Memories of 2014

Memories from 2014

Life is quite uncertain. We can never predict what is going to happen. Circumstances change us as well. But we cannot really see the change in ourselves until we compare it with the past. 2014 has passed, seems like yesterday. Today I am trying to document some of the stories from 2014, that I can look back after many years and see how much changes, I have been through. I tried my best to keep a fair balance between staying in touch with all the people I know and meeting new people. I am really thankful to all the people who were there during 2014 and shaped my memories. I want to write a lot of stuff, but since it is public so I am writing carefully and will try to make it interesting for the readers. Let’s do it on monthly basis

January 2014:

I started 2014 while at work. I did have some plans for the year, some things happened according to the plans and something happened not according to them ….

This is 2014 firework picture in the background. I have celebrated new year eve 2015 in the same city.

January was full of traveling. On 2^nd January I went to Istanbul, Turkey. It was an amazing trip. 

Then I went to Karachi, Pakistan, met my niece for the first time after her birth. After that I flew to Lahore, Pakistan and attending the wedding of my cousin. At the wedding I met a lot of relatives after so many years. After Lahore, I went to Lalian, Sargodha and then back to Karachi, Pakistan. The love and hospitality I got was amazing.

After staying a few days in Karachi, I went for traveling in Sindh province. I went to Mehrabpur, Ghotki and Gambat. Met many of my relatives and then came back to Karachi again. From Karachi, I came back to Borås, Sweden. Just after arrival in Sweden I received an interview call from Rolls Royce for the graduate program.

As planned I travelled from Borås, Sweden to Trondheim, Norway. After a couple of days there I travelled to Ålesund for the interview at Rolls Royce. And then came back to Trondheim, Norway.

February:

During February I got back to student life at NTNU, Trondheim. The winters Olympics were in progress, many people were busy watching them everywhere. I started writing my thesis. Attended some job fairs, theater, more parties, TEDx Trondheim event and met many nice people.

On14th February we went for a Ski trip to Oppdal, Norway with Msc. Project Management students. It was one of the best trips; I really remember it until now. I saw northern lights as well. The best thing about February was that I joined the gym.

March:

March started with some awesome cricket matches in Asia cup. Pakistan won two very close matches, I was really happy. There was a workshop and concert with DNV GL in January. There were again a lot of events, dinners and parties. The best one was the last party with UKA gang.

I did curling for the first time. It was really great. Did a case study with Shell. Wrote a lot of job applications and continued writing my thesis. Continued my Norwegian language course as well. The month ended with the cricket world cup.

April:

On the first April I did Skiing for the first time. I fell down so many times; I think it was the first day after my childhood when I fell so many times. After that we had pillow fight in the city center. The days were long. The social life was awesome as usual. I lost my phone. I went on some trips as well. We went to visit Roros, Norway and in the end of the month I visited three cities in Netherlands. In Netherlands it was happening; one of the biggest festivals called the king’s day. I spent king’s night at The Hague city, kings day at Amsterdam and then I went to Enschede, Netherlands. It was an amazing dutch experience. 

May:

May was an awesome month. I travelled to northern Norway. Saw the amazing lofoten islands.

This is a picture at 12AM at a beach in Lofoten. It did not get dark at all.

After the trip to lofoten the most amazing day arrived. It was national day of Norway. People were dressed so nicely. Everyone was out that day. I always recommend all of my friends, if they want to visit Norway, they should at least be there on 17^th May.

After the national day, I attended the graduation dinner with my Msc. Project Management class at NTNU on May 22^nd. And then it was the time to say good bye.

The chapter of Norwegian student life was finally closed after the graduation. The very next day I moved back to Borås, Sweden. The days were warm and sunny. I joined my job again and kept working on my thesis.

June:

The month of June started with the thesis presentations of my International Project management class. I met my class fellows after a long time. I travelled with some friends to south of Norway again.

This is the picture from Porsgrunn, Norway.

The weather was nice, so we were often going for swimming. On weekends we were going to Gothenburg. There was a nice international food market in Borås. We went to varberg, Sweden for a couple of times and some of my friends from NTNU visited me in Borås. The month ended with a great relief and accomplishment of my Masters thesis.

July:

In July the football world cup was in progress. So we were normally going out to watch the football. During July nothing great happened. There was not much to do at work either. We were going to lakes for swimming. And were also visiting the cities nearby. In the end of July a friend of mine visited from Abu Dhabi. 

August:

August was full of concerts. It started with a live performance of Snoop dog. Than it came the way out west festival in Gothenburg and then we attended a concert with Otto Knows. There was a nice Gothenburg cultural festival as well. Later the way out west festival 2014.

A picture from Icona pop concert at Way out west 2014

 I ate Pakistani mangoes. I was mentor for two students at University of Borås and 13 students at Chalmers university of Technology. So I also hang out with my mentees in August. I attended a lot of events for welcoming them. So I spent a lot of time at Gothenburg during August.

A picture from welcome activities in Gothenburg for new students at Chalmers University.

 I casted my first ever vote in an election.  In the end of august I was fully beard for the first time in my life. I was selected as an ambassador of Isfit 2015.

September:

September was special because I received the result of my master’s thesis and I started Chinese language course at Chalmers. Met some really nice Chinese people in Borås and Gothenburg as well.  The rest it was busy at work, so it was kind of a usual working month.

October:

After a busy September I went to Pakistan on holidays. October was great. It was warm in Pakistan. I spent Eid with my family. Met most of the relatives, spent a lot of time with my niece. She started crawling at that time.

This is a picture of us hanging out J

 Met again with my friends and discussed about the great old times. Things have changed a lot. Attended a lot dinners with family and friends. I still miss all the hospitality and great food from Pakistan.

After I returned from Pakistan to Sweden, me and my friend Majid went to Hungary and Austria. It was also one of the best trips ever. Our hosts treated us really amazing.

This is a picture of us at hearos square Budapest.

November:

The November started with the Halloween. Chinese language course was there. I was applying for jobs as well on regular basis. There were interviews going on as well. And the workload was also very high. Something like managing in between was going on. I was elected as a council member of Swedish Engineers association.

I went for an interview in Kristiansand, Norway. On my way I stayed in Oslo. I met some of my friends. It was a great get together. I am very thankful for their hospitality.

This is a picture from the city center of Kristiansand.

In the end my residence permit expired and I applied for a new visa. It was also a lot of work to do for that. I attended some nice lunches and dinner during November. In the end of the month Christmas dinners started.  

December:

The month of December was great in start when I received my master’s degree. I finished my Chinese language course at Chalmers university. Two people from NTNU and one person from Pakistan received noble prizes. But a tragic incident occurred in Peshawar. It was really sad and I have no words to express my feelings.

I travelled to Fagesta for another interview. And I also sent many applications during the month of December. The Christmas dinners were over and we had a personalfest. That was a memorable event.

This is a picture from New Year’s Eve.

The 2014 has departed and 2015 has started. There are so many things that I want to remember from this year and use the lessons learnt for a better 2015. I wish a really awesome 2015 to everyone.