How I got exported to Japan!

It was quite a big surprise or say a shock for my family to know that I was going to Japan to study Japanese culture. They knew that I always wanted to do business management course. So what happened to my management dream? Well there is a story behind this.

I have always been fascinated by different cultures. But I had never thought in my wildest imagination that one day I would be pursuing it academically. My interest and fascination grew stronger once I met Ayuka through www.spotlitefriends.com.

Ayuka is my Japanese friend whom I met on this social networking site. Despite being from different backgrounds and cultures; we got along like a house on fire in our very first chat. It was quite strange. I guess it was because we both had similar interests- Vanessa Mae and Japanese culture. And also the fact that this wonderful networking website www.spotlitefriends.com provided us with a platform to discuss our favorite topics in forums, blogs, voice chats etc.

I got so fascinated by her stories and her culture that I decided to visit Japan to check out things first hand. I enjoyed there like anything and then I decided to study Japanese culture deeply. There goes away my plans to do MBA and I found myself seeking admission to do research on Japanese cultural leanings, and how it has dealt with change in circumstances and rapid economic growth over the years.

To tell you a secret, the more it changes, the more it remains the same. May be this is how the greatest cultures survive year after year, decade after decade, centuries after centuries. Give it a thought!

Social Networking Sites…From a Skeptic to an Addict

When I was in college, I was quite an odd one out among my friends. My friends were hooked to chatting endlessly on all kinds of dating sites, social portals and networking websites. However, I always found chatting with unknown people on the internet quite weird.

Since I spent most of my time reading or writing poetry, watching classic films or simply listening to some music, my friends used to call me a “bookworm. Well, whatever…I didn’t care much about what they called me or thought about me. I just couldn’t bring myself to talking to complete faceless voiceless strangers by peering into the monitor and punching the keyboard. For me social networking sites were a big no.

Finally, when one of my friends actually did succeed in dragging me into the chatting net, the experience was disastrous! I found most people hanging around such sites to find some dating partners, chatter needlessly and basically try to have some fun.

My purpose was different. I wanted to communicate with like-minded people with whom I could share views and discuss on deeper and meaningful issues, not start dating them!

Then one of my old school time friends told me about a site which was not like a regular networking site. I was skeptical first, but then I thought what the hell! And yo, was it a good experience. Trust me it was.

The site www.spotlitefriends.com had lots to offer. There was a separate poet’s corner (something I didn’t come across anywhere else) where I could upload poems or read and rate poems of other users. There I met lots of members who were as passionate about poetry as I was. I discussed with them about Dylan Thomas, Emily Dickinson, Robert Frost and many more.
I could connect with people whichever way I liked - by having discussions in forums, messaging, e-mailing, blogging or even voice chat. It’s hard to believe, but there was a time when I used to dislike chatting on net, but now I can chat for hours and hours.

To be very honest I feel I have got kinda addicted to chatting. If I don’t log on for one day, I feel I have missed out on something. Now I am also planning to write my own collection of poems.

Now I think fully loaded social networking sites can be a great places to hang out. Yes I, the skeptic, is saying this!