Where do I start with this?
Hartford would always be a special place for me. This was the first place I stayed in the US and it will stay like that.
I, not only, earned my masters degree at Hartford, but also, developed life-lasting relationships. More than the grades, my academic year, my UConn life, I miss my life outside UConn and all the amazing friends/family that I hung out with. My Hartford days are dedicated to those individuals who made my life so much easier, funnier, and more memorable.
UConn life
At UConn, I could do everything that I dreamt of when I was preparing for my GRE, TOEFL, and some visa applications.
My ideal stay at UConn was to
– not stress too much about studies
– roam around the US, exploring some of the places that I *really* wanted to check out
– make life-lasting friends and relationships
– probably get a part-time job to support my *new* lifestyle
– spend more time outdoors
– adapt to the US culture
I was so glad that I could check off all the points above.
Talking about studies, I had scored a C and an A+, so safe to say, I wasn’t focused on all courses that I took during my masters.
With the help of my UConn and non-UConn friends, I could roam around the US. I explored both the coasts and my most memorable moment at Hartford was to spend time with her, traveling to different places.
I developed so many friendships and relationship throughout my stay at UConn. I had never taken anything for granted and would never do it in future.
Getting a part-time job was more of a necessity to support my lifestyle. I was fortunate to get not only one but two part-time jobs and the job that I loved immensely.
I did spend a lot of time outdoors, especially playing cricket.
I could adopt to the US culture, with not much difficulty. This was a key to developing and building professional relationships through networking with strangers.
Roommates
I couldn’t have asked for better roommates. All of them were exceptional cooks.
Before coming to the US, I had hardly spent any time in the kitchen, so I, obviously, faced a lot of difficulties dealing with it.
Fortunately for me, my roommates came to my rescue and I picked my cooking mostly from all of my roommates.
Apart from cooking, I relied on them for my studies too, to which they happily helped.
Cricket
This was gamechanger for me. I had always been a cricket lover and enjoyed my time at my undergrad institute, captaining the college team to the runners-up title.
I didn’t know my love for Cricket will help me make so many connections in Hartford.
The most surprising fact was that I didn’t have to wait a lot to get to meet Cricket buddies.
On my third day in the US, I was taking a stroll in Bushnell Park, when I met a few people, walking with the Cricket gear and I just asked if I could join them.
Back then, I didn’t know that one simple question would lead to meeting so many amazing people in my life.
Asmita & Vibhuti Bhabhi
Both Asmita and Vibhuti bhabhi ji have been my “sahelis” in Hartford.
When we first met, I didn’t know we would build connection so instantly and ended up remain in touch.
It was like meeting my friends from college after so many years. We used to cook together, drink tea together and chitchat together.
I still remember the night when I was sipping my tea at 10PM before Bushnell Park and Vibhuti bhabhi was returning from somewhere and invited me over for the midnight snack and tea, which I couldn’t refuse and ended up having a blast.
I will treasure these small moments with me, because, that’s what I crave for.
Shlok & Nidhi
& then comes Shlok & Nidhi.
I didn’t know anyone 8,000 miles away from my home would have as much impact on me as Shlok & Nidhi.
When I met Shlok for the first time at our Hartford apartment, he had just deboarded a plane from India and was lighting a cigarette by the apartment window. At that moment, he came across a cool guy and someone who knows what he is doing in life. Later I would know that he surely knows how to take care of his people.
When I first met Nidhi, she came across as someone who knows how to own a room. We (myself & Roushan) were visiting Nidhi with Shlok, as he had to pick some of the stuff that he had left when going for an internship at India. The way they exchanged pleasantries, poking fun at each other, and gossiping like long-lost friends, I knew this friendship is going to last and the love and respect was real.
Fast forward one year, I was glad that I could hang out with both of them and travelled to so many places with them. They helped me adapt to the US culture before I realized and were instrumental in me becoming an extrovert.
Good old times!
Cheers to the time I had at Hartford.
Looking forward to my next home in Michigan. 🙂
stochasticity 