A Stroll Down Memory Lane: OU

                                                                                            Norman, OK
                                                                                November 11, 2016

For the last few years, my buddy Santosh and I had been talking about visiting OU (The University of Oklahoma at Norman), our Alma mater. The plan had been to visit the campus, hang out at our usual locations, meet the professors and watch an OU football game. Recently, we pulled the trigger on that plan!!! Though it was early November, we had sunny skies and the weather turned out to be just perfect and warm. It felt so good going back to the place that educated us, meeting and thanking our favorite Computer Science Professor and reminiscing about all the things we did good/bad,  while at OU :)

We pulled over at Parrington Oval, off W. Boyd St.,  and walked in to the visitor center to find out where to park. When I showed my old OU Student ID, the lady helping us was so happy that we are visiting after so many years. She showed us where to park free and gave tips on parking for the Football game the following day.

Student Union, where we used to have our lunch, coffee, buy stationery, make copies of text books!!! and hangout in between classes.

Beautiful and luxurious study area in the Student Union.

Bizzell Library. There are more trees now or the trees have grown taller.

Bizzell Library

The beautiful and ornamental facade of the Bizzell Library with gargoyles!

Inside  Bizzell Library. As a Grad student, I used to have my own private study room with key access!

Good old Sooner Trolley; still running!

Of course, we went for a free ride for 15 minutes! :)

Physics Department, where I had my Research Assistant job, paying me $500 per month with a tuition waiver.
Unfortunately, Dr. George Kalbfleisch who gave me the RA job had passed away in 2006.

The High Energy Physics labs where I used to work 20 hours/week as a Research Assistant.

Carson Engineering Center, where we had our classes and labs.

Inside Carson.

Davon Energy Hall. A brand new and modern Computer Science building has popped up next to Carson.
This is where the CS professors have their offices now. Our CS Professor told us that OU is staring a
Bio Medical Engineering program and new building is going to be built right across from Davon Energy Hall.

Engineering Library, right across from Carson.

Felgar Hall, where CS professors had their offices at the first floor.

It was time for lunch and we ended up at my favorite, Greek House, off campus at S. Jenkins Ave.
I Used to visit this place often. A nice family run place with authentic Greek food.

Nothing much has changed at all (:-P...

Lindsey St. & Van Vleet Oval. Towards the left is Dale Hall. Dale Hall is completely covered by tress in the front and I couldn't get a clear shot.

View from Lindsey St. The Gaylord Hall building is brand new.

From Lindsey St., walking towards Bizzell Library. Architecture building (Gould Hall) on the right.

Adams Hall.

Price Hall.

Asp Ave. & Boyd St. The coffee shop named "Starbucks" was not there when we graduated :)

Jenkins Ave. & Brooks St. Towards the left is the OU Football Stadium.

E. Lindsey St & Classen Blvd.
Our apartments were on Sooner Drive, towards the right before reaching this signal.
Those apartments had been completely demolished and Sooner Drive is empty.

It is a very unique, refreshing, challenging and life-changing experience to study at an university in USA, especially after you have gone through the Indian education system. As international students on a student visa in a new country, at the farthest distance away from home, with practically living on Teaching/Research Assistant or hourly jobs, we were all trying to survive. There was so much going through your mind on top of demanding Graduate studies and working 20 hours/week. I believe this experience exposes one to the system and people from the bottom up and makes one resilient.  126 years after starting, OU is still growing and expanding. While we enjoyed the campus life as students, going back after all these years, the beauty of the OU campus is striking. Santosh and I loved every nano-second of our visit.