Parents trip to America

Prelude:- The first time I left the soil of America in April 2004, I knew I would be back, not single but with my parents. Yes, that I knew for sure that the next time I come to US, I needed to get my parents. Well I came again and left within 5 months and then came again on the 14th May 2005. This trip my dear friend Sujata who also wanted to get her parents coaxed me into filing the papers (well coaxed me because I was on a short trip, and the dates for visas were after 4 months). After all the papers were send and I prepared my parents for the interview and the all the help from immihelp website and my sister they finally got their visas on Aug 29th(lucky day- my mom's bday). Summer was officially coming to an end but I did not know if I would get a chance again and so I coaxed them to fly. Their tickets were booked for the Sept 11th 2005.

Sept11th2005: I was all excited for their arrival and went to the JFK airport. Flight (Air India) usually arrives by 3pm, my idea was to take them back via train. I knew they would be very excited as it was thier first trip in a flight :) I entered the airport and looked at the arrivals. No mention of Air India. A flight could be delayed that I can understand but not to be listed was not something I thought I would have to handle.
A little while later an Air India flight attendant mentioned that the flight was bird struck at London and had to make an emergency landing and there was no ETA.
What I could do but wait. From evening 3 to 6 and still no news. Anxious monemnet passed by al the while talking to Gopi on the pay-phone and he reasuuring me. Finally at 8pm they announced that the flight was diverted to Chicago from London. Immigration check would happen at Chicago and then a domestic flight would bring them to JFK. Finally at 3 am the flight landed at JFK. My parents were happy to see me and I was relieved to see them. A note here-when the flight changed from London to Chicago they got to travel First Class as economy was full(first surprise). As it was late at night I knew I would not get any trains. It so happened there was another couple who wanted to travel to Hartford and there were lots of limo drivers, so we shared an actual limousine. So the first time my parents travelled from JFK to Stamford was in a limousine(second surprise).

The first thing I did was to buy a pre-paid cell phone. The first trip I organized with my ever reliable Chinatown bus tours was NewHaven,Rhode Island,NewPort,Boston. I was a good 2 day weekend trip. I also wanted to familiarize them with the China town buses as they would be travelling their future trips with them.
Their next trip was Niagara Falls. I dropped them at NY at the bus office and picked them back the next day. The next trip was to Philadelphia-Washington D.C. The got some Indian company and enjoyed it well. One of the weekends was also kept to visit our friends in Philly whom I regularly visit when I am in the east Coast.
One weekend we went to Yale University and Mohegan Sun.
Fall had started and Gopi came to vist them, we planned a trip of White Plains and New Jersey, while returning we stopped at Atlantic City. Dad wanted to play but as it was late we had to go back. We also went all the way to North Hampshire to see the fall leaves.
One weekend I decided to show them around New York, I had a couple of places in mind. As soon as we reaced Grand Central there was a whole lot of extra crowd and we could see that some sort of shooting was going on. I was not very keen as I was detaling the plan. Suddenly my mom exclaimed, look its Karan Johar and next to him Shah Rukh Khan and yes indeed. They were shooting for Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna. We saw them at very close quarters and then went to see the Statue of Liberty. On return from there we saw Rani Mukherjee. After this star studded show we managed to go to Empire State Bldg, UN Bldg, wax Musuem,Times Square and then back home.

The long trip that I had planned for them was California. Mom,dad and me flew from here and Gopi joined us there. Our first stop was Universal Studios at LA, the next day was Sea World at San Diego. The third day we drove through Yosemite Park to SFO. The fourth day we spend time at Ghiradelly, Golden gate bridge, rose garden before flying back to Stamford.
Oct end they flew back to India.
I was very happy and thrilled with their visit and that I could manage to show them all these places.

Crazzzzzzzzzzzy Volleyball

I was no master to the game, infact I did not even know how to hold a ball in my hand.
I am an athelete at heart having all the desires to do great but I have never got into the actualities of playing.
I am not a sportsperson just because of the very few outdoor games that I play but the energy and enthusiasm that I have is confirmation enuf that if I had the proper foundation for being one I would be pretty damn good at it.

My baby Nephew

Jan 18th 2008: A Friday- I clearly remember this day as this week-end I had decided not to travel to Pune from Mumbai over the week-end. I was travelling continuously for the past 2 months and was very tired. I clearly needed some rest for myself. And just 2 days before gee had called telling that Jithan wanted to visit Mumbai and so they both would come here and it was our responsiblity to take them around. It was Friday nite at office and i couldnt wait for the day to get over to go home. Gee mentioned he would be calling me before they leave around 7:30 ish. 

I was having a client call and my cell started vibrating. Well as it would jus tbe my uncle I thought of taking the call after the call was done in about 10 minutes. That is when the new mesage icon flashed on my cell and on opening it was my sister telling they were going to the hospital for her delivery. I was thrilled but it also meant I would have to travel to Pune again but so what......I called them back and they were on their way to the hospital. Mom said that my bro-in-law was flying in from delhi and since his flight would get him to Mumbai we should all come together.

I immediately called my bro-in-law who said his flight would reach by 1 pm at night and we could meet him at the airport.At 1:00 midnite myself and Gopi went to the airport all the while in between calling to ask how she was and if the baby was born, but it looked like even the baby was waiting for us to reach :). Wwe reached the airport at around 2am, the same time the flight reached. A car was already waiting for us- so in we all hopped and reached Pune directly to the Jehangir hospital at 5:30 am in the morning.

19th Jan 2008: We directly went to the Maternity section and the hospital was empty except for one lone stranger who was sleeping in the waiting room. Apart from him there was Anil, my aunt and my mom inside with my sis. I went inside to take a look and she was asleep with the pain :(. My dad and others were at home and they would come in the morning. My mom asked me and Gopi to go home and get some rest and come back in the morning, even though I did not want to go I reluctantly agreed but the next train was only at 6:30, so we sat doing a lot of time-pass there actually debating whether it was a boy or a girl. We all voted for a girl except for Vijay and Anil who said it would be a boy. At 6:15 am some of the nurses came for a check-up and said that the baby would be delivered soon, so then we decided to stay , but nothing seemed to be happening and as we were very hungry we went and had some poha and tea at the restaurant just outside. it was 8:30 by now, there was a India-Australia match going on and Australia was playing very well with no one getting out so much of our conversation was even directed there.by this time the waiting room was full of people. I was very tired and managed to cuddle at a corner. I just got a nap when at 9:20 my mom came out and said that they had taken my sis to the labour room and it would soon happen. I couldnt sleep after that and me and Vijay were waiting outside the labour room. Even the security lady waiting outside was anxious and she went inside to check and after some time came out telling the baby was born. I ran to tell my mom, Gopi and others. Then they called my mom inside with a towel and soap and oil and she came out and told us it was a boy. Soon the doctor followed telling it was a boy and both mother and son were fine. Then they called the father and us inside to take a look at the newborn. There he came out with a pretty lady nurse all wrapped in a white towel outside to this NEW WORLD!