Phew!! I am there and it's three hours to go. After a long spell of packing, meeting, cheering and jeering and a very warm and sentimental farewell from all my family, friends and well wishers, I entered the Delhi Airport's Departure terminal for the first time in my life.

The thought of the first International journey of my life was absolutely thrilling and I was raring to go. Check in was smooth and my baggage was just fine (I had really lost lots of calories thinking about it) and was wondering that I could have brought much more stuff from back home if I knew these guys were so nice (talking about Air France - dunno others). I really felt relieved after the baggage check-in because it took almost 70 kg of weight from my shoulders. Well mom and dad said carry little cash in Indian Rupees just in case "- you know what I mean", anyway Immigration was all about a small form with basic details to be filled in, a 15 minute wait in the queue and a 2-3 minute chat with the Immigration officer about my plans and the place I was going. He placed an Immigration Check on my passport and I was out. Further Customs, Security Check (which involved demand for a kharcha paani) and I was at the departure lounge waiting to fly for the first time in my life. Didn't take much time and I found myself sitting in a comfortable seat on an Airbus A 340. The plane took off and I was off to a new place, a new land which I always saw as the land of fulfillment of dreams - USA.

The flight was tiring and I couldn't get much sleep but it was great for the stomach -- really loaded with drinks and food. I went through a brief stopover at Paris which was my first glimpse of a foreign country and really looked different, the people and the place were both very beautiful. Only missed one thing - Drinking Water.

After a brief stop-over and a small round of getting fresh I was on board the plane to America. Another 8 hours which involved filling 2 very important forms (Customs and I-94) one of which I am supposed to carry all through my stay in US. Very soon the plane came to a screeching halt at Altanta and I found myself at the Busiest airport in the world which caters to about 5000 flights a day. There were seemingly long queues for Immigration and I was surprised that being 20th in the queue means you'll be through in 15 minutes (America is fast). The people were real nice and equally good were the self explanatory boards and signs. I picked up my baggage and went through US Customs which was smooth sailing since I didn't have anything to declare.

Finally I was out breathing fresh air and waiting for a shuttle to the domestic terminal to my final destination (it was a space shuttle which I realized later after getting into it). The last leg of the journey which was a domestic flight from Atlanta to Gainesville was the most adventurous since the plane was small and there was a big amount of turbulence, it sure felt like a ride at Appu Ghar. Finally after 25 hours of travel I reached Gainesville with a big sigh of relief and to the welcome of my seniors for whom I don't have enough words of appreciation. I was overwhelmed to be taken to my place of accommodation on a Saturn which sure looked like one of the Bond Cars, and boy! the big streets, it was an awe-inspiring experience. I had a pretty good ride about the city and also a good first look at the University which was big BIG. Finally I reached my destination and a senior from my department was waiting for me with a big buffet all ready. Had a grand Indian feast and then made a call back home using a complimentary card from AT & T "Mom I am here -safe and sound"

Nitin Ahuja

Letter 2

Note to readers: The word "senior" when used by a student from India merely means someone who is ahead of you in the academic program.