EXPERIENCES OF OUR FIRST VISIT TO USA : VANAM JWALA NARASIMHA RAO

EXPERIENCES OF OUR FIRST VISIT TO USA

VANAM JWALA NARASIMHA RAO

Begumpet Hyderabad to Chicago and Cincinnati

21 years ago in the year 1999 I along with my wife Vijayalaxmi (Bujji) visited USA for the first time. It was a thrilling experience in many ways. It was our first visit abroad and was almost first experience in a flight. We were visiting US on an invitation from our loving second daughter Kinnera expecting a new born (as was already known as a son). We reached America on 2^nd July.

We started off on 2^nd July (Indian Standard Time) in India and reached America also on 2^nd July (American Standard Time). My wife Bujji, could not enjoy Air India’s hosting because the day she was on board, it happened to be a FRIDAY all through and she does not take any item that might contain ‘PULUPU’ (Sour Tasting Food) that day. I really doubt whether the food served contained such a tasty one or not!

Both of us were seen off at the Hyderabad Begumpet Airport by many near and dear. Prominent among them were Bhandaru Srinivasa Rao who also happened to see off his son Sandeep to USA and to the same place Cincinnati, where we would be going.

All formalities like check-in, baggage clearance, obtaining boarding passes etc.  which a passenger is expected to go through were over within no time. We met couple of unexpected friends on board. One of them was former Munsiff Magistrate Hanumanth Rao and his daughter going to Chicago. Another one was Ms. Bhargavi with her young baby daughter to the same place in USA that is, Cincinnati. She was almost an attaché till Chicago and after that separated because of separate flights from there. An old couple, aged around 75-80 years and knowing only Telugu (that too with slant) were another attach. All of us were first time travelers abroad.

Air India transitory flight reached Bombay-Mumbai. There we had to change the craft. We got down the flight in the heavy rain that was pouring in then, got drenched before got into the bus and getting in to the lounge. It took about 45 minutes to get in to the changed craft at Bombay including obtaining fresh boarding passes. We also helped our new friends.

Back in to the craft the sojourn started. It was morning 6 am and the airhostess hosting formalities started. Coffee (black?) followed by breakfast were served. Bujji requested for milk and the air hostess responded immediately. Thus, started the friend ship between Air Hostess and Bujji till London’s Heathrow. Bujji and Jwala started recapitulating the events preceding their leaving Begumpet Airport. They expressed their gratitude to one and all that helped for their trip. The list of names would be in-exhaustive.

We fell in to sleep, only to wake up, after three-four hours for the next dose of food and beverage. Despite Indian and American times changing, we preferred to keep IST in our watches. We continued the same method until we returned to India and even in our subsequent visits.

Lunch was about to be served and I was becoming impatient. My daughter while sending the Flight tickets told me that she preferred AIR INDIA because there would be Indian food and drinks are not served. I wanted that at least one of them should go wrong. Then suddenly I remembered Dr Ranga Rao’s words that drinks would be served but on payment. Thanks to him I am equipped with a bottle in my hand baggage as there were no restrictions to carry those days. Then came the Hostess to find whether any    passenger needs Coke, Soup, or Drink (Whiskey, Beer, Wine,). So, the doubts and clouds were clear. 60 ML Chivas regal peg bottle were served. Not caring for the better half’s piercing needle like looks I started off with my quota. How much? Guess?

This continued, and continued. In between Heathrow Airport and cleaning with passengers on board and coffees, drinks, lunch/dinner and all that till the flight reached Chicago around 3 PM AST rather Chicago Time on 2^nd July (or 12-30 am IST-3^rd July).

Got down the craft and everything was new. Stood in the que for formalities. First formality was Pass Port, Visa, Ticket check. It took about half-an-hour. The lady at the counter asked as to why we had come to States? Daughter’s confinement was the answer. When? She continued. In the first week of August was the reply. She said OK, which sounded like ‘Aake’ ‘Aake’. She opened the pass ports and smiling at us stamped as “allowed till 2000 2^nd January. That is the maximum period any one at a stretch would be permitted and we both got that maximum.

Then proceeded towards the customs clearance which required to be done at the first point of dis-embarkment. All that was done in no time including locating the baggage (All four big suit cases). We were to travel from there to Cincinnati by All American Airlines from Chicago. However, our boarding passes were issued in India. Luggage would be sent directly to the changed craft on their own and need not be carried by the passengers. Thus, without luggage we proceeded towards our next terminal.

            At the Chicago Air Port the biggest challenge we had to face was ‘Escalator’ to which Bujji was totally reluctant (even now also). She somehow avoided them in Indian Airports but could not help facing them in USA. There she found two Indian Telugu girls looking for company. Both were cute and talkative. Both were first time visitors to America. Exactly that was the type of people Bujji wanted as her company. They took care of her on the ‘Escalator’ holding her in their hands.  

On the way to gate number 3, we stopped a while at a public Phone (they are plenty) to make a call to our daughter that we are in Chicago Airport. When Kinni and Kishan’s voice was heard over phone we felt that “now we are safe in America”. Then we proceeded to the Flight departure center to leave for Cincinnati. We had a wash and got the boarding passes exchanged and confirmed that our luggage was checked in to the new craft. All was easy and absolutely without any difficulty.

On board the American Airline flight from Chicago to Cincinnati, the duration of the journey which was to be an hour and half, we relaxed for a while. It was 6.45pm when it took off at Chicago (Chicago ST-Cincinnati was in different time zone). No drinks were served in the flight except some soft drinks that too on payment. So, Air India was better than American Air Lines.

It was around 8.30 pm at Cincinnati when we landed. At the sight of someone who said “Hello” and are you so and so, we were thrilled. It was Mr Prasad, Kishan’s friend who came to receive us along with Kinni and Kishan. Because Kinni was carrying, and because of which they were driving slowly, Kishan asked his friend to reach the Air Port first. Though Kinni was advised not to come to Airport she preferred otherwise. It was thrilling for both of us to see our daughter Kinnera with her husband after a long gap and first time after her marriage. She waived her hand gently and Kishan too. It was …well.no expressions.

It was very interesting to know that it was a free for all in the Cincinnati Air Port. The car came right up to the entrance and the located luggage was out of the port and in to the car in just 15 minutes. When asked whether anybody could come and take any body’s luggage the reply was ‘YES’ but “will not happen” - a quizzical answer. Nobody asked for the baggage slips, nobody asked for the tickets and no enquiry at all from any corner. We reached home in the next 45 minutes. Had a lengthy and long chit chat and talked about everyone in India.  

The first couple of days Jupudi Prasad was also with us. I and Kishan went to Lexington, where Gannamraju Venkateswar Rao, a computer Engineer from Telangana brought Jupudi from Middlesbrough (Sridevi’s Place and where Dr Shailendra was Working). We picked Prasad from there. It was two hours journey one way.  It was ‘TANA’, North American Telugu Association meeting there for the next three days. A report on TANA meeting which we attended for the first time (and may be for the last time) will follow in the next installment.