Saturday, 24th July 2004
My Journey to US
My Travel Itenary was as follows
Bangalore - Mumbai (Indian Airlines) 13:10 Wed Jul 21 2004 (Local Time)
Mumbai - Paris (Delta Airways) 01:55 Thu Jul 22 2004 (Local Time)
Paris - Philadelphia (US Airways) 13:40 Thu Jul 22 2004 (Local Time)
Philadelphia - Charlotte (US Airways) 17:30 Thu Jul 22 2004 (Local Time)
Charlotte - Colombus (US Airways) 20:05 Thu Jul 22 2004 (Local Time)
I left home at 11:45AM for the airport by City Taxi. The taxi was supposed to be there by 11:30 but it wasn't. On the way there was a huge traffic jam on Residency road. This is when we all were a bit tense about missing the flight to Mumbai. But we made it to the Airport at 12:35. I was to meet Megha at the Airport but as things turned out she too was struck in the traffic jam and by the time she got there i had already checked in. So i couldn't meet her. After hurriedly going thru security and baggage check (fumbling all the time) we find that the flight is 20-30 mts late. So much for hurring thru.
Finally they board passengers and its a relief to us. The flight was alright, lunch was measly and late. We arrived at Mumbai about an hour late. We then took a taxi to Gaurang Uncle's house in Juhu (Juhu Scheme).
At this point i still did not know my travel itenary, hadn't bought foreign exchange, needed to do some last minute shopping for my brother in law and sister at Mumbai and was to meet Shashank (Mayur and Meghas cousin). After Tea I called Shashank up and he said he would come over since he lived close by. Mom and Sujatha Aunty decided to go shopping. Dad was waiting for Gaurung Uncle to come home from work so that they could get the tickets and foreign exchange.
Shashank came there and we went to make a couple of calls. We then had ice-cream and milkshake at Naturals (A very nice ice-cream parlor which makes ice-creams from fresh fruits). We got back and then went hunting for Nylon rope to tie up the suitcases to prevent the suitcase from opening up, which we finally found at a Dept store. When we got back the tickets had come and mom and aunty were back from shopping. Now finally i get to see my travel itenary.
A little while later, the foriegn exchange guy comes and i buy the necessary travellers checks and cash. Mom is making double sure i keep them safely. After dinner (My last home-cooked meal in India for a while), i take a shower and shave (Me and mom were so paranoid i wasn't even going to be carrying a razor in my check in bags). We left there at 10:30 PM. I went in shashank's car and mom and dad in gaurang uncles car.
We got to the airport around 11. Remember this was my first international flight so i was nervous as crazy. In short there was an avalanche of emotions and i was right underneath. I went thru baggage check in and then came back to the waiting lounge where mummy and daddy were waiting. I stayed with them till 12:15 and then went on to Immigration. Here there was a long line and it was nearly 1'O Clock by the time i got thru.
The guy asks me "Kaha Ja Rahe ho, Bhai". I say"USA, Colombus Ohio". He says "Ok" and stamps my passport. I'm relieved that no complications. Then took the long walk down to the pre-departure lounge. Mumbai airport was really nice. It has these long chairs where u can sleep in which i think i real good. At this point of time i wasn't even thinking straight (actually i was barely thinking) and it was pure adrenalin which was keeping me goin. I waited patiently till they boarded me.
I got onto the flight and took the wrong seat before i realised my folly. I'm sitting next to a couple of kids (Unaccompanied) from Pune. The two of them (one is Nishanth) are among a group of students who are going to Washington to attend some conference on world leaders. I'm thinking 'lucky kids'. Suddenly i remember that i hadn't identified my bags before boarding. The airhostess assures me that i didn't have to. I sit back and try to relax, There was a delay of about 45 mts becoz a lady couldn't find her cabin bags and she wouldn't settle down (despite all the airhostesses trying to settle her down) till she finds it and is opening every overhead bin looking for it.
Finally they find it and the plane takes off. They serve dinner which is pretty good. I'm famished and gobble up every crumb. I saved a Kit-Kat bar for later (but it was stolen most prob by those kids next to me). I am barely finished with dinner when i'm dead tired and fall asleep without caring to watch the movie (A pretty decent movie which i would have watched in not for my fatigue).I wake up at 7:30 IST and use the on-board lavatory. Then i get back and pour over some of the flight magazines. One of them has the maps of all important Airports. Most of the airports i see look enormous and scary. Breakfast was served. Food on this airlines was pretty good.
Then they start a Hindi Movie 'Love In Nepal' starring Sonu Nigam. For want of better things to do i watch the movie. It was good time-pass. At the end of the movie itz time to land at Paris. I was not sitting in a Window seat so my idea of watching out for the Eiffel Tower went bust.I land at Paris Charles De Galle Airport around 8 AM local time. I take the airport shuttle alround the airport (must have been about 15 KM drive) to Terminal 1 where my next flight was to be. I ask a officer in the airport (who could barely speak english) where i had to go.
He tells me go to satellite 2 (like i'm supposed to know what satellite 2 is). (Typical French Accent, all the people i spoke to). I look around and see a sign which says satellite 2,3,4,.... . Apparently i'm in satellite 1. Then i get on the moving escalator/trolley and it find my way to satellite 2. I go thru security check. There are barely a handful of people there since it is was so early in the morning. The few airport officers there are chattering away in French (How i wished i knew some french). I go looking for the restroom but can't fnd it.
The funny part of this Paris airport is that the restrooms are not accessible from the lounges and you need to leave the lounge and go thru security check on reentry. I had to do this 5 times. I think of making phone calls home, when i realise i don't know how to. The instructions at the booth are all in french, I also realise i don't have the local currency (Duffard that i am , is still thinking about Francs is the local currency). So making phone calls is out of the question. I'm getting bugged sitting in the lounge (I have lots of time before my next flight nearly 5 hours) so i decide to walk around the airport.
So i take a stroll around the airport (wherever it was accessible to go). The shops are really stunning. I spend lots of time in a bookstore peeking into magazines. Considering that i had no money to buy anything, the bookstore was probably the best place to be. I also went around looking for a french restaurant to see what it would be like. By now i was feeling very hungry (The only thing i had was a Fruit Juice which i had saved from the flight and which tasted awful ). I'm thinking of the Kit-Kat bar that was stolen. I had no currency to buy anything. The prices at the cafe seemed too expensive so it was outta the question.
The US-Air counters are open and i go thru security screening (The usual set of questions .... Who packed ur bags, did u recieve any packages from anyone anywhere, did u buy anything at the airport, are u carrying any sharp items etc) and then check in.The lady at the counter takes my contact no (i give her my india contact no) and gives me my boarding pass. She then tells me that i have to claim my bags at Philadelphia and go thru customs at Philadelphia and check them in again. It was only at this point of time that i got to know i was flying thru Philadelphia on my way to Charlotte. I was all the while under the impression that i was flying direct to charlotte. This came as a big surprise to me.
But anywayz it wasn't going to make a difference to me.I give making a phone call more thought since i want to inform folks back home of the unexpected change in travel plans. I ask the lady at the security counter, how i am supposed to call. She says i need to buy a calling card. So i decide to go out and buy a calling card. I go to the foriegn exchange counter. I tell her i have only US dollars and i need to buy a calling card. She tells me that cards cost 10 or 20 euros and i need to convert dollars to euro before i can buy one. Itz only know that i realise euros are the local currency. I decide that 10-20 euros is to much and since i need to make atmost 2 calls, i decide against buying a card.
I go back to the lounge (once again thru security check) and stretch out on the seats and try to take a nap (in vain). I read the Tinkle book that Himanshu gave me and then the readers digest. Finally i get bugged and start walking around again. By now it was time to board the plane. If my earlier flight from Mumbai was 98% full of Indians, then on this flight i am the only indian (in fact the only asian looking guy). Half the plane is filled with students (of some People To People Student Ambassador Program). Now i have a window seat and strain to see the Eiffel tower that i so desperately wanted to see. But to no avail. I'm starving and lunch doesn't seem to be anywhere in the horizon. Finally it comes.
The airhostess asks me "Chicken or Pasta". I decide to play it safe and say "Chicken". I've heard food in the US is not to our taste but the food on the flights to US is like a "baptism by fire". The food was awful. If not for the fact that i was starving, i wouldn't have touched it with a 6 foot pole. By now i eat up everything not leaving a crumb behind (despite everything tasting like s*it). The previous flight (delta) gave out free head phones. But US Air charges 5 $ for a set. I didn't have a set and decided against buying one coz the movie "Hidalgo" didn't seem to enthuse me. I took a much needed nap. As we approaced Philadelphia, the airhostesses and stewards starting giving out Customs Declarations forms and I-94 Forms.
I redo the forms after messing up the first ones. We land and have to walk a long way to get to Immigration. I get into a queue of 4-5 ppl and await my turn. It finally comes. I'm all tensed up and drop my docs file as soon as i reach the counter. I pick it up. The guy asks for my ppt, the two forms (I-94,Customs) and my I-20. He looks up something on his computer. He takes a while and whilst he is straring at the screen my heart is pounding. I'm paranoid i'll get deported (despite not having done anything wrong) He then asks me for my index finger impressions and takes a pic with his webcam. He tells me "Your good to go". I smile, say thank you and proceed. I'm mighty relieved. I proceed to baggage claim.
I ask an officer as to how to locate the carousel on which my bags would come. He tells me to look at the screen. The screen has no number for my flight. I decide to look for fellow passengers. I see a few passengers i remember where in First Class. They are waiting. I also see a fairly long line at Customs. I think this could take a long time, i hope i don't miss my connecting flight. As i walk out of the rest room, i see one my suitcases right in front ( i recognised them easily becoz of the yello nylon rope which stands out). The other one comes in no time. I loaded them on to the trolley and move towards customs. To my surprise there is no queue at all. I go to the counter. The guy takes the customs forms, looks at it and says "Fine,go ahead".
Another relief, i was so careful in not packing anything metallic, i'm sure my suitcases would not even have beeped in a metal detector.
Now there is long winding line of people wanting to check in baggage to connecting flights. I go thru that and then walk about 2 miles to find the gate where i'm supposed to board my next plane. I check in at the counter. There is about 10 mts before boarding so i decide to call my sister. Finally i get to use the dimes and quarters that sujatha aunty gave me. i call up smi and tell her i'm in Philadelphia. She is surprised coz she also had no idea that i was flying via Philadelphia (the city of brotherly love). She asks me "Are u in US ?". Silly question. I tell her "yes" and that i'm thru Immigration and customs and that i will call on reaching charlotte. I then board the plane (full of americans). I had an aisle seat but a young lady asked me if i could switch places so that she could sit next to her daughter (a cute kid). I get a seat in the aisle right below the screen projector. By now i'm bugged with the initial US Airways welcome and safety message and also the stupid packet of pretzels that they give you on every flight. I take the pretzels (but don't eat it) and some coke. The flight wasn't for very long (thankfully) and there was no on-board movie. I get down at Charlotte International Airport at Gate 9. My next flight was to be at Gate 2 so i walk all the way there. The lady at the counter was plussed and ready to pull her hair out. She tells me that flight to Colombus hasn't got a gate yet and that i have to wait. I go to the restroom. Its jam packed. The presence of so many people and the absence of anything but toilet paper (no water) keeps me from using the toilet. I then hear an annoucement that flight to Colombus is boarding at gate 11 and it will be at 20:30 and not 20:05. So i walk all the way back to the place i came from. I have more time before they board so i walk around the stores in the Airport. Real classy stores and the airport is neatly carpeted (Real good). As usual i spend majority of time in the book store. I make a call to my sis and ask her to call up mom and dad. She says she has been trying but was trying the bangalore number not knowing both were still in Mumbai.
Then its time to board. I'm dead tired and am fast asleep even before the plane takes off. I'm at the absolute last seat of the plane (window seat). When i wake up its nearing landing time. As usual they give their stupid packet of pretzels and i ask for water this time (enough coke for a day). The couple (not related) next to me are chattering away. I'm straining to look out of the window and i see Colombus (at night) and all the beautiful lights n all. We finally land . It is about 10 '0 Clock local time. I'm a bit tensed as to whether my baggage would have reached alright and that i did all the required things. Since i am at the absolute end of the plane i am the last person to get off. I get off and use the restroom at the Airport. I move down towards the baggage claim and am pleasently surprised to see Amar bhaiyya and Smi. They are waiting there anxious that all passengers had come and i was nowhere to be seen. Its a huge relief to see them. Finally my trip was over and i feel safe. We collect my baggage (which has come thankfully) and take the elevator down/up to the parking and drive off in Amar bhaiyyas car. We reach home at about 10:30. I recieve a call from my aunt and then call up mom and dad at Mumbai. The relief in the air is palpable. So thatz how my journey to the "Land of the Americas" went.
Posted by Nikhil on Saturday, 24th July 2004 in Life in General | Fun | Humour