Week One (Sep 3rd-10th, '06.) here in the US has been memorable for more reasons than one. Unlike possibly quite a few others, I tried hard to come here with as blank a picture of the US as I could, so almost everything I saw around this place was new. I could straight away succumb to the age-old temptation of pitting the des versus pardes, but let's keep that for later. It would suffice to say, for now, that though the roads here are many notches above the ones we have back home, the emptiness on the streets hit me real bad. A man here, a few vehicles there, and period. Was glad to find out later that the scene is much better at the University.
The ISA, or the Indian Students Association, promptly arrived at the airport for the pickup. Thanks to Shiladitya, Niranjan and Sujit for transporting us (It turned out 4 of us landed on the same day, as against the scheduled 2 - we desis are always a crowd) and our baggages (understandably, there were quite a few of those, and as you would remember, mostly without the wheels!) from the desolate airport to a more active University Campus.
Then began a week-long period which people here call "temping" (read a period that is supposed to be a week plus/minus a couple of days, but goes into weeks quite often, during which time senior students tolerate us juniors messing around their place). That's the period when you get to know how the system here works first hand - an informal orientation of sorts - and that's when you also realise the food here is far better than what we'd have dreamt of. Desi stuff rules even in Amreeki kitchens, and we knew we'd survive this place quite comfortable, well.. atleast as far as the appetite goes. A special thanks to Suman and Ravi (the guys who made sure I had a very comfortable stay, and tolerated my bugging quite well.), as also Balaji (there are quite a few of us namesakes out here), Harsha and Naresh, who've been equally hospitable, and spared their time, and patience, to answer most of our queries while describing Cincinnati to us inside out. Picked up a few Telugu words on the way, but have to go a long way before I can claim to know the language. Almost got killed by a couple of batchmates for asking all the wrong questions, but I survived and they ended up being good friends in due course of time. All in all, Week One was very memorable in that I made a few new, and very good, friends, and digested enough info. to be able to transit to life here.
The ISA, or the Indian Students Association, promptly arrived at the airport for the pickup. Thanks to Shiladitya, Niranjan and Sujit for transporting us (It turned out 4 of us landed on the same day, as against the scheduled 2 - we desis are always a crowd) and our baggages (understandably, there were quite a few of those, and as you would remember, mostly without the wheels!) from the desolate airport to a more active University Campus.
Then began a week-long period which people here call "temping" (read a period that is supposed to be a week plus/minus a couple of days, but goes into weeks quite often, during which time senior students tolerate us juniors messing around their place). That's the period when you get to know how the system here works first hand - an informal orientation of sorts - and that's when you also realise the food here is far better than what we'd have dreamt of. Desi stuff rules even in Amreeki kitchens, and we knew we'd survive this place quite comfortable, well.. atleast as far as the appetite goes. A special thanks to Suman and Ravi (the guys who made sure I had a very comfortable stay, and tolerated my bugging quite well.), as also Balaji (there are quite a few of us namesakes out here), Harsha and Naresh, who've been equally hospitable, and spared their time, and patience, to answer most of our queries while describing Cincinnati to us inside out. Picked up a few Telugu words on the way, but have to go a long way before I can claim to know the language. Almost got killed by a couple of batchmates for asking all the wrong questions, but I survived and they ended up being good friends in due course of time. All in all, Week One was very memorable in that I made a few new, and very good, friends, and digested enough info. to be able to transit to life here.
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