30 kg luggage bag and put in on THEIR HEAD without blinking when I first arrived. Or the fact that I had real bones in room for osteology haha.
my name tag, and yes that’s a real human clavicle!
Animals. The fact that I have a paragraph about this is because often I feel like I’m living in a zoo, not a university campus. There are panicky cats that run about, dogs that are scared of you, monkeys-old and young alike that swing from tree to trees nimbly Tarzan-style as you walk underneath in holy fear (because you’re carrying food from the mess), flocks of sheep(!!!), frogs, etc etc.
sheep!
baby monkey outside our window
Food. I guess that its not Mangalore or anywhere else where you do get good food easily, even hotel food at amazing prices. Love the food when I was there! Here you’ll be ok if you’re a vegetarian as the mess serves vege 6 days a week. Doesn’t help that its the same menu every week and I haven’t got accustomed to those weird diluted curries haha. Being the hopeless carnivore that I am, I’m constantly craving meat. Fortunately we do have a kind auto driver who does food deliveries- my source of meat. In Kolar there are not that many places to eat, but there are a few- ‘Woody’s’ (which is purely vegetarian), and a few Muslim restaurants which is quite delicious actually.
this is what we eat for Saturday lunch. my only pic of the mess food. no mood to take more haha
fried rice at Limra’s- one of the muslim restaurants. tastes like chinese fried rice!
Way of life. When I first came here, it was a little hard to adjust because we take many little things for granted back in Malaysia. It kept blacking out! A few times a day and more than just a few minutes- but its better now and though it still blacks out everyday we have gotten used to it, automatically clicking on our study lamps. Water isn’t too big a problem except that it has a habit of promptly disappearing when I’m halfway through washing my clothes. -.- In Kolar people live very simply, you can see doctors with stethoscopes around their necks riding into the hospital on their scooters, however there are very rich people esp in Bangalore. The chasm between the poor and the rich is too wide- beautiful new developments and buildings amidst small barefooted beggar children running around barefooted in a construction site. Its an uneven mix- the old and the new.
a village called Sugutur in Kolar
Fellow Malaysians. When I first came here, I wasn’t really close to those in my batch when we were in KTT. In fact we were a very unlikely mix- I mean none of us were really from the same ‘clique’ as some may call it. But being in a foreign country its good to have each other and I found that we are identified first and foremost as Malaysians- not Malay, Chinese, Indian, just Malaysians. In fact, I’ve never heard the word ‘Malaysian’ being spoken of so many times as in those 3 months. Our seniors have been amazing to us, and its heart-warming to experience the spirit of ‘1-Malaysia’ as I now-so-very-cheesily-put-it out of our own country.
our batch of Malaysians, save 2
Church. Its nothing less than a miracle that I found an english-speaking church to go to at a Bible college just 5 minutes away from my uni. Its all God’s providence and I really thank Him for it. I love the way that in the service we go from blasting Hillsongs ‘Óne Way’ with electric guitars, bass and drums to opening our hymnals and singing really really old songs with the organ. And the fact that most of the congregation are ‘sepet’ as well (just like me!), being from north-eastern India.
choir in church
Weather. I love the weather here! Its almost never hot- I don’t know the exact temperature but its very cooling-something like Genting or Camerons. Love the irony that I can wear sweaters and jackets in India! Haha.
the walkway I take to class
As a whole, I guess its about keeping my attitude right and my focus on why I’m there. Its not easy- in fact its very terribly tough often. As time goes by I find myself settling in better, getting more accustomed to where I am and what I am doing, finding my niche where I am. Often me and my friends would fall into the trap of comparing- with other unis in India or with other countries and it isn’t good because we can’t change where we are but its our perspective that matters most. Maybe it isn’t the most comfortable and modern of all places, nor does it have awesome food at the mess or amazing facilities, but we do have very brilliant lecturers and PGs (post grads) and a very cooling weather here in Kolar such that we almost never sweat, and numerous other blessings. I have to be strong and remember that I’m studying for a purpose greater than just obtaining my MBBS, and for something bigger, greater than what I see around me. And not forgetting the valuable experiences we’ll have here, and trusting that God’s grace is sufficient, always.
There is love that came for us
Humbled to a sinner's cross You broke my shame and sinfuless You rose again victorious
Faithfulness none can deny Through the storm and through the fire There is truth that sets me free Jesus Christ who lives in me
You are stronger You are stronger
Sin is broken You have saved me It is written Christ is risen Jesus You are Lord of all
No beginning and no end You're my hope and my defence You came to seek and save the lost You paid it all upon the cross
So let your name be lifted higher
Be lifted higher be lifted higher
“Hillsongs- Stronger”
