Just to make it simple, let me give you the purpose of this post. It is twofold - 1) To re-start my writing, 2) To recollect what happened in July 2003. I took my first international flight on 17/07/03 from India and reached US on 07/18/03.
It was year 2003, months of July, June and May. Things were happening quickly. I was applying for MS programs all over US, with some idea about their strengths and weaknesses. Honestly, I did not know where most of the schools were located. I was not smart enough to google (now used as a verb) and look for individual universities, their locations, their proximity to big cities, their statistics about the ultimate goal (aka job prospects) which any US-bound youth holds close to his/ her heart. I got a list of probable/ likely schools-to-go-to from someone. I ambitiously added few more schools that I thought would be good additions. In the end, I applied to several good/ average/ bad schools - got a few admits - and decided to choose to Clemson for a degree in Bioengineering. I also got a US visa after the visa officer said that my answer to his only question was 'lousy'. I enjoyed the process and the hectic schedule prior to my departure to US. I met a few guys/girls from Pune to were also going to Clemson. In the same vein, I met a guy, who seemed quite smart/ active. His name was Nikhil. And we started to begin shopping for the tough life in USA. It brings a smile, when I think our endeavors in those days. I was working in Mumbai and he was working in Pune. I came to Pune, where my parents lived then, every weekend. Instead of spending time with my parents before I left for US, I spent time doing things I had never done, like buying clothes in bulk, going to wholesale market to buy pressure cooker, buying everything in dozens including undergarments and socks. We had heard that in US, the washer/dryer system had to be used every 2 weeks, so one was supposed to have atleast a dozen of everything. We did not really confront anyone's theories then. We just acted without resistance. Someone said that we need to check with a dentist, physician, and an ear specialist and we did that. Someone said that a IDP, also called as Intl. Drivers' Permit, was a thing that is a must. We got that. Someone told me that domicile certificate was a must. I got that. All the different documents and more, had been collected.
Anything that was told to be important, I got it. Luckily, I was able to get everything that everyone (Everyone included people who had been to US 10 years before or who had never stepped outside India or who had never boarded a flight) had told me to get or would randomly ask if I took it. Yes, I had everything. It feels funny, but I don't see anything wrong with it. It felt necessary then. I had left the job of buying the ticket to Nikhil as he/ his family had some contact with a ticketing agent. The ticket was bought and I was told that 2 checkin bags were allowed. I said OK. Nikhil immediately called me the next day - with a better deal. I accepted the new deal. The new deal meant, we would fly cheaper and would have 3 checkin bags instead because of student discount. Nothing seemed wrong in saving money and taking an extra bag (Even today, nothing seems wrong with getting something extra and saving money at the same time. It does not happen anymore). Both, Nikhil and me, bid goodbye to our families, on the airport. I believe, more than 20 people had come to bid me good bye, including my aai baba, kaka kaku and friends.
We reached USA, and reached a 'tiny' Greenville-Spartanburg airport from where were driven to Clemson, by a group of seniors (as Indians like to call people who have come to the university an year or two earlier). I may not remember each and every detail of the day, but I do remember the day itself. In the drive from the airport to Clemson, we were given a lot of information. The information seemed quite important then, and it probably was. We quickly notified our families about safe trip. We got settled in a new country, without much of a fuss. Thinking back, it seems difficult. But, it was not that tough. We found an apartment to live. We went to the school, located departments and found a certain nice University campus. The 'nice' term was missing from my academic experience till then. The nicest thing was the Cooper library and the books, the building - I liked everything about it and it probably was the main reason I started reading books.
We began shopping and discovered Walmart, Bi-Lo, and ways to buy more things for lesser prices. We quickly invented new ways to shop. This meant juggling lab hours, classes and catching the correct public buses to Anderson, where Walmart was located. I also learnt not to buy too much stuff by experience. Once, we bought a ton of things, understood that 'necessity was the only mother of invention', and took all the stuff to our apartment, by putting the long handle broom (acted like a bamboo) on our right shoulders and sewing the plastic carry bags on the broom pole. Laborers often carry stuff over their shoulder on a bamboo and a bride is carried to her wedding by a "shoulder carriage". We were neither laborers nor we did belong to the marriage party, but I do remember many people looking at us while we were in that mode. When I say 'people', I mean girls. We were only concerned because girls were looking at us and that meant lost reputation. But, at the end, reputation means nothing in comparison to the dollars spent on buying those things. These incidents and other funny things made my stay memorable. I got a very good thesis advisor and I did fine in the courses. I also learnt to cook quite well. That only happened after eating hashbrown patties, maggie noodles (top ramen really - as they were cheaper) for many days/ weeks. Sometimes, it is necessary to know nothing about something to become really good at it.
I learnt many many things about people, about a new country and about living independently. Many things have happened, and some will come to my mind as I am done writing, and some will keep coming to my head in the next few days. I will curse myself for not writing that one important thing, but I need to pause somewhere.
It has been 10 years in the land of innovation, United States of America. And I love the freedom and opportunity it has to offer. It started with being a temporary stay. It has been a permanent temporary stay. It has been fun.
No comments:
Post a Comment