It was a breezy Sunday evening. I
was getting prepared to go to my relative’s engagement. My ever smart daughter
sensed this within minutes and pestered to join me. The clouds appeared dark
and I could smell the sand. The symptoms of rain were clear, so I changed my
plans to take a sub urban train to reach the destination instead of taking my
bike.
My daughter was all excited to
travel in a sub urban train as it was a rarity to her. The moment we boarded the
train, she rushed to a window seat. The wind gushed through her face and she
was curiously observing every passing object. I allowed her to get sunk in the
heavenly moment which gave me a breather from the barrage of questions which
she normally posts at me.
As we entered the first station her curiosity meter started
ticking. We had the below conversation:
My Kid : Dad , What does MSL stands for?
Me : (Confused with her question) Where did you saw that?
My Kid : I saw that in the name board of the station?
Me : (I was commuting in the same route to my office for the
past 4 years and never noticed it. Still I managed to answer her) Baby, that
should be the initials of the person who painted the name board.
(I had the satisfaction of answering her question. As we
spoke the next station came in)
My Kid : Dad, Even this stations name board was painted by
the same person?
Me : Why did you ask that?
My Kid : Even here it was mentioned as MSL and against it
some numbers were written.
Me : Yes, it was painted by the same artist.
(Few stations passed by)
My Kid : (She was not convinced with my answer). Dad, still
I could see the same MSL in all name boards. Whether the same artist paints all
name boards?
(This raised doubts within me and I had a guilty feeling that I dint answer her properly)
Me : Let us watch together in the next station
(As the next approached, I did so. I noticed MSL in
the bottom of the name board and against which some numbers were written. I
immediately googled it)
 |
| Courtesy : en.wikipedia.org |
MSL stands for Mean Sea Level (Average sea level). This
means it is the average level for one or more of Earth’s oceans from which
heights such as elevations are measured. The number against MSL denotes the
height/elevation of the station from the Mean Sea Level. On further research, I identified the station name board has this displayed on it, to notify the
common public the height of the place from the sea level. This can go as a
reference to tourist in travel brochures to indicate the height of the place
from the sea level. MSL is also used in aviation and marine navigation.
It was a new learning to me because of my kid’s curiosity. I
have been travelling in the same route for the past 4 years and never
noticed\bothered about it. It was good to know information which I shared with
my kid later. I laughed to myself when I recalled the answer which I first gave
to my daughter.
Never stop your kid’s curiosity. Many a times
their questions will be valid. We may either don’t have an answer or don’t want
to answer
No comments:
Post a Comment