To the Moon and back - York

York, the first capital of the United States. I was there for 6 long months. Before going into that, this will be my third post for the day. I don't know, I might post few more today.

In the huge state of Pennsylvania, I don't know why I was posted in this village. It was old, actually very old. I was there and the first day in office was good. I was in the Hotel Quality Inn, the only hotel in the entire town, where AMEX could make a reservation. I had a luck, Walmart superstore was right opposite the hotel, and adjoining was the Sam's club. It was supposed to be the York mall. Well it wasn't a closed mall, but there were all shops, all kinds of shops.

The first week for me was to find a place to live, I mean IBM gave me only 10 days/$500 of stay at the hotel. With my room charges at $60 per night, I cant stay more than 8 days, max 9 if I can put in $40 from my pocket. So, I ventured to this Walmart and was surprised to see the size of the store. The first 2 days, from morning to evening I was there, which made the Walmart manager, intercept me on suspicion and asked me, what I was doing the entire day. I replied, "Hi, this is my first visit to the US, I am working for IBM, and I am setting up my own living here. You have a nice huge shop here, I have never seen one like this before. I came here to acquaint myself with the shop, I think this is where I am going to be every other day, for the next 6 months. Could you tell me where is the vegetable section?". Over in US, most of the places, I used to say that I work for IBM, and I experienced that very mention of that fact, cleared any sort of animosity in the air around, especially in places like these, small villages or low budgeted areas. He got a big smile on his face, and told me, "Welcome to US, hope you like the country so far. You are always welcome here. The vegetable section is over there, right on the opposite corner. Hope you enjoy your shopping. Stop by me, if you have any questions. Have a good day!" with that he left. Just then, I learnt that people here are always nice, unless you disturb them. They believe others, what they say. I could not imagine the same situation in India. Oh god! they would have created a huge nuisance.

I found a book out side the Walmart, that was FREE! it was the local listings of rentals, and sales on apartment and houses. It was pretty good. I picked 2 of the list, and asked my New friend to take me there. This new friend of mine, Dawn Combs, needs a very mention here. With out her help, first part of my life in the US would have been a misery. Without any expectation, she just lend a helping hand to me, and I owe her so much, so much that, I don't think I can repay in anyway. I told her about my choices of the apartments, and she said, "No problem. I know them, and the property manager. I will drive you there, and you can talk to them." The next evening, Dawn took me to the property office, and I was asking about the apartments. The property manager asked me for my SSN, which I told, I don't have, I have just applied that this morning. She took me to a tour, to show the available apartments, and I liked the two bedroom, but that was $760 per month, while the one bedroom was just $640 per month. Finally, after giving her the SSA application copy and Passport Copy, I signed the lease agreement for the apartment A7, one bedroom. As soon as, we got out, Dawn offered me another help, for my moving. I immediately accepted that, and fixed an appointment for the following Friday evening. Oops! that made me stay in the hotel for 9 days. But, that was ok.

On the Friday, I was all set and ready in the morning, to ease the move, and informed the hotel manager, and settled the bills. We came over from the office, and moved. I just dumped my things, at the new apartment, and went on to Walmart for the household purchases. Dawn also helped me with a few things that she had, like air bed, electrical rice cooker etc. We went to Walmart and I bought some vegetables, some crockery, a floor lamp, and a big Music System. Well of course it is just me in the house, and nothing else. Music is my companion as always.

Possible solution for Sri Lanka Issue??

Huge massacres, suicide bombings and Inhuman acts by both parties involved, is shaking the entire humanity. Having read the entire history and the demands and ideology of both the parties these are some points that could probably provide some solution to the entire issue:

1. CEASEFIRE at any cost. Killing is never a solution for living. Ultimately, even if someone wins, there should be someone left out to enjoy the peace.
2. Both the parties, without any political concern, should be 100% peace lovingly, sit together and discuss their motives out.
3. The Sri Lanka's constitution formed in 1972 and 1978 should be amended such a way that right to human equality, is established.
4. It is a country of rich cultural heritage and rich natural resources, and yet no one knows, why they are wasting that for some political goals. This is common for every soul born in that island.
5. There should be some foregoes from both the parties on their motives, in order to eliminate the clash.

Let us see what the world has for them. I pray God for the peace of humanity, for the innocent human lives at stake in a complete war prone country like that.

I am now afraid in writing this. Could there be any possible repercussion? Ha! after all this is peace demanding. I think I can post this. No issues. I am demanding peace for humanity.

To the Moon and Back – Road to El Dorado

After 4 hours of break at the London Heathrow Airport, I had to take a connection to Philadelphia, PA. I called my home, said that the trip was so far so good!!?? and went out in a hunt for a few smokes. Longer the flight, greater the chances that you will quit smoking. The nicotine craving in me was driving me mad. I went over to a shop in the airport and asked the Indo-English shop-girl for a pack of smokes, which she gave. There were 2 girls in the shop at that time and I was the only customer. They started smiling and giggling the moment I went over there. Till I finished shopping, they were busy, looking at each other and giggling. And, finally, the other one came up to me and sheepishly asked me, “First time out of India?” “Yeah!” “must be a long flight and tiresome” “yeah” “where are you headed?” “Philadelphia!!” “hmmm…” after a few seconds she came close to my ears…and I can get the fresh fragrance of her perfume, it was intoxicating. She whispered, “Your fly is open..zip it up!” “oh Shit!! thanks. So this was what made you girls giggle huh??” All I got was a kinky smile from both. Damn! I zipped up and left for my airport hiking.

Airport was nice, huge, very huge. All I did was loitering, up and down the entire lounge. Looking at the various models of the same species – Homo Sapiens. Many Indians there, mostly working than travelling. Finally, the call came, for the boarding of the BA flight to Philadelphia.

Oh Man! What a contrast. The flight from India to London was more of an Indian Flight, but this one from London to PHL was a complete change. All airhostesses where white. And the ease with which they move in the flight, or the way they pulled themselves, hmm awesome. There was one lady, associated with my part of the flight. She was young and nice, but she was lot experienced. I told her in the start only, that, “most of the time, I will be sleeping, so wake me up only if necessary. For the meal keep it with you, if I wake up and I am hungry, I will stop by the galley.” And she said was, “Fine no problem. Ask me if you need anything else”.

I dint remember when I slept, I was tired. I woke up after 5 hrs, and noticed that the cabin was dark and everyone were sleeping. I went right back to my bed. The same airhostess woke me up. “Did you have a nice Sleep? You must have been tired. Now you look fresh.”, just with those nice words, I was really feeling fresh. She added, “It is almost time for us to land, could you sit up?”. That’s when the elephant in my stomach got up. I asked her, “can I eat now?”. She was thinking something for a minute and told me, “Yes! Can I get your meal now. But, you should finish it quickly. We are only 30 Minutes away from PHL.” “That’s Okay, I will come to the Galley” to her surprise I finished it in 10, the entire meal, including the coffee.

Here I am finally in PHL, crossed the port of entry, where that officer was looking at me like an Einstein for the fact that I am working for Big Blue. I came out of the airport, and due to lack of time, I could not plan my trip to York from PHL airport. I asked the tourist counter at the airport, “how can I go to York?” she looked at the map and told me to take a greyhound bus from the PHL city center. And I asked, “how do I go to the city center and the greyhound bus station” She smiled at me and told “the train station is right across the street, you can board a train to the city center and you can find the bus station right across the street” “thank you” Here starts my unplanned trip on the road to El Dorado, with a cabin bag and 2 big suitcases.

At the city center, I climbed the flight of stairs to the road from the basement, train station. It was like climbing the Himalayas! with the 2 dead weights that I had with me. I went out, saw that the bus station was right opposite, crossed the road. One black taxi driver was standing there, exactly like our auto guys, to get hold of savaari. He came to me and asked, “Where do you want to go?”. I was taken aback. One of the advices that I got in India before going was, “don’t talk to blacks, they are thieves and murderers.” With adrenaline rushing, I managed to talk to him, “I am going to York, in the bus.” He offered me a taxi ride, and asked for a $200. He seemed to be a nice guy. I bargained for a $100. He was first startled to see someone bargaining but later he was cool with that, and I took a chance. It was Sunday and I did not know that there was no bus to York on Sundays. He pointed that out, from the bus timing pamphlet that the airport lady gave me.

I boarded the taxi in the front seat. At that time I wasn’t aware that the taxi is ride is always on the back seat. We started talking, and we were talking all the way to York. He asked me about computers and told me about his no school life, his wife and kids, and how he managed to get 2 kids to high school to study computers and 1 to a medical school. We had 2-3 breaks in between at some gas station, and he’d always buy a lot to eat. Of the entire 2hr drive, 1 hr 40 minutes he was eating something, and the rest 20 minutes, he was drinking Pepsi.

Finally, after reaching my hotel, he was telling that he did not know that it is this far, so could you give me $150. I was happy that I finally came to York, that being Sunday(no bus day) and taking a cab ride with a black guy. I gave him 150 that he asked for and tipped him a 20. He was happy, and wished me good luck before he left. Oh Yeah! I needed that for the rest of my US stay.

A few things that I learned from this first ride, first, the sun does not set till 9 pm in summers, second, black people are not bad people not the way world talks about them, third, Americans do have a culture to have a family and to live for their loved ones, its just different from Indian, finally, always take a map in the US if you are going on a road trip, this was supposed to be a 45 minute ride, but neither of us had a map.

Vinny Arora - Aathvaan Vachan

Just a break from the trip to moon and back. Actually, now resting up in London. ;)

 

I was just getting a 15 minute glimpse of the new series on Sony, "Aathvaan Vachan", or 8th vow, one more than an Indian groom takes during a marriage. The story line impressed me at the first catch. Ofcourse, anyone can trace back to the originality of the story, but it is quite impressive.

The acting of Vinny Arora is quite impressive of all. The 17 yr old actress proves that she is a natural. These days it is not tough to act as a mentally retarded person, as everyone are already retarded in someway, but one can see many movies and practice for a couple of weeks to be a mad man. But, here she is posing herself as a 8 year old. Even though, the director has a big part in her acting, it is her delivery that matters.

As per the story line-up goes, I believe that Vinny's role is not matured yet. After the recession of Urmi's Sister character, Vinny will have the real challenge in acting.

This is a next generation of TV Serials in India. Still centuries to go. So far so good Vinny.

To the Moon and Back - The First Step

"Oh what the Heck is this...I cannot get relieved on 26th July for my 29th Flight to the US" I was shouting at my manager, not literally, but actually I was shouting. This was when I went back to bangalore after the nice visa episode. My manager was telling me, that he will release me from the project on 26th July, and I should be reporting to the new project in York, PA on 31st July. I was in Bangalore then. Finally after an hours discussion, where he gave me essays of Managerial BS..I told him straight on face..."sirjee, What you are talking is the usual manager talk. Don't Give that to me..please. See I have to go to chennai, plan for my first out of country travel, and then travel. All I can say is I can be here till 19th July".

It was on Monday 17th July morning, when all this talk were on the air. The bargain went on like a sine wave, not like a normal curve. This made me feel like, bargaining with my sabziwala is easier. Finally we agreed on 21st July, that weekend. He gave me a huge list of things that I need to do KT on. It will take almost a month to just read the list. Somehow, I dont know how, that week was gone, and I realized that when my friends actually lifted me from my seat, when I was in the middle as usual troubleshooting the Siebel Server. That was for the farewell party, cake cutting and the leather jacket gifting. I was just standing there, and just realized that that was my last day there. I did not take any backup of any of my stuff. I stayed late that evening, for finishing the signoff. All Done...and I am on BENCH.

The next week was one of the fastest of all in my entire life, not as fast as the week of my sister's wedding. It is 29th July 2006 and I was standing there like, all IT clerks, wearing my new leather jacket, and 2 huge suitcases, that would exceed my height if kept vertically, and a cabin bag. My Mom, Dad and Sis were there, my mom almost in tears, but did not show explicitly as I had intimidated her, that if you cry when I travel, something bad will happen to me. Poor lady, even to this day she remembers that.

"This is the final check in call for all the passengers travelling to Mumbai in Jet airways flight XYZ", woke every one up, for the brisk ta-ta bye-bye. At the counter I asked if I can check-in directly to Philadelphia, but the answer came.."No sir, you have to personally carry the baggage to the International termial in mumbai. Have a nice flight.." and that lady was looking over my shoulder for the next one in line. With that look I understood that she was almost shouting at me.."Move away jackass. Your turn is done".

In the Jet Airways flight, when the flight was at the crusing altitude for that 2.5 hrs travel to Mumbai, all I was thinking was about my Mom, Dad and Sis. What would they be doing now? My mom crying? I could not answer, but I heard my mom telling me, "call me when you reach Mumbai airport, dont forget call me". I was waiting for the time I will reach to give her a call.

Mumbai Airport....there it stands, on that day, it was 10 times worst maintained compared to Chennai Central Railway station. I collected my stuff, and was completely blinking as to what to do next, when my dad slapped on the back of my head and shouted at me "Ask someone what to do...dumbo". I was loooking around by reflex, and then realized that he is stiing inside my head. All these days, he was standing above my head, now he made himself comfortable by sitting inside. I asked the "May I Help You!" desk. They were not as helpful as they said, but I got what I wanted. Went out, and was waiting for the Airport Bus to the International Terminal. Just after an hour, I was there, after successfully travelling 4 Kms in 1 Hour, at the Mumbai International Terminal. Went inside the terminal, and stood in the tail end of the multi mile long queue for the xray baggage scanner, which was that only working one, among all 10 of them. It was a busy night at 11 pm, and my flight is at 2:30 AM to London. I was waiting there for 1 hr and 15 mins when my turn came, and the work was done in 15 minutes. Boy! they were standing there and almost interviewing me on what all I have in the bag. I gave them the list that my mom prepared, listing the contents of the bag, for my remembrance. They saw that list, and I cleared the interview. I got selected to enter the "High Security International Terminal" which finds its place in the first page of Times every fortnight for an attack.

There was another multi mile long queue at the BA check-in counter, where the guys at the systems were busy flirting with the lady crew. I asked the BA personnel standing there, "Is this queue for the BA flight to London?". He was shocked, and he was like "That flight check in will be closed in another 5 minutes. What were you doing all along?". I dint say anything to him, but just pointed towards that XRAY scanner queue. He understood, and he started shouting to his people about the same. After that, the sluggish flirts started to work again. And my checkin was done in 2 minutes in the Business class counter and I was there at the gate within the next 45 mins. God save Mumbai.

As soon as I entered the gate, the scene was exactly like the bus terminal at Hospet, a remote village town in north karnataka. People were shouting, kids crying, oldies chatting, young ones sleeping, people on the floor and their luggage on the chairs...the unusual airport gate lounge. The BA flight was getting ready, and we were waiting. Ofcourse there were a horde of posh looking people who were sitting on the chairs precisely as they were supposed to with Jeffery Archer or Arindham Chowdary or someone else in their hands. There was also a group of people in a corner, cribbing about he haalath of Mumbai, and the incapability of politicians and how wise they are by not casting their votes. I found myself a place near to the crib corner, and the looks on their faces yelled at me "welcome...start cribbing now...". I was actually searching for a telephone booth to call my mom. It was almost 1AM, but I wanted to call. I found the telephone booth corner. Went there, and surprised to see that it was a free call booth. One can call from that booth to anywhere in India, for free, but a single call is only for 60 secs. After that you have to dial again if no one is waiting for the phone. Actually there was no one near that. I called my home, and surprised, it got picked up within a single ring. Ofcourse thats why they are Parents. I remember that I called my home 7 times from that phone. Another series of ta-ta bye-bye!

One of the ground crew announced the start of boarding of the flight, at 3AM. The flight was supposed to be 2:30. I was actually nervous, if that flight already left and if this is the next one. I confirmed that this is that same one, that I am booked for. Boarded the BA flight, and was able to see the bit bright horizon. It was almost 4:30 AM when the flight hit the runway.

I never knew, when I fell asleep. One of the flight attendant wake me up, and he offered me my food. Ate that, and slept again. Again, after a nice sleep, this time an airhostess woke me up for my food. She was telling me that we were nearing London, and I have to eat in that next 30 mins or she is taking the food away. I was looking at her for a minute, to realize where I am. She gave me a warm smile, that said, "I know, you are confused of your whereabouts, but eat". I asked her which way is the rest room, and she pointed out an empty one. I was fresh in the next 5 mins. Came back to my seat and finished eating in 10 mins. The same airhostess was surprised at my eating speed. God I was hungry and it wasn't a rat racing in my stomach, it was an elephant. I asked her if she could give me 2 more breads, and some butter, which she did, with a care of a mother. Nice Lady!

There I was, the flight landed and the flights captain read the pre-written welcome message after filling in the blanks with the current fact, about the time and weather. In the next 15 mins or so. I made the first step out to the Motherland of India...LONDON.