My time in the US of A - part 1

I felt that I should document everything that is going to happen in US. Why? Because, I feel like that I am in a learning curve and I have to document it. You do not know how you will be, or what l going to do in the future. But, if I document these days, I will be able to look back at this part of my life and would be able to look at where I am standing. Besides I always wanted to write a book. So, I want everything documented. I know I am now in the US for 3 weeks, But I can still remember the last 3 weeks.

One tip for everyone is that, Do not go to Saravana Bhavan on the day you have the flight, Even if you do, please eat lightly. I didn't and it showed during the flight to Houston. The night when I left to the Houston from Chennai is deeply etched inside me. My mom was really brave to have held her nerve until I left, and I am sure how much she would have felt so much after I left her for immigration.

I was inside, first time as a passenger instead of someone who just came to give sendoffs. And it felt good. My family along with two of my friends, Dinaesh and Dhanasundar were there. There was a little part of me that was really afraid. I went to the check in counter, but was sent back to get my bags scanned. And there was this really long line and by the time I got my bags, wrapped it with polythene(yes, you heard me right!! For 200 Rs. you get baggage insurance as well.) and went to the check in queue, there was this long queue outside. And as I completed my check-in, the immigration check for my flight was called. So after waving everyone goodbye, I moved in to the immigration.

The funny thing was I was wearing my jacket which weighed almost 5 Kgs. And I was sweating like a pig in Chennai airport. The immigration official even joked about it(to be frank, I was sweating as she had the authority to hold me back in India, I didn't tell her that, I blamed it on the leather jacket). And the security near the gates were also very strict, given the recent terrorist activities. I sat near the gate exhausted and emotionally feeling low. But it was ok. I was going to US on a purpose and being away from the family was no big deal either.

The flight to Dubai from Chennai was my first flight of over an hour(my previous flights were to and from Hyderabad, both just 45 minutes). The ICE was good in Emirates, but the breakfast served(Yes, at 3 o clock in the morning. My tip, don't eat just because it is free unless you really want it.). We were given a menu but later were provided only the vegetarian option because everything else was over. Bad flight management, if you ask me. But anyway, I tried watching some movies, but I couldn't focus. So after juggling a few movies, I settled with G.I.Joe for the trip. And nothing much happened until Dubai.

Dubai Airport. Man, it was really kick ass. Compared to Dubai Airport, Chennai airport is really a dwarf. It was so big and there was a big duty free market in Dubai, where you get everything from Cigarettes to Cars. And it took me an hour to reach my departure gate, even though I walked really fast without stopping(OK, i am exaggerating, but it took me more than 20 minutes and you have to cross a security check similar to one that was in India). And after another 16 hours of flight which was in an elliptical path. I reached Houston!!!!!