Going in a Jet Plane:

A couple of weeks ago I got my US business Visa processed through my Company for an assignment in the US. I was asked to get ready to leave to the US in 2 days time. I was bit uneasy at that time since the notice was very short and I do not know anyone to help me out in there. Fortunately or unfortunately the trip got cancelled at that time. Two weeks later I was asked to get ready to leave again, only this time the time given was less than a day for me to pack and leave to one of coldest places in US, Minneapolis.

Though I was thrilled by the fact that I was privilaged to be the first guy from my company to go on for an assignment abroad, I was a bit uncomfortable as I could not call up the few contacts I have there, due to lack of time. A friend of my friend, when contacted had promised to come to the airport to pick me up and provide shelter for a few days before finding a place of my own. Lucky I had a good soul at least to tell this. I was completely banking on him to help me out when I arrive there.

As I got ready in a single day, there are lot of things to be done and even at the company my manager and CEO was trying to give me as much information as possible before I leave. When I left for the airport even I was a bit sentimental as some of the guys at the office are not going to be there when I come back from US. There was a large crowd to give a send off to me at the airport including Kathir. I boarded the flight to Mumbai around 8.00 PM.

That was the first flight I took in my life. I landed at the Mumbai airport around 11.00, a delay of 20 Minutes. I panicked for a moment, whether I would be able to reach the flight in time. The airport it self has arranged shuttle service to the international airport. I had ample of time to get through the security check and immigration. The flight started from the airport around 2.30 AM from Mumbai towards Amsterdem.

Considering the fact, this was my first flight journey, it was surprisingly comfortable. It was a 8 hr long journey and I slept for 5 hr. The rest of the time I was watching a movie. I really thought of having some good conversation with the fellow traveller, but no words was spoken till I landed at the Amsterdem. I really regret not starting a conversation with the gorgeous lady sitting next to me. I reached Amsterdem at 6.30 AM local time and my flight was scheduled at 1.05, so had to wait at the airport for 6 hours. The airport at the Amsterdem was huge, and I simply roamed around the place for almost 2 hours watching awe the magnitude of airport and the people who came there.

Another 9 hours of travel from Amsterdem landed me at Minneapolis. I had a easy time with at the immigration and at the security check. When I came out of the airport and trying to figure out how to contact Prassana, the friend who told that he would pick me up, an Indian voice said Hi from my side. To my relief Prassanna was waiting for me, worried, how am I going to call him after coming out of the immigration. He took me straight to his home. I contacted couple of friends of mine and convey the message back home, sent a couple of emails to inform my friends that I had reached safely.

On the whole, my first trip abroad had been quite comfortable, thanks to my friends at office and Prassanna, now it is with me to make the trip a good success in the next couple of weeks with the client. Hope I could do that.