What will come to an end, will eventually come when it is time.
What matters most is how you have made the best out of it…
Looking into my future in India
Started on 11th September when I landed on Bangalore Airport welcomed by Mr Anand and then reached Mangalore Airport and received by Mr Ganesh.
Moving down the hilltop Mangalore airport, I prepare myself to face life for the next 2 and the half years that will come.
Without any clear idea about the future, I aspire to acquire some good values from this place in India from the Indians.
Expect Less, Always Feel Enough
Registered to the Rabindranath Tagore hostel.
A bit shocked with the condition, but somehow always something in me that say “Expect little, live simple, then you will always feel enough in life”.
My friends started hunting for groceries and I see people buy a lot of things.
I still remember how I keep things simple, I chose a set of 6 metal containers, and I decided the biggest will be my bowl and the smaller ones will be the plate and the smallest one will be my cup.
I also don’t like bringing tonnes of books and big bag to class. I always ask myself what I really need with that given amount of time. So it is usually a file, some notes I need and some pens in the pocket, that is purely sufficient and I am still doing that today.
I don’t like bringing bottle water with me, whenever I am thirsty, I will ask for a bowl in the food court and sit beside the water purifier and that is how I quench my thirst.
India teach me to live simple, stay humble, ask less, feel more
I simply enjoy the sense of begging/ asking for a bowl because I can feel the great sense of gratitude owing to people kindness while drinking even though the water is free. It teaches me a lot about self-humility.
The Greater You Are, The Smaller You Feel
Lecturers here are good in knowledge but they are better in showing you how to gain them on your own.
My first year, teachers like my Mentor myself, Ms Anitha, Dr Chandrika, Dr Guruprasad, Mr Raju, and endless list of names that not only made me adapt fast to this medical education, but they also build my perseverance and determination to stay strong and motivated
At this place (and so far only this place), the greater their knowledge, the more down to Earth they are.
I remembered once seeing Dr Somayaji squatting down to pick those weeds on the grass.
That incident enough to remind me that despite of having so much of great knowledge and pride, even when you put yourself lower down than others, you actually just gain more respect than losing them.
2nd year was nothing less, with people like Dr Jessica, Dr Vinod, Dr Annama, Ms Debashree, Ms Smita…I would have not made it through without them easing the path.
Although less soft talk than the lecturers in 1st year, it sort of urge me to be more independent and self-motivating when I face hurdles.
Finally, the time comes…
5th Semester of 3rd year.
Great men like Dr Santhosh and Dr M. G. Shenoy are people I have been silently observing since I am in MMMC.
Having them to finally teaching me gave me a great sense of completion to my life in Manipal.
“What the mind does not know, the eyes cannot see” is the saying always repeated by Dr Santhosh.
JPA Gang
The first gathering in India with the Gang of HRB was Hwan’s birthday.
The presence of this group of INTEC friends made me feel as if I am just not too far from home.
HRB Gang
During first year, dinner was mostly with one of the private student.
We never share any other common topic except studies, he find me boring with my philosophies, I do not find him lesser with topics I never comprehend, but somehow we became house mate later...
So, it is surely my pleasure and I am truly grateful to have him crossing my life. I accept what is lacking in me and I really amplify the good things in him.
Think Old, Feel Young
Juniors from Intec then came with my full anticipation.
Since 1st year, I shifted out to stay with a BDS senior, I have only been to Mangalore for once and I just do not have much entertainment or outings as I used to in Shah Alam.
So, when they came, they sort of fill up what I have been missing in Manipal.
Hang out for dinner for nearly an hour at Cheff Inn was something I remember doing at the beginning.
But, what I cherish more is when today (when this post was written) I receive a letter from a Junior before he leave.
He remembered so clearly what we have gone through, and taking so fondly how much we have made up to each other’s life.
Dear friend, people like you, just made me feel so much of joy and appreciation in life and continue wanting to do good boundlessly.
Besides that, also to have another Junior that went through so much together in RC, to still have you in Manipal must be a great blessing for me.
There are some Juniors who are like my consultant when I need opinions, some Juniors that can just made me forget my tension and worries by hearing to them, and not too few of them that always inspire me with their great values.
Let memories and good thoughts keep to the bottom of my heart till we meet again.
Conclusion
Life here has been filled with ups and down, fullness and emptiness.
No place in India can bring so much of essence of living as such, which I am extremely grateful for this opportunity.
I hope everyone still in Manipal to have their life to be continuously enriched and inspired by the values people in India can bring into your life.
For those returning to Melaka, let us travel this journey together till the end.
To gain so much knowledge, along with great companionship by friends and local community in India made life in Manipal beyond just the goal of getting MBBS but more than that.
Goodbye Manipal.