First flight

This is all about my first overseas flight travel..

Jan-20-2007. Chennai. Evening 8-00 PM. Vrrooooommmmmmm..Flashing back and reading my thoughts out. I had to travel to Minneapolis,USA for an offical assignment. Had to take the flight at early hours of 21st 4'0 Clock. Not really my first flight as I have already been to Blore and Cochin in Flight. Still was too tensed till evening of 20th. MN being coldest of all states in USA and me landing there right in snow time made me more tensed too.And on top of all things, I got sentimental to leave my parents sis and above all my husband and go. I wished that this all is a dream and I wake up next day in the same house. I wish I resign my job that day and skip my travel. It is sickening to think of that day even now. I guess, for life time I will hate that day.

Thought that I have no other go and its not too fair to feel down as anyway nothing is going to change, at least in such last minute. I tried setting up my things. Me reaching MN on a weekday, my onsite counterpart was supposed to pick me up from airport to my apartment where I will be staying with my friend. It was almost time to start when my onsite counterpart called up. I was wondering what made him call that time. He just inquired about my flight timings and requested me to buy a carton of Marlboro cigarettes for his friend. I was almost sure I cannot do it, but did not want to deny it so told him I will do it. Myself, my husband, with my parents went to the airport. I tried lifting my suitcase out of the call taxi..Hoooo how heavy. I cant even lift my suitcases, How am I going to manage it till MN. That too 2 suitcases :( God save me.somehow I had a feeling that I will do it.

We were all waiting for the check-in announcement. My dad was asking me to be brave and not to worry, My husband was trying to make fun of me and my mom was reading all slokas for my safe journey. Finally they announced the check in, So I went ahead, requested a window seat, got my boarding pass and came back to bid bye.(wihtout cries) :) Preceded to immigration, once it was done, went to the lobby where I had couple of hours left for the flight. Many people were coming and going. Many with their family and kids. I too wished I am not single and have come with my family. Took a coffee and was sipping it and watching the crowd. Finally it was time and took the corresponding gate. To my wonder and surprise the gate way routed me directly into the airplan. :) I thought I will have to walk in the runway, take a bus that will take us near the flight where we can board the fight. Hmm..Good.

I went to my seat, a window seat. Saw one London thaatha sitting in the aile seat. Lifted my hand baggage and put it in the case above and that thaatha helped me. Hmm, men are always helping :) I sat and closed my eyes and was praying God to somehow make me reach MN safe. One London paati came and sat in the middle seat. She looked rigid. Whatever, I am in no mood for chit chatting with anyone. I am in my own world of tensions and thrills. There was a small TV in front of me, attached to every seat. I was trying to operate it. Ooops it doesn’t seem to work :( Come on, I don’t want to feel embarrassed, I tried it again but later noticed no one’s was working either. Happy :)

Flight started and took off and I was watching outside the window, in the morning mist, all the houses and buildings disappearing to smaller dots. The TV was on now and after the usual instructions about safety measures, I was able to choose my own stuff in the TV. It showed me the world map and where the flight is right now and the route it will take to reach MN. I was also watching some movies for a while. At about 5-00 I got my breakfast Very very hot. Upma...Dosa...and stuffs..Was good. And in sometime I slept off. Then woke up in an hour.

Now the usual problem. I needed to go to the Rest room. I was wondering where the flight will have one. I was thinking of where it can possibly be located when I saw a bunch of people going towards a place and standing in Q. Aaaahhh ! there it is :) Ohhhhhhhh , Such a small rest room. Thank Goodness I am thin, else it would have been much difficult to squeeze inside. Ok now back to seat. The paati next to me seemed sweeter too. She has collected lunch packets for me while I was away. And I spent time in sleeping,eating,watching TV,Rest room and again the same loop. Finally, the flight started landing. I got my usual ear pain. Shak ! Why it comes to me, a pain that can pierce and tear apart my ears. I hated the airhostess, they did not give me water. The paati next to me handed her bottle. I somehow managed with the pain sipping the water. Reached London. Originally supposed to reach by 9-40 AM. It was already 10-00 AM I gave her a gratitude smile, she asked me if I am a student, I proudly told her that I was a s/w programmer. She smiled and went.

I had no clues if I can catch the next flight at 11-35...I ran ran and ran.....The cabin baagae was heavy to carry .It was not the trolley type and it weighed about 10 Kilos and I was breathing heavily and running to catch my connecting flight. I went for scanning and checking in, Thank god, they did not ask me to remove my laptops for scanning; for that would have consumed more time.. Good luck always favors good girls :) though I was asked to remove my shoes for security check which took me some time. And now am on to the connecting flight just 15 mins before time. Hmm! I made it. This time there was a young guy in the window seat and I was in the aisle seat. Middle seat was free. The guy seemed to be immersed in his magazines. No worries. Now that I got used to flight ;) and felt as if I have been flying for years.

So switched on my TV and started watching movies Slept for a while. I felt the airhostess was not so kind to me, she kept on throwing something or other whenever she passed by me. So funny it was. And she was ready to take my orders and she was surprised when I said I am a vegetarian. She said it was not informed during my ticket booking and now that they don’t have any vegetarian food. Huffffffff…Anyway, I told her I can mange with bread, cheese, fruits and juices. Nevertheless she said she will come back in 10 mins with some veggie dish. After a while, she was back with a plate with 2-3 spoons of rice :) Mixed with vegetables. Except tomato I do not know the names of others. It was good anyway, so had she cheated me with some non veg too, am fine, as long as it’s eatable. Time went on and I safely stored a bottle of water to use during landing. If I keep drinking something I assume I have less ear pain. It did pain, but finally the flight landed in Chicago.

Hmm Chicago was tooooo big...

Did immigration, scanning. Here I was asked to take off my laptop, shoes for scanning. Though it took some time I had ample time for next flight. I went to collect my luggages. Managed to pull a trolley without needing to put some dollars which I might need to discover HOW for another half hour. Bags of varied sizes and colors were passing by. And there it was my bags. Both are safe. Thanks to God. You are really so helping :) off to next connecting flight, final flight, and domestic flight to MN. Took my bags (How heavy!) and put it on the trolley. But shak, the trolley was not at all moving. It was circling in the same place. Ohhhhhh god! Please don’t make me look so funny. Huff, and off it went finally and I was marching briskly towards my airline counter to get the boarding pass for next flight. Checked in my baggage, not sure if I checked in at the right place, let it go wherever, I was already too tired with the bags. Got my boarding pass, I need to go to terminal 3 for which I need to take a train. Hmm, “Idhu veraya” I thought and wondering how to go. Inquired few and went to what they claimed as the Train station. The train came, wow cooooolllll, put me safe on terminal 3. I mean, I got down safe on terminal 3. So many gates there, walking for long time getting on and off the escalators. Finally reached at what I assumed to be my proper gate. To be frank I was not even comfortable with dollars. Lot confused with those cents and dimes. Took a coffee to manage some change, He gave me back some coins. God knows what! Now I know, not then…

Went to a pay phone, tried putting the coins, everything was popped out. I tried asking the lady near by; she told I need some other coins. I was disappointed. Later got to know they were all dimes and I needed 50cents to make the call which I don’t have as a change. There I was sitting and sipping the sugarless coffee, how on earth I know that they give coffee with no sugar and no milk. I am from India...I never minded to add them too. And there I was sitting and sipping sugarless milk less coffee or rather the decoction :) Managed to get some more change, quarters from a near by shop. God bless him. Announcement came that my flight was delayed to 7-00 PM from 6-00 PM which means I would be reaching by 8-30 PM. I started worrying if my onsite counterpart will wait for me in the airport. If not, I might need to take a taxi, But taking a taxi alone, in a new country, at night time. It frightened me a bit. I don’t know the route to my friend’s apartment and wherever the taxi-wala takes I will have to go. Was breaking my brains what could be done. Flight was still delayed by 30 mins. I prayed I should live to see the next day. Finally it was time and I was about to board and there the lady calmly told the gate is changed..Oh my god. No one told me. I took my bags and coats and ran, it was just 10 mins to go. And I ran and reached the other gate and finally on to the flight. There I sat closing my eyes and making a prayer to complete my journey safe. For sure I am going to be in trouble. It will be 9-00 PM when I reach. Good God, the Pilot drove (?) flew (?) so fast that I reached by 8-45.

Flight landed. I saw SNOW outside the window. For the first time in my life :) It was whitish everywhere.

First thing I did after landing is to call up my onsite peer. This time I had the right change and luckily got him on line! :) and he picked up and said he will come to airport in 10 mins. Habba…I was relieved a bit.

Next is to check if my luggages are safe as I am supposed to report to my office from very next day. Luck was not with me. I just had one of my luggages and the other one was missing :( waiting waiting waiting, finally all the baggage came up but not mine. Worried what to do I was looking here and there and there I spotted a corner with a big black board HEAVY BAGGAGES and there it was my bag :) My bag :) I got it :) Oh finally I made it, I am safe, Luggage is safe, Peer will come and drop me to my friends apartment ..Looks like finally it all went well. One big thanks to God. :)

Managed to scroll the baggages and moved to a place where I can sit and waited for my peer to come. He came in 10 minutes. Came with a fellow who drove the car. They both helped me with the luggage and finally we reached my friends apartment.

Guess what! The fellow who’s car I came in, who drove me and my peer was none other than the one who wanted the Marlboro cigarette packets and he has come with all hopes to get it from me as soon as I land and I could not see his face when I said I could not buy it :(

Good that I did not tell my peer earlier else they might not have come to pick me for sure ;) ;) ;) ;)

There ends my story of my overseas flight travel :)