For some people, food takes priority over most of the other things. And I am one of them!
For people travelling out of the country, a major part of concern is normally the food available at destination. And it is more than a concern for total vegetarians.
At AIM, a team of local philipinos, led by a lady by the name of Jessica supply us with indian food which is very descent, gives almost a home_made_food feeling and falls well within the budget. The menu varies from day by day and there's a high chance we can survive on it for a long time. There is at least one chicken dish in each course , apart from one or two dry vegetables dish plus a dal and a vegetable gravy dish. One meal costs in the range of 60-90 Pesos.
They serve only lunch and dinner in the cafeteria area. Since last few days, there is a problem with their forecasting and they are bringing less food than required. The result is long lines even before she comes, people getting the food packed rather than eating it at cafeteria and few people not even getting food. The fact that there are not many options after 9 PM in the nearby area makes it even more important to make sure you are on time to get Jessica's food. Afterall for how long can you eat McD burgers and Pizzas in Yellow Cab / Pizza Hut.
The SA council has formed a food committee which will hopefully look into this and sort out the food problems.
The cafeteria serves mainly chinese and filipino dishes and is closed by 7 PM. There is an other indian lady who provides indian food, but its a little bit on the costlier side.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Week 2 at AIM - Coping up with weather
After spending the first week with the agonozing feeling of too much to study and too much to cover in a short period of time, the second week at AIM was much better. Only that many of my batchmates came down with fever and cold problems. One of the student, running high fever, was even hospitalised for a day. Somebody mentioned that almost 50% of the MM batch (another course being offered at AIM) is down with cold problems and the classes are experiencing high degree of absence.
Most of the students have become infected within last 4-5 days. According to the AIM clinic doctor, this is spreading through air, choking our throats with cough, when we are already choked by the huge study load anyway :D
Since this is just fourth week (second for some), the students are in the process of getting acclimatised to the surroundings. The dorms are all air-conditioned and the outside atmosphere is rather pleasant (almost like Mumbai, though less humid). Also these days, there are frequent evening showers. Some say it is due to the temperature difference between dorm, class (they are so cold) and outside, one is subjected to many times in day that students are having these problems.
Well, one thing is sure - the pace they are going, losing even half a day would mean a lot.
So keep your Vitamin C stock up and take extra care in hygiene.
Most of the students have become infected within last 4-5 days. According to the AIM clinic doctor, this is spreading through air, choking our throats with cough, when we are already choked by the huge study load anyway :D
Since this is just fourth week (second for some), the students are in the process of getting acclimatised to the surroundings. The dorms are all air-conditioned and the outside atmosphere is rather pleasant (almost like Mumbai, though less humid). Also these days, there are frequent evening showers. Some say it is due to the temperature difference between dorm, class (they are so cold) and outside, one is subjected to many times in day that students are having these problems.
Well, one thing is sure - the pace they are going, losing even half a day would mean a lot.
So keep your Vitamin C stock up and take extra care in hygiene.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Settling at AIM
With the dawn, starts a new day and in the same way I am starting on a new path here. AIM, Manila signifies that dawn for me. Its been a long way and I am thrilled to be here finally. Though I had anticipated long relaxing hours and fun all around in this beautiful south-east asia city, till now what I have got is tons of material to study and lots of anxiety among the student crowd here. Last 10 days already seems like a month and the path ahead seems full of surprises.
The famous case-based study approach of the institute, which was the buzzword everybody was talking about before coming here and which is the model copied from Harvard of the USA takes time to settle down in your otherwise theory-inclined mind. It hits you right in your face in the first class, and it hits you strong, when you realise that reading theory and applying it to real life cases is not as easy as it might seem. For most of us, there are 2 ways of doing things - right or wrong. But here, you are taught that it might not be as necessary to know the final action plan, as it is to go through the approach to reach a particular decision. Every decision will bring along its own set of positive and negative possible outcomes. Depending on the situation described in a case, one has to make concious decision which will make the least damage and will be most successful, in other words, make the most of given situation.
Its going to be a roller coaster ride and there will be hard work, lots of learning and fun down the road in next 16 months. Lets buckle up, sit tight and start this journey.
The famous case-based study approach of the institute, which was the buzzword everybody was talking about before coming here and which is the model copied from Harvard of the USA takes time to settle down in your otherwise theory-inclined mind. It hits you right in your face in the first class, and it hits you strong, when you realise that reading theory and applying it to real life cases is not as easy as it might seem. For most of us, there are 2 ways of doing things - right or wrong. But here, you are taught that it might not be as necessary to know the final action plan, as it is to go through the approach to reach a particular decision. Every decision will bring along its own set of positive and negative possible outcomes. Depending on the situation described in a case, one has to make concious decision which will make the least damage and will be most successful, in other words, make the most of given situation.
Its going to be a roller coaster ride and there will be hard work, lots of learning and fun down the road in next 16 months. Lets buckle up, sit tight and start this journey.
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