A journey begins

States what we call in short to USA, the richest country. Every other person in India has gone to US either for work, or for further studies or to some relatives place. If you are in IT for 4-5 years and not been to US then its supposed to be a black spot on your profile and you are looked upon as if you have committed some crime. So finally the day comes when I got the news that I will be going what we call ONSITE. Everyone started Congratulating me as if I have won a gold medal in Olympics. I was also very happy, it seemed to be an accomplishment.


People around me who have been there started giving the advice the do's and dont's of US and at the end says dont be so positive until you get your Visa stamped and you reach there, at the end leaving me with so much of apprehensions. All the formalities for VISA started and one has to fill 'N' number of forms, everyday you get an email to fill some form, you need a photograph with some weird specification like ears should be visible and forehead should be at certain height dont know what they have to do with it and one feels like better not to go if its so much of pain. Finally I succeeded in filling up all the forms and got the Visa interview date. I started gathering the information from friends and family about that place, what all are the must visit places there. They all told me several things to do but i remembered none of them as my mind is already occupied with Visa interview and the packing stuff so much and that too they have some weird names which one cannot remember until you have visited the place once. Finally the Visa interview date came and when I entered the embassy I felt as if whole India was going to US. Keeping my fingers crossed i got the Visa stamped and came out with a smile on my face.


I didnt had time now and had to leave in a day with so much of formalities and work left in office. Their were hundreds of formalities in office, one feel like resigning is easy then going to onsite. I had to collect the forex, no dues from all the departments, address of some X, Y,Z people there whom I can contact in case of emergency etc etc. Finally all set to go, all friends and family were coming to meet me and I was the center of attraction at home, feels good as well as nostalgic. Though the flight was in morning but I could not sleep for a second with so much of excitement. I was leaving for the airport and I had checked the ticket and the passport atleast 100 times. I was catching an international flight for the first time and that too from the new T3 terminal. I looked all around,  not a single corner of the airport should be missed from my eyes and at the sametime praised the government for atleast doing something good. With a fear in my mind I consciously put my luggage on the weighing machine and thank god it did not exceeded the limit. This was a big relief when you get your baggage checked in without any hassle. Now I had to wait for 3 hrs for the flight. I was exploring the duty free shops and the new terminal. I should say it was world class though till now I havent seen any other airport still feeling proud that it belongs to my country.


Its morning 8AM and I proceeded to take the flight. As soon as I entered I examined the whole aircraft like an examiner sees an answer sheet and tried to figure out whether its different from the domestic one or not. I read each and every instruction carefully and then suddenly I felt I was so busy since last few days and now I dont have anything to do for next 24 hrs, a bit weird. It was 8hrs flight till London. I took a novel with me and started reading and I slept after reading few pages typical me who hates reading. I was enjoying my sleep so much as last few days were so hectic and in those days during my sleep also I used to see Visa forms in my dreams. The flight landed at London (Heathrow) airport. The next flight was after 3hrs. As soon as I entered the airport I started comparing it with T3 and felt more proud as T3 was much better. Now I started looking for a phone booth from where I could call at home. In last 8years since I have a mobile I have never even tried calling from a public phone. I bought a chocolate in order to get some pounds in change to make a call. I read all the instruction on my Airtel calling card and still not succeeded in making a call. Dialling a number never appeared so difficult. Suddenly I got an idea in my brilliant mind that I can go online from a cafe and tell anyone to call at my place and I could find my mom online so I was relaxed now that I have informed. Its time for the second flight now and I was a bit hungry. It was lunch time so the air hostess came with Asian vegeterian which I opted for. A south Indian guy sitting next to me messed up and he told that he opted for it and took my meal. No more asian veg was available and later I came to know by mistake he took mine, I felt like killing him and he was offering me a chocolate instead. No more Veg options were there so I had to go for some "Angrezi ghas pus". I call it this way bcoz english veg is actually "Ghas Pus" only. Then again I slept and in few hours reached Boston the final destination. Now the fear of Immigration caught my mind. Thankfully he didnt ask much and I entered the States for the first time.