Posted on

4th World Inter-universities championships barcelona

23 No, 2018: The LUMS sports team just landed back in Pakistan after participating in the 4th World interuniversities Championships held in Barcelonaa, Spain from 14th to 18th November. The championships included thirteen sports and included around eight universities from thirty countries. LUMS was the only representation of Pakistan in the mega event. LUMS teams participiated in Tennis, Futsal, Badminton, Swimming and Volleyball. The seventeen member LUMS squad included Taha Nadeem, Nubira Khan, Altamush Saeed, Emaan Yousuf, Maira Abid, M Waqas Majeed, Zohaib Yousaf, Hammad Mansoor, Syed Muhammad Maaz, Ali Shayan Sikander, Ayman Irfan, Ali Bin Rizwan, Aliza Khan, Zainab Salman Anwar, Momina Hashmi, Muhammad bin azhar, Muhammad Zaid Maqsood
We witnessed sportsman spirit and the drive to win in every match. LUMS teams did fairly well in all sports. Star performances came in tennis, where LUMS’s Muhammad Bin Azhar (Class of 2018) defeated Lille University France 10-5 in a very well fought out match. LUMS also gave a very good fight in Futsal, where it lost to defending Champions from Slovakia 1-4 after keeping the scoreline 1-1 till the second half. Vice Captain of the football team, Ali Shayan (Class of 2019) scored the only goal.
It shows that LUMS students are not just limited to academic excellence but they can also compete in sports at the biggest platforms in the world. The 5th edition of the championships will be held next year in Paris, France.

Posted on

Sunlo: Podcast Reviews!

A podcast is literally like a radio show on the Internet, with the added bonus of it being recorded before-hand so you can download it and listen to it whenever you want. You get to listen to something entertaining while going for a jog, or on your way to PDC or to the gym. There are so many podcasts on different topics available for free. For Iphone users, there is a whole separate app for all podcasts that are available.

One thing always stands out to me when it comes to listening to podcasts is, that I get to listen to people discuss specific topics within a restricted amount of time, and because it’s mostly guest speakers talking about their experiences, struggles or something they love, it is very informative and fun to listen to. It’s like watching National Geographic or CNN but with all the banality removed.

There are podcasts of all kinds: News-based, TedxTalks, fiction stories, business and cultural insights; basically something for everyone.

If you want to ever give podcasts a try, listen to the ones down below. These are some of my personal favourites, and I hope you enjoy them!

 

  1. Lore

Narrated by Aaron Mankhe

Lore is an American anthology which talks about frightening history behind common folklore. All of the episodes are unique and 17-35 minutes long, each addressing a different tale rooted deeply in myths and folktales. From the origin of the phrase “Saved by the bell” and the inspiration behind Bram Stoker’s Dracula, to talking about the Salem Witch trials in 17th century France, Aaron Mankhe makes each one of these episodes extremely interesting and eerie to listen to.

Lore earned the “Best of 2015” from iTunes, and in 2017, Vallhala Entertainment developed a short television series which goes by the same name. Although not all the podcast episodes have been adapted to TV episodes, the ones which have been adapted are wonderfully executed by combining documentary footage and cinematic scenes to tell horror stories and their origins.

 

Notable Episodes:

Episode 1: They Made a Tonic

 

 

2. Imaginary Worlds

Narrated by: Eric Molinsky

This should be a must-listen podcast for anyone who’s looking to talk about their favourite fantasy movie or novel. Eric invites various guests over and dives deep into the world of fantasy and science fiction with them. From discussing famous fictional worlds of Harry Potter and Hunger Games, to talking about long-running genre tropes of ‘Saving the Girl’ and ‘Sexy Robots’, imaginary worlds is an intriguing series that goes beyond the surface-level coverage of the genre.

What makes this podcast unique from all the others is, that it isn’t an extended interview or a talk-show style podcast. Instead, each episode is played out like a segment from NPR’s This American Life or Planet Money shows. He mixes his reporting, clips, and interviews to form a nicely packaged story. For example one of his episodes, “Then they Fell” where he talks about immersive theatre (Did you know such a thing existed?!) and shares his experience through a series of videos that he made when he went there.

 

Notable Episodes:

  • Faith in Fantasy: a discussion between a Minister, Rabbi and an Alwaez (Maulvi) about the religion in dystopian fiction.
  • Fahrenheit 451 Still Burns: Neil Gaiman, Alice Hoffman and other people come together to discuss how Fahrenheit 451 is a kind of masterpiece that seems like a different story every time one reads it and what lesson there is to be learnt each time.

 

 

  1. The Allusionist

 

Narrator: Helen Zaltzman

This podcast speaks to the word nerd in everyone. Ranging from 15-30 min episodes, a lot of the questions are about the origins of a phrase, or why some languages are ignored and the difference between British/American accents and spellings (that personally, is my favourite topic to talk about)

 

Notable Episodes:

82- A Novel Remedy: Which book do you read to make yourself feel better? And why does it work? A clinical psychologist and a linguist talks about how patients in post-WW1 Britain were soothed by Agatha Christie novels.

78- Oot in the Open: Imagine you are born and raised in a household speaking particular language but then you go to school and that language is banned. Speaking that language will have physical and psychological repercussions – this my friend, is the predicament of the Scots language.

68- Curse Soup: Stephen Clews, manager of the Roman baths at Bath, shows us the curses that were sloshed around amongst people when they wanted to vent out their anger or frustration on someone. (This one’s a pretty funny and interesting podcast to listen to when one of your instructors’ is being irrational lol)

 

  1. Lit Up

 

Narrator: Angela Ledgerwood

The description of the podcast, on the iTunes Podcast, literally describes “Lit Up as a sanctuary for people crazy about books, stories and the literary life. Angela Ledgerwood, talks to the world’s most provocative thinkers and writers about the power of stories, the importance of literature in 2018, and why they’re compelled to create the work they do.

Lit Up is also about pushing the boundaries and revealing the messy and complicated – rarely talked about – parts of what it means to be human. No topic is off the table and no conversation is too weird, too personal or too controversial. There have been writers like Mohsin Hamid talking about immigration and life in Pakistan and Anna Patchett, the writer of “Bel Canto” opening up about what inspires her fiction.

 

Notable Episodes:

Trevor Noah on his memoir, “Born a Crime”

Jami Attenberg on being a woman in NYC and finding success 

 

  1. How I Built This

Narrator: NPR

For all the SDSB majors who have emerging entrepreneurship ideas in their heads and want a boost or a guideline to go about them, there is this one podcast I want you to listen to which will be really helpful. This podcast tells the story of successful companies in the words of their creators. Host Guy Raz speaks to a different entrepreneur in each episode, and has them recount how they built their business. The real draw for listeners is the calibre of guests that the show manages to attract: past episodes have featured the brains behind prominent startups including Instagram and Airbnb, but also more mainstream business leaders such as the executive chairman of Starbucks and the founders of Ben & Jerry’s. It’s an intimate insight into the history of well-known brands, and great inspiration if you’re looking to get your own business idea off the ground.

This series is more about the personal journey than the gory business details since most of them are surprisingly dysfunctional and fluky. The entrepreneurs are also unexpectedly humble, personable and warm; which makes them all the more inspiring.

 

 

 

 

Posted on

YOUR AMAZINGLY ACCURATE MONTHLY HOROSCOPE!

Libra – Sept 23 to Oct 22
You will be faced with shock and despair when you realize no one cares about how many midterms and quizzes you had in one day. Try not to cry.

Scorpio – Oct 23 to Nov 21
Your problems will come to an end as soon as you realize that partying twice a week (Thursdays and Fridays) can keep your liver healthy and your morale boosted as you look forward to the next week! Happy hours can be 24/7.

Sagittarius – Nov 22 to Dec 21
Avoid going to the gym this month as embarrassment awaits you when you learn that working out and brownies from the Khoka do not go together. Take a moment to appreciate all the pizzas and burgers that you have been consoling yourself with!

Capricorn – Dec 22 to Jan 19
Your GPA prospects improve significantly as you find out that the person you copied off from in the last exam turned out to be a CS major. Rejoice!

Aquarius – Jan 20 to Feb 18
If your life isn’t going the way you want, have another go at blaming someone else for it. You might get it right this time.

Pisces – Feb 19 to March 20
Avoid calling your parents this weekend because they’re finally starting to get over the trauma you put them through by not calling them since the semester started.

Aries – March 21 to April 19
You will realize very soon that the song “Body by Loud Luxury” is not the only song that you can dance to. Consider focusing on your playlist a little more. This is a good month to stop listening to Cardi B. For good.

Taurus – April 20 to May 20
Your ideas about how feminism is cancer are irrelevant. Do not make a fool of yourself. The #NotAllMen movement should only be about how full of yourself you are.

Gemini – May 21 to June 20
Every dog has its day. Some day in this month might be yours. Emphasis on the ‘might’.

Cancer – June 21 to July 22
A disappointing month awaits you as your prospects of finding love go down the drain. Even the rishta aunties on LDF these days can’t hook you up. Raise your morale by calling out all the couples in the student lounge.

Leo – July 23 to Aug 22
It is okay to cringe occasionally, or maybe all the time because of the sheer stupidity around you. If you don’t cringe at all then your only responsibility is to know you’re the stupidest person around.

Virgo – Aug 23 to Sept 22
This will just be another month of not remembering names and referring to everyone as Buddy, Hero or Boss. Nothing to worry about, though. Most of them don’t know your name either.

Posted on

Diwali at LUMS

Often called the festival of lights, Diwali commemorates the return of Rama, the seventh incarnation of the god Vishnu, to his people after being exiled for 14 years, during which he fought and won a battle against the demons and the demon king, Ravana. It symbolizes the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. The five-day holiday is annually held in autumn during Ashwin, the seventh month of the Hindu calendar and typically falls between the middle of October until the middle of November, which is also the time of harvest, and so represents wealth, prosperity and wisdom.

Last night, the LUMS community joined their Hindu friends on campus to celebrate Diwali, which was organized by the Hum Ahang society at LUMS. The Central Courtyard was decorated with traditional earthen diyas (candles) and colorful rangoli artworks- patterns created on the floor using colored rice or powder, and was lit up with colors, lights, and music. The event began with a short video about what the LUMS community associated with Diwali. For many, it meant happiness, enjoyment and harmony. Shortly afterwards, members from Hum Ahang performed on Dhol Baje, London Thumukda and a Dhandiya dance. This was followed by volunteers from the crowd taking the floor to sing a song or poetry, or dance to mehndi medleys or attan; the latter of which was none other than the request of our attan fanboy student council president. Students ate mithai, danced with bhangras, and took happy pictures in their desi attires.

Diwali is being celebrated on campus since the past three years, for which Hum Ahang is to be accredited. There is a significant number of Hindus who are a part of the LUMS community, and many of these are students who are unable to go back to their homes and celebrate this religious festival with their families. Therefore, it is essential for others to practice empathy, inclusivity, and inter-faith harmony, and create an atmosphere of festivity for them on campus, which is their home away from home. Moreover, in times such as the past week which created an air of anguish, loss and sorrow, it is necessary for us to keep reminding ourselves to not give up. The Diwali celebration helped us recollect ourselves, our moods, and our spirits.

 

 

Posted on

Kashmir National Youth Summit – A perspective

 

The exhausted LUMS student struggling to pay attention after 12 hours of travel, Pakistani. The girl from Hazara, Quetta narrating the story of her life in the constant shadow of fear and discrimination. Pakistani. The students from the KIU nimbly jumping across the hill of Pir Chinasi and throwing snowballs at each other. All Pakistani.

Between the17 – 19th of October, students from across the country convened in the halls of The University of Azad Jammu & Kashmir for the “Fourth National Youth Conference on Peace Building and National Integration”; a four day conference meant to create a platform for the youth to inspire and be inspired, to share and to hear stories, to sing and dance and represent, to celebrate their differences and to celebrate the fact that we are still all Pakistani.

The conference was set into motion on the first day by a series of talks; talks by key figures of the area who riled the audience up with their passionate words. These included the likes of Shehrayr Afridi (Minister of State for Interior) who so captivated the audience that he was called upon to deliver a second speech on the same day.

   On the second day however, the mic was passed on to the youth. The overwhelming, palpable energy of this segment of Pakistan’s population truly brought life into the various activities planned for the day by the societies of LUMS including LUMUN, LPS, EMS, LCSS, IEEE and PhotoLUMS. In the panel discussions, the students laid their claim not just to Pakistan’s tomorrow, but its’ today as well. In another talk, girls from BUITEMS laughed about being mistaken for Chinese and talked about their precarious lives in a city they’re targeted in. In the parallel discussions, all the students brought their heads together to discuss and present solutions to the multiple issues being faced by the country; from the lack of ethics shown in disagreements to the role of youth in reconstruction of the national culture. From there, the students divided into two batches. One headed to the beautiful, serene Red Fort sitting proudly by the river side. The other headed to SOS Village where they spent the time running on the grassy lawn with the kids. In between the laughter and the awe, the disparities between the groups slowly but surely began to dissolve.

Once the set went down, the grounds of the university slowly began to echo with a mix of traditional and modern tunes. The much-anticipated Cultural Night finally commenced. In the ensuing activities the vibrant cultural spectrum of the country shimmied to the spotlight. Students from UAJ&K took center stage with hair-raising musical performances and an eye-catching fashion show. The students from Gilgit presented one of the most zealous performance of the night with their traditional music and dance. Students from LUMS recited a few self-written ashaar coaxing warm applause from the audience and put on a play inciting roaring laughter.

After the play, one of the actors spoke a few words that stayed with me for the rest of the night, “Through this play we wanted to show characters from different backgrounds, different languages, different personalities. The fact that they can do still pull off a good comedy, theatre’s most difficult feat, means they can do something as simple as living together, accepting each other, tolerating each other and respecting each other’s individuality”.

And in the warm glow of the bonfire, it all seemed so obvious. Our dances and gestures might differ, the style of our dress may vary, our music might clash. But in the end, the lines blur and the colors and the tunes seep into each other till all that remains is the most beautiful blend of such unique composition that the it leaves the world in awe; the blend of Pakistan.

The next day, participants were able to truly witness this blend as they were let out of the four walls of the university and into the green valleys of Pir Chinasi. In the cool breeze, the students finally found the space and time to open up and connect as individuals. As we trekked and talked, we wove a web of similar hobbies, thoughts, concerns and fears; a web that connected us vastly different individuals from vastly different backgrounds. Who would have thought? We were ordinary students talking about ordinary things in the most extraordinary settings. It was surreal.

And then, just like that, it was the end. Three days of a rollercoaster ride, with management hassles and cool winds and long speeches and hearty laughter and creamy chai. We were at the end. As the bus rolled down the hills, I felt a void opening up inside me. We have been told we are Pakistani. We have been told we are brothers and sisters. But we have never been given a chance to feel that, to live it. We are all missing something we’ve never had; a chance to connect. A chance to speak up and talk and listen and brainstorm. Three days is not enough. A lifetime might never be enough to learn all that has passed or all that still exists. But we need to at least begin. And the youth needs to take these steps. The youth needs to step up and create these opportunities, these platforms. Our energy, our talent is unparalleled. We need to take the reins and conquer not just tomorrow but today as well. And we need to do it standing together as Pakistanis.

Posted on

Movie Review – Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump

Imdb: 8.8/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 72%

Starring: Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Sally Field

“I don’t know if we each have a destiny, or if we’re all just floatin’ around accidental-like on a breeze, but I, I think maybe it’s both.” – Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump is a 1994 film directed by Robert Zemeckis. It won 6 Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role and Best Director. It’s hard to pin down the genre of the film, but the most appropriate description would be that it’s a mixture of comedy, drama and romance. Tom Hanks plays the role of Forrest Gump and Sally Field plays his mother.

Early on in the movie it is revealed that Forrest has a crooked spine and a low IQ. Forrest’s condition looks a lot like autism but this is not specifically mentioned in the movie. Forrest is incredibly optimistic and shows a lot of perseverance. Without actually ever intending to, he ends up achieving remarkable things. These include becoming a football star, meeting John F. Kennedy, getting a medal of honor for the war in Vietnam, defeating the Chinese national team in table tennis, becoming an original investor in Apple and finally, running across the country for several years. The events of history are unfolded through Forrest’s eyes. While Forrest’s life is dramatically changing as he achieves all this, there is one constant in his life that keeps coming back – his childhood love, Jenny. The movie heavily focuses on the relationship between Forrest and Jenny.

Tom Hanks has done an incredible job in the movie and it is not surprising that the most appealing element of the movie is the character of Forrest. Viewers are captivated by his charm right from the start of the movie and it is his both, his simplicity, and his undeterred determination that wins their hearts. Forrest Gump is a man who has never let his disability become disabling and perhaps that it is why this movie is so inspirational. It contains a message for all of us who tend to get weighed down in the face of difficulties. Another one of Forrest’s defining values is sincerity. Forrest shows utmost sincerity to anyone he develops a relationship with, be it his friend Bubba or his Lieutenant Dan. Jenny, although admittedly very annoying at times, represents what it feels like to be growing up. She is confused, stubborn, selfish and often makes very questionable decisions but Forrest sticks by her through it all. The movie contains an important theme of unconditional love.

The movie is unconventional, there is no shocking climax, no antagonists and it could even be argued that it does not have a well defined plot. However, the movie is bound to leave a mark. The direction and dialogue are profound and impact full. Viewers are bound to feel a plethora of emotions as the movie progresses and the movie will have you both, laughing, and crying, many times at the same time. There are many lines from the movie that are still remembered today, such as “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know which one you’re going to get next.” If the movie had to be described in one word, I would choose bittersweet. It will leave you feeling terribly emotional, but in a good kind of way. The movie contains many life lessons that cannot be explored within the breadth of this review, therefore I urge you to watch the movie if you haven’t already.

Posted on

Acts of Strangers Part 1

That day, on my way to school, I found myself aboard my dad’s motorbike. My van driver had an emergency and couldn’t come to pick me up, my brother was away north on a trip with his friends and my father left earlier than usual for work. I was only learning to ride a bike at that time, there were a number of high speed traffic roads to be crossed and there was very little time left to reach the school where an exam awaited me. I didn’t know how tense this first time experience of riding a motorcycle would get.

I got on the bike, my feet barely touching the ground. I kicked once; twice; thrice; a little harder the fourth time, almost tipping over on the other side, but start it did and thus I began my journey. I showed all the signs of a noob rider; I went slow, panic-braking at every little thing, pulling the clutch without letting off the throttle, or releasing it suddenly and causing a jerk. I kept hoping to miss the occasional traffic jams, to go slow and steady until I smoothly reached my destination. But whatever wrong can happen, will happen I guess. Approaching a cross-road, I could see traffic clustered in the middle; cars against cars, desperately fighting their way out of the mess; deafening horns blowing continuously accompanied by occasional shouting and cursing from the drivers. Out of the frying pan and into the fire I thought.

I couldn’t turn back, given I wasn’t confident enough to make my way through the oncoming traffic had I turned, and even if I could, the alternative route would have cost me 15 more minutes which I couldn’t afford, without considering the possibility of another traffic jam. Reluctantly, I decided to dive into the stuck traffic. It was a nightmare; I lost sense of where I was and where I should be; cars and bikes constantly rushing past me while I struggled to make way. I came upon the actual crossing where traffic from all four roads met each other. There was a window of car-less space. I tried to move through quickly, stalling the bike instead. I started it again, this time on the third try. I tried to get through on the next opportunity, this time being more careful, but the bike seemed too heavy to move. A very loud train-horn from the car behind me honked furiously, along with a sharp voice shouting at me “Move it already, boy!”. I had reached my breaking point; the stress was to much for me to go through.

Suddenly, I heard another sharp yet kind voice from my left, coming from a rickshaw driver. “It’s alright. Take it easy, it’s fine”, he said. Those words seem like a soothing blow of breeze against my face. I looked at him; a sun-burnt, wrinkled, mid-40s face was turned towards me with an assuring expression on it.

“You’re in second gear,” he said, “shift one down”. And I did. The bike was now light as usual. I was amazed at how he could judge that just by looking at the bike move. He brought his rickshaw halfway forward, blocking the car making its way from our left. “Come alongside me” he said, and I obliged. The car on his left honked, so did the one behind him since he had stopped, but he paid no heed to either of them. Gradually, one step at a time, he kept clearing path for me throughout that mess, patiently too since I stalled twice more, causing both of use to be downright drowned in the ensuing curses and honks. I was indifferent to everything around me, falling into sort of a trance, with my focus only on that sharp and kind voice, doing everything it asked me to. It ended, nevertheless, and when the traffic thinned down and I prepared to carry on my journey he pulled up to me and asked “Can you go on from here?”. I managed a weak “Yes, thank you”. He nodded and pulled away, leaving me wishing I had brought this short apprenticeship of ours to a better conclusion.

This made me realize how much seemingly trivial actions can mean to someone else. We all need to hear a few kind words every once in a while. We all need someone to hold our hand and walk us through that little road that we find tough to tread on. You don’t have to have large sums of money or influential powers to help someone. What matters is recognizing the needs of others; lighting the little candles on your part. A little nod, or a smile, or a compliment can brighten up someone else’s world if they feel alone or anxious. Particularly if they are on a stalled bike in the middle of Lahori traffic.

 

Posted on

Millennial Love

Dearest Millennial,

I recently found out you fell in love, again. I’m glad. But tell me-

Is it her high cheek bones, or her defined jaw-line?

Is it the bee-stung lips, or the deep, alluring eyes?

Is it the poetry in her walk? or is it her body?

Or is it the universe?

This scientific letter on millennial-love might not interest you. It may puzzle you. You also may scroll down, regard it as utter bullshit. However it, if effective, will lead you to question yourself.

What do you see in her? Do you see her and see math as beautiful as the Euler equation. Do you see her eyes and wonder how, how deep they are, is it the infinity they hold in them? Don’t you see the electricity she has running inside of you? She has your molecules changing. Every time she gets closer to the ground she speeds up the Earth. She is literally the centre of the universe, don’t you know, millennial? She is the beauty of the rainbow, not just the seven colors, millennial, she is everything that splits into more beauty, and more beautiful therein, she is the centre of her rainbow, always. She is the equations, and the numbers, and the infinities and the everything you do not understand, millennial. Her beauty you will never grasp.

Look at her, she is a star. She is everything a star is, literally everything. Tell her that. Tell her that, millennial. She is everything the universe is made up of, she is the universe, she is the universe trying to understand itself, or herself rather. Don’t you see the constellations in her, the bright blue and red nebulae in her eyes, don’t her vaso-dilating cheeks remind you of all what life is, pumping, ethereal, transient. Doesn’t her attraction seem Black-holishh,and journeys with her worm-holishh? Tell her how beautiful she is, she is all of physics and she is all of mathematics, she is all of reason and she is all of the unknown. She is the echo in a vacuum, she is electromagnetic. She is the harmony in the chaos. She is the butterfly that causes the rainstorm. She is the reason that in a life of scientific method and reason you see God in her, she is the truest, most honest image of God. Godly is the look she casts upon you, with her iris’ flaming all the fire of within and puts you on a pedestal and takes you off the escalator of time and for a moment, an infinitesimal yet infinitely long moment, makes you both god-like, light-like, such that time as felt by the normies, the commoners, does not pass for you, she takes you into her universe, her non-newtonian universe, unbounded by the tyranny of time and cause and effect, her relativistic universe where time dilates and warps, it bends and distorts (Silva). She is the cosmos in its entirety, from its inception to its death.

Another thing, don’t photograph her millennial, absolutely do not snapchather. Take a photo, set a vintage filter. Let yourself feel postalgic, to be nostalgic for the present while it is happening. Everything will pass, let her grow old, let the moments swing by, watch the pendulum oscillate and, in your mind, her voice reverberate. Live her, cherish her. Devour her moments, the fact that the time will not come back should be the reason you treasure her, live her as she dies. Elongate the honeymoon phase to an infinity. Cry at her beauty, let the tears stream out because she is the kind of beautiful that makes you cry.

See all this in her and not sexy hair and en pointe’ make up. Taste the stars in her and not fruit lip balm. Feel the universe that surrounds her and not her skin. Be real, be transcendent Millennial. After all, she, like life, is happening for you, not happening to you.

Love,

The Scientist.

Posted on

Your guide to LUMS Winters

I belong to the group of people in LUMS who are characterised by their bathroom do patti chappals come whatever season. I belong to the group of people whose comeback to every argument is ‘haan magar sea view hai tum logon k pass?’ I belong to the group of people whose hoodies come out at the start of October. Unless you haven’t guessed, I’m a Karachiite.

Perhaps the biggest adjustment in Freshman year was surviving the winter. Coming from a city where winters meant, at maximum, a cute shawl when sitting outside, I was severely ill equipped and thrown in the deep end for what was to come.

 

Here’s how I got through it.

1) Invest in thermal shirts. Get them in basic colors like black and white and wear a cardigan on top to change up the look. They’re designed to retain body heat and so you don’t have to wear too many layers or bulk up in clothes that engulf you until you’re looking like this

2) You don’t have to always camp out at the student lounge. The khoka is perfect for winter night hangouts but just make sure you have a cup of green tea with Joshanda if you feel a cold coming on. Buy a tiny jar of honey and keep that in your room as well for some ammi- type healing.

3) SOCKS. The superstore has good cheap invisible socks which are amazing for people who have perpetually freezing feet (read: me)

4) If you love toasty beds and never waking up for an 8 AM this is for you. Although hostellites aren’t allowed to have rod heaters in their rooms because of fire risks, you can definitely buy a fan heater. Go to Packages or even Al- Fatah (you can order it online too[1]) for good quality heaters with warranties. They can cost you an average of Rs. 4000. Turn it on for about half an hour and warm up your comforter or blanket and enjoy the night.

5) Stay away from sick people! Don’t share water bottles, pillows, or bodily fluids (you know who you are) with people who are sick. You’re going to realize how homesick you can get when you’re stuck in bed with a headache and blocked nose.

6) If you do get sick, go to the health and wellness centre. You can buy medicine from the pharmacy above the superstore. Other pharmacies close to LUMS include Servaid and CSH Pharmacy and they deliver.

7) Beware of smog. Jammin is going to give out these surgical masks but they don’t really do anything. Just try not sitting outside when it gets very bad and use a scarf to breathe through. Do NOT go on drives when visibility is low because the likelihood of accidents is very high. When walking alone, turn your flashlight on because you will feel super scared. And if your friends try to take you to the football field, do NOT go because they will take you in too far and then run away leaving you alone in a blanket of fog from which there is no escape. I exaggerate but at that moment, you wish for the sweet release of death.

8) Get a windbreaker. The freezing cold and penetrating winds are not a good combo. Hoodies and sweaters are no match for the winds, so you should definitely have one windbreaker for nights like those. There are lots of good winter sales right now and they won’t be too expensive. Check out outlets like Cambridge, Outfitters, Splash for good quality products that will last you the four years.

The first few weeks are going to be hell, but winters are the time when campus life is at its best. Make the most of it, because winter is coming.

Posted on

When Twilight Descended…

Have you ever been to that place?

The one where chastity seduces at all times of the day.

I did

As twilight descended.

 

The electric blue transcended into lilac

Blurring out the edges of definition

The lamp posts lit up

To make her glimmer with the stain of the morning past

 

Her stature made with stone washed bricks

Encased a mosaic beauty within them

 

A sisterhood of domes were spread comfortably

In the womb of six astute cylindrical minarets

While the fraternity charmed every tourist and worshipper

The vigilantes casted a spell five times a day

Warding off the evil

With a chant that traipeized into souls of

All that was animate and inanimate

 

She had laid a marble floor in her decent

Inviting you to free yourself of any burden

So it could eavesdrop on your silent wish

 

As the muezzin’s words lulled the atmosphere

So did her majesty put her surroundings in a trance

The fountain that danced in the celebration of her charms all day

Now sat still and tranquil

Finding itself to paint her reflection at the water’s edge.