India to UK-part2

We left for Birmingham instead of York from Heathrow airport for one day stay at my brother’s place to explore UK :P after 2 hours journey from London to Birmingham finally I got the chance to see my brother’s place which I have been hearing a lot from last two years. He rented single room accommodation and room was so small for an Indian to survive (at last we are fond of big rooms and huge beds :P ) but for a surprise every Indian learns to adjust with tiny room in English World.

I did bit of Shopping on my first day in UK at Birmingham shopping market(I don’t remember the name) where for the first time I saw British life. With Mr. S guidance I shopped for so called happening and in fashion clothes in UK. Well I guess that’s the good sign of more n more shopping to be done :P We finally left for York next day early morning with Mr. B(brother’s friend) in his car. To my surprise every second individual in UK owns a BMW which on contrary is hardly seen in India apart from Ludhiana(Mercedes king) or some rich people.

After 3 hours of non-stop traveling finally I was standing at University Of York main reception collecting my uni id Card. That was the moment which I waited for long. Here I am at the’ Place’- my university(after holding id Card I got the feel of calling it my University) Mr. S left after few hours helping me out with adjusting in my room and some grocery shopping. We went to “Morrisons” one of the famous chain of grocery store in UK. The Store was really huge with everything under one roof. They hardly missed out anything on store. For the first time I went crazy shopping for grocery, since I had lots of options to choose from.

At 17:00 on 6^th October 2010 the moment after Mr. S left from York was the first surprise. My room window is broken and need to be fixed soon since its freezing cold outside. I somehow managed to close it with small gap left opened. Ahhhh finally it’s me and York alone(with no wrong intentions :P). With lots of seminars lined up for freshies I end up my day in Edge Bar meeting lots of new people and fellow friends.

After almost 45 days I am enjoying my life in York with no nostalgia and lots of fun and hardwork around:P

India to UK

.....

I will be completing one month on November 5^th here in York, United Kingdom .Things have changed completely in a way that nothing is same. When I left India on 4^th October night (INDIA GST) my excitement was at its peak. It has to be as I was getting closer to my dream. Finally I was heading for my master’s to UK. That one feeling was enough to drive me through that phase of leaving family and friends. On my arrival at London Heathrow airport everything was new and exciting. As shown in Bollywood films, the first feel of air was ‘the moment’J. Happily I called my brother to inform my arrival and to my surprise he will take another two hour to reach airport. According to him I will take another one hour to clear immigration and baggage collection. But all got over in next 15 minute: P and as a result I was asked to wait for next two hour.

London airport is pretty huge with 5 terminals connected by free transit service. As per my brothers order I had to travel from terminal 3 to 5 with my entire luggage (3 bags each 23 kg) through transit without any trolley to carry the cases. Without any assistance I somehow managed to reach terminal five successfully. In the meantime he was still an hour away from airport. It took me 45 minutes for transit: P. Finally at this point I was out of balance on my number making international calls. Using Indian traits I managed to ask one elderly Sikh couple for their mobile to make one local call to inform Mr S (my brother) about my location at terminal 5.

Here I was sitting at London airport waiting for my brother. Everything was the same as described in movies, novels. Glaring around the surrounding for initial few minutes, I felt numb. It was freaking cold: P. I just felt like shouting – ‘please switch off the AC’:P :P :P :P. Sitting at one corner next to costa coffee all alone in new place, finally it was the time when I realised what I left back in India. What I am going to miss big time? Past few years just captured my thoughts and in next few moments I found my eyes filled with tears (nothing surprising) .Finally they had to come out.

It was not the first time I left my home but it was the first time I left India. That one hour made me realise that I won’t be seeing all my people (friends and family) for next one year. After four years in SRM, here I was again for new start. Isha four years ago and Isha now shared some thoughts. There was excitement, anxiety, fear prevailing around. But one thing is different, now I have those special relations to miss which were developed in SRM in past four years.

Suddenly i feel a touch of someone’s hand at my shoulder. Ahhhh finally Mr S is here with his friend and in next second I am walking with him towards car park. Out of all thoughts, speechless just walking besides him and controlling my emotions, hiding my tear ………………………………………………

To be continued…