So I boarded the flight somewhere around midnight. I was feeling sleepy and excited at the same time. It was Delta Mumbai to Atlanta, approximately 15 hrs. It was my second international travel but was big. This journey was going to change my life upside down. Somewhere behind all these thoughts I was constantly thinking about my family. What they will be doing right now? Are they still crying are they asleep? During these thoughts I fell asleep. At that moment I didn’t realize a problem, which I avoided from then onward and still avoiding.. The Window seat! When I woke up we above the clouds somewhere over central Asia. It was a stunning view from window. I could see snowy peaks, thick woods. It was fantastic. I spent some 15 mins to see all this scene. When I got over the excitement I found myself at the window seat and three more passengers sitting right next to me. It was a terrible moment, I had to go to loo urgently. It took a warrior’s effort to wake all of those three passengers. I feel it embarrassing, when some people have to leave there seats and stand up in the isle just because you want to go out side and they will do it again when you come back to your seat. You may find nothing odd but I personally feel embarrassing. At that moment while in the washroom I made a vow, that I will never take the window seat ever and will always book the isle seat. I am following this vow religiously. These days I feel lucky because my wife loves window seat. Anyways.. One important difference I have seen in the quality of airplanes and amenities international flights especially Delta that, just to give an analogy if you think Delta from Mumbai to Atlanta or Newark was luxury, flight from Cincinnati to Paris is like being a king! Fortunately for me United Airlines (gives no freebies), Etihad, Jet Airways and Air India have been constant in their approach and really comfortable till now for international travels.
Because, I was not new to air travel, I knew about the security checking by customs department. But, before that when you land in USA and if you are not a US citizen the horror story begins. I am not against the security checks or any other checks, security is above all, but, the way international citizens are lined up in a separate queue, it feels bad. At least I felt so. Imagine you after having gone through all what I mentioned in ‘Where It All Began?‘ and you have traveled straight 15 hrs and then somebody says “US citizens on this side and non US citizens on this side.. (it’s a strange coincidence that every time on every airport there was a middle aged, somewhat fat lady yelling it out!)”. Why can’t the guy who checks US citizens documents can’t check other’s documents too? Well, I went to the counter, showed my I-20 my passport which had visa pasted on it. He asked where are you going and which university and I was done. But, journey hasn’t ended yet.
Now, the customs department gets its turn. For all new travelers, your check-in bags get opened up in front of you by some official and checked thoroughly. Now a days these officials are aware of Indian food and tradition (many of them are fans). It is not guaranteed that you will get to keep all what you brought. I will advice new kids to through official list of what you can bring what not. I didn’t have anything suspicious.
The lady who was checking my bag asked “did you bring any spices?”
“no”, I said
“any powders or anything like that?” she again
“no” me,
“any lentils or seeds?” she,
“no” me,
“jeera?” she
“no” me.
“alright sir, you have a nice stay” , she with a smile.
So, here I picked up my two big check-in bags and went up to the queue where you have to check-in those back again. I had the boarding passes so it was then easy to just find the terminal and wait for the connecting flight. I was very tired, and couldn’t sleep in the flight (I cannot sleep while traveling). It was a totally different snippet of the world around me. The faces were different the colors were different the smells were different. I found myself foreign to this atmosphere, but, continued to behave like I was used to this. I boarded the connecting flight. I slept for an hour or so and woke up with an announcement that, we were going to land soon at St. Louis airport. Here also I had booked the window seat, but, it was not that bad this time, because it was a 2×2 seating plane. I did see the Gateway Arch and felt joyous. When we landed at St. Louis, I thought there will be another checking point but, no there was none this time. So, all I had to do was to get my bags and message the ISA (Indian Students Association) guy Humayun who was going to pick me up.
I waited for long time near Baggage Claim but couldn’t see my bags! I confess that I was worried and afraid a bit. I gathered some courage and went up to the help desk of the airport and explained my situation. By, this time I had started talking to American people in there accent. Then I went to another place to collect my bags which were taken off the Baggage Claim area because I was late, which I found was strange. Still I managed to convince the officer there that those were my bags. Now, I had to contact Humayun, I tried texting but it didn’t work, I tried public phone but didn’t work. Finally, I went to Help Desk of a travel agency and requested to let me call on a phone. The girl there, was courteous enough to let me call Humayun by her phone. Humayun said he is coming there in couple of hours and they were on the way. I sat down on the benches in front of this agency’s office. Usually, there is always a temporary desk maintained by Indian Students Association on all major airports for the students like me. But, that happens in August and I was there on 23rd July 2009 (11:30 am to be precise). I was very tired due to the journey. I tried to sleep but kept telling myself be aware of your situation. After some three hours I woke up and found that Humayun was not there. I had some food, I don’t remember clearly but something like a chicken burger. Walked around the airport corridors with a fear that someone might think that I am there with some bad intentions. It becomes very difficult in such situations to spend the time. So, try not to go there alone. At around 4 pm I started thinking to myself, ‘are they really coming to pick me up? what can I do if they don’t come? How about the taxi? That will be expensive.=’. The thoughts started getting darker and darker as sun started moving towards the horizon. Another depressing thing was that, the agency’s office closed at 5pm. I decided, I should spend some time doing something till the guys arrive to pick me up. I spent couple of more hours taking naps, listening to music and thinking. At around 7 pm ISA guys came! (Today, when I think of it, I spent almost 8 hrs alone in new country in a strange place).
I felt my patience paid off, as it is not considered safe to go outside the St. Louis airport alone especially if you are stranger. I so much tired that I don’t recall how many students were there in the car. I just put my bags and slept. At 9:30 pm we reached Rolla. It was pitch dark outside, so couldn’t get grasp of the whole place. But it looked more like a chawl (a large building divided into many separate tenements, offering cheap, basic accommodation) but a lot nicer. Humayun then introduced me to Nikhil Kulkarni and Mehul who were living there as students and who rented an apartment. We exchanged few greetings and went inside. Looking at my condition, Nikhil and Mehul took my bags with them. They asked me if I was hungry I said yes. They gave me some beans and rice and tortilla (Mexican flat bread) which looked like poli (chapati, Indian flat bread) but since that day I have never had it with Indian food. I called my family on their phone and let them know that I reached safely. I cannot explain in words, what were their feelings. I could see their moist eyes, but I tried not to make them emotional. After my dinner, I went outside in the lawns. There was a bench. I sat there, thinking “How did I get here? How does this place look like in day time?”. Cool breeze was making me feel comfortable. I said to myself
Congratulations Rohit .. First Time In USA !