The first Thanksgiving!

A blog a month!

Bad strategy, I know...lost the blogging track so badly. No posting, no following.

Someone's said I have engaged myself in absolutely mundane activities, which are of no use...agree!absolutely!

Mmmm..Not pondering much on that, my this post's about all new things and new experiences....

Sunday Night; sadness that the weekend's over and a recap on what all happened in the weekend, weekend'd be wrong-the thanksgiving break!

Weekend's normally start from friday, but being thanksgiving the holidays were declared from thursday...

People started for vacation out of state  and the others waited eagerly for 'the black friday'..and so were us...

Had heard about thanksgiving back in India...Electronic goods, clothes everything at throw away prices...We all were so excited. The holiday feeling was ON on tuesday itself, for one of the friends was leaving for Texas... we all were so excited about his going... Having relatives here's a boon...You can go to relative X's place then relative X will take you to place Y and then at some time Z relative X will come to visit you, take you for shopping and blah blah...which unfortunately I cant take a privilege of...coz the X element's missing. :P

Wednesday was a real bad day, me down with cough and cold and  people saying 'Todays class got cancelled coz of Thanksgiving'...Watching Inception with that heavy head made it more bad(doesn't mean Inception was bad). With the end of the class I thought it was the end of the day...Half dead on the way home my friends tell that we are going to Deathly hallows HP today. Everyone was ready to kick start the vacation, except me..Yes, everyone must be aware of the famous quote 'When all is well, Nameera is not well' :P

One was going for seniors birthday party and the remaining were eagerly waiting for the movie...so, I was left with no option stale at home/Go for HP.

I played drama for an hour..after  Saradon/ zandu balm, Oil in hair, muffler round the neck, monkey cap, gloves and sweater...When they were booking the tickets online, I felt I am not doing that bad, I can see the movie.

Theatre wasn't Ohh Ahhhh Great..but the good thing was in a theatre of capacity of 500 people, they were only 30-40 seats were filled. Choose your own seats..What an awesome place for love birds, all silent, dark, no people around watch movie if you want and paying the regular movie ticket price you get the experience of watching the movie alone..Ahem!I hope I don't adopt Pesto Sauce's writing trait in some days.. 

HP was disappointing, very much this time...each time I watch it, I say 'the previous one was better'...Or may be I didn't like it coz my over excited  Potter Sis wasn't beside with me to answer my stupid questions during the movie.

The day started at One noon on thursday, Siva(the most notorious here :P...the next blog or when I am most bored I'd write about new people here) bought a seniors car. Thank God, we got the car, walking  in snow would have been for all of us..The fella took a day long time, it was a surprise to all his roomies...Me and my roomie knew it... we kept him calling whole day, he came in the evening 7 and we come to know that the car was parked yesterday itself in front of the apartment...Huh!

The other roomie in the same house bought the car on the same day in the afternoon...but we were much excited about this car coz it was our own...parked in front of our apartment.

It was raining and Rahul the pujari of our group did Pooja, Did aarthi, put Kum kum, turmeric and rice grains on the car... and I too kept my holy book in it.

The day doesn't end here...Midnight starts the day we were waiting eagerly for, since the time we were in India-'Black Friday'. 

We went to Walmart with our beloved seniors Randeep and Srikanth.. I didnt find clothing very interesting, no brand makes it all dull...so was walmart, they were few good deals on Electronic goods, We had no plans to stay there whole night, but one of my friend stood stubborn there for the Sony Camera, which had a queue and the distribution of the camera would start at 5 AM.
Three in the group were tired and went into the car to sleep...we sat down in the queue for the GPS, few people slept in the queue.

With people the weather too went off the track, it snowed and it was so chilly. I can never forget that frozen moment, where I was just wearing a fleece Jacket, Siva trying to open the lock for five minutes and Shree jumping, to save himself cold, shouting...'Oh man...open it! Open it!!'
We came back at six thirty in the morning, slept for two hours and then again started for shopping-Sommerset Mall...all brands International brands together made confused Nameera more confused and thanks to Siva for holding bags and running across the stores...Others had no patience, my roomie gave up the very first time we went for shopping... :P
Bought few things for siblings... It felt good in buying not big but atleast something from the big stores- Abercrombie, Victoria Secrets. Didn't buy anything for self( no! not gaining sympathy...shopped for self almost everytime we go to a mall...so this times minused me).
Saturday, the bakra had to be halal'd, trapped Siva for the treat for his new car and the fella did pay a huge amount as a newbie; not earning anything.
Sunday, when I got up I found that my eyes were all red and watering...I stopped using lenses a month back coz of the same reason and I used it a day before and it started again.

Everybody had something for thanksgiving, I had Eye drops and and...Pharmacy's here are not like India, limited to medicines...they're huge and have more Skin/Hair care, toilettery than medicines. So, there was a sale on Loreal products and I got a lip color for 2 point something dollars... ;)

Of all things about thanksgiving, If I'd wait for thanksgiving the next year its the thanksgiving dinner/Lunches..I'd like to thank all those who fed me Turkey and yummy salads. I am in love with a salad called 'Coleslaw'...I will make it definitely and eat daily...my senses cant forget that taste still...Yumm!!!

Naya desh and the savings account.

It's been more than a month since I  set foot in this country.
A month gone by and it still feels it was yesterday I landed.
With a wide scope of all the things I observed,Tissue Paper Country is the best term i can use for the country.

The rustic hyderabadi initially find it too difficult to say hi and smile at every stranger passing by. The country's all about Hi!Howdy! In other words hollow and plasticity...lacking emotions...two days and I learned their amenities too." Hi!How are you?" to strangers and "sorry" if you touch them accidentally. Courtesy++!

The first two days, the only thing I blabbered on phone to everyone was 'Kya mummy tissue paper'.
I wonder if USA is actually so concerned about the 'Go Green, Go paperless' concept... then why not Go green, Go without tissue to the loo.? Ah!I seriously don't have any problem using tissues, but spending 16$ on the kitchen rolls, and something similar on the toilet rolls too...bwah!

Water!!!!God! If you look for water, you'll get things better than water BUT nothing less than 1.5$. In this corner they save water... :P I carry a bottle everyday ;)

Now that I am all talking about money, I'll pen down  how I save it or how I stop it getting it out of my account...
*Fill the coffee mug full, infact till the milk overflows the cup.. every time I buy a coffee...no!no I am not buying coffee every day, rarely. One thing I remember when I say coffee, Monika(my roomie) adds all the flavors to the coffee whenever we buy one, Poor chick ends up giving it to someone else before she reaches half  the mug, no, that someone else isn't me..ok! ;P

*Take all the coffee flavor sachets, mayonees/sauce all the packets whatever for free near the coffee table.
Free stuff...never leave it...that's the policy till now.
(My stupid sister cried the last time I told her about the free mayonees ..don't cry Hums the mayoness isn't worth your tears, it's only worth the stupid bread I eat in the morning)

*Free chocolates-I never liked chocolates till now, I remember papa eating all of them at night, coz I use to say 'no,not now' every time and keep them in the freezer. Few stores here at the billing  desk have free chocolates in colorful wrappers and every time i go there I make sure I have one in my mouth before the starting of  purchase and two in my pocket at the time of billing. Initially it looked weird, but now...I go and take them proudly.
Ahem!Ahem...when  this blog was lying somewhere in the drafts, infact yesterday, when i gave a visit  to the same shop...the  man at the counter  said-'those chocklates aren't for free...'  I kept arguing that i take them for free in the evening, that's when the owner of shop's present...the fella at the desk informed that those chocklates are of 30 cents and imagine i've been to the shop 20 times plus...  :P

*Soft board Pins-I take one/two of different color each day I go to the university from the notice board. Trying to make a collection out of it :P

*The hand sanitizer-They're hand sanitizers on the walls and I don't use it for my hands but I take it and put it on someone's face who's around...that's fun. I used it on my hands couple of days, I didn't find it good..so I stopped. Ah! That doesn't matter, I am using it is what matters ;)

*Free samples at Fieldhouse desk- Field house is where we spend time after the class...waste time actually. Sports, Gym and all.. so, here at the check in desk every week they're free samples of shampoo/conditioner, perfume kept...even if guys forget taking it  I take one for them each day till the samples get over. sadly, didn't get any girly stuff  there till now.

For now digest this...
khadoos H1ites  will come up as  soon as i encounter any stupid Indians trying to act  smart or blah blah..when  my blood'd boil and when I can write all Beeep beep stuff :P

All love and Care,
Nameera.

NIGHTMARE

Dear Readers,


Till I get my own lappy adjust with the flat not so entertaining blogs from me...
Hyd jet airways flight:The flight got twenty five minutes delayed. Papa accompanied me till delhi... got a non reclining seat poor papa..'the jnnurm bus service in hyderabad is ten times better'

Landed at Delhi, seeing it I felt proud, Delhi Airport stands noway in comparision to the Rajeev Gandhi International Airport at Hyd..Didn't see the complete Delhi Airport but with whatever this is my opinion
Saw Mummy Sis Hums crying at the Hyd airport, now it was papa's turn...
with the whole send off experience and till I boarded the DELHI-FRANKFURT flight, I bet any director will buy my script for a sequel of Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham...In other words, I'd have never left India if I knew I'd get so many surprises and haha so many tears, pappis and jhappis.

I was supposed to take the DEL-FRA plane from Terminal-3; yes the newly opened terminal...Now the question was 'Can papa come till Terminal-3?' THE GMR bus would drop me till terminal-3, but only the passengers; meant papa can't accompany me further. There was no such moment I felt this sad, pity...we bribed the driver to let papa in...he didn't accept it..I knew this were the last moments with papa in India..he saw us... Indians...anything big than emotions and Love ..?No!He let papa in to the bus. We were so so happy! Papa kept saying 'I am a brave girl..' All the way in the bus I held papa's and in mine and my my head on his shoulder. Holding his hands I missed someone's touch...Mommy! I missed those cuddly soft hands...I heard something back my mind then..the kuch kuch hota hai's MAA tone(where the girl anjali's got to speak few words on 'Mother' in a competition..) Movies are not drama...they are real, each little thing inspired from real life.
Terminal 3: Papa will have to leave now, He did a bye bye, I warned him not to cry ..so he didn't the time spent in the bus till terminal 3 was enough to ward sorrow off.
He didn't go till I got my luggage checked in...we kept in touch on phone..he stood at the same get where we both got separated from each other...a security guard with a riffle in hand the big glass gate separating a daughter-father...Am I getting dramatic? My masters degree taking me aloof from all my loved ones.
I got my bags checked in I called papa, we waved hands; and when I called papa the next moment..It showed 'Unavailable' Papa's cell phones battery was dead. Mum, Sis and Farin kept bugging me on cell and all my balance ended there with the roaming on.

Immigration check and all formalities done...I went to the washroom..The cleaner lady there greeted everyone..'Namaste..' I talked to her for few minutes and told 'Aap akhri bharatiya naari ho jisse main India mein baat kar rahi hoon...'

Boarded the plane, thankfully I got an aisle seat..I came to know it that time, what an aisle seat means..sis explained me ten times...and when I boarded DEL-FRA and when she asked me 'did u get an aisle seat..?' I asked her what is it? ;P
Papa, Sis and Mummy called again when I was seated in the plane. Papa called from the telephone booths 5-6 times in a duration of half an hour..through Mum I came to know how much he walked for the booths and how a taxi driver gave him his phone.. :((
Nothing much on television I slept..I always fancied about the flights when JK told me about his hectic business schedule ones..Now I know what pain they are!Huh! The train experience and people on train, their spicy chats were much better than the 'mind your own business' passengers in the plane.
FRANKFURT Airport: I wanted to study in Germany, US was never a goal..I was happy that atleast I am getting to visit the country. And now..now! I HATE GERMANY! I hate those dehaati Germans who hardly understand english and shout shout bark at passengers.

Landed at 7:30 there and I was supposed to take the next flight at 8:10, good news was I had to board in from the same terminal but bad news was..my flight was Lufthansa under it written operated by United Airways so the flight number 'd change again and there was no help desk and the people I asked either didn't knew English or were shouting saying- 'I am doing my work here can't you see..' That was so rude. I didn't find that attitude at Indian Airports, infact the Indian crew there gave more importance to the foreigners. That's what you call 'Atithi Devo Bhava'..If any foreigner reading it..it means-'A guest is equal to God'

Incredible India!
With my trolley bag and leather jacket and bagpack I ran through the transits..I was sweating. A-60 was the gate..more big the number...more you have to run to catch the flight. I went to the gate and asked for a boarding pass...with only ten minutes for the plane to take off, the lady there started asking me n- number of questions..nationality..you carrying drugs which was all scary, adding to that the guy at the counter beside gave me the wrong boarding pass. I boarded the plane, asked the air hostess my seat number and seeing the boarding pass she replied 'this is not your boarding pass for this plane..' My face turned multicolored. I showed her my ticket and requested her that I wont get off from this plain what ever happens coz I have the ticket with me...Thankfully nothing more dramatic happened and I got a middle sit this time..in the mid row..which was ugggggh! Seven plus hours there and the next destination will be Chicago.
CHICAGO AIRPORT: Landed at about 10:30. The scenario at the Customs and the security check was like at our raithu bazaar(farmers market), people of different color, creed, country-blacks, whites and the brown dotted pink chicks :p..

+400 people at the customs check...And now starts the drama..Chicago being 'the port of entry'I was supposed to check in my luggage again. I went to the carousel searching for my luggage..and turning the horrible experience into a terrible one.. I found no bags of mine on the carousel. Some man showed me claim bag section, I told him that it was Air India's counter, he told me that missing baggage tracking counter is the same. Like a fool I stood in the queue for half an hour..and when my turn came the lady at the counter pointed her pen and said 'this is for Air India passengers only'.

One hour left to board another plane, luggage missing, no boarding pass in hand...and every gora saying 'I am not the right person you are asking..'
Thirty minutes left for boarding..Sticking to the lady at the baggage claim's words I forgot about the luggage..went to the security check in and the guard there told me that I am not allowed unless I have a boarding pass..Last time I was given the boarding pass at the gate :( I was asked to go to other terminal to get the boarding passes. Staff at the help desk busy with their colas chatting with each other..they told me its a self service at the other counter to get the boarding pass. I was already mad and now was asked to play with the machine. In that state of mind even dialing a phone number seemed as complex as understanding a JAVA program for an electronics student. A Indian crew member saw me struggling and helped me..some relief! I had the boarding pass..now again go back to the same terminal I came from for the security check..Queue again! I requested people and got in front..No time and they ask to remove the shoes too...huh! I was in now, in the safety zone..Find out the gate your plane is at..F-11. Wow!no A,B,C,D,E but EFFFFFF! Ran ran and ran again..I wanted to change my shirt..24+ hours and the same shirt, no brushing the teeth or washing the face. The last run was over and I was at the gate before five minutes....freshed up and the next priority was to call the family..took quarters(25 cents) from the man who was mopping the floor. Unlike India the greedy States Govt doesn't ISD service at the telephone booths..You got to buy an international dialling card to do that. Lootere saale, jahan se kheechni hai kheech lo!
So! This was my first International flights experience -NIGHTMARE!
I pray even the enemies don't experience anything like this..Not even Obama!

For Indians:
Pappis Jhappis
Lots of love
Nameera. ;)

Blog written: On the first night in USA, when I was experiencing Jet lag.