My flight was about to reach Abu Dhabi. It was four hours since I left India. The journey seemed exciting but a bit scary coz I was traveling all alone to the US for the first time. I opened up the window. I could see the morning twilight in the sky. It looked beautiful. It was around 6:30 AM local time. There were long bright lit roads below between the vast deserted land. Cars cruised at high speeds on them. This land looked so different. The environment looked so different. The texture of soil looked golden, perhaps because all these middle east countries sit on a desert.
In some time, my flight landed at Abu Dhabi International Airport. I de-boarded the aircraft and entered the terminal building. My next flight was after 3 hours. I switched on my phone and selected the mobile network - ETISALAT. This selection of mine instantly deducted Rs 150 from my balance as International Roaming Charges and I received a welcome message from Airtel along with Incoming and Outgoing rates. It read "Airtel in association with ETISALAT welcomes you to Abu Dhabi (UAE). The incoming rate is: Rs 150/min and outgoing is Rs 200/min. Roam with the leader." What a crappy joke. Only an idiot will enjoy roaming with such a leader. I was strolling inside the terminal building when I saw a banner "Free Internet Workstations". This gave me a sense of relief. I grabbed a workstation and opened my mailbox. I mailed my dear ones that I've safely reached Abu Dhabi and I'm all set to take my connecting flight.
It was time for my connecting flight to New York. This aircraft was much better than the previous one. It was a gigantic Boeing 767 compared to previous Airbus A320. Of course it had to be large, after all it was going to America. There were more than 15 cabin crew members to take care of all of us inside the aircraft. It flew on time and headed further towards the west. We were served food once, twice, thrice....endless times. Every thing tasted the same. I was badly missing my mom's food at this time. Every time the air-hostess offered me the same crappy food, I wanted to throw the same plate on her face. The journey of sixteen hours started taking toll on me. My body was aching from top to toe. But there was still many hours left. Occasional sleep helped me bear the pain of cramped space and leaving my homeland.
The announcement was made that our flight is about to enter United States airspace and each passenger is supposed to fill an immigration form. The air-hostesses distributed these forms to each one of us. I filled up my form. I opened the windows again. I could see land below. The plane had started its descent. I could see huge buildings, a perfect landscape with patches of white snow covering most of the land. This was the New York City. I was filled with awe to see all this. I couldn't believe that I was here, at the US. I was gratified but also a but terrified to see all this.
Our flight landed at JFK International Airport. It was perfectly on time. I wondered how come everything related to the US works so perfectly. Anyways I stepped out of the aircraft and entered the airport building. It was huge. Big banners of "Welcome to New York" were posted on the walls to welcome everyone. I headed towards the Immigration Counter. There was a long queue at every counter, but it was all well managed by Airport security. I waited for half n hour before my turn came. A tall lady at the counter window greeted me and asked me politely to show all the required documents. She verified all my documents along with my Visa and I20. She asked me the purpose and duration of my visit. After verifying everything to her satisfaction, she let me go.
Finally I was legally permitted to enter United States.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
The departure.....
I was sitting in my Jiju's car along with him, mom and dad. It was a cold Delhi night with fair chances of fog. I was praying to God that my flight departs Delhi, leave alone the big scary future lying ahead in front of me. For the first time, I understood the importance of CAT3 landing system installed at Delhi Airport. I was going to United States for my further studies. I never thought of going to US one year back. It all happened instantaneously. It felt so strange.
Our car was about to touch 100 Km/h at Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway and I could smell the familiar cold foggy air gushing inside, in-spite of closed windows. It was shivery and my feeling of trepidation added more chill into it. These Delhi roads seemed so familiar to me. It seemed as if I belonged here. Two years back in college, we used to stroll on these roads at night, returning from Gurgaon Malls,enjoying the beauty of Delhi at night. We had some sort of unsaid relation with these roads, buildings, the landscape. Smile came to my face as four years of my college life reverse-played in front of me. Within a matter of hours, I'll be far away from all this.
We finally reached Indira Gandhi International Airport Departure Terminal. I took out the luggage from the car. There were so many people from all over India, ready to leave their homeland in some time. Some had smiling faces, some had tensed smiles while others were too busy to provide any amenable expression. I kept all my luggage in carry-cart and waited my Jiju to come back from the parking bay. Mom Dad expressed their artificial smiles perfectly. I know what they'd be feeling at that time, but they kept their smiling faces upright and maintained the conversation with me.
Finally it was the time to bid Goodbye to Mom Dad and enter the terminal building. Mom Dad hugged me tightly and kissed me on my cheeks. I told them not to worry as I'll be back to India soon. I won't stay in US for sure. I carried my cart and joined the queue towards the entry gate. I turned back and saw Mom Dad leaving towards the waiting lounge. Suddenly Mom Dad turned back and saw me looking at them. They waved at me. I waved them back. My eyes got filled with tears but I didn't let them drop. I somehow controlled my emotions.
I entered the Terminal Building and did all the formalities. Baggage was checked-in and I obtained my boarding passes. My Jiju being an Air India employee was inside with me. I was constantly on phone with Mom Dad and was giving them updates about the nitty-gitties happening here. I finally bid goodbye to my Jiju and went to the waiting area. By the grace of CAT-III landing system, my flight was on time.
The announcement was made and my flight was ready to depart. I was sitting at left-corner seat in the middle deck of the aircraft. Drinks were being served, but my thoughts were deluged in memories of past. Memories of Mysore, Delhi, Lucknow, Pune. Memories about some of the most important people of my life. Suddenly my phone rang. It was "Dad calling...". I picked up the call. He was wishing me happy journey. Mom told me to take care of myself in the US. I was hardly able to talk. My voice was shaking but I kept myself in control. I finally switched off my phone. Within minutes, the flight took off the runway. My long journey to a strange alien land had commenced. I could see blistering city lights of Delhi from top. Slowly and gradually it all disappeared. My flight cruised swiftly towards the west, leaving behind all the rest.
Our car was about to touch 100 Km/h at Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway and I could smell the familiar cold foggy air gushing inside, in-spite of closed windows. It was shivery and my feeling of trepidation added more chill into it. These Delhi roads seemed so familiar to me. It seemed as if I belonged here. Two years back in college, we used to stroll on these roads at night, returning from Gurgaon Malls,enjoying the beauty of Delhi at night. We had some sort of unsaid relation with these roads, buildings, the landscape. Smile came to my face as four years of my college life reverse-played in front of me. Within a matter of hours, I'll be far away from all this.
We finally reached Indira Gandhi International Airport Departure Terminal. I took out the luggage from the car. There were so many people from all over India, ready to leave their homeland in some time. Some had smiling faces, some had tensed smiles while others were too busy to provide any amenable expression. I kept all my luggage in carry-cart and waited my Jiju to come back from the parking bay. Mom Dad expressed their artificial smiles perfectly. I know what they'd be feeling at that time, but they kept their smiling faces upright and maintained the conversation with me.
Finally it was the time to bid Goodbye to Mom Dad and enter the terminal building. Mom Dad hugged me tightly and kissed me on my cheeks. I told them not to worry as I'll be back to India soon. I won't stay in US for sure. I carried my cart and joined the queue towards the entry gate. I turned back and saw Mom Dad leaving towards the waiting lounge. Suddenly Mom Dad turned back and saw me looking at them. They waved at me. I waved them back. My eyes got filled with tears but I didn't let them drop. I somehow controlled my emotions.
I entered the Terminal Building and did all the formalities. Baggage was checked-in and I obtained my boarding passes. My Jiju being an Air India employee was inside with me. I was constantly on phone with Mom Dad and was giving them updates about the nitty-gitties happening here. I finally bid goodbye to my Jiju and went to the waiting area. By the grace of CAT-III landing system, my flight was on time.
The announcement was made and my flight was ready to depart. I was sitting at left-corner seat in the middle deck of the aircraft. Drinks were being served, but my thoughts were deluged in memories of past. Memories of Mysore, Delhi, Lucknow, Pune. Memories about some of the most important people of my life. Suddenly my phone rang. It was "Dad calling...". I picked up the call. He was wishing me happy journey. Mom told me to take care of myself in the US. I was hardly able to talk. My voice was shaking but I kept myself in control. I finally switched off my phone. Within minutes, the flight took off the runway. My long journey to a strange alien land had commenced. I could see blistering city lights of Delhi from top. Slowly and gradually it all disappeared. My flight cruised swiftly towards the west, leaving behind all the rest.
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