Hostel

I was waiting out side the Airport. My agent had arranged for a pick up cab for 100 SGD, which later I came to know would only cost 15 SGD. Well that's was how the spending began. I was dropped at Katog Hostel. It looked pretty cool from out side. There was a music school in the same compound, the hostel was behind it. I paid for a three month contract which would be renewed on request. I had to book a 6 sharing room, as a 4 sharing room was not available then. They promised to inform me as soon as any of them were available. So far so good. But I had to reach college and sign some papers that same day. 

The cleaning guy led me to my room, and it smelled of hairy armpits. I was screaming in my head, this is worse than any room I had been in India. I could see three bunk beds.Two bottom bunks were occupied by two dark guys in shorts, only. Their stuff was all over the floor. The study tables were cluttered with bread packets and utensils with lot of left overs in them, which later I observed was their food for three days. At least the food's smell was some help. I cleaned the space under my bunk bed to stuff my luggage in. Then I asked them which one was my cupboard out of the 4. They pointed to a coffin like metallic contraption which was stuffed with crumpled newspapers and covers of packaged food. I decided I will stick to my bags for this month at least. I took out clothes I would need this week and placed it on my top bunk bed. I decided to use half of the bed as my cupboard and the rest as my study table and well, bed. 

I had to take a shower and rush to college so I started at it. The bathrooms were clean, not bad. I will be able to live longer here. After a good warm shower, I called the Chinese guy  to help me with the direction to the college. I am Indian right I had to make the best use of my money anyway. He told me to take a Bus and ask any one around, it would be easy he said. I didn't believe one word he said. In India this was not easy, and this was a foreign country. I called one of my batch mates, Vidyut whom the agent had sent a month before me, yes i was 25 days late for my course already. He said, "Don't worry we are all here you take a cab or MRT to the college, I am in he class right now can't talk much." Man this sucks. His mom had stuffed his food and medicines in my bag. And since I was an honest citizen I only carried 25 Kilos baggage, unlike these guys who got 40 kgs for free. Well, I thought at least I was in the safe hands of my country men.

I went out and asked at the reception how to go he Queens Town, MDIS College. The lady told me take so and so number bus, it will lead you to the metro from there you buy a metro map and it will be clear to you. So, I hurried to the nearest bus stop. Confirmed the bus number with an old guy at the bus stop, he gave me 3 more numbers. Then I got into one and had to tap in my NETS card  which I bought at the Airport. This card can be used to pay your for your bills, metro ride, buy things at a NETS enabled shop. This was cool. It was 2007, we did have the Delhi metro until late 2010. When I reached the metro station, I asked another guy how to get to Queens Town, he told me which line to take.He was very polite in assuring me that I will reach there in 40 mins. Really nice people, I said to myself and off I went to the platform and took the train to Queens Town. Of all the stations that came on the way, I loved the Red Hill station the most. It had showrooms of all cars & bikes money can buy, Volkswagen, Porsche, Audi, Harley, GM, Ford, Citroen, Mitsuoka, Toyota,Mitsubishi, Hummer, BMW, Mini Cooper etc etc. I was excited. This place was so cool. It had every thing minus the chaos.

I rushed for the college as soon as I reached Queens Town. I took a cab for a 5 min ride. The college was good but not as huge as compared to my school or college in India. But was much cleaner and nicely done, plus really lots of hot chicks. The lady at the reception was quick at noticing me checking out chicks, as I was talking to her but looking every where else. She wished me luck. Who knew the that I would fall for for an South India girl who was two years elder to me, of all the hot looking South East Asian races one can find on earth. But I was not just amazed by girls, the college had air conditioning in every room, it was so well organized, had directions hanging from the ceilings. And then came Shiela! No!she was not the South Indian girl. She was the student co-coordinator there. She was wearing a dress and a jacket. She asked me to submit my documents, fill and sign my forms. She directed me to a meeting room. There was this girl with her dad who was also joining with me that day. We got acquainted.  I never thought that I would call a bitch, a 'Bitch' in front of all my friends at a birthday party. And that she would SMS me to death for two days.

We were then directed to the auditorium where the others were having their lectures. I found my place amongst Indians. Our batch was special, it had 41 Indians out of 61 students. I hated the idea of being surrounded by Indian here too. Why should I pay so much and be with an army of Indians again. Well I thought, it would be easy at least. Little did I know that these guys will make my life hell for the coming six months. There were good times too, but mostly the intoxicated ones.