Facing your Fears - The Debating Kickoff

Facing your Fears

The Debating Kickoff

I registered for the Debating society and had forgotten about it, as I wasn’t really keen about the whole thing. The lack of interest wasn't because I didn’t know anything or wasn’t sure of making a good argument, as I am very good at that. I was apprehensive about the whole thing because I prefer to sit in a group and comment from there rather than be on stage. I had tried it in school and discovered I was very bad at it; in the sense that I had a phobia of public speaking - speaking in front of an audience. It was because of this fear, that whenever I was on stage, I said everything very fast which resulted in me forgetting some of the things that I needed to say! It was because of this that I never could got the confidence and just started ignoring it. I felt I got better at it after studying for the UPSC and having discussions on various topics and stuff, but I had not really tested my skills. That went on for years and then I registered for the debating society at the University of Westminster, London. I am not sure why I did it, as I had forgotten until I received an email about the 1^st session. I was trying to find reasons not to go, but finally went. I was like let’s go and see what it is. I don’t have to speak as who makes one speak on the 1^st day! Well! I was just working on my own confidence and consoling myself!

So there I was sitting in the last row. The hall filled up very fast, and this was something I had not expected. I watched the scenario while talking to the girl besides me. She was from Zimbabwe, studying Property development or something related to that. The session started with Jim - the president of the debating society of the University of Westminster introducing himself, his colleagues and the society and what all we would be doing in general. He had taken part in the World Advocacy Debate in Germany, the world’s most prestigious competition. That was impressive; and he spoke with that experience, displaying immense that confidence. They started by showing us a clip from ‘The Kings Speech’, to try and lessen our fears and to boost the confidence of people like me. I guess that everyone can speak and will get better with time and practice!

Then they explained how debates are conducted.. It was fascinating for me, something I had not at all expected. The debate was going to be in the British parliamentary style, the way it actually happens in the Parliament. Four groups, 2 on the government side and 2 on opposition side with 2 people in each group. The sequence of debating goes as follows -

  

So it was pretty clear who will speak when. There was a dummy debate to set the mood in the hall. The audience was divided into two groups and we just had open arguments which made the energy flow. Then the call for people who wanted to volunteer to speak came and everyone was not really enthusiastic. This made me relax a bit as I guess I  felt it’s ok as no one really seems to have any experience; except for a few. Jim emphasized on how important it is to start and it doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to speak and if you have never spoken before.  So then there were a few volunteers. We were paired-up for the debate and given 15 minutes to prepare for the motion. It started and we were well prepared, or that’s what I thought. The real fun was when I spoke. I had good points to speak about and 5 minutes to talk and make counter arguments (rebuttals) and take question. I finished everything in like two and half minutes. We were given 10 minutes after which the results were announced. We got our feedback and mine was not so good as I had already presumed. The points I know were pretty good, but my apprehensions and fears had dominated the whole scenario. The thorough feedback about teams, how to develop your argument and why and who stood 1^st 2^nd and all was good. The best part being the personal feedback which Jim gave, it showed his dedication and how seriously he took his work.  This was very motivating and it was the push required for me to take debating seriously.  

He announced that the years 1^st competition in UK was to be held at UCL during the weekend and urged us to take part in it. He reiterated the fact that it was for novices, that is people who do not have a prior experience of UK parliamentary debating over a year. I was wondering whether to take part or not and then he mentioned that the earlier you speak the earlier you learn and get better. So I was like what better event to start than the UK educational years 1^st competition!

I was paired with a guy for the UK, who was good, calmer and more precise than I was so I guess it was a good balance. We went to the competition on Saturday, both new to debating. The competition was a great learning experience. We did not do well at all, but learned so much. Every round was a new learning experience. The 4 rounds were designed in such a way that we got to be at all four positions shown in the above diagram. So literally we were learning round after round, and trying to use it in the next round which was again wrong, as every position had its specific job, as in what to speak and how to speak. This was amazing as students from almost 30 universities had taken part in it with around 80 teams. So I got to learn from everyone. I also met new people, made some friends, that also being the main aim of the social get-together after the event.

It was an amazing experience. I learned so much, and finally got rid of my fear of Public speaking. Yes, maybe not altogether, but I am now on the road to improvement. Every debate I take part, I got better, which was visible to me as well as those around me. My confidence got a boost when I was voted the best speaker in the group by people in the audience, other students who did not take part and were spectators, during our next practice session. Not by Jim and I knew why. Even though I was voted for, I knew where I had messed up and where I had to improve.

I got over the fear and anxiety of public speaking and that‘s going to be one of the biggest boosts of my life over the years. These things like facing your fears, tackling them and rising above it give me immense pleasure and confidence. So as far as I am concerned I will be taking part in all the debating competitions possible hereafter.

 I now get the true meaning of what Eleanor Roosevelt has said,-

“You gain strength courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop and look fear in the face. You must do the things which you think you cannot do.”

One might think it was just debating, public speaking what’s the big deal. It was for me, it was one of my biggest fears, phobias just like darkness. Darkness now, well I am in love with it, and I am getting the same feeling about this. I know that as time passes by, I am going to get better and better and that’s a great feeling.!.

Democracy - Is it the last resort?

Humans have reached the moon. Well that was long back! Removed poor Pluto from the planetary system and again adding it as the 9^th planet, the Human Genome project, Curiosity (the Mars one), Chandrayaan (India’s mission to the moon), NASA’s Maven which was $671 million and now India’s Mangalyaan is $67 million, captured and killed Bin-Laden, 3D printer, Stem cell treatment, Bit coin, Amazon delivery via drones, the GOD particle and what not; all new mind boggling innovations and theories. 

We have theories for each and every thing, as everything started as a theory and philosophy. We even have Stephen Hawkins’s ‘The Theory of Everything.’ These studies and research gave us everything from Nanotechnology to supercomputing, bringing back the dead is the next step (if not already done) that’s where the medical innovations have also reached.

 In 2014, when there seems to be no end to human innovations and endeavors, we are somehow handicapped due to the political theories specific to “Governance”. There were evolution and we came from totalitarian, dictatorship to oligarchy to communism/socialism/Marxism and then “Democracy” and as we say today. Democracy is not perfect, but it is the best till we find some other form of Governance. It has been ages since we have found any other form. While the older ones still exist. Out of 193 countries in the UN hardly 48-51 are democratic, though many of them claim to be one. There is so much turmoil around the world the basic reason being the way or rather the form of governance. People in dictatorships want democracy; people in communist countries cannot do much, for them the ideas of freedom and independence are feeble. And then comes the righteous ones stuck in democracy, those who do not know what went wrong. Is this the way the ‘Elected’ Government is supposed to behave and govern? And these democracies have given themselves the superior duty of teaching the world democracy, (Good or Bad is contextual), but I have always believed that, one should govern themselves, however bad; rather than being governed by others, however good. For me that’s the basic essence of Life - Freedom.

 The one’s which are stuck in Democracy, don’t seem to move. No new ideas or ways of governance seem to come up. Considering today’s age of innovation and free flow of ideas, it’s weird. Which makes me wonder is it the most exploitative, most profit making venture for the ones who rule? Is it the safest way for the exploiters as they can manage and escape it if at all they get caught? The best argument against it being that people themselves have elected the leaders!

 An extract from the phrase "tyranny of the majority" (or "tyranny of the masses"), used in discussing systems of democracy and majority rule, involves the scenario in which decisions made by a majority place its interests above those of an individual or minority group, constituting active oppression comparable to that of tyrants and despots. In many cases a dislike for ethnic, religious or a racial group is deliberately penalized by the majority element acting through the democratic process.

 Also Democracy is termed as “Mobocracy” many times. And if there is no logic behind all this and if the system of Governance of Democracy is so perfect why is no one satisfied? Well humans are never satisfied, but at least they are happy with what the government is doing, as they have elected them for some reason, to work for the people, for the betterment of their country.

People elect the government so that the government can run the country; and people can look after their home, family, daily businesses. But ultimately if citizens come on roads, protest against its decisions, to make them do something, for something which they have elected the government for in the first place. What’s the use of this system? 

Well, I know nothing is perfect and all. Of course how can it be? People who elect the government are not, for that matter.  So is it supposed to be like this? I guess, but the problem is that why haven’t we found an alternative. That’s the most important question, something more important than the lack of ideas, innovation. It points towards exploitation, money making and profitable ventures, to be in power always and all is what comes to mind. May be it’s the best form and this poses no problem with its governance and it’s probably just “My crazy mind.”

 I will end with a thought which has been on my mind for a long time. “If the new world order means, we are in the business of destroying anyone who questions the political agenda, then I will better be an Anarchist.”

Revelations on Foreign Soil…

Anand always seemed to have a battery problem with his phone and felt everyone else's is perfectly ok.. 

London didn't change it, rather made it terrible, well it wasn't the fault of the place where he had landed, it was the amount of calls he made using the 3G internet, but that couldn’t be helped since he was so far away from home. With this problem, he realized that he needed an external charger urgently!

He got down or rather up from the Baker Street tube station and began searching for a shop. There were many shops with big names and fancy designs, but he was still looking, not knowing what exactly for…..That's one of his USP’s 'Not knowing Exactly' and 'Searching on and on.' Suddenly, a shop at the far end on the road caught his attention. He went in and was greeted with a warm smile by a guy in his mid-thirties – well-built and really smart. An Asian guy, not Asian-Asian like the Chinese or Japanese, but someone with Indian features. It didn't take a minute for Anand to realize that the owner was a Pakistani and that was when the owner also realized that Anand was an Indian. That did not make any difference. He was a businessman and Anand was a customer. He showed him 3-4 chargers in different price ranges. Then suddenly he was lost in thought for a moment and then he spoke and said that he had something very good, way better than all these, but the problem was it was pink in color.. They both laughed and Anand was like if it's really good and can charge my iPhone twice, pink or purple really doesn't matter! The guy said it was courageous of Anand to buy it and showed the price tag which said 35Pounds. He smiled and told Anand that he could have it for 25 since they were neighbours!

That came as a real surprise for Anand, as he was not expecting any kind of conversation. Anand was really amazed and appreciated the gesture. He forwarded his hand for a handshake and introduced himself. The man behind the counter accepted the gesture. They exchanged basic information about where they were from and all. The owner told Anand that he had a friend from Pune when he was doing his MBA in London. He said that he had heard so much about Pune and other cities and it would be great to visit them one day. He was from Lahore. As they were talking a Scottish playing the bagpiper passed by and the shop owner was like look at these guys, the Scottish referendum is tomorrow;, and see how peacefully they manage everything without any violence. Of course there was bound to be some heartache tomorrow, he said, but whichever way the referendum goes. It’s still admirable. And look at us... We have been shedding blood since decades fighting over Kashmir and still found no solution. Anand was like (to himself) yeah right (as he was also aware of what happens to talks and how the Pakistani Army and ISI violate the ceasefire and how the person representing from Pakistan is in no control.) He was trying so hard not to speak about all this and there the owner was going on and on…..And it was the owner, who said, but what can be done; our country is in bad shape as the politicians aren;t really in control. Other countries like America Saudi Arabia and the army run the show, but it will change for good. Soon there will be friendship between India and Pakistan. He said, who wants to  fight every day. Not long ago we were one single country and where did all that unity disappear!? Why did it become so bitter? 'Politics' they both said at the same time and gave a high five. The owner then continued to talk about how different it would have been if Jinnah had lived for a longer time. He was so secular and progressive and could have taken Pakistan in the right direction, he added! Anand couldn’t have agreed more!.

They were so involved in the talks that he just couldn't entertain any more customers. Anyone who came into the shop was directed to one of his colleagues. Being a busy time and a big shop with so many customers Anand found it strange. He thought to himself that this shows that the person is genuine and really interested in the topic that he is talking about. Anand was happy to meet a Pakistani guy who talked of peace and friendship at the ground level and was genuine and true about what he felt and meant every word he said!

Their conversation was just not stopping, soon it went on to the topic of the drama involved in the Pakistani and Indian elections. Anand asked him about who would be the one who could change things for Pakistan. He said it would be Imran Khan. Just a week back he was leading a march against the government in power in Pakistan, he added. Anand told about the alleged links he had to the Taliban sympathizer groups and that he had no standing as to what exactly he would be doing. The owner argued and cleared some things about this topic, to which Anand did not completely agree. And the owner was like can't blame you it's the media which paints things differently. The owner said he had flown from London to vote during the last elections and there were a lot like him and the numbers were increasing day by day as there are people who care for their country. He said all the election manifestos of almost all the parties had 'Good relations with India' in their list of things to do. He said how the general perception about India had changed and it wasn't like it was earlier. He stated that hate was slowly vanishing and was being replaced by peace and friendship. Anand was so happy to hear that. The owner was feeling so sentimental that his speech was overflowing with words and emotions. He also mentioned that so many times he felt like taking a car from Lahore and going for a drive to see the beautiful northeastern states and all, but he could not. Hopefully it will change. It has to change, he added. There are many like me who feel this and we will make a difference in our countries politics, he said, with his tone ranging from despair to hope.

Before they realized it nearly two hours had passed since they had begun the conversation. Anand’s iPhone’s battery gave him a warning sign and that brought both of them to their senses. He gave him the card with the new London number and wrote his personal cell number on it. He also informed him about places where he could find  better accommodation and also asked him to call him if Anand needed anything. Anand told him that he would come there if he needed to buy any electronic equipment in future. The owner smiled and said brother just drop in anytime to talk and also meet me about anything you need other than the stuff in his store or any kind of help in London. This didn't come as a surprise for Anand as he understood the bond they had built in the last ninety minutes or so. Both patriots, intellectuals, thoughtful, passionate people who wanted something better for their country had met and this kind of bond made sense!

Events like these make one realize how perceptions can be wrong, how it can be so different than something one had been thinking all along. And when you know, feel, you know everything and have made up your mind and formed your opinions, and feel nothing will change it or there is no hope, that's the time, 'LIFE happens'.. 

5th day in London and already in The London Climate March...

This was last Sunday, 21st Sept 2014.. Before the World Climate Change March started in London...

Had partied last night with random hostel guys whom I got to know just 10 minutes before leaving the hostel with them. So of course I slept late at around 4 am and was up at 7 am without an alarm (commendable, if I say so myself! J) I don’t know how it happened, must have been the excitement. I had to reach at 12. The farthest place in London wouldn't take more than an hour and also getting ready and breakfast would take another 1 hour. Since I am a punctual person I added another half an hour to the schedule. So I had 2 and a half which was more than enough to reach the venue. But there I was up at 7 and at the venue at 10. I would have reached earlier, but got late because the tube line not working and I had to walk for 35-40 minutes. If that had not happened, I would have been here at 9-30.

It was my 1st London protest or should I say first ever protest, for that matter. It was for the environment, that's what I had heard. Studying Media Campaigning and Social change, this was the start of my learning and I had the most amazing feeling about what I was doing from the first day itself. It is so different and involves so much learning that it is a new and wonderful experience for me! Witnessing the protest and learning from it; its implications on social change; helped enlighten me. As it was going to be a huge protest, Media and Campaigning played a major role. Many NGO’s were present that day, a few being WWF, 38 degrees, CAFOD, AVAAZ as well as many more!

Since I was early, I began looking around noticing and analyzing things. Various groups were gathering their volunteers and participants and giving them instructions. Some of them were joking, clicking pictures and having fun. There were some tourists and other people who were completely foxed about what was happening. They had expected it to be a normal Sunday on the embankment of the Temple tube station. 

The numbers began increasing.. On with the fun and enthusiasm, but it is still very well managed, with the occasional police walking around. The banners and T-Shirts had things like 'Green Party' 'Say no to Fracking' 'Buy a socialist worker here' 'Against government cuts' 'Against Austerity' 'Green jobs won't cost the Earth' 'Be Realistic Demand the impossible' 'Open your eyes' 'London 100% clean energy' 'People's Climate march' and other things written on them. People with masks, costumes were distributing leaflets and holding billboards, banners and balloons with messages .I was walking around experiencing the enthusiasm, the music, the vibrant atmosphere and of course trying to find the people whom I was supposed to meet here. I knew that it was going to be an eventful and an amazing learning experience. Cheers to that!

A Night when Love and Hate Collide

Peter was talking to a friend and walking…walking is something which had become an integral part of his day. Today he had walked a little less compared to the last 3 days and he wasn’t too hungry so he thought he would walk to MacDonald’s  and have a roll at least as he wanted to walk some more. He was walking down the usual road, usual as in the one he had walked on for the last 3 days. It was huge with all the coffee shops and other brand outlets and more predominantly 1 shop in every 3 seemed to have an Arabic name, owned by Arabic, Iranian or Middle Eastern people in general. There were so many people sitting outside these restaurants named ‘Lebanon,' ‘Beirut.” Nearly all of them had halal written on it. He was amazed at the number of people sitting outside these restaurants and having Hookah and speaking in Arabic. When they spoke in English he realized that they were discussing America and other topics. Peter has always been aware of his surroundings and absorbing things as much as he could. And now that he was in London for the first time his senses were extra sensitive. Seeing all that made him think about how people turn any place into their own, sell their own type of food, display their own colors around their shops and homes, speak their language with their own and fit in everywhere. It was natural and felt good that humans could adapt so well! He said, 'hello' and entered the fast food outlet.

Waiting in the queue, the attendant gave him a smile of recognition as he had been going there for the last 3 days. The place wasn't great, but it was good enough for a fast food joint.  There were 3 kids having fun, abusing each other, near the counter. One was trying to get into the washroom and he thought someone was inside, but when he opened it the other guy ran inside teasing him. They were playing around. Peter ordered a roll and waited. The ‘kids’ were abusive. One of them came out and said something to a girl, she asked him what he said and he was like you are a 'fucking idiot,' as if he was talking to his friend. That girl was shocked and looked around and the guy repeated it with more disrespect. A guy intervened and asked the kid to be respectful and stop the nonsense. This was when the kid tried to punch the guy and so another guy came in and it turned into a push-pull fight.

The other bystanders who knew nothing of what was happening intervened on the kid’s behalf and tried to defend them by saying they were just kids. Seeing this, the kid shed crocodile tears, and it made the others there especially the girls come and shout at the guys who were in a fight with the kids. They were saying, 'let it go they are just kids.' The bigger guys were saying, 'that’s why they got to learn some respect. They can’t disrespect a girl.' Another guy came and said, 'at least not my girlfriend, I will not take it.' One of the guys skipped the place and called up the police. Soon the shouting increased and more and more people began getting involved. Peter was watching all this and moved a step back as he had been warned thousands of times not to get involved in anything like this. Keeping this in mind, he had to force himself from telling the girls and the people who were backing up the kids how badly they were behaving.

In all this the staff had forgotten Peter’s roll, he signaled to the staff and the waiter was like, ohh yeah, the roll. Peter took the roll and headed out, as he exited the police were already there and one of the two guys had already sensed that the police were coming and had run away. The fight was now taken out of the fast food outlet. The people outside realized that the kids were Arabs from the same area and the others were British; so all the Arab’s were interested in what had happened and again started feeling bad about what the kid had told them. The main person, a young, smart, business like guy in the suit whose girlfriend had been abused did not budge. Peter looked at him and imagined what was going on through his mind. Normally people would feel it is anger, but Peter sensed it to be love. All that was going on in the mind of the guy in the suit was love, his love for his girlfriend. The promises he had made to her, to be with her and protect her against all the harm that comes her way. It was the way she looked at him when the kids abused her. It ticked him off, he wondered how this could happen to her when he was around and how could he stand there and not do anything. Peter admired the guy who knew how to stand up for his Rights, for Justice and for Love.  

The 2-3 girls who had nothing to do with any of it were shouting on the road. When more people gathered and the police got there, they just walked off smiling, as if they had done a great job. Peter felt like giving them a hearing, but it wasn't worth it. The area being dominantly Arab, people were already shouting, the police called for backup and in few minutes another car filled with cops along with a cop van arrived along with the kids’ father and someone else with him. Soon it became visible how much power projection they could show. It was less about the fight, but in a way more about the power or numbers. In all this, Peter admired one thing; that the guy in the suit neither ran off nor was he visibly afraid of anything, though it was intimidating. He was cool and was saying the same thing that he had said earlier. It wasn’t acceptable; it did not matter if they were kids. It does not give them the right to do it and that nothing could justify what they had done.

Peter was finishing his roll watching all this. Another 30-32yr old Arab guy asked what was happening. Peter told him in brief what had happened. And he said that it was nice to see someone standing up to these kids. Peter did not get it; he asked him what he meant. The guy said he travels through this area every day and knows who these kids are. He said that they are rich spoilt brats whose family own shops, restaurants and cafes around the area. And after 11 pm these and others guys in the area stand at the corners of dark streets with knives and mug people. The police know about it but can’t do much as they are in majority here and are well connected. Of course politics and minority comes into play in this particular scenario. Peter was on the move to the hostel, as it was already late and he had to get out of this as he was getting tempted to go and take guy’s side and tell him how he admired that he had stood up to them. He was also tempted to tell the police how right the guy in the suit was. Peter was that sort of guy who admired the right thing, standing up for someone. He was a man who wouldn’t care where he was and how many people were against him and how the odds were against him when it came to his love or justice.  

As Peter left, the guy in the suit was taken inside McDonalds and sat with the police, while the number of Arabs outside increased.This Incident made Peter think of how the minority can use their presence in a majority while being in a specific area and pretend to be the victim in order to get things done for them. It’s sad that these things cut down the seriousness of true incidents of harassment and make you doubt some genuine cases of injustice. Unfortunately, that’s the way the world operates, he thought… As he left, he was not worried about what was going to happen to the guy in the suit or whether the police were going to charge him or not or if the Arabs were going to make a bigger scene and do something or just let it go. The only thing which was going on in his mind was the admiration for the guy in the suit for standing up for right and also for his Love.  Peter knew the importance of Love and being loved and was happy that it still mattered in the world.  It is said that everything we do in life is in a way to get more love….

New Beginnings - London

He landed at Heathrow with a body ache, congestion and tiredness which was aggravated by the queue for the washrooms. There was no entertainment system working on-flight (which a beautiful Virgin Airline’s air hostess claimed was the 1^st time in 7 years) and completely non-interested and sleepy co-passengers. Not one of the best or rather it had been one of the worst flights till date!

The landing had been beautiful, the airport, the passages, the management, everything was so British. In Kirat Vaze sir’s words ‘Very Officer like’. This made him forget all the painful airline experience. The immigration with the British border agency went on smoothly.  Getting down at the luggage collection area he got a ticket for the Heathrow express to Paddington (tube, against all suggestions of taking a cab, as it was his 1^st time). He saw a vending machine for sim cards and got a Lycasim. It was all new and amazing (doing all of this himself!); of course he was old enough and should be doing it. Still for all his friends and family it was new, he was so far away for the 1^st time and did not have a good record of managing things on his own!

Reckless as he always was, he did not check the hostel check-in timings and neither the address. So she did it for him and realized that the check-in timing was after 2 p.m. It was just 8am...cheers right…!!! So he roamed around Heathrow as if he wanted to study the area so well so that he could draw a map from his memory later on. He then met and began talking to an old lady who wore a T-shirt saying, ‘Students, need any help? ’. Not that he needed help, but saw it as a good opportunity to talk to someone really British before he entered the capital. A mix of roaming around and talking and finally down to the Heathrow express terminal for Paddington! While moving around he realized how much pain it was to carry the bags around...58kgs in total.  He was so tired that he began visualizing all the things that he should not have brought with him, but it didn't matter now.  The 15 minute journey was in a way, very enlightening as he was seeing a new city for the 1^st time.  The real pain of carrying the bags began again when he alighted at Paddington station. He then hired a taxi and reached the hostel, “The Duke of York,” An impressive bar; where he waited with a coffee for around an hour trying to connect to the Wi-Fi and thinking of different things. Images and thoughts the new city evoked in his mind!

Taking the bags to the room on the 4^th floor was a feat in itself and then putting it in the 5X5 room with 6 bunk beds, 3 in pair, one above the other, was something really that had to be done with great precision. He changed his clothes, had a wash and went down to the bar. He did so in order to charge the phone basically and message a girl he had been in touch with via the flat search website. He asked her if they could meet and she was keen. They decided to meet around 6 in the evening. He left the hostel around 3 and began roaming around the area.  He walked and walked and called friends on Viber. He messaged her and she said that she was running late. He looked at the map and figured out where he needed to go and then realized that it was the dehydration because of which it was taking more time. Unfortunately, he wasn't felling it at all, but had been warned and reminded by a friend about this on the phone because of which he realized it.

He called up the girl after reaching the destination, and there she was with another friend, both cute in a different way. They were famished and said that they will go to an Indian restaurant. They were walking towards it, and he realized the amazing speed at which they were walking at. At first he thought it was the hunger, but realized that it was normal for them. 1^st thing learnt on the 1st night in #London. They had tasteless mutter paneer and mushroom masala, of course he couldn't eat much, that goes without saying. They were talking of continental food and all and how it’s so much this and that and the Turkish and all that with sooooooo many expressions. That’s another British thing, I guess. Sophistication and expressions! As it’s said it is so British when you say ‘Bullocks’ instead of ‘Balls’. Then they all went for a beer at a pub, well that’s another so British thing. Evenings spent at a bar or pub. So that’s what he did on his 1^st night. British evening drinks after an Indian dinner. They had good conversation, about current world affairs, about future career, travelling, doing things, working in different areas, for what and all. So for a first night in London it was great. One of the girls had traveled to Nepal, Tibet, South Korea and Japan and her experiences were amazing. He was just listening to their talks and noting their expressions also, as it was so new - so many expressions in one night!

They parted after a good time and promised to meet later. He returned to the tube station after checking and rechecking it the schedule. As he got out of the tube he had no problem reaching the hostel as he had walked the area for almost 3 hours.  He went to his room to find 4 girls there. Each of them gave a warm smile. He went into his bed and tried to sleep, his mind filled with aspirations and thankfully not fear. Yes, there was a bit of anxiety, curiosity and about how things will happen and how he will manage! Since he was tired he went off to sleep, not a very good one. But when had he had good sleep anyway!