How did it all start ?

Aug 1, 20202 min read

This is the most asked question. To be frank, I decided this in the moment and there was absolutely no calculation involved.

So, I got in DU. Coming from a small city and later studying in a private college in Jaipur, DU (Delhi University) always seemed like a HIP place. And why not? Big wigs like Amitabh bachhan studied in DU. I even admired the boldness of 'DILLI KI LADKI' (girls from Delhi). Haha. Little did I know, I will end up spending major part of my student life in Delhi.

It was my first day in DU. We were supposed to have an orientation. I still hadn't decided which language out of Chinese, Korean and Japanese I would choose.

I met two seniors in the lift. We started talking about the course and what it had to offer. One of the girls said 'I am learning Korean', 'Nice' I thought. The other girl was quiet. I HAD to ask. 'Which language did you take?', I asked. 'Japanese' she said. I HAD to ask again. 'Can you speak fluently?', I asked, eyes big. 'Ya' she said (with pride). 'WOW', I thought (later said it too, damn, no self control).

I entered the orientation hall. Everyone was gathering slowly. Finally it started. And, well, finished. All the professors said a few words and tried to motivate us to think clearly ', How you can make the best out of this course'.

Next we had to decide what language we wanted to learn. Everyone started talking. Chinese, Japanese, Korean. Chinese,Japanese,Korean. Chinese, Japanese, Korean. I was just quiet (my go to behavior whenever I am stuck in a crowd or you know, in general ). 'Don't know', I thought in my head. Oh wait, I forgot to mention! I had already made a friend (well she made me her friend. LOL). Ananya. We were sitting next to each other in orientation. I hadn't spoken a word (again, my go to behavior), she started talking with me. We ended up having MOMOS IN KAMLA MARKET that day. Ahhh.. good days. Anyway, we became best friends and still are !

Where were we? Yes! About Japanese!

Since everyone was so confused about which language to take, our kind professors advised us to take a class of each. There it started. First was Chinese. Umm. It was OK. I just remember that there are like 100000.... ways of saying a single word and that there is no grammar.

Korean, I did not go. I fail to remember why .. Ananya?

Japanese, ** sir came to our class and said 'I am gonna make you speak Japanese today itself'. Damn.There it was again. My eyes went big. I was excited! And he did ! In just one class I learned how to count 1-10 and could also introduce myself.

Moral? Teachers make a LOT of difference ! Agree?

And that is how it started. I started learning Japanese.