As usual I had conversed with my son Sarathi, from USA over the phone and it went around many matters about our family.In the midst, I had told our inability to go over there as the whole family and incidentally I dropped a word that rather I could go alone to see my grand children,especially my grand daughter Yahvi, I have not seen her since her birth.
My husband who was sitting by my side, suddenly agreed to my words and asked me to fix it with Sarathi. He continued saying,that he would look after all the household duties including my elder son's needs and other duties pertaining to our house there. He was confident about him but worrying about my travelling alone.
Following this conversation, after two days, my son sent an email on 30th of March 2014, asking me to send all the details about my passport and visa docs . I had replied to it by the next email on that day itself.
To my grate surprise, he sent an email on 4th of April,2014, saying that he had purchased round the tour tickets for me to USA via Kuwait Airways, and the tickets have been confirmed for my travel on 23rd of April 2014 to New York in USA,where his family is living now.
I have never thought that he would take that quick decision and fixed the deal. But i have to agree that is the character of my loving son Sarathi. He cares and give respect for others' feelings.
I was very much moved and very happy to my son's and my daughter-in-law Sangeetha's invitation to their home in New York.
On the other side i was very much worried about leaving my husband to take care of my elder son Balu and other household duties all alone by himself. But my husband was good enough to encourage and give his consent to me to proceed to US.
Then started my itinerary for the travel.Going to abroad means, it is a custom to take some Indian commodities whether it i s needed for them or not , given to the relatives or friends as a token of love, some home made needs, dresses for my self wear, clothes for my lovely grand kids and of course small gifts to my son and my d-in-law,our south Indian sweets were to be purchased and dumped in to my travel bags. My husband & Balu came with me patiently for shopping these items. The day of my travel was nearing.
Our Sambandi Sri.Rajagopal also came to our help. Leaving all his duties he came from Theni to send off me. He helped a lot in arranging the goods neatly in my travel boxes. My thanks to him. He had also brought some goods to be given to her daughter and her children.
We were all very much excited on the eve of my journey that is on 22nd of April 2014. I had to be at the Airport on the early morning of 23rd of April ,4 hrs, prior for the departure. After saying my prayers to God for my safe journey, I took leave of my husband , Balu and Theni mama, though they all had come with me to the airport to send me off. we came to the airport at 1 A.M.on 23rd of April.
As per rules , I went inside the airport while they stayed outside the lounge . At that time check in process was going on for the United Arab Emirates ' passengers. I was told at 3,o' clock only ,the counters of Kuwait Airways would be open for check in. I told the matter to my husband, but he said that they would wait until my check -in was over and seeing me going to the terminal gate. So it happened that both the side had to wait for nearly 3 hrs.
As I had requested for the wheel chair assistance, One of the assistant from Kuwait Airways came to my help, accompanied me to the counter, made the verification of my flight docs and getting my boarding passes to US ,easier. At last I got my boarding pass, one up to Kuwait and another one from there to J.F.K, New York, and my luggage for check in.
Then I told my husband that I have got the boarding pass and I have been moving to the terminal gate. Then only they were relieved from their tension and departed saying "good bye " to me.
My flight took off late by 20 mins to the scheduled time and arrival to Kuwait also delayed by 20 mins. My connecting flight to US was to take off at 10 A.M.as per the local time. I became worried. But airport assistants were very good and one of them took me by wheel chair to the gate 10 mins before " it's take off " . I thanked him a lot . One more thing I have to add here is he did not ask even a rupee for his service unlike our Indian airport assistants. I had paid rs.100 for the person who assisted me to get wheel chair assistance in India while going over to US. The Flight journey was good by Kuwait Airways. The crew people were kind and polite and served good Hindu Vegetarian food as per request,from time to time.
To my interest I list some of the items I ate during the travel.
Breakfast: Poha Uppuma, bread with butter, a small dosa, tea ,coffee or juice-any one. If you need you can ask for another cup.
Meals: Green rice, Paneer Korma, Dhal vegetable salad bread with butter, some dessert with some drink like coffee,tea or orange juice
Likewise I had been served one breakfast and two meals i the flight while travelling from Kuwait to New York.
This time I enjoyed my travel . To my luck, four or five lady passengers were south Indians. When we were waiting for the flight in Chennai, one lady asked me "Are you going to Kuwait Or America". I answered " I am going to New York in America, to visit my younger Son's family and to stay with them for few months." One said "I am going to New Jersey to see my daughter and her family". Like that our conversations were continued and we became closer during our journey. We talked about some interesting subjects during the travel.
In between a hostess supplied an immigration form and requested us to fill it up completely with due information. I had filled it up in 10 mins, as I had previous experience and helped two of the ladies to fill up ,as they were coming for the first time and new to this procedure.
Though I was quite good to the atmosphere, my body began to realize its tiredness.My back and knees were hurting. During those times I simply would get up and walk on the narrow passage for few mins and return back to my seat. Some times I had a small nap as i did not get sleep in the flight. I have been counting the travel time to reach the destination point. At 3.00 P.M we were requested that every one should put on their seat belt and should not wander here and there, as the flight would reach it's destination in an hour.
After a long journey of nearly one day ,our Flight arrived and landed on J.F.K.Airport In New York at 4.00 P.M as per scheduled time. Now i was relaxed and was very happy without any trouble that i had reached my son'place . My heart was filled with joy that i was going to meet my son and his family after along time.
Here also I have got wheel chair assistance, so that all the paraphernalia at Immigration and at customs had been finished in some mins, after picking my luggage, I came out of the airport to see my son, full of eagerness in my eyes. On seeing my son Sarathi came upon jumping towards me, joyfully,caught my hands and greeted me and gave me a warm welcome. My heart was brimmed with joy. At the same time a question dotted in my mind,reading my thoughts, he said Sangeetha had gone to pick my grand children from school and she would come straight to our home and we could meet them . Then i became calm .
We had reached his home in Brooklyn in half an hour. When I descended from the car, Sangeetha my d-in-law, running towards me screaming "Amma, how are you? After 4 years a i am seeing you, saying, hugged me and invited me in to their home. She introduced me to my grand son Madhav Ojas, without hesitation, he ran to me, hugging me, asking me" How are you Paatti? Why did you not bring Thatha and Big Appa(my elder son Balu)?" Then asked the next question " did you bring Laddu for me? Amma told me that you would bring lot of Laddus". I said Yes I will give you lot off sweets and toys once i opened the box.
Ojas is very cute and talks politely and very intelligent for his age.I love him very much. Princess of our house my grand daughter, on seeing me, smiled gently from a distance. She is very cute.
Thus i joined my son and his family and going to enjoy myself with them for a few months. I will mingle and participate in my grand children's activities in my coming days.
Still I have one more responsibility before finishing. I need to inform about my safe arrival to son's place to my husband in India. He would be very much worried about my reach here. Readily my son dialed the number and gave it to me to talk to Appa, saying my safe arrival. I talked to him that I had reached US safely.
Then I had distributed what all i had brought for my son and his family, and I had my dinner. I had not have that much jet-lag. I have been talking with my son Sarathi and Sangeetha and went to bed at 12 pm peacefully.
This is the narration of my travel experiences for the 4th time to USA, that too travelling oversees alone for the very first time.
The frontage of the house where My son Sarthi's family lives in Brooklyn, in New York.
A street with beautiful greenaries in Brooklyn city.
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