Time!

Closed! Library

2010-04-06T17:54:00.000-07:00

The intersession breaks and policy to shut down campus completely, hurts some campus dwellers like me.
Everything, including library is closed. Heating is brought down. The University stands the cold with some squirrels jumping around.

Today I saw another poor guy coming to campus in a feet deep snow just to find the library closed. I shouted, "library closed on weekends!" that saved him few meters of walk. He should have checked it online. (The new library website is cool.)

I just felt bad for him. What can I do?

Writing Statement of Purpose for Higher Studies in USA

2009-10-10T07:12:00.000-07:00

On the attempts to write about the minor details on applying for higher education, this is my small effort on how to write statement of purpose for higher studies.
I am writing my personal experience. If your experience is different, please feel free to write on the comment section.

Writing Statement of Purpose is very important component of your application package. I have seen as your representative to the reader.

My experience in writing the SOP was pretty. I just wrote down whatever came through in my academic endeavor. There were few templates floating on the market about writing the SOP. If I followed the template by just changing names and places, I could easily get it. NO! My main idea was that I should write about my self and not be motivated by anything else (because I had seen other's). I started by collecting the relevant info. After writing it in straight-forward way, I looked over it. It contained my academic history; a plus was non academic activities. I think it was unique (actually true for eveybody) . If anyone decides to write their own, the following site is useful to get an idea of what others do write!

The site is useful to go through.

Take time and Enjoy!

http://www.statementofpurpose.com/whatis.html

This site gives some useful tips. As it says," SOP is the only place where you have the total control". What I like the most is that it gives some samples with reviews http://www.statementofpurpose.com/essay_samples.html

At the Tribhuvan International Airport for Departure...

2009-10-02T16:49:00.000-07:00

I have been writing my personal experiences about the flight to USA. You can find few here...
I will definitely be writing about some other events too.

Airport Tips:

Reach airport at least 3 hrs before the flight, it is important (if this is your first flight).
Friends shall be waiting in-front of the Gate of the Airport.
Be there a little early so that you can say bye to all properly, not in hurry.
Hug everyone. You are gonna miss them for some good time.
These are your friends who helped you to laugh and gave courage in bad times. These are friends who cared far far away from your native place. Supported you morally , kept you high. Just mind it : if you have no friends saying you bye, you had been like evil in Nepal..........OR you had had real
bad time there.
When You reach the INTL' airport of Nepal, go to the tax counter and pay Airport tax (it was ~1500 may have changed).
Go to baggage scanner. (in front of the tax counter)
They will scan it and tag it.

Submit the baggage to airways counter. For my case, Supriya was there. She helped me a lot.
Ask if you have to claim the baggage some-where in the middle of flight transits (most probably not, ask if you are getting them direcly to the last port; Dont tell them that I suggested it to ask: asking there in nepal will increase your confidence! )
My baggage was overloaded it was above 71 kg. They would allow only 32 kgx2. I had to return many good books. She advised me to return books rather than to leave the clothes. It was a good suggestions.
BUYING CLOTHES HERE might be a pain in the neck!
Important ::: Indian Editions (any of the Gupta Kumar sharma) must not be left back there. They are not found in here. and they are more than helpful.
After submitting the baggage, they will give you the Boarding pass and Baggag claim tag (sticked to the ticket). Do not ever think of loosing it. Keep it in safe place. With your passport (and Visa )and I-20. You will need to show/submit the Boarding pass while entering the plane. Check whether they have given the Boarding pass of all the flights or you have to pick it on some transits (ASK).

This is the time of Departure.

Cry or donot cry its up to you. One thing is for sure, you will miss them!

Families peeping through the black glasses are terrible scene of departure. They will be saying ..................
................take care..........................khana time ma khanu................... swasthya ko ramro khayal garnu........................ puge pachi phone
garnu.................... and what not....................
(My father told me to remember all the gods and ask to forgive all sins, if any........... He knows I am little bit nastik and more astik than I am nastik)

Upstairs... the automated stairs in TIA...
They will give you a form to fill up before immigration, fill it up (or ask before /after climbing the electric ladder)
ASK ASK AND ASK no hesitation MIS-INFORMATION IS LIKE A POISON. SO ASK if there is any confusion.
Use your I-20 and or any documents if needed. No confusions should be left out.

When you put your feet on the electric ladder this is the last time to see back and say bye to all the loved ones.
(For many, this may HAPPEN at the gate of the airport.)

NEPAL CHAPTER IS OVER!!!
Now you are in the Internationl area!
(not quite right, wanted to excite you a little bit)
Carry your back pack (school bag in my case) to up stairs. towards the waiting room. Far-in the room is the immigration desk (?)
You will learn to stand in line from here......... Little boring right?
An officer will verify your photo and i-20 and visa. He may ask you some foolish questions (do not worry the questions are not so foolish, but looks so
for us) The question might be : where are you going ? Why are you going ? For how long? etc etc. Expect these, at-least.
Give straight -forward answers.
You should be able to see more than hundreds of Nepalis going aboard there.
Then you will be cleared to waiting room. I wish I could have talked with some of them. They were happy among themselves. I felt like I was in Kalanki or gokarna without the brokers.
You might be able to see some big screens displaying flight schedules; get some familiarity with it. The video will be telling about the local time, flight time, delay/on time etc etc.
When the flight is ready, you will be again aligned to line and get checked. be careful about your cash-
money.

Then you will enter another waiting room (for ~30 minutes more if the flight is not delayed) Watch and keep them in memory that more than 300 people are departing to Gulf every day. Watch if they are treated differently (edit: these are the people who will send the remittance to Nepal... not you-- you are going to be a poor Nepali student for some time).

ENJOY THE FLIGHT.
You may see the beauty of Valley for the last time if you are lucky and are seated near to the window.
I can never forget the lights of the valley and the effect of jet pulling my whole body into air.
Its little strange for a while, but will be boring flight. after getting into the height, it will no longer shake, no excitements. You may be looking at the boring wing and flaps of the plain and pulses of red flashes of Plane. Some-times the plane shakes, making it little nice! You are at height of 32000 ft.
Up to quatar, I felt like going to Birgunj (really)
Talk with your partner, talk and chat.
Be comfortable, relax.
ENJOY THE FLIGHT.

In the Transit.
Walk up/down to the counter of the respective airlines (my case: Quatar) if they have not given you the boarding pass at the Kathmandu airport, ask for it. Ask for any question in mind. After being issued the boarding pass, you need to wait in the respective route. Ask to some officier, if you can not find the location to sit (but it should be relatively easy). You can ask people on the desk or might wanna find yourself on the electronic information board on the wall. Do listen the messages being announced. Important::: Adjust your clock at each airport for the local time.
Take care of the flight time.

Transit will be quite boring if you find yourself alone. Some good novel or some game like SUDOKU will be good idea to spent time. If you sleep (do not!!!// sleep in flight), make sure that your items are not going to slip away!

Port of entry:
When you reach the (first ) port of enty of America, be careful to receive the baggage from the right place. You might have to pay some dollars to get the cart (do not convert by multiplication).
You should be able to show your I-20, VISA and other documents (if necessary).
They will stamp your visa and will attach the I94. It is very important. Mind the status is F1 and the duration is D/S: means DASA START (HAHAHA)
You might be needed to fill up some forms, which they provided in flight, to be submitted to get the I-94.
The process is same as is done in KTM.
You are now formally in United States of America!!! (USA)
USA means:
U Start Again............
No matter what you are, who you are ..........
You have to start if again.
This is USA!!!

After getting I94, go get the baggage, and fetch up the baggage to the proper place. (ASK!!!)
After Submitting it there, you will be receiving it at the Final destination.

However, in the baggage, do not forget to write your address clearly using BOLD FACE and permanent marker. Because, sometimes the baggage might get lost, they will send it to that address after some days. Hence, as a precaution, it will be a wise idea if a set of clothes are carried in the back pack.
Write the Full address of You (or with c/o of some friend in US:>>> ASK!!!)
WITH PHONE NUMBER.

If any problem arises, on the way, you can call your friend in US. Just ask some american around saying that it is urgent (or may be, use the pay phone in the corner).

Phone service in USA is very expensive.
You will find that Americans are very nice and helpful in such situations.

If everything goes well (will be, for sure),
WELCOME TO USA!!!

Supporting Papers/Documents for the F1 visa interview to USA

2009-09-20T13:15:00.000-07:00

There seems to be a lot of anxiety floating around before presenting oneself to the visa interview.

Here, I would like to elaborate the papers I had in the visa interview:
Resume
TOEFL score sheet
I-20
Admission letter by the University
TA offer letter
Letter by the Department and Student Services (if any)
Mark-sheet AND character certificates of SLC, +2, B.Sc. And M.Sc.

Police Clearance (may not be necessary)
Relationship verification

Any

Certificates of Experiences
Certificate of appreciations
Certificates of participations
Anything not to leave the file light.

Actually I had planned for more........
But found that all are rumors.
Following is copied from my older mail:
I have consulted with my friends (who has received the visa)

He says that we need the following to apply:

1. T.A. OFFER LETTER
2. ADMISSION LETTER
3. 100$ SEVIS FEE RECEIPT (GIVEN AT CONSULAR OFFICE)
4. TOEFL SCORE
5. EXPERIENCE LETTER
6. FAMILY RELATIONSHIP Certificate
7. CITIZENSHIP (NAGARIKATA/ TRANSLATION)
8. PASSPORT
9. I-20 LETTER
10. Property evaluation (not mandatory)
11. No objection letter (From ministry of Education)
12. Police report
13. A letter from Nepal Physical Society (not mandatory)
14. original Certificates
15. Health Certificate (may be done later)

A lot of confusion can be clearly seen there.

A Lost Old Man On Campus

2009-09-11T23:14:00.000-07:00

Today I was out there in campus center for our lunch. As we were having lunch, I could see an old man wondering here and there. Asking few people about directions and then going away and coming back to the same place again in cycle and asking again to another person he could find there.
After few cycles, he approached me and asked how to go to the other side of the campus center. The other side was shielded by glass. One can see the other side but can not really go through it. The way was little curved than usual. I told him the way I used to access the other side. He followed my advise. Surprise! The door was locked. I felt bad as I was watching him doing it. May be thats why he was not very happy after getting the direction from me. But however, I had pushed him to.
Anyways, as he was returning, a kind lady realized the situation and told him the new way to the other side. At least, he could now be on the other side.
To my second surprise, he just came back with the same sign of frustration.
Well, we had finished our launch and outta there!

After launch I went to the library. As I was heading back to my department, I saw the same old man on the way. Asking the question same way pointing his finger to the campus center. Well, in the bright light of sun, I could see that he had his glasses fixed with the duct tape, a ring of key hanging and pant hanging with suspeders on to his body.
I had determined that if he asks me again, I would go into details of what and where he wanted to go. And take him to the destination. I do not like the situation where people are just lost with out sense of how to get our of it.

He asked everyone but me. I thought it would be overwhelming to go and ask by myself.
Sorry, I could not be of any help.

Items to Bring to USA on your luggage

2009-09-05T20:22:00.000-07:00

There are few items which are unique to our culture and life style. While life style might be different than what you have been thinking, few things are handy when you get into the cultural shock aboard.

Medicine Lists:
Cetamol
Bruffin
Tauko dukheko
D-Cold (Tabs will be easier)
Vicks
Dettol
Sancho (2-3 ota)
Handi plast (2 strips)
medicine for Diarrea (this may be important)

General Entertainment:
Nepali old songs, pop songs, folk songs.
Nepali movie songs and movies if possible.
Online movies are available but I don't think that the sites are trust worthy (for the health of the computer)
Songs of Some singers like Narayan Gopal, Ram-Krishna Dhakal, etc etc whatever preferred will be the best aid.
(More music== more entertainment)
If possible some video CDs of Comedy, and music are highly recommended.

Insert your interests everywhere!

Bring Some Gift items
For my case I bought many post cards
Visited the Nepal tourism board near Bhrikuti mandap to collect the CD and big poster of mount Everest.
They needs the copy of visa.
Bring a good sized Flag of Nepal to be hung on the wall.
The formal Dress of Nepal may be a good stuff. (I bought one but have never used till date)
Bringing the posters of God and Goddes will be a good suggestion (I did not)
Sasto ramro handi Craft items will be impressive to be presented to the Department Chief and or Advisoro. i AM not sure about idea of bringing Dhaka
topi as present. When we were in Germany,Nabin Paudel had bought some Dhaka topis : I don't think they had become more valuable than my post
cards of Mount everest. Specially when you have to give it to a lady!
Mentioning the small Khukuri cross as present is optional one.
A big map of Nepal (to explain nepal to other companions in US.
If you can, Playing cards will be great (I did not)

Electronics:
Scientific calculator is highly recommended. I could not figure out for some time how to operate the Calculator found here.
Do not bring Pen-drive. Cheaper one can be found here online.
Though one or two floppy drives might be useful some-times.
Bring alot of (~15) blank CDs (its use depends on conditions// though bringing blank CDs/DVDs are recommended!) Blank CDs will be helpful to burn
CDs to install linux OS // Ubuntu Live CD can be downloaded from cannonical website...
Softwares One will need are: Fortran, Mathematica, C, C++ Matlab, Scientific Work Place , Adobe acrobat /Distiller(PDF Writer cute pdf is free but is not the superior one), oFFICE
(alternate is open office), Origin, Partition Magic , La-tex editors, Gaussian (if), and so and so.
Many free softwares like Open office can be downloaded here in US for free on high speed internet. So no need to bring installer Softwares of Adobe
Reader(pdf), Yahoo, MSN messenger, skype, giam, Real Player and other players, Free anti viruses, Opera, Firefox, Picasa and so and so.

Kehi dimag ma aayo?
Please post as comment!

Utensils:
Pressure cooker (2.5 ltr min.) (with spare rubbers and fuses), very very important.
Dinner Plate (Thal)
Cup (Ceramic may break in pack)
Spoon (DD packed me fork and spoon which I liked the most, bigger spoon was my favourite one, which helped me to eat faster)
Sano Karai , (may be tapke too)
DAdu and paniu

Electric pots are not recommended as they will not be too good here.
The wiring system here is different: needs some kinda converter.

Excitement begins here!

2009-08-29T21:36:00.000-07:00

I got the US VISA.....................

I SMSed everyone on my mobile phone, I was on the back seat of my bike. Because I had to travel here and there on it, my arms were sun burned to black like my face. Rabin, my brother was driving it.
Immediately I got too many CONGRATULATIONS...... my mobile phone nearly hanged (like windows PC).

I had been to the regular touch of B.R. (for privacy purpose) , one year senior, who had already gotten the VISA. and whose valuable experiences had always helped me during those days of confusions.

Shopping:

Again Mr. B.R. gave me several clues to what to buy. he had prepared a note-book of things to do. and showed me everything he had been buying. His flight was fifteen days earlier than mine. His room was filled with all these and a lot of stuffs.

18th July

Started with Underwear 5@110 (size 90 cm for me :) and shandow vest 3@90 (size 40) from some where in Ranjana Galli.

19th July

Towel 250, Korean Blanket (3 layer) @1650.

20th July

Liberty shoe (is still working :::::::::::::: it is light weight and comfortable) @2160.
Towel 180+300.
Single layer Blanket from Pashupati Plaza @425 (I could not bring this item because of over-weight, and had to unload at airport@Nepal. Thanks GOD supriya was there.)
then we went to Thmel @Jeevan for Snow Jacket and Snow trousers.

21st July

Aashish, Asan (Babu da )

jeans pant 900+800, T-Shirts 525 x2. and belt from Ghanta Ghar (near masjid) 500+515 (I feel that they priced a little bit high// the quality is good though).
Some ganjis 1000.

Bought some books from Jame masjid shop (?Hamro pustak?) 710.

22nd July

Underwear 4@100, 2 socks@100.; 2 half T-shirts @350 from Babu dai.
Rajendra Sir took me to a shop near Dharahara in the evening where a honest boy gave me some good stuffs at good price.
Spirit pant @625, Track set@1100 snow shoes 2400 (was priced as 3200 in Thamel)

Thamel Shopping

Flis Jacket (this is not so useful when wind comes, wind gets thro' leaving you dead cold.) 800
Down Jacket (I am not happy with it, as too much feathers have started to come outta it)3800.
Snow trousers 1100
Snow caps 2 :100
Snow Gloves 200
Flis Jacket 500
Snow socks 200

Rupa under vest 950.

Some (actually many) shoppings were done while walking, talking and were not noticed till they turned out to be a huge pahad!

2nd Aug.

Track 400, RAin Coat 1250 summer jacket @700 from kirtipur (near bus stop) school bag@650

3rd Aug.

Daura Suruwal from bange muda (which I have never used till date) 1100. Woolen pant from Ranjana Galli (John Player) 1100.

I remember buying half pants more underwears woolen shirts, shirts and what not.

Because it will take some weight, we took only one suitcase and bought a kapada ko bora (?BAG?) to pack up (from a shop infront of Pashupati Plaza). Till date, I have never used Tie with the Suit set (EDIT: Later used @ Commencement !!) , however jeans/cotton pants are more useful.

I am very sad that I could not get the handy , beautiful bag presented to me by the friends on my Birth Day. I had to carry only one school bag with my coat and some books and documents on it. At that time terrorist alert was high at London. Taking the school bag was on my own risk. No liquid no any risk!!!

Sisters et. al . bought every minute things for me, My bhanjee, Suji, had prepared me a 3 page list to buy. For example tooth pick, ear buds (kaan kotyaune) spray, Nail cutter (still using it) , hair oil , razors set, glycerine, talcum powder, pen , pencil -/eraser and calculator (I returned calculator, but later really missed it) Vicks, medicines: savlon, gastrik, entagel fort(?) and many such things.

T. Sir Ko madam (an MR) gave me medicines for tauko dukheko, pet dukheko, allergy bhayeko, 2 kinds of citamol, diarrhea etc etc...

DD also packed my stuffs with Pressure cooker(with extra rubber set and fuse), all kinds of masala (except salt), karai, 2 dinner plates and my favourite BIG spoons.

Going to Vat-Vateni will be great, but I could not go there. I wish I had gone there.
Other extra thing include post-cards. The post cards of Mount Everest is found to be more interesting for american friends. I have finished 40 postcards by presenting to friends (no matter whether s/he is driving , talking and/ or seems to be positive to nepal and nepali people. Postcard is cheap and very good small gift, if you bring it from nepal. A flag of nepal to be hung on your room-wall is highly sugested. My friends have appreciated the flag. They love it!!! (I have a big one!)

Going to Nepal Tourism Board and asking for materials is also useful (take visa with you) they will give a CD about nepal and may be some good poster for wall. Some are very useful. The CD is really nice. Everyone will love watching it.

For my case, the main Jhamela was that of the plane ticket.

I and Mr. Badu (my companion to the same University) got delayed to decide the flight and had to pay ten more thousands and fifty more dollars each. The booking of ticket as early as possible and keeping increasing TTL is suggested, as it will keep the price low.

Packing is another pain in the neck! because by that time one has so much (more than 71 Kg; Quatar allowed only 60Kg) stuffs that its really terrible!!!

The most important idea I learned is that One should be asking to friend in the University in America where s/he is going. Weather will be the most important factor in shopping . Snow, rain and humidity will be deterministic in suggesting what kinda clothings are required.

America is informal country (except for some formal meetings) I came to the University in the half pant on the second day. So dress up comfortably and plan accordingly!

Paperworks:

Books: