A Study Trip that changes my Life ~ Suraj Singh

Suraj: Can i go India please? It's through the college maa.

Maa: No, it's dangerous and you went China previously, how can you go to two trips?

Suraj: Maa.

Maa: No more discussion!

Suraj mumble to himself

Suraj: I want to explore India, i have to, i need to. I need to change the mindset of people about India.

For the past 1 week, i been pestering my Maa about going to India to study. I even told her that i will work for that. Reluctantly, she agreed with a little worried.

That week, i went to sign up officially for the immersion programme and anticipating that day to come.

That day when Suraj Singh is borned.

15 September, the day has arrived and we was all dressed up and well prepared to fly to India, Kolkata before transferring to the train and proceed to NIT Rourkela for our 1 month trip in India.

we took 4 hours to reach India, and the moment we touch down India, i knew things were different because i have make a choice to come to this country, this beautiful land. Two and a half hour different between Singapore and India, it's like we can redo what we does two and a half hour before, i just felt different with the time.

We reached Kolkata at around 6pm and we went to Pizza hut for a treat from the organiser, it was an awesome dinner, as we have not had any proper meal since we touch down in India. We saw the tight security here even in Shopping mall, we tasted the flavoured food in Pizza Hut and saw the cheap prices we can get in Fast food restaurant and we boarded the order queued train.

We reached the train station (HWH) at around 10.30pm and our train leaving at 12am so we waited at the station for one and a half hour. While waiting, we went to get our Pani for the trip.

The train took 10 hours to reach Rourkela. I know, it's long, it's not suppose to took 10 hours. It's suppose to reach in 6 hours (Quickest Train) and 8 hrs (Slowest train) but something corp up during the train trip and we was stuck in the train which lead to additional two hours of delay. Nevertheless, we reach the destination safely.

A view of NITRKL, a place i would never forgot.

We reached raurkela after a long 10 hours ride, we didn't sleep well because we hardly or we don't even take any such train in Singapore. It's a different experience, we call it the 10 hours experience (Train Trip). The college wasn't just located near the train station, it was a 15 mins trip into the village, into the college. We was given rooms in the guest house to stay during our study in the college for 3 weeks and after which we will go to Bhubaneswar for some study and site visiting.

Second day after we reached the college, we was told there's a puja going on. The puja about this technology god was carry out during the day and immersion is carry on the next day. We went to visit the puja which was carried out in the college's classroom.

Beside staying in the college for study wise, we actually was brought out of the college for industry visits to places like Wipro and Ta ta Steel. We even visit temples around Raurkela and i went into all Temple bare footed. I believe it's a form of respect.

Friends like this are hard to find. I became so close with them it surpass my relationship with my blood brother. It's how amazing this relationship between them was build within me.

We visited the temple and i saw this very scene where children are asking blessed and prayed food from the temple in charge. Everyone starts to crowd around him, asking for more shares to bring back home for their bada bhai, chotu or even sisters. I love how they cramp with each other asking for the blessed food. Nevertheless, i was given my share without even asking. Thanks bhai.

I open up to this bhai over here when i was there, i just tell myself i got to mingle with them, i got to mix around with them, 3 weeks is really a short time for me, and i really got to cherish the time there. So, we became brothers, the best brothers i ever had in India. It changes my life.

No boundaries, just loved for the country.

They actually bought the fireworks into the college for us to play. It may not be new to all, but it is definitely new to Students from Singapore, because fireworks is banned in Singapore due to fire hazard purpose. I guess my friends really enjoyed themselves with the accompanied of the fireworks and bhai.

It's not just only friend. I'm a very sentiment person, i'm a very much emotional person, it's hard for me to explain this very part of me. I cried when i was leaving the college, that's how sad i was. The cake was a last celebration between our friendship there, we may see each other some may not see one another but somehow we cherish this very moment together. Holding this very special relationship along with us back to Singapore.

A scene we created in Rourkela CCD, we was having a mini celebration of our friendship.

How cool can it be to visit this very own bay of bengal in Puri with the company of 'Chetan Bhagat's book'?

Puri is situated on the beautiful beach of Bay of Bengal from where one can have the fantastic view of sunrise and sunset. Every visitor on the tour to Puri cannot dare to miss a visit to this mesmerising beach. Puri beach is a most beautiful place in Puri, you can show here varities type of people which comes from India or any other places.

The Sun Temple located in BBSR. It was an amazing trip we have, in the temple of Kama Sutra. You always hear about it but never try experiencing it. It was my first time to the temple and it's really awesome touching the temple, and experiencing the artifact.

My friend Akshat Shah from Nepal.

I'm holding the temple at the tip of my fingers.

And this is the wheel of December, i'm born in December so i took a photo with the December wheel.

I guess not as many people will be like me, to be so crazy with the nature scenery there. Guess that's just who i am.

Ending with this very own Sunset from India.

This trip was really worthwhile, i know some of my friends that never come to India, would never try coming to India. But I will, I love this country, the culture, the people, the food, the places, it's everything that let me experience from my five senses.

I said: ' This trip changes my life' because i have fallen in love with the lovely country, I have the intention to work there, study there, stay there and marry there. I actually even realise what i want in my life.

Bhai in India said: You wouldn't come back for us, you wouldn't visit us again. Let me tell you, i will bhai, i will visit and i have bought my ticket to come back to India on 17 Feb 2011. I just wanna said: "I belong to India" my body, my mind, my soul. It's where i belong.