2023
I was reading my old blog posts and stalking myself on Instagram when I came across something I had written for a New Year’s post a couple of years back. It was surprisingly apt, unlike my other writing stints which are either hits or misses. Reading them back makes me cringe more often than not, but this one Instagram post was different.
For the past two years, I have had a formative experience at a New Year’s Eve. I don’t know whether I will have one today but last year at this time I decided that I was a miserable little corporate slave working away in front of my laptop without doing much otherwise. I decided that I wanted to travel more. I was fresh off a Goa trip where we watched the Fifa World Cup final, rented out a scooter travelled across the state and drank very little alcohol. A very different Goa experience than most people expect to hear from a Goa trip. That experience made me want to do more of the same. Travel around the country and live in my 20s. My New Year’s Resolution would be: To have a short trip each month.
I followed through on that resolution beyond my wildest imagination. I did my first solo trip to Ahmedabad to watch Test 4 of the Border-Gavaskar trophy between Australia and India. I had booked tickets way in advance and was hyped for the trip. The 2-day trip was refreshing, eye-opening and in a way a lesson. This trip was preceded by a short trip to Kolhapur and then followed by trips to Indore, Alibaug, Talegaon, Mulshi, Sangli, Bangalore and Mysore. Not all of these would qualify as a “trip” in its true sense but it got me moving out of the hell-hole of my room and the confined space of my office into the real world, meeting real people and not just people of Google Meet.
I also quit my first job this year after working for 18 months. As far as first jobs go, it was a decent job. A relaxed work environment, friendly colleagues, and an amazing work-life balance. The only bone I have to pick with my first job would be the “work from home” nature of it. I was always bored out of my mind. It stunted my professional growth because I missed out on a lot of “office” interactions but all in all, it was a phase of my life which taught me the importance of money and gave me a little financial independence. It was liberating to not ask for money from my parents when I wanted to buy something I wanted. Ordering from Swiggy and Zomato skyrocketed but you win some battles and lose some.
Then came the most humbling and exciting experience of the year. Moving to Los Angeles to get my Master’s degree in Computer Science. I think my life has been the most generic Indian boy trajectory you can imagine. First doing my engineering, then working for a couple of months and then going a-broad. I digress. I was extremely excited to finally move away from my parent’s house and be independent. Being a single child, I was accustomed to being on my own and entertaining myself. As a child, I would make up scenarios in my head about random cricket matches and bowl in the corridor of my house at the main door and pretend to be the best bowler in the world.
I was not worried about being on my own or even being away from my family. Yeah, it sucks being away from all my friends, family and the place I lived all my life but that aspect of life is manageable. The first few months were new and exciting. Exploring a new city with new people in a new country felt surreal. I was living in the GTA map I had played in. I visited all the places where I had randomly killed civilians in the game and the weather was in one word, exquisite.
They say the first semester is always tough. Adjusting to a new environment, and new people is a gradual process. It made me question myself, a lot of times. The usual existential questions became worse for me every other week damaging my self-esteem and confidence and probably making me feel worthless most of the time. I think it was those moments which taught me a lot. The semester probably deserves an essay of its own which I might do if I shrug off my laziness.
Peace out, signing off from 2023.
