Setting out for the data...

I set out for my data collection trying to act as though confidence was oozing through every pore of mine. Slightly nervous I set out from the hostel at the time that I had decided to leave.

I gathered up courage and decided that the day was going to be mine and I was going to conquer it. I met a batch mate who offered me a ride to the nearest bus stop from where I had to start my journey.

Standing there and waiting for the bus to come, it seemed like the longest time ever. But even then the time was pleasant as I received calls from the bestest of my buddies asking me not to go alone. These great friends of mine were trying to get somebody to accompany me as they didn't want me to go alone. Great friends aren't they?

Well...anyway...I reassured them that it was okay and that they did not have to cut class and come for me. That I would call them as soon as I wanted any help or was in any difficulty. Having persuaded them and having got down at the first bus stop, I proceeded to catch an auto to the first branch office I needed to go.

After what seemed to be ages in the auto, the auto fellow and I couldn't still see the branch that we were supposed to go to. Finally after going up and down twice, I called up the branch office to find out where exactly the location of this branch was.

And that is when thunder and lighting struck. It seemed that they address the regional office had given me was wrong and the location of the branch was only 5 minutes walk away from the place that I had alighted the auto. Feeling peeved by this time, I reached the branch and found myself waiting for the managers meeting to get over so that I could start distributing my questionnaires.

I met the manager and gave my questionnaires and was out of the office. I started walking back to the bus stop trying to get my bearings right. And then I realized that even though things didn't exactly go the way I had planned the only thing that I had lost was a bit of time. I charged right ahead.

And in that enthusiasm I went on to the nest branch in my list and soon moved on to third branch  in my list.  As I was going to the third branch Saji had called me up and he offered to pick me up and take me back to college.

I was exhausted with only the 3 branches covered and since it was a getting late and I welcomed the thought of returning. And soon I ran into Saji and covered the 3rd branch with him and we set back to college just in time for class.

And so with 3 down on my list and 5 more to go, I am waiting for Monday when I can finish the list of those branches that I couldn't visit on that day along with the revisiting of all the branches to collect the filled inn questionnaires.

My exploratory, though begun in an exasperating way ended well and I am looking forward to the rest of my data collection

Data Collection and me

The date for the submission of the data that should have been collected was fast approaching. I had my research in hand and my questionnaires ready but I still hadn't started on my data collection.

Not entirely my fault mind you. I hadn't been entirely free to devote the time, resources or energy needed for this with the INFLORE running full steam during these days along with the classes and the assignments. 

So though I was extremely enthusiastic about my research topic and had set almost everything in place, I still had not started on the next stage. As the atmosphere cleared up with the INFLORE coming to an end, I decided to devote my time to my dissertation work.

Things quickly fell into place and yesterday I decided I would set forward in my data collections process. I knew that I may not find myself able to submit everything on time but I had to put in my best and so I charted out the branches to which I had to email my questionnaires and the branches in Kochi that I could visit. 

Being a Saturday the branches would close by noon and my task was cut right out for me. I had to cover 5 branches in 3-4 hours. All set into place I looked at the places that I had to go only to realize that I didn't know how to get to any of them.

Woe unto me...Filled with despair and the tears readily springing to my eyes at the realization that all my enthusiasm was for nothing. I began to feel that my data collection was going to be hopeless. Like the silver lining to the dark cloud, one of my good friends explained to me each area in my list of 5 branches along with details on how to get there and back by bus/auto. 

And so filled with determination and nervous trepidation I set out to explore....

Crochet....

 I have grown up watching my mother stitch. Crochet, knitting, embroidery......you name it and it seemed that she could do all these different types of stitching...this was my understanding when I was in the 8th standard or so...

I still remember going to another aunty to learn crochet though my mother stitched quite a lot of crochet. You see, I didn't want to learn from my mother...All my friends were going to another person to learn and I too wanted to learn. So determined I was to go, that I actually did. We didn't learn just crochet but we learnt other things too.. Unfortunately I don't remember what it is that I was to have learnt during the session. But what I do remember is that when I was done with the course I still couldn't stitch.

With my nose high up in the air, I declared to my mom that I wasn't going to 'waste' my time stitching the doilies that she kept stitching. I decided to stick to the Anchor stitch kits and cross stitch patterns.  Embroidery too wasn't my forte so I decided not to risk doing too much of that.

But in course of time, as I saw the beautiful things that my mom made, I changed my mind and decided to learn crochet. My first project was a 'carrot bookmark' which was as long as the palm of my hand. It definitely did not look like a carrot. I wish I had a picture to show that utter disaster. It was such a flop that I was scared to try again. And as I said earlier I was determined not to 'waste' my time on doilies and make only useful things as bookmarks and bags and the such.

I began by making scrunchies. That was definitely a crazy phase where I think I influenced my mom too, to abandon her projects for a while to make a few scrunchies. These small projects taught me my basics in crochet and I ended up having a dozen or two scrunchies in all the colors imaginable. My only frustration at these moments were when I couldn't stitch as fast as my mom. You see , I had started ,learning but I wanted to be as fast, as neat and as accomplished as her. No small feat, huh?

I haven't yet reached that stage, but I am still learning and have a long way to go as she is far ahead, doing new exciting and beautiful things. Some so complicated that I still haven't got the courage to start them.

Well...Let me now get back to where I was...

Yeah once I had done with the scrunchies, I didn't do anything much for some time. I was in Amrita and I couldn't spend much time stitching. But once in a while I did escape home and towards the end of my graduation in Amrita and the year after that I had four major projects completed. I had made two bags and two doilies.

                                                            My first doily

                     My second bag - I had to finish this to take to college and show off

"Doilies?",the question may pop into your mind. Yes, 'Doilies', I changed my mind they are after all pretty things and do have their decorative uses. :)

I don't remember the other small things that I have made over the past 2-3 years. There have been small projects like pencil boxes, cell phone pouches and book marks. Some of these I still have and some have been given to friends.

Pretty long post...Don't you think? And I still haven't got to where I wanted to go. I still haven't penned down what I really wanted to. So here goes...hoping that I am not boring the people out there...

I had gone to Bangalore for my summer project and although I never carried any thread and needle, I decided to raid the stash that mom had taken to Bangalore for my own purpose. I thought to myself that I would make something nice and do something useful during those two months.

I don't think I did much stitching,other than a few small things - doilies, cell phone cover and a book mark. But my time in Bangalore ended up with Santhy, a good friend of mine, wanting to learn crochet. And I was more than happy to teach her the little I knew.

                                           Santhy's First Project for her niece

                                                     Her second project

And I never imagined that any body else would be interested to learn. But when I got back to Rajagiri I found out that Santhy's sister had learnt from Santhy and has started crocheting. She also made a cap as her first project.

So do you think it ended there? By now am sure that you would have guessed how the story would carry on from here. So if you are exasperated with my really long post then you can close this and go, else please do go on...:)

Well after I returned to college (Rajagiri), I had so many projects in my mind. Things that I wanted to do that I brought threads, needles and patterns to the hostel. Seeing my projects and seeing Santhy's project, more people wanted to learn and make things.

Uma first jumped in as she was able to obtain the thread and needle. She started making a lace edging for a kerchief

She still has two more rows to go...But just look at that, isn't it amazing? And now she has also started on a cap...

The cap

                                                Uma working hard on her cap


Just a few days and she is all set. Uma, if you are reading this, 'Don't blush, you are doing an amazing job...'

And then Rimjim, Gincy joined the bandwagon. They had been pestering me for a really long time to teach them but we got the wool and the needles only recently.

          Gincy being thrilled with the stitches she is learning and the amount stitched

  Rimjhim and Santhy on Rimjhim's stitching - She is working at perfecting her stitches

Both Gincy and Rimjhim are now in the process of making a doily. And quite successfully too, if I may add. They are both on the 3rd row and it is not a very simple one (my bad choice) but they are working wonders. I don't have photos to show of their progress but they sure are making progress.

So why am I saying all this. I set out to write about all this because teaching my friends the very little I know, had been a really wonderful experience for me. To see the thrill on their faces when they learn a new stitch, complete a row...The feeling is just amazing...

So this is just a note (and a really long one at that) to tell my friends that these days when they have been stitching have been really wonderful for me. Wonderful to see them create, wonderful to see their joy and also a morale booster for me.

And to end it all....No matter how the world changes, there will be people who are fascinated by crochet and who want to learn and create stuff.....And so the legacy continues....

"Bus?" "Excuse me!! It's too hot...Let's go by auto!!!"

As most of my friends know and love to comment to each other I usually take autos to where ever I need to go whenever possible. Of course, there are those instances when everybody else decides to go by bus (they outvote me) and I end up following the crowd. There are also those really rare instances when we are travelling long distance and have no train tickets. So bus is the only option.

So before you jump into any conclusion that I am a snob that travels only by auto, let me point out to you that I have no issues, absolutely none for travelling by bus. As long as I know the bus routes or the bus numbers, which ones to get into and where to get off, and of course a lot of time in my hand to wait for those buses, I am perfectly fine travelling by bus. But as a few of the above said conditions usually don't occur unless I am with my friends and we are travelling in huge groups. So there!!! I have said it outright and now don't you go and label me as a "auto-person".

But like I said earlier those instances that I travel by bus are few.

Hold your horses!!! Did I just say "are few". Let me correct that for you.

Those instances that I traveled by bus "were" few.

Now I am in Bangalore for my summer internship. Here at Bangalore I find that the instances in which I take an auto are really rare.

When I first came to Bangalore, I never felt that the auto charges were too high. After all, in those initial days my mom used to pay the auto fares. Then came one day, after she had gone, that I missed the bus to office. I caught a bus that took to one of the stops that connects to the route that goes to office. I waited there for sometime. That is when I realized that  I was getting late for my second day at office and that I did not know which bus would take me there. And, when an auto pulled by me, it was too much temptation for me to resist. So I caught an auto to office and finally reached there a bit late. That is when I noticed the fare on the meter!!!! My heart leapt into my mouth as I realized that it was no small amount that I had to pay.

I just couldn't digest the fact that I had spent that much on an auto. I pacified myself, "After all it was only my second day and I did have to reach on  a reasonable time. And the only reason I took the auto was because I didn't know which bus to take. And hey! It's wasn't as if I was going to miss the bus every single day. It happened once and it wouldn't  happen again." When I took all these into consideration the amount I spent didn't seem to be too bad. It was one of those 'couldn't have helped' circumstance that made me spend the money.

The week went by and luckily I never had to had to take another auto the entire week. That weekend I decided to visit my friends at Kempfort. The place was new to me and it was a alien land with a alien language. But I was determined to make this trip without a hitch and so I googled the routes and the bus numbers to Kempfort.

I set forth on the Saturday and reached Kempfort without much hitch. I had an absolutely great time that day and the next. The next day I decided to go back to my aunts place from Kempfort as I had to go to office the day after. But this time there was a small hitch.

Another friend of mine and I reached the Shivaji Nagar Bus stand to go to out respective places of stay. I waited at the bus stop for half an hour when I realized that only one bus went to Vidyaranyapura (thats where my aunts house was) and that was nowhere to be seen. The rosy picture suddenly turned bleak as I couldn't figure out what I should do. I turned things over in my head until I figured that I should just go the other major bus stop at Majestic. I was very sure that buses from Majestic did go to my aunts' place.

I started hunting for buses to majestic at Shivaji Nagar Bus stop when it finally dawned on me that even those buses where few. And as time passed, I realized that I had no choice but to take an auto to Majestic as I didn't know from where I could catch a bus to majestic.

And so my next adventure began!!! I got into an auto (trying to haggle and bring down the exorbitant sum he was charging me) and set forth to Majestic. The auto stopped "a few minutes" away from the Majestic. That auto fellow even showed me the place. He had to stop the vehicle as the brakes had snapped or so he said. After paying that guy off and walking for another 15 minutes I finally reached the Majestic Bus stand.

Feeling relieved I walked onto one of the platforms to locate my bus. But I couldn't find it there. And so I walked to another platform and then to another. But I still couldn't locate my bus. By then I was filled with frustration and despair.

Let me now break in  on the story and let you in on a little secret. My problem was I had this fear of going up to people and asking them for help or directions especially because they were strangers.

 And at Bangalore, all I knew was the name of one place. I didn't know what to ask and to whom to ask!!! What a predicament I was in. I contemplated catching another auto. Then I realized that I was being foolish and that it was not practical to take an auto for such a distance. I realized that my fear or dislike of asking around was not going to do me good. It would not get me anywhere.

Finally I gathered courage and strolled up to a juice counter and asked the man sitting there, "Vidyaranyapura?" Thats all I uttered, one single word. To my delight he told me a platform number and when I reached there I found my bus!!!!

I got into the bus and sat down as waves of relief flooded through me. I had made it and it was going to be smooth sailing now.

This major experience and a few others that showed me the costly nature of autos in Bangalore brought to me a few home truths.

Firstly, autos are way too costly as compared to a bus and if one could take a bus it is way better than an auto on the pocket.

Secondly, nobody is going to tell me the routes, the bus stops or the bus numbers unless I actually asked them. You see people aren't clairvoyant and they definitely don't know whats running in my mind.

Thirdly, it isn't too difficult to ask people. And if I ask they don't have any issues in telling me what I need to know.

And so after a month in Bangalore and a few home truths later I have no qualms in asking complete strangers for directions and the bus stops. In fact,  I travel quite frequently by bus as I need to travel for the project from the office.

And last but not the least, if you ask me now, "Auto?", my eyebrows will definitely shoot up and I'll tell you, "Auto??? Are you crazy??? Lets go by bus!!!!"

Au Revoir

First days at that place called BEL in Bangalore!!!

The train that should have reached at 6.30 just wasn’t reaching. I was on my way to Bangalore and I was thrilled to the core.

Finally I reached the station and I was on my way to my aunt’s house. I had never been to Bangalore before other than for two flying visits which could possibly not count. And here I was travelling through the area that belonged to that organization that I was going to be interning with, BEL. Never ending, the roads seemed to stretch on for forever and all I could do was drink in the sights of the roads and the buildings and the township that BEL had created in Nagvara.

I had my day off and was to join on the first of the month. I had been nervous the entire time I was in college and till the time I reached in Bangalore. But then after I reached Bangalore, I realised that something was surely wrong. My nervousness seemed to have disappeared. That surely wasn’t right!!! I needed to be nervous if the internship was to go fine and my not being nervous did not bode well.

Well the next morning came and luckily I did become nervous, so maybe things wouldn’t be too bad I figured. I went off to office with an uncle and got everything settled in quickly with the office giving me permission to use the office transportation. So in a happy go lucky mood I returned home to enjoy the three days of bliss – three days of hard-earned holidays!!!

At the end of those holidays I started going to office. I became a regular, just like any other employee. Mornings I would wait for the bus to take me to BEL, would go for lunch with the rest of the staff to the office canteen and return back after office to home.

And now it’s been three weeks here at BEL. In between I shifted to where my friends were staying and now we are four in this house, “our house”. It sure is a blast with us trying out our culinary skills and bravely eating it too, checking out all the malls available and hanging out at all possible places.

A toast to the wonderful days that I had till now and to those I expect for the rest of the time I am here!!!