My first 36 days in USA – Part 1

Hey people, Supreeth back with a post after a huge gap. Call it hibernation. Please grant me atonement for this sin committed. I have been pondering on this post for quite a long time. Leaving Bangalore was a pain, I was contemplating on leaving Bangalore at least for three days before the departure date. On the day of departure, it was more of an emotional moment, a feeling of emptiness inside me. The feeling never sunk in, I was in a vacuum, no feelings go through my mind. Hugging my mother and seeing her tear of joy and pain at the same time. My friend had an entire city to accompany him to the airport, it was nice to see so many people for the send off. Friends (othlas) made their presence there with their usual antics and humor. It was time to enter the airport, no one other than the passengers were allowed to enter the airport due to the blasts a couple of days before. The pain started sinking in along with a feeling a vacuum emptiness. I felt being left into the wild, for 21 years long, I was with my parents, my grandparents, a territory known to me. I felt like a lab grown mouse being left to the wild. For once,I preferred the 2 D maze. I took my steps inside, and there came the point where I couldn’t see them anymore, no one. I was all on my own, maybe this feeling of pain didn’t hit me hard at that time as I was with a friend Vijay who was leaving to TTU, we shared the same flight till Frankfurt. I boarded the flight, the vacuum still in me. Ate at some abrupt times, hated the feeling but was clueless on what type of feeling that was. Landed in Frankfurt, still unable to realize what the vacuum feeling was. At Frankfurt, we had to change flights, bid goodbye to my dear old friend, Vijay. Was roaming in Frankfurt airport, took a transit train within the airport to reach the intended boarding area. I had 6 hours in the airport, roamed around. I then realized I needed to brush, went to buy a brush, the brush costed me 3 euros. There went my 3 euros out of the 5. I later met Sai, who was heading to my university, and I was glad that I met him. We tried all the phones and the calling card to call back home, unsuccessful. We exchanged Rupees to Euros. Exchanging currency at the airport can be the biggest pain. For 500Rs, we get a paltry 3 odd euros. We made calls to home and there was a relief on hearing familiar voices. Sai and me were famished and  thought we have to dig into the first food at sight. Then funny things started to happen, people do not know that chicken is Non vegeterian. We finally got hang of one veggy sandwich, the vendor was surprised to know that we ate “No meat”. He basically assumed that we survived out of the energy provided by the sun! He was stunned, stumped, amazed. We finally had the sandwich for around 7$. I had to eat it as if I was biting a 10 day old frozen Maida Paratha. I risked breaking my teeth in my attempts of eating it. For once, I felt the need to eat every cent spent. We spoke, spent time, finally boarded the flight. If meeting at the airport was an amazing coincidence, having him as the neighbor was more than coincidence. We slept all the way, Sai was amazed on looking at my sleeping power! What else can I do? The TV in front of me refused to start, the kid behind me refused to stop kicking. Finally we landed at Orlando. With all the immigration check done, I was waiting for Mr.Dev to pick me up. What a car he had. He was amazing with the car, I loved the way he drove from the parking at the roof to the first floor. The flight’s sudden alititude drop made me sick, was under a nausea state. I reached the place, met my other friend Satish, I felt glad seeing him. Entered the temporary accomodation, called up home, spoke for less than 2 minutes and hung up.

Tagged: orlando, USA

Posted in: MUMBLING