Flashback
From the very start of my second year in university, a quiet aspiration nestled in my heart – to participate in the summer school program at Ben Gurion University (BGU). Year after year, I watched my seniors embark on this exciting journey, especially after seeing some good pics in abhijit ettan’s iPad, creating a sense of allure that I couldn’t ignore.
When Abhijit etta and I were discussing his BGU journey… Cjunior took a video of Vipin sir catching Season Etta dancing! Lmao, that was hilarious.
However, as time passed, reality set in. Most of my friends, just like me, had to decline the offer to join the program, and I didn’t even get a scholarship at that time. The reasons varied from time constraints to financial limitations. Without my friends, the enthusiasm for the program began to wane. Yet, life is unpredictable, and it decided to throw numerous twists and turns my way.
Life took me through ups and downs, causing me pain and turmoil. Negative thoughts found their way into my mind, hinting that a break was necessary. Sometimes, life’s challenges become a clear sign to pause and reassess. I could sence a couple of options which presented themselves in front of me, offering the chance to take a break for a while. Unexpectedly, a scholarship from BGU arrived, a glimmer of hope. However, the financial aspects of travel and accommodation, etc. still loomed.
As the saying goes, blood is thicker than water. My support came from my mother, who stood by me during this period. Her encouragement and backing were invaluable. While I’ve never been one to believe in the supernatural, I’ve always believed in the power of time. A freelancing job popped up from nowhere, aligning perfectly with my schedule and helping me comprehend the managerial part of my career. This also provided the financial means I needed for my plans. With all these events shaping my path, I made the resolute decision to attend BGU’s summer school program. The process involved applying for a visa, and much to my delight, I received it sooner than anticipated.
New Chapter
The awaited day, July 6th, 2023, arrived. With a flight to Delhi at 6:10 in the morning, I found myself at the airport by 3:00 am. My dream of heading to BGU with friends took an unexpected turn as I ended up with a diverse group of two random duo with whom I never talked for more than 30 mins altogether. Quite intresting. A sudden twist occurred as Shashank Bhaiya appeared out of nowhere in Delhi. Learning he was also bound for BGU felt like a lifeline – finally, someone familiar with the paths and adventures which is yet to come haha.
By nightfall, we touched down in Tel Aviv, Israel. We took a train from the airport to hahagana station, only to discover no direct train to Beer Sheba. Undeterred, we decided on a bus, lacking both tickets and a rav-kav card. To our luck, the bus driver’s kindness prevailed as he took us over 60 km to Beer Sheba for free.
Upon arriving at the Dalet dorm, I was assigned a room in building 22, entrance 3, room 155. Sharing the space with two friendly Israeli students, I couldn’t help but wish for Indian roommates, yet I was eager for the journey ahead. The two roommates, both introverts, extended their kindness and offered assistance, I was glad. In addition, Pav and Amr cooked meals for me during our time in Israel, and I’m incredibly grateful for their efforts.
The following day, the four of us set out to explore Beer Sheba. After a stroll, we decided to eat falafel. I ordered a chicken schnitzel, believing it was 20 ILS, only to realize later that it was a full meal for 40 ILS. Regrettably, I had to leave a large portion uneaten as packing it wasn’t an option, and for the first day out I lost 20 shekels, funs. After shopping, we returned to the dorms, continuing our exploration. Over the next couple of days, we continued exploring Beer Sheba, covering quite a distance of around 20+ km(?), I suppose. Our explorations took us to various spots, particularly the shaddy corners xD and alot of parks – for the two kids especially who was with me. Among these places, the Quarry Park has a special memory in my heart, not just me, for all three of us I would say.
July 9th marked our first introductory session, where I had the chance to meet the rest of the group, including Adva – our head counselor, and a truly diverse array of individuals from various corners of the world. Collaborating and working with this international mix was a fascinating experience. The evening brought a social gathering at the bar, a chance to mingle. Despite being a teetotaler, I sat there with a bottle of Pepsi, immersing myself in the talks.
July 11, My birthday. I’m usually not one for birthday celebrations, but the heartfelt wishes and a handwritten birthday gift from my companions were enough to make me feel cherished. To top it off, a surprise awaited me – my favorite frozen yogurt from Golda. Shashank Bhaiya, Pavithra, and Amrutha orchestrated this midnight surprise, making my birthday all the more special.
And yes, coming to the university, The campus itself was a realm of wonders, boasting open gyms, expansive libraries, charming cafes, feline companions, vast lawns, and artistic architecture adorned with statues. Everywhere I turned, I was met with a new spectacle that left me awestruck.
One particular evening, the sunset cast its golden hue upon the “Negev Brigade” monument, creating a captivating scene. This monument stands as a tribute to the heroic actions of the Negev Brigade during Israel’s War of Independence. Its significance resonated deeply as the sun’s rays painted the sky in hues of orange and pink. In this breathtaking setting, our entire team gathered to capture the moment with photographs. The blend of the fading sun and the monument’s history made for a poignant memory.
We then had a food tasting journey later-on, exploring the flavors of Ringelblum’s local cuisines. Leading the group was a confident and attractive young woman named Tamaray, who shared that her name was derived from the Indian word “tamara” signifying lotus. Accompanying her was a friend, Sophiya?, for whom I briefly developed an interest before letting it go with a laugh. Tamaray guided us through a discreet entrance at the back of the university, leading us down a street that opened up to a food alley, where a falafel shop stood at one end. Tamaray explained how Abraham had once camped beneath a tree in this area, which now bears the name “Abraham tree”. Then we tried samples of various dishes like chicken schnitzel (this time I made sure to finish it lmao!), falafel balls, and even Indian samosas (Trust me, Indian dishes are quite expensive there hmm). There was also beer on the menu, but I wasn’t a fan, so I gave it over to Ronald, savior haha. Later that evening, we gathered at Bob and Li’s apartment for a cozy Chinese tea party. They brewed traditional Chinese tea and soybean milk for us. The highlight was a cross-country song we sang with Issac, Li, Bob, Pavithra, and Amrutha. The evening was filled with laughter that encapsulated our time together.
Jerusalem
Since arriving in Beer Sheba, a trip to Jerusalem had been on our minds. Finally, after two weeks of planning, we seized the opportunity. Given that Shabbat meant no public transportation, we decided to set off on Thursday evening. The journey of around 1.5 to 2 hours gave me a chance to tune into my playlist and enter a state of deep zen – a state of mind that later led to a newfound level of enlightenment, but that’s a story for another time.
Upon reaching our Airbnb, I was struck by how amazing it was – a perfect base for our Jerusalem adventure. The next day was all about exploring the city. We visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where I had the experience of praying where Jesus was believed to have been buried. The Tower of David was another notable spot on our list, and of course, we indulged in street food delights.
As evening descended, we headed to the Western Wall. It was the end of Shabbat, and the atmosphere was electric as Jews celebrated in a grand manner. Witnessing this made me think that every country and religion should have a weekly tradition like this to uplift spirits after a challenging week. We continued our journey along Via Dolorosa, retracing the path Jesus took after his crucifixion.
The following day turned into a marathon of exploration. I’m quite certain I could navigate Jerusalem blindfolded by now, given how many times we’d walked its streets. Yet, it was a day filled with joy and discovery.
Upon returning, projects awaited us. These projects marked a turning point in my perspective on AI and machine learning, igniting a genuine fascination and love for the field. The experience sparked a transformation in my outlook and set me on a path of deeper technical understanding and exploration.
Tel Aviv
The day after returning from Jerusalem, we felt an impulse to catch the sunset, and not just any sunset, but from Tel Aviv. So, the three mad people decided to act on that urge. We rushed to the beach and although the sun had already dipped, we soaked in the beach vibe for a while. Turns out, spontaneous decisions can really turn out great!
Since it was nightfall, we indulged in some frozen yogurt from Golda and hopped on a bus back to Beer Sheba. It was an unexpected adventure that perfectly captured the essence of our journey – a mix of fun, spontaneity, and a touch of serendipity.
Dead sea
Our next adventure was a university-organized trip to Ein Gedi and the Dead Sea. Our first stop was at Ein Gedi, a national park known for its fantastic trekking trails. It involved quite a bit of walking, leading us to a couple of beautiful waterfalls. I vividly recall standing beneath one of the waterfalls – an unforgettable experience that easily ranks among the best moments of the trip.
After that we took some chips and coffee slushy from neighboring shop and went to dead sea. Finally, we went to the Dead Sea. I remember trying to go in as much as i can since this could be my first and last time getting into the dead sea, No one might see dead sea after couple of years, so if you want to see Dead sea, chop chop, book your tickets.. It was too hot out there tho, about 47 degree. I remember we had some good conversation with a guy called “guy”, who was our guide. That day turned out to be one of the most remarkable days of my life. Upon returning to the dorms, I received a call that had the potential to steer my career towards a much brighter direction, again story for another time.
Last week in Israel - Eilat
With the adventures winding down, the focus shifted to project submissions – a mix of hard work (or maybe not quite) in fine-tuning models for maximum accuracy. A presentation loomed, and we were a bit unsure at first. Luckily, the deadline got pushed, and we only needed to share our research ideas. I was excited as it involved malware research, something I love. My experience with ML models in the course made me happy too.
Fast forward to August 1, 6:00 PM, guess what? We hadn’t even started preparing! Our trio already had plans for a day trip to Eilat the next day. btw Eilat is the southernmost city in Israel, by the stunning Red Sea.
Navigating buses, we eventually reached Eilat. The day was a mix of shopping and beach bliss. The highlight was seeing the sheer joy on Pavithra’s face as she swam – same with Amrutha, who was playfully dragged into the water and couldn’t help but revel in the fun. As for me, I seized the chance for some introspection and alone time. By evening, we were back in Beer Sheba, ending another memorable chapter.
Red teamer to Blue teamer
Life at BGU was a transformative experience, particularly within the university building with the malware lab profs. As a malware enthusiast, my focus on offensive aspects shifted to a deeper understanding of the defensive side, largely through exploring diverse machine learning models. This shift was a game-changer as I explored various ML models like Decision Trees, Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), and Support Vector Machines (SVM) to identify fraudulent job ads. Surprisingly, my prior aversion to ML dissolved as I delved into projects that reshaped my perspective. I tackled complex issues like imbalanced data and missing values in the dataset, using techniques to organize information and fine-tune the models. Later projects focused on detecting malware in DOCX and Windows executables. Here, my background in malware analysis gave me a unique edge—I could think like a malware while applying ML methods to recognize which static or dynamic features were vital for detection. These experiences propelled me to continue these projects even after BGU, leading to the creation of a Windows malware detection model with a detection rate of over 96+% of accuracy. BGU’s immersive environment and projects reshaped my academic and personal pursuits in ways I hadn’t anticipated.
(PS: Missing Nir sir in the pic)
And now, here I am, after the ICSML summer program, my passion for machine learning and AI has grown significantly. I’ve had the honor of having five of my research papers accepted at various international conferences. Four of these papers revolve around AI-ML, while one focuses on zero-click malware. It’s quite amusing how someone who initially wasn’t fond of AI-ML now spends most of their time delving into the offensive and defensive aspects of LLMs. This unexpected twist occurred when the world of malware research crossed paths with AI researchers, resulting in an interesting journey.
The Last Day
After our return from Eilat, emotions filled the midnight air as I realized I’d be leaving Israel the next day. With countless thoughts swirling, I popped in my AirPods, turned on my favorite playlist, and took a midnight walk. However, a sudden realization hit me at 3:30 am– I had a presentation at 9:30 AM the following morning. So, I hurried back to the dorm.
The next day, from the time I woke up I started singing “behne de” song, probably driving Pavi and Amr nuts. Even during the presentation, I couldn’t help but hum along to the tune. Anyways, presentation went pretty good, I was happy, profs were happy, all good. As evening arrived, the farewell ceremony took place. We captured fond memories in pictures, returned to the dorms, and got down to packing. Dana checked our rooms, and with that, the dorm life chapter concluded smoothly.
Joined by Pav, Amr, and Li, we headed to Tel Aviv for our departure. We got up with Elza from the train station as well. We reached the airport slightly late at around 8:15 PM, and our flight was scheduled for 10:15 PM. To add to our lateness, airport officials engaged us in conversations before check-in to ensure that we are not into any illegal bussiness. One by one, they conducted personal interviews and even asked about any gifts from Israelis or any other friends in our bags or not – a puzzling query.
Baggage checked, we proceeded to security check-in, encountering another hurdle. A security officer made us wait for 15-20 minutes, and they meticulously inspected our bags, even scanning our shoes and performing full-body scans. Amid the inspection, I recall a Palestinian guy trying to communicate with me, but the presence of Israeli soldiers kept me silent since he was too arrogant to the army soldiers. As the clock ticked, it was already 9:50 PM, and our flight was scheduled to depart at 10:15 PM – again funs.
However, here’s the twist – the flight actually waited for us! Our security check-in was completed in the next 10 minutes, and we literally sprinted to the gate, Indian-style, with all the emotions reflecting on our faces. Boarding the plane was a unique experience altogether.
Was that it? Pikture abhi baaki hai mere dost.
We touched down in India at 6:00 AM, greeted by an unexpected surprise – my check-in baggage was missing, I mean wow. Frustrated, I filed a complaint at Air India’s office. At that point, I wasn’t very hopeful about ever seeing my bag again. However, to my amazement, they managed to deliver my luggage to my home. Though they seemed to have tampered with my belongings under the guise of customs, I was relieved to have my bag back at least lol. And what? back to Amrita, back to collage routines…
Final Thoughts
Choosing to go to Israel was one of my best decisions ever. Despite my initial doubts, everything turned out great. I met some amazing people during this journey. There were Li, Ron, and Alex – we had great chats and enjoyed walks together, especially to the Quarry Park. Then there was Bob, our hyperactive friend who introduced us to Chinese tea and a game I still don’t quite understand, and I remember Aabha and I giving each other puzzled looks. Elsa was the top performer in our group, simple yet sweet. We had the Israeli gang – Ori, Millmead, and Tamir, who added their own unique perspective to our experiences. Isaac, with his tough exterior and cop-like behavior, surprised us with his kindness, even though his attempts at different accents were comical. Sab, Adi, and Larrecsa felt like big brother and sisters, to be honest. On the final day at the Dorm, the hug Larrecsa gave me held a special warmth and love, almost like a mother’s embrace. Nir, Vikram, Gill, and Itzik were some of the best mentors I’ve had from BGU. They sparked my passion for AI and ML. I hope to stay in touch with them no matter where I go or what I do.
I want to give a special shoutout to our counselors, Adva and Laila, who were with us every step of the way, guiding us on all our trips. Your support was greatly appreciated.
Some last words about Israelis. I still remember the initial days when I entered a shop run by a native Israeli, not knowing the language while I was doing Kathakali. He was very patient and excited to talk to us. I still recall the only English sentence they spoke to us: “Israel good, India good, together good”, that was an “aww” moment. They have this incredible way of making you feel at home. They’re super friendly and always eager to share their culture and stories. What struck me the most was how they celebrate differences and welcome you as part of their own community. Even as an Indian visiting their country, I felt so accepted and respected. The warmth and openness of the Israeli people are something I’ll always treasure.
And last but not least, a huge thank you to Pavi and Amr. They cooked for me, joined in our spontaneous adventures, explored shady places together late at night, and kept up with my fast walking pace. Here’s to more long walks together in the future! Cheers to the wonderful memories peeps.
