US Part 1

After much deliberation I finally sit to write my experiences. I know I will

not be able to complete in single sitting but I will make all effort to include
nuances of details. At some places it may seem philosophical but bear with me f
or I will try to be as much objective and impartial as possible. It will be a lo
ng read.
The day had finally arrived. I was leaving India in search of higher knowled
ge for the land about which so much is spoken and dreamt. I was not feeling the
same excitement as I used to before since all of my family had visited US and ha
d given me all the insights. I was just feeling very nostalgic about the things
I would miss, after-all having been born and brought up in Bangalore my entire l
ife my first outing was very far apart from my roots. And after final minute fra
ntic preparation I left. It was a great site to see my friends pay a surprise v
isit to give me a send off. I boarded the flight and it was actually fun. I had
imagined the journey in flight to be nauseating but it was entertaining to say t
he least, my experiences there could make a separate blog.
At last I had arrived in Los Angeles. I had been forewarned that I would enc
ounter a cultural shock. I wanted to record my feelings but I did not have the r
ight means to do it. Anyway after I landed I could not even comprehend that I wa
s in the United States! I had made it through one of the most powerful security
systems in the world. It was scary when I was standing waiting for my immigratio
n. I thought the police officer might say something ( I was very much mindful of
the fact that the guns these police officers had was real and would work unlike
India). Collected bags, went through security and was out on the streets. The f
irst thing I saw was the cars. I was blown away. Even for a guy like me who love
s cars and likes to know in and out, I was unable to keep tab of the names of th
e cars. Cadillac, Lincoln, Acura, Subaru, Hyundai, Kia, Infinity, Honda, Toyota
, Buick, Nissan, Chevrolet, GMC, Ford, BMW, Mercedes, Audi, Equus, Lexus, VW oh
the list just goes on. And since I have seen very less movies and even less Hol
lywood everything was new. Ironically on this trip I had very less imagined of t
he place I would visit and hence there was no Dj vu. Took a prime-time shuttle and
arrived at the temporary accommodation at around 7pm, it was sunny as though it
was 5pm. The sun sets in LA around 8pm in summer.
I would say I had the most pleasant experience of meeting someone unknown wi
th my seniors here. It would be an understatement if I said that they were aweso
me. My hosts Abhishek and Shouvik are the best. When you have come so far from y
our country it is your fellow countrymen 's help and guidance you require most.
When I entered the home a bulb was glowing and now when I remember it looks so
dim as though I am somewhere in an old movie from 60s. Those two guys are just a
mazing hosts and they chatted as though they knew us for years. The courtesy and
helping nature of Abhishek is difficult to find. They told us all the do and do
nts and took us to the college immediately at 8pm. Having traveled around the gl
obe for 26hrs, we arrive in LA and then we go to college the same night! Looks s
o daunting now. They gave us every minute detail about each building and later t
ook us to Chipotle, the Mexican food chain. It is considered to be one of the be
st places to eat in US and mostly almost all Indians love it. I personally had l
ittle liking and they give so much that it would be sufficient to fill two meals
of mine. Then we came back and even though I wasn't feeling sleepy I slept. Mos
t of the remaining two days were involved in performing important things at coll
ege. My sister had booked a ticket for me to Phoenix and I was waiting for my va
cation. I booked a shuttle to the airport. The airport screening is the most int
ense. I fumbled with my belongings during security check. I now realize that I w
as oblivious for long about my habit of forgetting. I arrive at the airport only
to know that my flight was delayed had more than 3hrs to spend idly. With nothi
ng to eat properly I had become almost dizzy. I arrived in Phoenix. It was fasci

nating to see the city lighted up from sky. I came out of the plane and the hot
air just blasted into my face. God it was so hot in Phoenix that I was shocked.
It was more than 45 degrees outside, more than anything I had experienced ever.
The respite is that apart from outside everywhere else is air-conditioned.
I went home to be welcomed by my cute, sweet little niece and sister. I had
a cake to cut and delicious food was waiting for me. I had a sumptuous meal and
I was done for the day. From next day it was kind of learning experience. It was
still unclear where I was but it was slowly settling in. The things I learnt in
these first two weeks will help me go a long way I think. I was lucky I had my
sister and brother-in-law who would patiently answer my never ending list of que
stions and show around.