A trip down the memory lane ...

I do not know if I was sceptical or paranoid, but for some reason I avoided going to Dayton, OH – my University town, the place where I attained an MBA degree, the land of my karma. I do not know if my nerves were playing overtime or was it a figment of my imagination – but my stomach was fluttering with gazillion butterflies by the time my husband and I drove into Dayton.

We started off with going to Young’s Jersey Dairy Farm; a quaint little farm in Yellow Springs, OH about 5 miles from my University. The place had not changed a bit! The décor, the ambience and even crowd was same – families, students et al lapping up humongous cones of fresh, succulent and lip-smacking ice-cream. The peeling paint however was replaced with a fresh coat. We ate more than our share and made a hasty exit to prevent over-indulgence.

Later that afternoon, we went to the University. We parked the car near my old apartment and walked to school, just as I did when I was the student. Treading down the same path with Liz Claiborne clothes replacing the Meijer’s (local store akin Super Wal-Mart) clothes made me feel – altered. The University was undergoing major renovations, albeit the spirit was still the same. Then it all came rushing upon me. It felt as though I had never left that place. I could remember anxious moments spent in each corridor be it completing in my assignments, waiting for my grades or dreaming about my future. Each step made me less sceptical and more reflective. At the end of my campus tour I was overcome with a sense of nostalgia.

I did not have bad memories of this place after all. This place made me the person I am today. It taught me how to stay alone, acclimatize with totally unknown room-mates, search for work, balance work life and personal life, study amidst all distractions, and most importantly – survive in adverse conditions. It taught me the essence of life itself. I am indebted to this place in more than one ways. It brought me out of my comfort zone and made me experience the real world. Experience, they say is the best teacher...

Next day, I met one of my very good friends and caught up with him. Needless to say, it was a very pleasant and joyous occasion. We devoured sumptuous food, amidst peels of laughter and quick repartees. We bid adieus with the promise of keeping in touch. All my unfounded fears were instantly banished, filling me with fond memories. After all, all’s well that ends well …