Home Sweet Home...

It was a beautiful experience for me.........the drive from the airport.A feeling which would never come again.I wished I could hold on it for a long long time!But by then,the law of averages or the passage of time,whatever you may call caught up with me and I had to resign to the thought of releasing myself from the feelings I was trying to cling on..'cos I wasnt able to appreciate or acknowledge the things that you would associate with the USA.I was seeing the tall buidings,the beautiful roads,the clean air,the high quality of life but what I was missing or probably my mind was blocking was the fact that every two minutes I had a police patrol car hauling someone up,fire-brigades branding their horns all the while as if its a state of war!I did feel a bit uneasy with so many officials around but then somewhere it does give a sense of security too I guess!

The lane I entered in was a beautiful one with lots of close trees both sides of the road,imparting a heavenly shade all the while and the sound of the birds chirping with the squirrles running everywhere made me feel as if I am in the middle of some country side town!Then I got the keys,and walked into the apartment on the third floor.By the way,in my country the ground level is called the first level here and so on...what that meant for me was that I landed up on the fourth level here assuming it was the third one as my morms way back home!And where did I land up?I landed up at the terrace!

Anyways,I reached my new home.I was to stay at an apartment which was given to me by a lady who happened to be fortunately going out of town for the exact days I was supposed to stay..guess what?I had never seen her,and neither had she!But thats a price and the trust u place in ur fellow countrymen in the audacities of unknown places and the like...And it was for free!

I entered the corridor wih my luggage and the silence of the corridir hit me.My room was at the end of the corridor and walking as I was with my baggage,the only thing I could hear were the sounds of me pulling my baggage and the creaking sounds of the wooden flooring.No one came out to check n unlike in my country when everyone comes to see you if you are new to place to help you settle in and help with the process of moving in.But nothing of that sort happened here and I got the feeling that it would not happen either!

I entered my apartment.It was a very clean one and fully furnished...everything neat and in place,fully A/C,a nice cosy bed,a microwave,a four lite stove,a fridge,wooded flooring,a TV which did not work that well,a big sofa and nice closet.The best part was the bathroom...neat and clean with a huge bath tub! I felt like surrendering myself to a nice bubble bath but I had things to do first.. ;-)

I did not eat anything at all that day as my excitement just filled me so much!In a sense,I was feeling so many emotions at the same time-happiness for coming here,sad for having left everything I had behind,a bit anxious as I did not know anybody close enough,a bit unsure if I was doing the right thing for my future and deep down there a burning desire to carry on the fight that I have been carrying on even if my efforts did not exactly bear the fruits I had expected them to..And a feeling of being responsible,accountable and answerable to myself and those who cared for me...Then I thought,I was all alone in this fight and struggle and people will come only when I make a name for myself.Thats what I have come here for...

I never have and never will give up....

I sleep off..

From The Airport..

I landed at the Airport with a certain sense of elation,a sense of over-zealessness...I was becoming excited for no real reason!But I did not want to hold on this feeling inside myself and cover it up with a mature face that everyone puts up now-a-days!So,I was smiling for no reason all the while...

I was one of the first to get off the plane hoping to get an inch of extra space in my memory!But when I took ground,I said to myself,The air we breathe is the same,the people are the same,then why the hell do we keep fighting for gaining supremacy for no reason when everyone is going to need just the same 7 ft by 2 feet space when they die?I shall look for these answers but havent come to any still!

Anyways,I dont want to dampen my excitement with my philosophical satire...
I went to the immigration counter and it was absolute chaos in there.There were around 30 counters and everybody lined up there for their check-ins.Even though I was one of the first to check in there,I ended up almost last due to some mis-communications.Then,I went to the luggage retrieval counter.I had heard so many stories about luggage being lost and things like that,but I was so pleased when I saw mine!! :)

I had a lot of luggage,around 90 -100 lbs (including hand bags).I was in a mess pulling all of them together.Imagine 4 bags and having to pull it all alone!Sweating and panting,I saw my savior....A trolley!!I went and pulled the trolley out,but it refused to budge!I tried to push it gently,coax it,pull it and whatever I could do!But, I could not move it..Then I looked up towards the sky and thought,why me?Thats when,the light shone and I looked at the placard atop the trolley counter - 4 dollars only!!!I thought,my country is much better,I get trolleys for free..But then I realised,this is USA...nothing is for free...

I was coming with a lot of baggage and responsibility from my family and under really painful financial circumstances.I did not want to start spending on this...suddenly,the trolley felt like a luxury to have..I abadoned the idea and started on foot,making a sorry picture to everyone around.But,no one offered to help..I did not care.I was quite obvious and conscpicous and hence was hauled up a couple of times asked some routine questions.They were very polite and welcomed me to USA.Due to all this,I took a long time to come out and then my heart really went out to the fact that how would it be to come here for the first time and no one is at the airport to see you...:( Its a real bad feeling 'cos you dont know anyone.Fortunately for me,I had my friend's colleague to pick me up.I had never seen him or knew him,neither did he.But,I guess thats the way things work when u land up in a foreign country.You still root for ur own origins atleast when u have to start off.And I believe thats the case with all the people.

So,I finally saw my friend and took off with him and then as I moved out from the Airport,my innocence was put to shame and I got one of the biggest shock of my life!!I was standing right in front of the Freeway and I saw cars zooming in at more than 100 miles per hour!!Though I was from a big city,I was not used to this kind of pace!Traffic there moved at snail's pace all the time with so many potholes and bad traffic rules.But here,everything seemed so fast..The only option if u met with an accident here would be death!!My friend said this is is the way we have to take!I was scared a bit but guess I had no choice....So we hopped on to a cab and took off to some place where I was going to stay...

I carry on... :)

At Last I Fly...!!!

Well,
I have been dreaming of setting foot on a plane since I was a child and I was thrilled at the thought of finally getting in one!
My visa was approved and all I could think of is flying and sitting in the seat overlooking the miniature lands and amidst skies!I could feel the jitters inside me whenever I thought about that...It was a great feeling similar to what maybe I must have felt when my dad promised me I would get a bicycle if I topped my school and then I did!So much that I forgot at times the main main purpose of me flying was something else and not the time I spend in the plane!! :)

I have always been an avid lover of travelling since childhood.I love to take the longest possible route by bus or train whenever I have gone anywhere far from my house.So U can imagine the excitement I must be having with regards to this trip! :)

I left India in a mess,as is common with all first time travellers I think!After an emotional send off by my family (which is a universal thing with all Indian Send-offs),I checked in the airport and after a long long wait I finally made it to the plane.I was disappointed at not having a chance to see the plane from outside as I had to walk directly into the plane plus it was a night flight.. :(

I was talking to my girlfriend in US all the time and we both were so happy that I was coming finally!Then,when I sat in the plane,I wasnt quite happy with the way everyone was seated as it looked like a fish market with everyone cramped up like a crowded bus!Nevertheless,my spirit did not get dampened!

The take-off was the worst part....an uneasy feeling running down to my tummy and then the moment I turned around anywhere,the feeling of dizzinesss.....I could not sleep at all in the flight though I could not see anything outside..so I kept calling in the air-hostess and eventually landed up talking to her for quite sometime!The first half was quite short as I landed up ayt Frankfurt Airport early morning.....for a long long long wait.....6 hours!

The airport was so crowded..I was pleasantly surprised too see so many people hanging around in the airport!The Mumbai Airport was deserted in comparision!I spent my time checking all the duty free shops,checking all the gizmos that i had only seen in big showrooms in my place...I found the people so warm and polite all the while...

My flight from Franfurt was delayed by around an hour so it got a bit more boring all the while...by this time,I knew the Frankfurt Airport in and out!
But I was bored..........................with having to wait so long!

Finally,I got in the flight from Frankfurt...A pretty long one...17 hours!My back started aching but I ddnt care much about that!There were a bunch of teenage girls giggling all the while so I had a good reason to keep awake and listen to them all the while!The only blemmish during the whole trip was when I dozed off for a while only to find out a sandwich on my table..I assumed that they must have kept it for everyone,so munched it on.The first bite and I realised.Man,somethings not good about this one....and it turned out that it was a beef sandwich..I called up the flight attendging and sked for a vegetarian sandwich..He said that may not be possible as I had already placed my order!I insisted I hadnt..but I did not think arguing would make any sense...I was very hungry.No breakfast,no lunch and now no sandwich too!As luck would have it,the attendant did get me a sandwich...I was so happy!

I had some red wine and some white wine too on the way.Really liked the white wine...

Wellthen we were denied entry to Philadelphia for sometime as there was air-traffic.I though gosh!!how much more do i have to wait!!I was getting restless!

Finally,I did land at Philadelphia Int'l Airport......

The joy was enormous....the feeling overwhelming...the satisfaction amazing...


Rest is on my next post :-)