<p>To have been awarded the Fulbright scholarship for a Master’s degree in the US for a year, way back in the mid-seventies, was indeed my good fortune.<br /><br />What’s more, I had the option of enrolling myself at any of the universities in the country, including the reputed ones. But leaving out the big and famous cities whose fast pace of life would not have suited my temperament, I deliberately chose a relatively small and quiet place nestled at the foot of snow-clad Wasatch hills, in the state of Utah known for its many natural geological wonders, the inimitable Salt Lake City whose very name even today strikes an emotional chord in me, the city with its Great Salt Lake whose water is eight times saltier than ocean water; where one floats like a cork and never sinks; its unique Morman Temple and the world’s largest Open-Air Copper Mine.<br /><br />The city bragged of a big university, the University of Utah, with its sprawling, yet self-contained campus consisting of various departments — Humanities, Social Sciences, Medicine and Engineering besides the excellent Marriott Library with its vast holdings in different disciplines.<br /><br />No sooner did I register myself in the Department of English as a graduate student, I was initiated into a world which made its own demands upon me, an absolutely new entrant! There was a wide range of courses to choose from, spanning across whole centuries, continents and cultures. And if one felt uncomfortable with a particular course, one had the option to change within the stipulated period.<br /><br />As a graduate student, I was obliged to work for 45 credit hours which implied attending classes regularly, writing papers, participating in seminars, classroom discussions, taking tests at the end of every quarter, followed by a comprehensive examination on the completion of course work and finally the submission of a dissertation. Needless to say how rigorous it all was to complete so many formalities in less than half the time we normally take at home! <br /><br />It did not take long for me to realise how radically different classroom sessions were. The conventional method of reading a text from start to finish and explaining it in great detail, (a practice followed religiously in our country) was never resorted to here! It was all discussions!<br /><br />Even a big, fat novel of a very complex nature running to hundreds of pages, say Moby Dick, would be finished in three days time! The professor would inform the class earlier about his schedule and it was earnestly expected of the student to not merely have read the text thoroughly but go to class armed with a volley of questions, observations, comments, remarks! A student could always feel free to meet the teacher at the end for clarification or anything else.<br /><br />Unique to Utah<br />Another thing that struck me was the insistence on honouring deadlines for submitting papers. Come what may, rain or shine, wind or thunder, snow or avalanche, a student had to stick to his time. Next came the format of the paper. One had to scrupulously adhere to all the stipulations, a violation of any would be deemed almost sacrilegious! <br /><br />Yet another thing one had to encounter was the problem with spellings. British spelling would not be tolerated. While some of them graciously overlooked the “flaw”, others would frown upon it and show their resentment openly! But it must be conceded how they also advised us to steer clear of some of our more serious defects in writing.<br /><br />The faculty was always willing to help the students, particularly those from overseas to adapt themselves to new conditions of learning. They would call them to their rooms privately and offer helpful tips to improve and perform better. Classroom assignments would be evaluated and returned with not only utmost punctiliousness but with the necessary comments, remarks, advice or even full-throated appreciation as the case may be! <br /><br />Notwithstanding the rigour and the discipline campus life imposed upon us, it must be acknowledged how there was also an air of informality in the classroom itself. An Indian student in particular would be just amazed by the sight of a fellow student with a bottle of coke or coffee mug, and addressing the teacher by name (a taboo in our country!) not to speak of their very free sitting postures!<br /><br />On-campus experience<br />Yet another thing that impressed me highly was the spirit of warmth and cordiality some teachers bestowed upon us like inviting us home for Christmas, taking us out on short excursions to the nearby Canyons or sponsoring our visits to cultural/theatrical shows etc., if not treat us to delicious cookies and pastries in the classroom during a seminar involving a small, compact group of students. Such kind gestures forged an instantaneous rapport.<br /><br />I also recall how a classmate would drop me home in her car whenever possible. The residents of the University Village too were very co-operative, lending a helping hand whenever a need arose.<br /><br />The campus was a lively place and students displayed their innovativeness and creativity in myriad ways. The notice-board itself with smart slogans, witty sayings, good-humoured jokes, drawings and paintings was a case in point. A more convincing and eloquent proof was The Daily Utah Chronicle, a campus Newsletter.<br /><br />It won’t be wrong to say that the University became my sole universe as long as my student days lasted and the campus was all that I was able to see during those 10 months. But the intellectual stimulus it offered me has proved invaluable all along. I shall forever cherish this most rewarding (even if most challenging) experience in a city that became a home away from home for me.</p>
<p>To have been awarded the Fulbright scholarship for a Master’s degree in the US for a year, way back in the mid-seventies, was indeed my good fortune.<br /><br />What’s more, I had the option of enrolling myself at any of the universities in the country, including the reputed ones. But leaving out the big and famous cities whose fast pace of life would not have suited my temperament, I deliberately chose a relatively small and quiet place nestled at the foot of snow-clad Wasatch hills, in the state of Utah known for its many natural geological wonders, the inimitable Salt Lake City whose very name even today strikes an emotional chord in me, the city with its Great Salt Lake whose water is eight times saltier than ocean water; where one floats like a cork and never sinks; its unique Morman Temple and the world’s largest Open-Air Copper Mine.<br /><br />The city bragged of a big university, the University of Utah, with its sprawling, yet self-contained campus consisting of various departments — Humanities, Social Sciences, Medicine and Engineering besides the excellent Marriott Library with its vast holdings in different disciplines.<br /><br />No sooner did I register myself in the Department of English as a graduate student, I was initiated into a world which made its own demands upon me, an absolutely new entrant! There was a wide range of courses to choose from, spanning across whole centuries, continents and cultures. And if one felt uncomfortable with a particular course, one had the option to change within the stipulated period.<br /><br />As a graduate student, I was obliged to work for 45 credit hours which implied attending classes regularly, writing papers, participating in seminars, classroom discussions, taking tests at the end of every quarter, followed by a comprehensive examination on the completion of course work and finally the submission of a dissertation. Needless to say how rigorous it all was to complete so many formalities in less than half the time we normally take at home! <br /><br />It did not take long for me to realise how radically different classroom sessions were. The conventional method of reading a text from start to finish and explaining it in great detail, (a practice followed religiously in our country) was never resorted to here! It was all discussions!<br /><br />Even a big, fat novel of a very complex nature running to hundreds of pages, say Moby Dick, would be finished in three days time! The professor would inform the class earlier about his schedule and it was earnestly expected of the student to not merely have read the text thoroughly but go to class armed with a volley of questions, observations, comments, remarks! A student could always feel free to meet the teacher at the end for clarification or anything else.<br /><br />Unique to Utah<br />Another thing that struck me was the insistence on honouring deadlines for submitting papers. Come what may, rain or shine, wind or thunder, snow or avalanche, a student had to stick to his time. Next came the format of the paper. One had to scrupulously adhere to all the stipulations, a violation of any would be deemed almost sacrilegious! <br /><br />Yet another thing one had to encounter was the problem with spellings. British spelling would not be tolerated. While some of them graciously overlooked the “flaw”, others would frown upon it and show their resentment openly! But it must be conceded how they also advised us to steer clear of some of our more serious defects in writing.<br /><br />The faculty was always willing to help the students, particularly those from overseas to adapt themselves to new conditions of learning. They would call them to their rooms privately and offer helpful tips to improve and perform better. Classroom assignments would be evaluated and returned with not only utmost punctiliousness but with the necessary comments, remarks, advice or even full-throated appreciation as the case may be! <br /><br />Notwithstanding the rigour and the discipline campus life imposed upon us, it must be acknowledged how there was also an air of informality in the classroom itself. An Indian student in particular would be just amazed by the sight of a fellow student with a bottle of coke or coffee mug, and addressing the teacher by name (a taboo in our country!) not to speak of their very free sitting postures!<br /><br />On-campus experience<br />Yet another thing that impressed me highly was the spirit of warmth and cordiality some teachers bestowed upon us like inviting us home for Christmas, taking us out on short excursions to the nearby Canyons or sponsoring our visits to cultural/theatrical shows etc., if not treat us to delicious cookies and pastries in the classroom during a seminar involving a small, compact group of students. Such kind gestures forged an instantaneous rapport.<br /><br />I also recall how a classmate would drop me home in her car whenever possible. The residents of the University Village too were very co-operative, lending a helping hand whenever a need arose.<br /><br />The campus was a lively place and students displayed their innovativeness and creativity in myriad ways. The notice-board itself with smart slogans, witty sayings, good-humoured jokes, drawings and paintings was a case in point. A more convincing and eloquent proof was The Daily Utah Chronicle, a campus Newsletter.<br /><br />It won’t be wrong to say that the University became my sole universe as long as my student days lasted and the campus was all that I was able to see during those 10 months. But the intellectual stimulus it offered me has proved invaluable all along. I shall forever cherish this most rewarding (even if most challenging) experience in a city that became a home away from home for me.</p>
