Time To Be Thankful

So today… nearly after a year, I have decided to update my blog. Currently I am in Hyderabad, my hometown interning with The New Indian Express in their features department. By the way, how do you like the new theme of my blog? I found the old one pretty lifeless. So I have decided to revamp it :D.

Anyway, where was I? Yes, I am in Hyderabad, enjoying different delicacies mom prepares every day. And yes.  The New Indian Express. Before I tell you about me experiences there, I have to tell you a little story. This happened in the month of October.  The month particularly excites me because I am an October born. But this year, I decided to do nothing. Frankly, not many at Lavale knew that it was my birthday, which is a good thing. Right from my childhood, I have never really been an attention seeker. I just had a bunch of close friends with whom I shared everything. Although I do admit I have posted some rubbish stuff on Facebook at the initial stages. But let’s admit it, who doesn’t like a 50 something likes on their update? Sometimes that’s ok. It boosts your confidence.  Anyway, before I drift off again, I had a sober birthday this time. I was expecting to spend it with Mano (Who ditched me) and Manoz. But I finally decided to celebrate with a bunch of close people at Lavale. It was fun. Just few days before that came the news that almost did not want to hear.

“Sameera,

Many thanks for coming in last Friday.  It was a very competitive set of interviews, and I'm afraid we won't be able to offer you an internship here at the BBC.  

If you'd like any more detailed feedback, let me know; otherwise all the best in finding an alternative; and I'd like to wish you the best of luck in pursuing your chosen career.

Regards,

Neil 

Neil Heathcote, 

BBC World News, Mumbai.

22 3065 2121”

Yes. I did not tell this many. But I did apply for an internship at BBC. Not my very best move, I would say. Because, after a couple of months interning with CNN IBN, I literally went mad. What was once my dream job completely showed its different side. I realized it was all about glamour and nothing else. So for my winter internship, I have decided to try my luck in print. Believe me, the very thought scared me. There is often a big misconception that journalists are meant to be voracious readers and should use deep words when they write. But books and I are far apart. Apart from the Harry Potter, Shopaholic series and some comics like Calvin and Hobbes (BIG FAN :D) I have never really read any other books. I was afraid I might be judged. Because I know I suck at writing. But then, since when did journalism become all about writing long big words? I believe it keeping it simple.  So, I decided to take a chance and get into print. I wanted to do it from Hyderabad and nowhere else. Not many papers in Hyderabad were willing to take interns for winter. Being the only one in the class without an internship, life surely sucked then. The members of the placement team were constantly on their toes trying to get me placed somewhere. “There is a start up that’s looking for content writers. What do you think?” said Badri, the Placement cell head. NO. I did that for 2 months and I hated it. The clock was ticking and I had to decide fast. I decided to come to Hyderabad and try for an internship myself.  

I had to give it mom. Like always, she was with me wherever I went, supporting me. Every newspaper office I visited made me wait for one hour at least, before the editor came and spoke to me. But she waited patiently at the reception, waiting for the good news. And during the waiting period, my father would call her at least three times, wanting to know the status. In one of the many attempts, I randomly called up TNIE’s office and enquired about the internship. I thank my stars, I finally got it.  

Now the real question is, Am I Happy here? I did have a blast in Mumbai during my summer internship. Mumbai is the media hub and there are chances of getting a Pre Placement offer quickly there. I did miss Mumbai for a while. But I am in Hyderabad now, and there is no place I want to be more right now. Let’s just assume I got that internship I wanted badly in BBC. All my life would have been right now is my office and home. But today, in Hyderabad, I get to explore many things, and to top it all, I get to explore myself. I went on my first trek, went to two different theater plays in one week, started working out at home and to top it all, I get to spend some excellent quality time with amma. I can happily say this is what I want. As a part of my job, I get to meet different people every day. I get to make new friends and get in touch with my dear old ones. Christmas and Hyderabad is a very special thing for the reasons known only to me. Life is indeed awesome.

Lesson Learnt: Take it easy. Good things, in fact better things are on their way. J

Track I am listening to: “what I want is what I got” by westlife.

Those interested in my work can follow the link: www.readwhere.com/sameeraj/clips

An Ode To Openness!!

Well... although I don’t want a major part of my blog to be about symbiosis, I just can’t help writing about my second exciting week here. I guess this is the first time ever that I’ll be writing on my academics. For a person like me… that is actually something.  Anyway this week, as I mentioned in the title, was all about how open a person should be to everything. When I first got my week’s Time Table, I was horrified because we had classes till 8 in the evening. And the worse part that concerned me was that whole week… right from 9 in the morning to 8 in the night, will be dealt by only one professor. I dint know what to do. No matter how great the lecture is, bearing one person from morning to evening and that too for ONE WHOLE week wasn't something I was looking forward to. So I woke up on Monday, got ready, had my breakfast, and I went to the class. Little did I know that something else was waiting for me there.  There he came, a human encyclopedia,  a man of substance, Mr. A.F. Mathew. He is  an Ex faculty at MUDRA and now will be joining IIM Kozikode after his workshop here. He dealt with different elements in the society which included castism, gender, reservation, nationalism,communalism,violence etc. 

On the very first day, he showed us what kind of a pathetic life people are leading in the name of religion. Being an atheist, he feels that the country is in a greater danger. “All Religions are Equally good or Equally Rubbish”… that’s what he said. And frankly, I was not at all happy with his first lecture because I wasn’t comfortable with his idea of taunting all the religions. Then, after he said all that he has to say, he finally showed us movie, which actually burnt the insides of my stomach. The movie, titled Magdalene Sisters, is a real life incident on how religion ruined the life of 3 innocent women in Ireland. I’d say that the movie had a great impact on everyone who watched it.  I could’ve easily bunked the second day as I wasn’t comfortable with everything that he said. But then he revealed so many facts that it was hardly impossible for me to NOT attend his class.  On day two, he dealt with gender factor and how the lives of women are affected in this male dominated society.  The movie that he showed as a proof of this was an Iranian movie called Two Women.  Quite a brilliant work.  The day three was something  that excited me as he dealt with Nazis. He showed us a movie on how homosexuals were treated during the Nazi revolution. The outcome was.. I CRIED my lungs out.  Similarly, everyday he used to tell us about different sensitive issues that ruined the true spirit of humanity. He gave us ample facts to make us understand why India NEEDS reservations, why one SHOULD NOT supports a person like ABDUL KALAM to be the president and also made me realize that Humanity stands ahead of patriotism, nationalism, communal ism. As shocking as it was... at the end of the day… it all made sense.  Now I think I am a bigger person and I do know that I should do a thorough analysis before supporting someone blindly. I would like to say that this is one of the BEST LECTURES that I ever had in my 19 years of education.

Here are some of Sir Mathew's Epic lines....

“I am like a ray of light in your wretched lives”

I feel like a genius everywhere I go because you people know nothing"

"U don’t read newspaper, u don’t watch TV, so what u do all day, watch Porn....hmmm "

"god is standing in front of u
don’t worry now I have come
everything will be alright...hmmm "

"If a girl sleeps with ten boys of her class, she's a slut. If a boy does the same with ten girls, he's a stud. This is the bang-on-target example of gender bias...”

Addressing a lady: "Do you go home and declare, Mom! Great news!! I'm a lesbian!! "

"I will declare I will screen a Lesbian film in auditorium and when all the seats are occupied, I will play the Gay Film"

"Of course I don't believe in that rubbish that all men are equal...You can't be my equal"

"In Mills & Boon, hero plants a kiss on heroine's forehead and she faints. I think she'll have epilepsy during intercourse”

A Dream Worth Living!

So this is my second blog after such a long time that i don't even remember. Anyway I have realized that if I want to become a journalist, then I better get serious with my blogs as well. Now the topic that I chose now is pretty obvious for all the people who know me... My first week EVER in my dream destination SIMC :D. Well let me be frank with you. I have joined pretty late as I had some last minute emergencies. And then being a late comer, I was quite scared that Id be the odd one out with everybody forming groups already. But little did i know that SIMC was planning on a whole week of bonding exercises. And this has become one of the greatest opportunities to meet some wonderful people and mingle with them. Basically, being the youngest child in my house, i am used to a lot of pampering. People back in Hyderabad (Hyderabad is my home city) thought Id bounce back in a week with home sickness. But i don't know if something is horribly wrong with me but i never missed my home till now. I think i have a pretty good explanation for that as well. Getting into SIMC has always been my prime motive. And lets say from the past two years, I have been dreaming about this college. You know when people say they wait for ages for something to happen, and when it finally happens.... its not as good as they thought it would be? Well, SIMC is exactly the opposite. After 4 years of struggling and trying to be something else and constant failure and dissatisfaction, SIMC experience so far is way too refreshing. The early morning breeze, the hill, the campus... It is like living a dream. It has given me great opportunities to fulfill my other desires like swimming, photography etc. Before you come to a conclusion that I am the "official promoter"of SIMC ;) , I would like to add that I am quite overwhelmed with whatever is going on in my life right now like unconventional teaching methods followed by them and also getting to see some of the real journalists here.

Well now I'm going to concentrate on the negative points as well because many of you may have already come to a conclusion that I am way too optimistic about everything in SIMC but then I have a few a few minor points as well... like food in the mess.. I don't say its CRAP... but then... its definitely make you crave for moms food. All i can say is its edible and if you are not a foodie.. you don't have anything to complain. But that's not the case always though. Sometimes the food is really good. The second thing that is the the distance that we have to walk. I mean i have nothing against walking... in fact I love walking... but it gets really annoying when you are late for your lecture. That's all I have about the campus. 

Now in my final note.. I would suggest you to grab EVERY opportunity you get to stay away from your family. This is because you are coming out of your very own comfort zone and try to achieve something. This is the best opportunity to explore yourself and also to learn a lot about life. In the very first week.. I would say that i have learnt to wash my clothes, keep my room clean, wake up on time and and to keep myself organized. This is all so thrilling as this is my first experience to me.

That's all folks.... Thanks a bunch for reading this.. This means so much to me! :) Do give your feedback here!! https://www.facebook.com/sameera.jonnalagadda

On bEinG SaM!! :): OBSESSION!!

On bEinG SaM!! :): OBSESSION!!: "huh...so herez ma first blog ppl!! And frankly speaking....i dont even know how this WHOLE thing works...The main reason why i started this ..."

OBSESSION!!

huh...so herez ma first blog ppl!! And frankly speaking....i dont even know how this WHOLE thing works...The main reason why i started this is...u know as per suggestion given by friend!! And when i first thot abt this thing...i didnt even know wat exactly i hav to write...anyway...as of now...the current thing thats goin on in my life is the OBSESSION!! so why not i blog about THAT??

Obsession...The ONE thing thats been bothering me these days...and u know wat my current obsession is??? BRYAN ADAMS!!! god that guy!! he is simply awesome in his own way!! i hav been listening to his songs since i was a high skool student!! And i hav never been this obsessed by him the way i am now!! well lets just keep that whole topic on hold for the moment....because if i get started on that...it might be a never ending topic...So the whole point is...."Is OBSESSION A REALLY GOOD THING???"
Well the answer is definitely a YES!! Because being obsessed by something will actually give u a distraction from your VERY OWN problems dat uve been facing in the reality!!! But again too much of anything is too bad as they say!!
So guys I am gonna end on a positive bot by saying.....Be crazy and Stay obsessed becos whats life without a TINGE of craziness???
 i may as well sign off now....and please do comment!! ur feedback is very valuable to me! :P :P
take care and thanx for sparing sum and reading wat i hav written though it completely doesnt make sense !! :):)
 P.S: This blog has actually help me out in learning the correct spelling of OBSESSION(It can get quite tricky u see!! :P)
P.S2: Not all my blogs are gonna be THIS boring!! since it is the first tym i just thot ill give it a try!!

i wanna dedicate my first blog to that special person who has been a great inspiration to me!! :) :)

TOODLES! :) :)