My US Coming !!!

USA – I have been planning to come to this country for my higher education from more than 15 years now. I still remember my childhood talking to people that I wanted to come down to the US for my Masters. Though today I plan not only to pursue my Masters, but also my PhD here.

USA or America as we fondly call it, is a dream for quite a lot of us, especially in Gujarat, with loads of relatives being here and also hearing tales about this land in many Novels and from the many English movies I had seen…

So after close to 23 years in life, I finally came down to this Land. The journey was quite mundane, though travelling for 17 hrs at a stretch in a Boeing 777 LR, was quite an experience and especially after some favourable tail winds over the Arctic Circle which resulted in our flight reaching New York, almost an hour earlier. So after the customary procedures like customs & immigration, I was on the US Soil. The first things I noticed at the airport and also out it was the Left Hand Drive Cars (Obviously), something I had seen & driven in India too at M&M, but here all the cars, trucks & buses were LHD in their natural setting. We then took a connecting flight to Atlanta, and we got out of the airport, and my Uncle had come down to pick us up in a Lincoln Towncar, a typical American car with a V8. It was exactly as American cars were described, big & wide seats, low seating and loads of wastage of space, typical bad packaging. So after reaching her home, which was exactly as what mom had told me about, big and really beautiful, I got to see her Honda Accord Hybrid. A real good piece of technology… I also was shown around the house by my Aunt, the house was completely wooden and had attics and basement full of water / air pipes. I spent a few days in Carrolton, with a visit to Atlanta where I visited the Georgia Aquarium which is one of the biggest in the world, and also the Coca Cola Museum which was quite an experience seeing a poster of Aishwariya Rai and also tasting some 60 Coca Cola drinks from all around the world. Also in Carrolton, I got to taste the first Steak of my life, which was quite delicious.

After 4-5 fun filled days at Carrolton, I came down to Los Angeles or LA. One of the most happening places in the world !!! So after spending some anxious moments at the airport waiting for Di, we finally met her, and it felt great on seeing her after more than a year. So we went out and first saw Di’s Amazing QX 56, and then the best moment, I met Aarav. It was a totally out of the world experience to meet him. My Nephew !!! Then we drove down to Di’s home, and I was totally engrossed all along the way checking out the exotic automobiles… Di’s house being in Rancho Palos Verdes was exactly as described by Mom, and so was the way leading to it.

I then spent some really amazing days at LA, spending time with Aarav, going for countless shopping trips and also going around in LA visiting Hollywood, Universal Studios, Beverley Hills & the LA Auto Museum. Also I ate out at some really cool places in LA, and saw “The Dark Knight” at an IMAX theatre. So after some real enjoyable moments in LA, and also some nervous hours due to my Appt tragedy, I was all ready for my MS !!!

Di and Dad drove me down to San Diego, and here I saw my new Alma Matter, and fell totally in love with the place, University of California – San Diego at La Jolla !!! Now my experiences in school will continue in some other blog posting….