As the pandemic affected everyone’s life, so it did mine too. With my parents suffering from several surgeries to getting COVID spread in my family, we had a real tough start for this year. After receiving the notification of selection in early April, I felt a bit relaxed and saw some good light coming towards me. However, in late April and May India had a very rough time, when it observed approximately 400,000 new cases and 4000 deaths every day.

During these peak times, I had to travel a lot due to family health conditions and Visa. After plenty of hassles, I managed to arrange everything in the nick of time. I followed Linköping University’s Instagram page before coming here. It was indeed a great help. Many of the doubts were covered through regular posts and webinar sessions. The best part of it was “match-making”, where I was added to a group of my program before coming to Linköping. It helped to a great extent. My friend “Elisio”, even came to pick me at the airport when I arrived for the first time.

Since then a lot of things changed. I was in a new country, a new environment, new weather, new people. It was such a relief from the previous hectic and monotonous life due to COVID. I came here a week before my program start date to get familiar with this new place and socialize for a better start.  The course started in no time and took its pace. I have met many wonderful people here from several countries. Even though most of the classes were online, we met quite frequently. Along with having amazing friends in my course, I was fortunate enough to have such astonishing corridor mates. As truly said “Good food is the foundation of genuine happiness”, we organized potluck dinners, corridor dinners, Barbeque sessions, Sushi Nights, and several other gatherings.

From experiencing serious family health issues at the beginning of the year to getting stunned watching the first snowfall of my life, there had been numerous ups and downs. Ups and downs in our lives are very important to keep us going because a straight line even in an ECG means we are not alive. Life is certainly like a rollercoaster, it’s our choice to scream or enjoy. I don’t have command of my past, neither do I have a clue about tomorrow, but certainly, I can control my today.

I WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.

Thank you for reading. Stay tuned !!!

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