Much-awaited Summer Holidays Begin!!

Hi guys, I'm back after a long break. My exams were okayish but I'm finally glad to get it over with. The only thing that kept me and my roommates going was the idea of going back home for the summer vacations.

The only acceptable benefit of exams is realizing the beauty of normal days. If you can revise (ahm ahm) an entire paper on a single day, imagine what all you could do ( but you don't) in a casual day... When faced with the pressure of studying, my mind can come up with a hundred artistic and productive activities to engage in. And nature never looked so captivating.

Coming back to the present, I landed in my hometown right before our temple festival began. Unlike in the past, I actually looked forward to it. Having lived in my town until post-graduation, I never realized the true value of whati had. Far from home and having to look on the festivities there as an outsider made me yearn a chance to truly appreciate my own family, neighbourhood, community and festivities. It's a postive identification that goes beyond your personal self.

Last night, they four days ulsavam (=festival) closed with two thiruvathira ( a dance form) performance by young girls and women from our neighbourhood and family and one kaiykottikkali (another dance performance) by a professional dance team. The performances were wonderful, especially the last one. I particularly enjoyed a scene were the dancers walked around holding fire torches and the smoke from it illuminated by red lights. Their strong movements and fierce expressions combined with the aesthetic settings gave Ma Badhrakali effect. It was the only time I regretted not taking my phone on a temple visit. All the performances were energetic and pleasing.

Another important agenda for this vacation is doing summer internship. I have applied to a few newspaper agencies and I look forward to this brand new experience of working in the real world. I am excited for this!

My more leisure and personal plans include reading books, cooking with mom and grandma, watching movies and series,  and travelling with family, to name a few. That's a clue into what is to expect in the coming weeks.

So stay tuned for travelogues and internship diaries every Friday at 8 pm. Until then, byee.