Santosh Kalwar's Blog

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Studying in Finland, expectations and differences

“Expect the Unexpected in Life”. Life always brings you to unexpected places. I did not know some 1 year ago when I was teaching Students of Engineering Department in Kathmandu, Nepal that I would some day come to Finland. But now, I am here, writing this essay about my expectations and differences. For I come from Kalwar Family which for generations had engaged in business. I was the second Kalwar after my younger brother to come abroad for studies, from Nepal.

“All that glitters is not gold”. The first day when I landed my feet to this place, I didn’t knew how I will be greeted in Finland, I was surprised when I met a Old man near railway station in Helsinki, asked him some info in English, he did not replied anything. I was not surprised. Next thing that came in my mind was, “Am I walking in dead man’s land?” What are the reason people here in Finland do not talk with anybody? It has been a more than 3 months now in this Country and now I think they really believed in "Do". Is it because people here believe more in "doing" then "talking". Every body is so engaged in work that no body has time to talk with each other. I have to accept that, there is never a reliable map to unexplored territory.


My penchant was always towards Computer and it has never ceased to exist till date. Those impressions, still persistent in my conscience, landed me in Visveswaraiah Technological University, India for my Bachelors Degree in Computer Science and Engineering. My choice of Computer Science for my specialization didn’t come out of the blue. It was a garland of conscious decisions knitted together at various instances of time and I have been deeply satisfied with my academic result in my specialization. I gradually began to realize the insufficiency of my knowledge so as to increase the efficiency and quality of my work. Also, career became a secondary thing and knowledge and experience became my first priority. Accomplishing the apogee of my career has been a long time passion of mine. Saturating oneself with knowledge germane to one’s studies is the only way to prove the worth of one’s existence, not only to together but also to oneself. I am convinced that we people are destined to perform special task and it is up to us as to how efficiently we can perform them. I believe that I would complete my master degree from Lappeenranta University of Technology, Finland because hard work is the chariot to success and one should not undertake a task and if he does, one should perform it to the best of his caliber. I expect to make new friends and teach them not to follow the manual of good behaviors but to discover their own lives, desires, adventures and to live.

Many of us worry about the future, hold regrets about the past, and completely ignore the present. I always believe that we are in now, and the now is amazing. It will be surprising to many people that this human lives just one day of his life, I do not care about the past, and I am not worried about the future, I live in now or present. May be that is why I have no expectations and I hate the word differences. It is always best to accept life as it really is and not as I imagined it to be. I am learning from culture, people and climate of this country a lot; when the days are all the same, they pass more quickly but for me every day is new day here and everywhere else. Since I do not expect anything from my own life how can I expect something studying in Finland? I have no expectations and I could not find any difference. But I have to tell this truth that, studying here, feels good, professors, staffs and all the people are very friendly, helpful, gentle and kind. Taking all these as the pedestal of my decision, my passion for understanding the world, the rules that govern it and the way of using them for the benefit of entire human race, I have always guided my thinking and actions.


To sum up, in my country, extremely limited institution providing Master’s degree in my relevant subject lack latest technologies and the required exposure to enable a student gain global recognition. So I have to look for possibilities abroad. The renowned faculty members and the stat-of-art technology and infrastructure along with subject pertaining to one’s interest can entice anyone to gain Master’s degree at Lappeenranta University of Technology, Finland. I am no exception.

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Retired to a Forest to become Buddha

A few people may like to lead a lonely life in a quiet place to practice Buddhism, for their own reasons. There is nothing wrong if a man spends some time away from the hurly and burly of life as a part of spiritual and intellectual training to come out stronger; such a person would be of greater help to fellow human beings. But it is certainly more praiseworthy and courageous to practice Buddhism living amongst your own people, helping them and to have empathy, mutual love and concern for all. But if a man lives all his life in solitude without caring for family community and tries to become like Buddha this is not in keeping with Buddha's teaching which is based on compassion and service. Once my wife Padhmawoti said, "there is a human tendency to become imitators". People are trying to imitate, to become somebody else. Don't try to be anybody else. You cannot be! You can try, and you can deceive yourself and you can promise yourself and you can hope that someday you will become somebody else, but you cannot become. These are only illusions that you can go on having. They are not going to become realities ever. You will remain yourself whatsoever you do. An incident in Buddha's life shows how much importance he gave to family life. A young man, used to worship six cardinal points of heaven: east, west, north, south, nadir and zenith — as instructed by his religious head. When he met the Buddha to embrace his religious doctrine, Buddha told the young man that in his religious discipline the six directions were: east — parents, west — wife and children, south — teachers, north — friends, relatives and neighbors. At the bottom were others and at the top, seers. Six Families are as sacred in Buddhism and one should perform duties towards them truthfully. In Hinduism, parents are referred to as Brahma. Second in the order comes Guru, or teacher. Every pupil is expected to respect and obey his teacher. Third is the sacred relationship between wife and husband. Both husband and wife need to respect each other and express their love and regard by caring and sharing. The Buddha didn't forget to mention that a husband could gift clothes and jewellery to his wife — as a way of demonstrating the fact that he cared for her physical well-being, too. Love is the energy that helps us to heal, whether we give this love to ourselves, or we receive it from another. When we look at having loving relationships in our life, why not start with ourselves? Because that is where love comes from. This is what transforms our relationships and our lives. It is clear those in order to practice Buddhism you are not expected to become a monk or retire to a forest or cave. You can practice it even while living with and caring for family and discharging your duties towards family members.

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Friday, May 16, 2008

Somebody Me




Lyrice
-------

You, do you remember me?
Like I remember you?
Do you spend your life
Going back in your mind to that time?
Because I, I walk the streets alone
I hate being on my own
And everyone can see that I refell
And I'm going through hell
Thinking about you were somebody else

[CHORUS]
Somebody wants you
Somebody needs you
Somebody dreams about you every single night
Somebody can't breath without you, it's lonely
Somebody hopes someday you will see
That Somebody's Me
That Somebody's Me

How, How could we go wrong
It was so good and now it's gone
And I pray at night taht our paths will soon cross
And what we had isn't lost
Cause you're always right here in my thoughts

[ Somebody's Me lyrics found on http://www.completealbumlyrics.com ]
[CHORUS]
Somebody wants you
Somebody needs you
Somebody dreams about you every single night
Somebody can't breath without you, it's lonely
Somebody hopes someday you will see
That Somebody's Me
That Somebody's Me

You'll always be in my life
Even if I'm not in your life
Because you're in my memory
You, will you remember me
And before you set me free
Oh listen please

[CHORUS]
Somebody wants you
Somebody needs you
Somebody dreams about you every single night
Somebody can't breath without you, it's lonely
Somebody hopes someday you will see
That Somebody's Me
That Somebody's Me
That Somebody's Me
That Somebody's Me

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Monday, May 5, 2008

Turn the page




Lyrice
---------

On a long and lonesome highway east of omaha
You can listen to the engines moaning out as one note song
You think about the woman or the girl you knew the night before

But your thoughts will soon be wandering the way they always do
When youre riding sixteen hours and theres nothing much to do
And you dont feel much like riding, you just wish the trip was through

Here I am - on the road again
There I am - up on the stage
Here I go - playing star again
There I go - turn the page

So you walk into this restaurant strung out from the road
And you feel the eyes upon you, as youre shaking off the cold
You pretend it doesnt bother you, but you just want to explode

Yeah, most times you cant hear em talk, other times you can
All the same old clichs, is it woman? is it man?
And you always seem outnumbered, you dont dare make a stand
Make your stand

Here I am - on the road again
There I am - up on the stage
Here I go - playing star again
There I go - turn the page

Oo-ooh, out there in the spotlight, youre a million miles away
Every ounce of energy you try to give away
As the sweat pours out your body like the music that you play, yeah

Later in the evening, you lie awake in bed
With the echoes of the amplifiers ringing in your head
You smoke the days last cigarette, remembering what she said
What she said

He-ey

Yeah
And here I am - on the road again
There I am - up on a stage
Here I go - playing star again
There I go - turn the page
There I go - turn that page
There I go, yeah, yeah
There I go, yeah, yeah
There I go, yeah
There I go, yeah
There I go, oo-oo-ooh
There I go
And Im gone


Metallica lyrics
Die Die My Darling
For Whom The Bell Tolls
Loverman
Nothing else Matters
One
So What
The Unforgiven
Tuesday�s Gone
Wherever I May Roam

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Thursday, May 1, 2008

Tears in heaven



Lyrice
-------

Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven
Will it be the same
If I saw you in heaven
I must be strong, and carry on
Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven

Would you hold my hand
If I saw you in heaven
Would you help me stand
If I saw you in heaven
I'll find my way, through night and day
Cause I know I just can't stay
Here in heaven

Time can bring you down
Time can bend your knee
Time can break your heart
Have you begging please
Begging please

(instrumental)

Beyond the door
There's peace I'm sure.
And I know there'll be no more...
Tears in heaven

Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven
Will it be the same
If I saw you in heaven
I must be strong, and carry on
Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven

Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven

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