I am alive...still

I have been meaning to write something on Mode C for long but fortunately or unfortunately, things out here in Paris have taken such a hectic pace that it has become increasingly tough to just keep abreast of the proceedings, forget writing about them at two places (the other blog is in deed alive, and doing well, thank you). However, Mode C and its readers (if they still come back to check, even if it is once in a blue moon) do deserve more than the neglect I have been able to offer so far.

Life in Paris has been an amazing journey so far with varied co-passengers and their different mannerisms, combined with the vagaries of the journey itself, have been making the journey as interesting as I could have hoped it to be. It has been nearly three weeks since I came to this Wonder Land and like Alice, I am still lost in the wonders that this place keeps offering day after day, hour after hour.

The typical French haughtiness is there aplenty, but so is a completely contrasting love for life and living it to the fullest. The French love to talk, not so much about themselves, as the introductory seminar at ESCP about French culture explained to us, but about things pertaining to the common knowledge and discussion. In fact, the only other thing that they do with probably more passion is kiss. They kiss everywhere...on trains, on streets, on railway stations, inside museums, in gardens, in bookshops and libraries, you name the place and you have people kissing there as if there is going to be no tomorrow.

The party scene is, as expected, outstanding. Though I missed out on the parties last week despite having a problem of plenty in terms of company, I made amends this week and after the fantastic Erasmus party yesterday, next in line are the party today at Cite Universitaire (the group of houses of international students from different countries, including the House of India where we are staying) and of course, the grand party at ESCP tomorrow that is supposed to be the big Daddy of them all.

In other news, studies are cruising along pretty well and after a week of rather insipid lectures, things have started heating up and the attack is slowly and surely getting targetted at the fundamentals, which we Indians are finding out to our discomfort, remains our biggest drawback despite the bags of gas we are capable of producing anywhere and anytime.

Even IIMK is seeing a lot of activity taking place. The placement season for juniors as well as the laterals are around the corner and the campus would surely be witness to old books being dug out and heads buried deep into them hoping to get the fundas right, in time for the impression they need to present once the opportunities come calling. I hope and wish that all my batchmates, and especially my close friends back at campus, have a great placement season and grab some really handsome deals.

I just had a great news from one of my juniors from BHU I had been talking to, a couple of days back. Amitanshu, the poor guy had been looking for a job after doing his MBA from BHU with an HR specialisation. He sounded so worried as he asked me about the different opportunities that I could see for him. And what do I hear today? That he has not only landed a job in one of the better HR consultancies in Bangalore, but is also set to be engaged soon, to another junior from BHU. I do love happy endings!