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I was on the way for my 'first flight'. One thing I was curious about was
how to fasten the seat belt (courtesy Hindi movies) but I found it very simple. I was glad
I was o the window seat but just after 15 minutes the person on the next seat requested if
his wife can sit there as she was a first timer. OK! I said at least he didnt figure out
that I was a first timer too!.I grabbed everything that the hostesses gave. When the
flight took off I was looking at the window making sure the other guy doesn't see me. I
enjoyed the biriyani knowing well that it is going to be the last Indian food I will be
having for the rest of my journey. There was lot of commotion at the Mumbai airport. I
took a taxi to the International airport with another colleague of mine going to US via
Amsterdam. That bugger took 250 bucks for some 3 odd kms. At the exit point they asked
questions like 'Did you leave your luggage unattended at any time...'. The answers came
out in a nice flow as I was hinted earlier about the expected enquiries. At the waiting
room I was for about one hr. when the call for business class and other classes came and
in the end the economy class.I felt a little bad.Then I was on the KLM-North West
airlines.It was much bigger. It had 9 seats in one row unlike the Sahara which had 5
seats.This time again I was on the window seat.I made up my mind that I was not going to
leave my seat to anyone any cost. It was about 1 pm on the Saturday, 13th Nov that the
plane took off. Throughout my flight my eye balls were rolling. I was looking at
everything the people,the interior of a plane ...everything. There were 30 percent Indians
and I swear 90 percent of these Indians were from software field. After about 1 hr. the
big screen on the flight displayed "Mummy". I wanted to see the movie but there
was no sound at all. I thought maybe they have put off the sound as it was night. Despite
my unwilliness I was sleeping after sometime. I got up after about 2 hours and saw quite a
no. of people were awake and had earphones on.I thought I should've got my walkman too.
When I looked at the person beside me.he had put on a similar earphone. I carefully
followed the cord and traced that it ended at the arm of his seat. Then I saw a pouch in
front of me with similar earphones. I put on the earphones and found that it was the audio
of the movie!Oh Shit! I missed the movie. I saw a person carrying a small bottle (drinks
for sure). I had heard that in the flight they provide drinks and made up my mind that I
would be the last person to miss it. I stood up and went towards the sign it showed toilet
altough I was looking for the pantry. I foung one effeminate host. I asked if I can get
orange juice( I dunno why the hell it struck my mind!). While he was giving he asked if I
would lke to taste wine.I instantly said 'YES!'' Red or White?'' Red!' ...I said. I was
happy about my smartness. After having the wine I went to sleep again.
When I got down at Amsterdam first thing I wanted to check was my luggage.
I went to the KLM counter to double check my connecting flight timing to Newark(not New
York) , my entry point to US. They said that I need not worry about my luggage as it will
directly go to Newark. I was not convinced so I checked with my colleague and he said the
same too. At the airport we roamed around and then we thought we should have something. We
had coffee .I had Capuccino('coz I heard the name earlier) and my colleague (2 trips
experienced...should mention that!) had black coffee. It cost us $11. I thought if this is
way I will be spending I wont have much to save. Th airport at Amsterdam is something to
see. It is perhaps the busiest in Europe.At least I thought that way. While boarding the
flight I changed the time to local time. They provided breakfast over there in the flight.
I was waiting for them to come to my row when one Hostess asked if I was Mr.Parker.I said
I was Patra ...Gyan Ranjan Patra. She went off and came back again saying that the special
breakfast was for me and by mistake it was written Parker instead of Patra. I remembered
that the travel scheduler at office asking if I want to specially order my food advisably
vegeterian 'coz you never know they are providing Chicken or Beef for non-vegeterian. I
had said Yes. I opened my breakfast. I had bread, yoghurt and a big pack. I opened and saw
all kind of uncooked vegetables beautifully decorated. If this was my specially ordered
vegeterian dish then I HAD IT. I settled for bread and yoghurt for breakfast. Next came
the drinks trolley with a variety of drinks apart from cold drinks that I didn't know. I
was not sure what to ask for then I said Soda.'Which Soda?' When I delayed in answering he
said 'Club Soda?'I said 'yes'. These are the times you feel that you don't know anything.
The next flight was peaceful as I was already two flights experienced. When I reached
Newark it was still Sunday. I had Reached the United States of America. That was the
longest Sunday I ever had ..literally. I started feeling jet lag. I had no time as I had
to collect my luggage as well as to check my departure date at the I94. This is something
one should be careful of if you are going on B1. They asked questions to make sure I leave
US in time and my departure was stamped 14th Feb 2000 as expected. So I was sure that I
will be staying for 3 months if everything goes well. I rushed to collect my
luggage.....sorry baggage as Americans call it. I decided to make a few changes to my
English(which was British) and spellings too. I saw my baggage at the roller but it was
going inside again then someone said it will comeback again so no need to worry. Not much
adventure happened on the next flight -from Newark to Memphis (my destination) . The plane
was smaller than the Sahara Airlines and the travellers had a more rustic look. One can
say these are the typical country men of the mid-south (thats what they call people of
Tennessee and other southern states). I reached at 7:00 pm on Sunday 14th Nov. I covered a
journey that should have taken more than 36 hrs. in about 24 hrs. At the Memphis airport I
saw big photographs of Elvis Prestly. Memphis is the birth place of the King of Rock 'n'
Roll. I was collecting my baggage when someone(an Indian) asked if I was from BFL
Software. He introduced himself as my colleague in Memphis and he had come to recieve me.
I had a nice sleep at the apartment so that I can make it to the office the next day...my
first day in US. |
