College Student to Trainee Journalist

The past one month has been a nerve-racking, head-scratching, mind boggling experience. I have never had to re-orient myself so quickly. It has been a great paradigm shift, as only a few months back (4 to be precise) I was a Degree student attempting my level best to pass my 'FINAL YEAR', and now I've jumped into a completely different world. If you are someone who has been brought up in Bangalore,chances are, your trip to IIJNM is going to be quite something.
Firstly, I have never studied in an Institution so completely dominated by people from all over India- except Bangalore- barely an hours drive from the very city! The amazing thing about being surrounded by people so unaccustomed to the surroundings you grew up in, is that they are completely amused by things you find so mundane, things you never notice as 'odd' or 'different'. It gives you a chance to completely re-examine your mannerisms, your thinking, even your food! I believe it took me at least ten minutes to try and explain to a friend, that it is possible to have a ladies-finger curry and that the vegetables did not fall in there by mistake.
Another thing I highly value about the culture here at IIJNM is that, overnight, I have gone from being 'spoon-fed-student' to 'working adult'. The faculty really aren't kidding around with that little Trainee Journalist badge they give you, and you will learn that pretty quickly. Just you try to bunk a class saying you feel "unwell", or doze of in one of your lectures, you'll see. The funny thing is, once people start taking you seriously and expect you to be responsible, and to "GROW UP" - you just do. Well, I can honestly say that I've tried.
Hopefully as days go by all these crazy deadlines, late nights and countless assignments become a part of my daily routine, as the long walks, ginger tea and the absolute madness of this place have already. So much so that I just don't notice them anymore.