Norman, OK

I am counting my last days in Norman. I came here in Norman from Dhaka back in 2008. Norman is the place how I know America. I have been living in Norman since then. Zafar was asking how many days I can recall out of my 5 years in Norman. I think I can recall pretty large number of days. I have tons of memories in Norman. I have my success stories, I have my failure stories. I saw my dreams, materializing into reality, I witnessed my dreams, evaporating into ashes.

Norman is one of the best places to live. I have enjoyed my days in Norman. I didn't know what to expect from Norman when I first came here. Everything was a surprise. I think as a college town, Norman offered way more than I expected. I meet my life parter here in Norman.

I think the beauty of Norman lies in its tranquility. It has an interesting attraction to its dwellers. Norman pretty much except everyone from everywhere. Life in Norman is usually very slow. It's not a very happening city. Today here is not much different from yesterday. Again, it has everything a modern city dweller might need on daily basis. In that sense Norman was perfect balance between busy and calm life. People who live here tend to keep living here.

I think I would miss Norman. I would miss its tranquility, its vive during the first week of fall. I guess my life won't have fall, spring and summer any more.

Dallas, TX

Shirshendu describes it best when he says every big city is like a giant blender, it blends everything. People are blended with their creations. Every big city has its own appeal to its people. We, the city dwellers can never leave them. We have a sort of invisible bond with our own loving cities. The bond that got into our gene long ago in Mesopotamia.

Every city has its own unique message to the visitors. And in my experience the message is not too hard to grasp. You would probably can tell once you rest your feet in the city. Somehow I never can grasp the message of Dallas. I have been in Dallas in numerous occasions. But still, I am not sure what is the message Dallas is trying to convey. In that sense, Dallas is always a mystery to me.

Dallas is a city of immigrants. I guess Dallas is the most accepting city. It accept anything from anyone. And it's beauty is it evaporates everything from everyone without affecting itself at all. I have been in other big cities. You can probably tell what differences immigrants have brought into the city. But for Dallas it is hard to tell whether there is any immigrant at all. Somehow everyone becomes a Texan after a while. Or maybe the message is how it changes everything on its own way. Maybe the message is don't dare to mess with Dallas, it will evaporates you.

Somehow, this city feels very dull to me. I don't feel the life in Dallas. This city has so many diversity but somehow I can't feel it's life at all. There is hardly any activity on the street. I feel like something is missing, everything is so polished and artificial. This city does not appeal me at all. But for sure it is as lovely as any other cities to their dwellers. I guess I will never get the message of it or may be recognise the message of it.

Throat infection

Some how my throat infection is becoming chronic. I thought it was gone but it came back again last Friday. It really hurts badly. It could be because I tried a smoke last Friday after quite a while.

I had hard time sleeping yesterday. This throat infection thing is really bad. It is causing me sleeping disorder. I was coughing entire night. My dad used to have chronic coughing problem. Am I going in the same direction. He barely could sleep at night. I think I need to a doctor pretty soon. I just finished a high dose of antibiotics.

It could be because our carpet. We have not vacuumed it for last few months. I am really allergic to dust. I really need to get well soon.

Hiking

Finally I managed some time to fix the last hiking photos. I took some photos last time and I am not happy with most of them. I have been using 35/f 1.8 for last couple of months. I don't think I became a fan of this lens but this is lens is very sharp and useful for some situation. However, people like me who think their feet weight ton, this lens is not quite comfortable.

Medieval fair, 2012

How much things could change over time. When I went to the medieval fair for the first time I thought it was cool. Lot of interesting costume thing was going on. Many people are roaming around in a medieval set. I thought it was kind of cool. But when I went to the medieval fair this year, my idea is kind of opposite. I feel like it is kind of boring. Partly because all the same people wearing same costumes again and again. Even worse all the stalls are even similar. When I went to take picture, I realized some the characters are actually my familiar. I took picture of them last year. I guess this is the norm of a campus town, here things don't change, people change.

Halloween Parade

I went to Oklahoma City Halloween parade last week. It was pretty cool :) I love the concept of Halloween. In my country it would be too absurd for an adult to do something like Halloween. I don't know for some reason, adults in my country are pretty serious about everything. They never play silly. I even don't play silly. I mean it's fun to play something like this for some time. We don't have to be pretty serious about everything. I always heard it does not go with the people like your age, I think that's silly. We can play silly, we have life. Life is not all that serious. Maybe it is the time, I should think about my actions as well. I make life way more complicated than it meant to be. Why so serious?

Some pictures from Halloween parade

Wichita Mountains again!

Wichita mountain again within a month. This time for excursion. It was shinny and pictures were okay. It's hard to get great picture in the middle of a shinny day with no drama on the sky. So the pictures were pretty boring. I kind of like this place. It is a wide open place, I think a whole day hiking or three days camping would be interesting. Pictures I have got this time.

A beautiful shinny day

City of Norman

I have started a new project named "City of Norman." My idea is to create a visual representation for City of Norman as I see it. Norman is a pretty small town, not too far from Oklahoma City. Norman is my America, where I started a journey back in 2008. Many things have changed since then and many things will be. So I think it's time to create a visual representation of Norman. To me, a city is nothing without people so I tried to freeze moments and people in my work. Here is so far what I have gotten.

Cold & flu

This is the fifth time I got cold and flu this year (stupid!) Last year I was pretty good and this year I don't know why my body is not working. Something is seriously wrong. Cold and flu is fine but stupid runny nose is driving me nuts. I just can't concentrate on anything. This is not good at all. I have too many things to do and too few time to get all of them done. I feel little bit week these days, I don't know why (!?) Probably I should work on my nutrition too. I should not stand this too long.

The funny thing is this is the first time I am having vitamin tablets regularly but apparently no luck. I went to the doctor but she said I am all good but the stupid cold is coming back periodically. I think the culprit is my room. The heating system of my room doesn't work properly. I spent very few time there but last Sunday I spent the entire day and Monday I got cold !? hmmm... I think I should stay at my office, may be it would help! I just hate runny nose :(

Ice storm

The bad part of the mobile camera is you can never take what you intend to take :'(

No wonder! this is Oklahoma!

It was the second time I was thinking of dialing 911. I was coming from National Weather Center; it is not too far from my apartment (not more than twenty minutes walking distance). It is 28F outside (feels like 14F) with a gust and I was coming by walk (holy crap!). I can’t explain how it was. In the middle I was feeling like dying. I was thinking there is no way I could make it. The interesting thing is the first time I was planning to dial 911 was very similar but reason was very opposite. I remember, it was my first week in USA and I was going home from cs department and on the half way I had the similar kind of feeling but it was due to extreme hot weather; I think it was 110F. No wonder! this is Oklahoma! and this is why the National Weather Center is here!

It's 31th July

According to Dhaka time it is 31th, July around one am. Exactly one year before, I took the flight for United States from Dhaka. I have been here for one year, three sixty five days! I can’t believe! Time flies very fast, real fast. What I have done so far other than complaining about my life? Hard to find some real fruitful stuff! I am almost okay in my new place. The only problem is I am missing my buddies.

I got some new friends here, they are okay. Friends in later life are not same as high school friends of college friends. There is something about that time; friends from those days are crazy and it is real easy to find friends at that time. Having new friends is becoming difficult with the age. In fact finding new friend is not easy at this age. Anyway, I got some and they are cool.

I got a family here; they are superb and love them. They care about me a lot. Probably they are the best thing I have got here. I don’t know why, Maruf doesn’t like it and he tried to mock me lot of times. But I never care; even I don’t care of paying attention to him. I am always arrogant; I am more arrogant than I appear to be.

I am almost half way of my masters. I am half way of my research and course works. I am trying to wrap all my things in time. So far I think I am on schedule. I might need little bit extra pace next semester but so far I am okay. Course works are always easy part of the story. Research work is average. Project work is on schedule. Overall I am okay.

Business-people

I have an interesting view about American life. Everything you can think of here, you can find some people who are willing to do those for you. Everything is business here. I have seen an interesting flyer yesterday; it was saying “proposing someone is not easy, and it is most memorable part of your life, so tell us and we will do the rest for you”. The most interesting flyer I have ever seen. They will create the environment for you to propose. I found it very hilarious. There are some business-people who are trying to make some money with this. I even could not imagine this kind service before.

Sometimes I feel like these business-people are making life more boring. They are willing to do almost everything you can think of. They left no challenge for common people. Life will eventually be boring without real challenge. Then the business people will again find some challenge for you then solutions again challenge and solutions, a circle. I feel like they are making people fool putting them in the circle and make money. There is no doubt they are extremely good at business. They can make a business almost out of nothing. They are really efficient, they are amazing people. I just staring at them with rolling eyes and my eyes keep rolling and rolling and rolling; sometimes I feel like they will pop out!!!

What's Next

Just the final week is ahead of me now. I am happy. I am little bit free till finals. I have lot of things to do after the final. In fact I am pretty excited. I am eagerly to waiting to see my ideas in action. It will be fun real fun, one of those great moments of my life. I am expecting to complete the whole thing by the end of May. At least I want to.

I have a stupid, dumb presentation during the summer. I always hate this kind of power point presentation. I always find it stupid. I have found an article in favor of me. I am planning to put some comments in my slides from this article. :D

I am planning to work eighteen hours a day during the summer. I am moving to the on-campus housing, so that I’ll able to access my office anytime. I believe summer will be a very busy time for me. At least it is one of those times which shape the rest of the events of a mundane life. Let me see how far I can go.

It was quite a scene!

Umbrella is not enough for Oklahoma rain. It was raining this morning today. I don’t know what kind of rain it is, cats and dogs or a rain of insults but it was huge. It reminds me the time when BUET was flooded due to heavy rainfall in 2004 (I can't remember the exact time very well). We played water polo in the big field in front of DSW office. It was quite a rain.

This morning, I get out of my apartment while it was raining. I wore a t-shirt and a windbreaker over it. My windbreaker is kind of maroon. When I get off from the bus it was raining insane. My unfortunate little umbrella tried its best to save me. I am sure it couldn’t do much better than this. But in reality today’s rain did not even care about its existence. So, I get completely wet. No problem, so far it was okay. But when I reached at my office I found my windbreaker was completely wetted. And the funny part begins when I found myself almost red! The color of windbreaker was washed-out and made me red, well I would say pink or maybe combination of both. I was looking ridiculous! Right that time, Dr. Dhall came into my office and he was astound and saying like what the heck happen to you! It was quite a scene!

Trust is a funny thing

I saw a line in one of my classmate’s status message yesterday. It was, “Trust is a funny thing”. Well maybe, maybe no. I don’t wanna classify it into any category.

Today an interesting thing happened. One of my lab-mate and me were suppose to meet our boss. I went to my lab early in the morning. My lab-mate was saying like our meeting time is one pm. But I was confused and I was suggesting that it should be twelve pm. After some time at eleven am our boss asked us why we had not been showed up in her office yet. Then my lab-mate replied, “Shiblee thinks we are not supposed to meet till twelve.” To me it was okay. I am not worried about it because it is true. But what bothers me most is people don’t understand the meaning of group or working in a group. People don’t understand the meaning of “we”.

We worked in group in Bangladesh. My group-mates were like my brothers. Well you can argue, it was possible because they were my friends too. But they were my friends because they knew the meaning of “we”. “We” is a big word. At this point I want to add something, the word “friend” as we see it in Bangladesh is not same here.

I know this is a small thing but still it reflects very well what could happen in a tough situation. I learn one thing do not trust anyone, at least not in America. Trust is a funny thing here.

Medieval fair 2009

I went to the medieval fair today. It is the most rocking place in Norman I have ever been. It is kind of good fun seeing people, dressed middle age (One of the reasons, I like Americans is they do things properly) and wandering around. If you are an international student in Norman, it’s a must go place for you. See the photo gallery from their website. Lots of crazy people with crazy dresses doing crazy things! It’s like a typical bazaar in movies based on medieval age. Lots of visitors dressed like middle age. So you will really get a time travel kind of thing. This is the first time I regret that I have not bought my e 520 yet :( You can find some photos in online photo sharing sites[1, 2, 3] of Norman medieval fair.

I borrowed the above photo from the their official web site.

distracted words!

I am having severe bad headache. I can’t sleep at all. I don’t know why I have bad headache every time I try to take alcohol. That’s why I gave up alcohol a long ago. Even I didn’t take alcohol at all, I just had a little green beer. My body is not ready to accept even a drop. I have changed my life quite a lot, huh. No alcohol, no s***k, no sleeping pills, no smokes, nothing I have nothing in my life now. I am kind of interested to see what happen next. Surely, I am not an abstinent and I don’t have a strong reason for any of these. I just feel like I am no longer good for any of these. Do you think there is something wrong with me? Hasib does! Maybe! Maybe, one day I will go to Himalayas and start practicing yoga ;) Actually, I thought of it couple of times. That would be the appropriate next step down the line. These days I feel like I should go to Bandarban and start living there. I love to be there. I don’t think anybody practice yoga there. Well, I had not met any. I should seriously think about this yoga thing! :)

Dystopia

I am feeling like I am in dystopia. For some reason everything starts getting worse. I am kind of pissed off, pissed with everything, pissed with myself. I am feeling like I am a stupid whore. I should work but I just can’t, I should concentrate on research but I couldn’t. That’s not good! Fuck off! I feel like, doing something, something that makes me feel I am alive, I am still alive. I am feeling real bad. It almost midnight, I should sleep, I don’t why I am sitting here and writing some more stupid things. I was trying to get some tears on my eyes, it didn’t work either. I really need some good time. Everything is big here, even pains are seem unbearable. I want to cry, I want some tears. It’s raining outside, I am feeling it, dire straits on stereo, I am going insane…

Fall' 2008

Fall semester is over, my first semester in OU. I guess it went well. I did well in my classes. Dr. Dong was happy with me, hopefully I did well as TA so far. The only thing I was struggling with, is my research. Dr. Gruenwald was not happy enough. I had learnt so many things in one semester here. I loved the Formal Language course, especially Dr. Kim. He is such a good professor. I am enjoying absolute vacation now. I am loving it, complete idle life.

Yesterday was Christmas day, my first Christmas in United States. I spent my whole day with Ron, Diana, Cameron, Donovan and Dean. I had enjoyed a lot. I thought Christmas would be similar to Eid in Dhaka but it is not. It is calm and quite very unlike our Eid. I am not saying this is it, but this is how I saw it. The only difference seemed to me was: Wal-Mart was closed. Other than that it was hard to find any difference. I had been in the Journey Church at Christmas Eve. It was an interesting experience.

I had a series of dinner parties in last few days. Almost everyone from Bangladesh invited once for dinner within last couple of days. So I am having little bit different time. I merely love their company except selective few's. When I was in Bangladesh I had always avoided these kinds of folks. They are simply not my type. Anyway, all are part of my unfortunate life.