Week of Exams - Writing vs Scribing an Exam

Last week was a week of Exams for me in more than just one way!

I was preparing to take up one of the professional certifications which I am overly impressed with. After a week-long preparation, I made up my mind, prepared well in the morning, and on a quiet afternoon in the weekend, I took the exam. It was an online exam that could be taken in the comfort of home. Given all these conveniences, I was a bit anxious and really had fear of failure...

Immediate next day,  I got to write an examination as a Scribe for BA exams. I had to go and write for a visually challenged girl at a Government College. I made some changes to my day so that I was there on time at the Examination Hall. Got ready with pens needed, water, and much-needed mask and sanitizer.

I reached 15 minutes before time and was waiting for Vani to come. She had called me twice to ensure that I was coming to write for her. This was my second time as a Scribe. I was not expecting things will all be set up. Usually, the question paper and answer papers are given late and there won't be room identified for students with scribes. I had to collect the question and answer papers from one hall and walk to a faraway room which took away the first 15 mins of the 3-hour exam.. by this time Vani was worried about what are the questions and whether she knows it not.. we found a place and say down and I started to write. 

Meanwhile, about 8 other students came to the same room with their scribes. It was many different subjects though. Vani managed to dictate about 1/3 rd of the paper which is quite remarkable considering this year(2020!) they didn't have any classes and online classes did not turn out to be effective! I had written this much in super speed and since I am out of touch with Kannada writing and with speed my writing went haywire.

After this, there was a sudden stop...She was just not able to say anything...I became nervous at this point and counted and recounted if she will pass with minimum marks or not...I figured out there are still a couple of ten marks needed to be on the safer side...

I turn around and see the situation is the same in the room... Many students are just blank and all scribes were so genuinely concerned. A girl studying MBA with beautiful Kannada handwriting, a girl who is doing architecture, a very good-hearted homemaker...all trying their best to bring out sensible responses from students to the questions in the paper.

Likewise, I tried to provide her some pointers and get some responses and then connect to the questions that are asked. I ensured that I answered all the questions with a couple of points to get a good score. I am keeping my fingers crossed until the results and wish her well. 

One thing which I could clearly see in that room that day was that none of the students had any kind of fear on their faces...

This put me into deep introspection about the Mental and Physical abilities of a person. Is there a way to measure mental abilities more than physical abilities before we judge anyone? and many more questions.???????

Water Day - Valuing water

The summer is here. That means naturally we at home are very careful about the water consumption. I was never very much given importance to water usage or water shortage until I came to Bangalore. I understood and realized what an ailment it was in a very hard way and for many days.

Since ours is a pushtainee(read it as old!), there was no sump in the house when I came here after marriage. In the past, the BWSSB supplied water had so much pressure that it could pump itself up to the overhead tank which was just on the first floor of the house. 

For a very long time, the idea to make a sump had not crossed as it was working just right. As time went on, many of the old houses around were demolished and 4+ storied buildings sprang up. As houses increased, the water pressure decreased.

At this point, our house water storage set up started to break and many days we had to go without enough water not because of supply but because of storage. It was one's job to go to the terrace, inspect the tank water level and to tell everyone at home how much water is available. Then all of us will calibrate and use the water accordingly. 

With God's blessings and some of our efforts, we resolved the problem. My husband MM who frets over this problem ensured that all available measures are taken to avoid this. We get the plumber every time we see a leakage in the taps, reuse water for watering the plants, automatic water level controller and indicator installed, enough storage in the sump and in the overhead tank, etc.

After all, on this Monday 22nd, we faced a serious water shortage as there was no water supply for a week to our area! Coincidentally it was World Water Day(March 22) as well! We ended up getting water supplied from a tanker after about 8 years.

I consider this as a refresher to understand the Value of Water( which is also the theme of Water Day 2021). and a time when all the old memories gushed back in while the tanker water filled the sump.

My post in Quora on the same topic

Finding your Blue Flame - A beautiful interview

Today being Sunday...I was lazy to take bath and was sitting in front of the TV. My daughter started to play some YouTube videos. We watched a few of Niharika's videos - Mom's and Superstitions, before and after the exam, etc.

Then I switched to my favorite AiyyoShradda's YouTube videos. Then it went on autoplay. It was an interview of Shraddha on a tv channel. As I continued to watch, I found it very captivating and interesting, and deep.

She brought out many things but one thing stuck with me. This is about finding your " Blue flame ". 

Blue Flame is the flame that runs longer...And that's how she came to radio from her IT profession. 

I looked it up in the dictionary and this is what it says:

A blue gas flame color means complete combustion. This indicates that the gas is being burned efficiently without any unburned and wasted gas. With complete combustion, you get the maximum heat output from your gas and use less gas to generate heat with whatever appliance you are using.

I fell in love with this concept instantaneously.. isn't this a sweet spot to be where whatever effort we put turns into 100% outcome without any waste.. (side note: that's what Lean is all about right!)

I am yet not sure of what is my blue flame... Have I found one already.. or am I yet to find one... Not sure... Regardless, this video has put a seed in me to think about it hard. I believe firmly that the Universe will help me and bless me with finding my blue flame 

Oh... Man, I am in love with Shraddha.. her style..her videos, comedy as well as her thoughts... You are truly amazing Shraddha!

You can watch this amazing interview here: Its worth watching!

https://youtu.be/w2Mldbva-iQ

Magnificent M and Her Creative World

My niece 'Magnificent M' came to our house for a week and sparkled joy all around us. She is someone who creates fine art from anything and everything. She will be lost in creating designs, building things with Legos for hours.

If she picks up a book to read, she will keep it down only after she is finished reading. This time she read Thea Stilton and the Princess Emerald in about 3 Hours.

This time she blend both Lego and craft and created these tiny beauties..