INDIA IS THE BEST

Two weeks update:

Day 1: My apartment was booked and the advance was paid one week before I coming to US but when I reach here and reach the leasing center, they say that they could not find the document sent by me. No details have been entered in the computer so they cannot verify it and the lady to whom the advance and the documents were sent, she has quit the company. Finally when they got the documents, they say that the apartment assigned to me had been leased out way back in Jan 2006 and so it is not available and they offer me other apartments. Finally another lady came and she said that the apartment has been booked and we can move in. She gave us the key for the apartment and took the sign on the leasing document. All this happened because of pressure put from my PM else even this would not have been possible. Then when we checked the apartment, it did not have power. When we called them up to inform them that there was no power in the apartment, they said they will take care of this and inform us back when the power is switched on. After one hour, when we called back and asked as to how much time it would take for the power to come, she said that she is not sure but she has messaged the concerned person to take care of it. So it all depends on him.
Day 2: Got my bank account created in Bank of America. The service offered was very good, very fast and very friendly. We had reached the bank at around 3.50 and the closing time was 4.00 but they stayed back to get the account open.
Got my client Id card processed.
Called up Gexa Power Plan for the power since the power supplied by the apartment people is only temporary and only for 10 days.
Day 3: Filled the Benefits USA form (I9) for insurance and mailed the I9, I94 and passport copies back to office id. http://www.infosys.benefits-desk.com.
Confirmed my trip in Payworld.
Booked for landline and AT&T yahoo High speed internet at att.com
Booked for mobile at wirefly.com
Day 5: Did some shopping. Also went to an Indian store. Felt nice to see the cashier over there wearing a T-shirt printed 'EAST OR WEST INDIA IS THE BEST'. Truelly, You feel the importance only when you are away from it.
Day 6: Gave the move-in condition form in the leasing center. request for mailbox keys.
Day 11: Applied for SSN in Social security Administration office.
Made an online id for Bank of america,
Order for check book (11$ for 50 checks).
Day 12: Rent for the apartment.
Got the new mailbox key.

Seriously, I did not like the culture over here. Everything looks to be so made up. You must have seen that advertisement, “Definitely Tea Drinkers” where they say, “How are you” and the other person says, “oh very well thank you. How kind. “
It is the same thing here. People talk with so much sweetness that its somewhat hard to tell if they are really polite or just behaving like that.
I believe I will also start speaking like them soon.. Coz I also don't drink tea. I drink Coffee. what say?. :D
Even at morning 8, you don't see anyone roaming around. Only cars and vehicles. Walking on the street is actually scary as it feels so deserted.
Even the beggars over here follow the formal attitude. They just keep a board and do not shout or trouble people. Only if someone opens the car window to pay them, they approach them for the money. Everyone smiles at the other person even if they don’t know them. One thing that makes us self-conscious, it becomes difficult to recollect if we have met them before or not.
One more thing is there is a box of chocolates near my desk in the office. So I can have them anytime in the day that I want to have it. Isn’t that cool?

Whatever it is: EAST OR WEST INDIA IS THE BEST

44 Hours

I was starting on Jan 21st sunday morning from Hyderabad at 4.15 AM (IST) and supposed to reach Houston on Jan 22nd at 11.15 PM (CST), total of 31 hours journey.
I was shopping on Saturday till 11.00 in the night. Came back home at 11.30 and started getting ready for the journey. Mom, Dad, bhai, Shammu did all my packing keeping a check on the weight limit (2 bags of 21 kg's each and carry bag of 7 kg including laptop). Around 12.45, we started for the airport. There was a bit of confusion on the way. Had to come back to home wasting 20 minutes of the time. At the airport, there was a big queue(# 1) (the start of queues :D Let's count them). Everyone at home had come to see me off. I would be off for 6 months away where I would be out of the protective shell that I was in. There were tears in my eyes, was trying hard to stop them.
Once inside, the weight of the luggage was checked and the baggage was sealed. Then we were made to stand in another queue(# 2) for baggage check-in. I was carrying my laptop on my shoulders. A lady approached me and asked if I was planning to take only my laptop as my cabin baggage. When I said that I had one more bag, she asked me to put the laptop inside it since only one cabin baggage was allowed inside the flight.
After check-in, went to another counter where he checked my deputation letter and then I proceeded for the security clearance. I put the tag on my cabin baggage and after security clearance of the cabin baggage, I made a call to Mom and Dad from the public phone inside informing them that I have checked-in and everything is ok. They were waiting for my call outside the airport to start for home and it was 3 in the night. I waited for the call for my flight departure. Around 4.15, the call was made. We boarded the flight. and the flight started at around 4.45 (delay of half an hour). There was a guy sitting beside me and he was sleeping during the whole journey of 1.15 hours. We were served sandwich and coke in the flight as our breakfast. The flight landed at Mumbai at 6 in the morning.
We had to wait till 7 to start the check-in for the next flight. I made a call from Mumbai airport to inform Mom and Dad about my reaching Mumbai. The next flight from Mumbai was at 9.10 in the morning. We were asked to make a queue (# 3) for check-in. The officials at mumbai were so slow maybe because it was so early in the morning that they had only 2 people and separate lines for ladies and gents. It almost took half an hour to check-in the luggage. It was almost 8.30 when I reached the waiting room. Then again we had to wait for the call for our flight. At 8.45, the call was made and we again queued up (# 4). We boarded the flight and the flight started at around 10.30 from Mumbai.
It was an 20.20 hours journey from Mumbai to Chicago including 2 hours stop at London. It was around 8 hours flight from Mumbai to London. They first offered apple juice and then breakfast (bread, jam, butter). The movie 'Lage Raho Munna bhai' was screened in the plane. Each seat had its headset to hear the sound. There were different channels which could be tuned for hearing different flight radio channels. For lunch, I took the Veg kurma.
At London, the flight landed at around 1.30 PM (LT). We were supposed to deplane for security reasons. We were instructed not to buy anything duty free items as it was against the policy of London security. We were again made to queue (# 5) for security check. The official there asked me to put even my handbag inside the cabin baggage. The rule was something like if there are more than one baggage and they don't fit into one baggage, then all the baggages should be checked in. There should be no liquids having more than 100 ml quantity etc etc. We were asked to remove our laptops(if any) from our cabin baggages for the security check. At the security check, we had to remove even our shoes and put them for security check. They asked us to remove any item that contains coins or metals. After the check, we took our baggage, put the laptop inside the baggage again and then proceeded for our flight boarding. We reached there and showed them the boarding ticket and then waiting for the call for our flight. At around 4, the call was made. We boarded the flight. The pilot informed that there was some problem with the security for some of the passengers and therefore the flight would get delayed. At around 5.30, the flight took off.
The crew was changed here and we were again offered softdrinks. They screened some english movie in between. Not sure of the name as I had dozed off. Later they screened "Khosla ka ghosla". For dinner, we were offered veg biryani and sweet. I slept almost the complete journey from London to Chicago. The flight position and other details like the altitude, air pressure, temperature and hour left to reach the destination was shown in the screen at front. We reached Chicago at around 8.30 PM (CST).
We were asked to fill up two forms at the Chicago airport. Chicago was my port of entry for US. We had to again queue up (# 6) for e-passport. We filled up the form (I94 and custom clearance). We were asked to fill up the petition number and the petition requestor in the I94 form. I94 is a very important form and is considered as the US passport. So it is very important to fill it up correctly. At the counter, we were asked for the passport. He then took the finger print of our left and then right index finger. This is matched with the print that is taken at the time of visa processing. After matching it, he gave back the I94 small slip(this has to be stapled to the passport). By this time, it was already 9.45 PM.
I then proceeded towards the baggage claim section. Loaded my luggage onto the trolley and then moved towards the exit. There they guided us towards the connecting flight section. I was supposed to take the connecting flight from Chicago that was schedule at 8.35 PM (Heard it later was delayed by 2 hours and started at 10.30 PM).
When I reached the counter of connecting flight, there was one more queue (# 7). When I reached the counter, it was almost 10 PM. The lady informed me that the next flight is at 5 the next day. I asked her if there was any other flight available. She said there might be some connecting flight. I asked her to check for that and she checked and said that there was another flight at 7.30 in the morning and for that I would have to come back 1 hour before for check-in and she booked my stay in Hotel Ramada for the night. I was supposed to take the bus standing outside from Gate # 5E.
Before that, I called my friend to inform about the delay. I then came out of Gate #5E. I had not expected that the weather would be so cool. It was snowing outside and I had just one sweater on. I was shivering. I could see the bus and then boarded my luggage inside it and then it was a 15 minutes drive from the airport to the Hotel. At the hotel, I had to carry my luggage inside and it was a pathetic situation for me to carry it. I got Room # 1024 on the 10th floor. Thankfully the manager this time got a trolley for me to carry the luggage. The room was quite good with all the facilities (TV, virtual conceirge, games). We were given breakfast and dinner coupons and they had prepared special Indian food (Plain rice, allu mutter, Chicken curry, curd, pickle, pink lemonade, papad) for us. It was a nice feeling to see Indian food in US. Got ready in the morning by 5. But the bus guy was giving preference to the locals there. That was some racism. He didn't allow us twice into the bus saying there was no space. Finally when I could get into the bus, it was 6.30 and I reached the airport by 7.00 and on check-in, they said that since it was only half an hour left, they cannot allow me to board the flight and said I have to wait for the next flight at 5.00 PM. Later they booked a ticket as an Elite passenger. The plane was scheduled to fly at 9.30 AM in continental airlines. Finally I boarded the flight. This was a cute plane (very small). They offered us soft drinks and peanuts in the plane.
Finally I reached Houston at 12.15 PM. A hectic journey of 44 hours finally ended.

God... You are the best.

December 29 was first decided as my travel date. But it did not make me happy. Mom dad were not here and going onsite when they were not in India made me sad. Was praying everyday that if somehow the trip would get postponed. Since there was no excitement, I was not even thinking of shopping. The day when I was informed that since the business users are not available and therefore my trip has been postponed by three months, I was on cloud nine. Was so happy, immediately rang up mom and dad to inform them that my trip has been postponed. Even gave a party to my friends.
God.... You are really great.
Mom and dad were coming back on Jan 18th and we were having so many plans to surprise them. We had done a lot of shopping to decorate the house. Shammu was doing all the household cleaning stuff and everyday surprising us with her creativity. On Jan 15th, around 10, I was informed by my PM that I need to travel on the weekend and was required to be at onsite on Jan 22. Just see this, I had prayed that when I travel to onsite, Mom and Dad should be with me. They were returning on 18th and I was supposed to travel on 21st morning. I would be spending two days with them after they come back. Isn't it HIS greatness the way HE answered my prayers. He postponed my trip exactly as I had wanted it.

Visa Processing

December 5 -

My appointment was at 9 in the morning. Was a bit tensed. Not that I wanted the visa desperately but since my office was sponsoring for me, did not wanted it to get rejected. As suggested by my friend, reached the consulate at 8.30, joined the queque outside the consulate. At the appointment verification counter, the appointment letter(having the interview time and date) and passport was checked. On getting the clearance at the appointment verification counter, we entered the consulate. Once inside, security check of all the packets and bags was done. After security clearance, we entered another room, there we could see many queues. We were asked to join a big queue at another building. And then it was a long wait for us in the sun. (almost 1.15 hours). Inside we were asked to hand over the petition(I797), MRV slips, DS156, DS157, appointment sheet and business executive program letter. They returned the memos and xerox copies of documents.
We were asked to wait for our names to be called out. We were handed back the above documents. We then proceeded to the finger printing area where in our both index fingers were scanned (Came to know later that this prints are later matched to our finger prints on arrival in US at the port of entry). On getting the finger printing done, I was made to join a line for the actual interview for the visa. There were 3 more people before me. There was a glass partition between the consular and us and there were telephone receivers at both ends of the glass partitions. There was one lady before me who was denied the visa. This made me a bit doubtful if my visa would be approved. When i reached the consular, he saw the green folder of our office and asked me regarding how long i have been with the company, what is my client name, what is my project about. He then signed on the form and said that they would be posting the passport back to us and returned the petition(I797). He retained the DS156,DS157, BEP letter, appointment sheet.
That was it. The visa was approved. But there was no change in my feelings. I was neither excited nor sad. Maybe coz I was not able to decide if it was something to feel happy about.
I came out of the consulate. Saw bhayya outside the consulate. Was very happy on seeing him. The love that my family shows on me, I really don't know if Iam worthy of it but it feels nice to see so many people care about you. We called up mom, dad, daddu and allu to inform them about the visa getting approved. Then we had our lunch and went back to pack our luggage. We had our train at 4.
12 hours of the train journey is a very wrong decision. Everyone say they get Jetlag when they travel by plane but even train journeys give jetlags. :D
I was sleeping in the office for the next full week.

November the Hectic month

November 2006 was a very busy month, with the marriage and all the deadlines at work. Also travelled to Chennai on Nov 5,6 accompanying my bro. Since it was the first time that I was flying, was naturally very excited about it. Since the flight was Deccan, there was the option of open seat. Got a window seat, it was just near the wing. Enjoyed flying and the two days in Chennai. Saw the Consulate (my appointment was for the next month). Ate mostly udipi food (the best option in any new place). Went to the beach. I think it was the Marina beach. Did not quite like it. Actually it was a bit scary in the night. There were some big packages coming out of the water. The tides were growing big.
The marriage was on Nov 12. That was another hectic journey(12 hours) by road. Did not shop much. Actually did not get the time to shop. Had made so many plans for the marriage but...
The marriage was good. Though I broke my knee by slipping on the floor there. :D
Also fell ill and could not enjoy the function completely. Came back on 13th. Had no plans of taking leave but took a day off on Monday.
The next few days were quite hectic. Had a deadline to meet and lots of work to complete , requirements were changing almost everyday and there were lots of reviews to be done. Good that the project was put on hold later coz of a huge requirement change.