US

My USA visit [October, 2013]

For my US visit, I had to get my VISA approval from Hyderabad office, during August last week. I had to visit US-VISA office (near Chiran Fort Rd, in Begumpet) for biometric & photograph, twice (in two consecutive days).

Flight for Delhi (form BBSR) was at 2pm, on 1^st October, 2013. That day, I asked Prof. Braja Kar to pick me up and drop at BBSR airport at 12.30. Mita had packed everything. Reached airport on time. As I had sufficient time, I wrote to all my Colleagues, disclosing for the first times about my USA visit. Facebook response was instantenuous, huge, and quite inspiring. Reached Delhi by 5 PM. I had to wait there for over 5hrs. After 10pm, baggage Check-in and immigration formalities were done, without any difficulty. Then after the long wait, I entered the international flight for the first time. Indian Airlines Boing career was huge! It left Delhi for Chicago at 1.30 am. I was at window seat. As the side seat was vacant, I could stretch myself comfortably, and journey was comfortable. Flight staff served well, four times, offering sufficient food, each time.

Flight reached Chicago on time, at 7 am on 2^nd October. So, finally I landed (after a journey of 18 hours) on US soil, for the fast time. There was excitement as well as apprehension, too. ‘Port of arrival’ (in US) checking was done there at Chicago, thoroughly. Security staff appeared to be bit more professional, at the same time, they were courteous and quite helpful, too. Chicago airport was huge. To go from one (international) terminal to another (domestic) terminal, one has to go by the metro-rail, which was available free, for the transfer of passengers. I reached the appropriate terminal quickly, to catch the American Airlines (AA) flight, at 10.30 am. I had again time to check internet and send mails to dear-ones.

American Airlines (AA) flight reached Minneapolis airport (msp) on time at 12.00 noon. After a wait of just 10 minutes, student volunteers (of conference) could locate me. They received me well and took me to Hotel Park Plaza, the Conference venue.

There was some initial trouble/ confusion. I was not having dollars; hotel room was not booked (as they had not received money). So, I had to call Prof. Artatrana Ratha (younger brother of my friend, Dillip) to help. Luckily, he immediately transferred the required amount (USD 305 $) and I could I check in to my room (#621). All Student volunteers were of Indian Origin. They helped me a lot. They gave me (conference) packet lunch. I settled down in hotel room and could check net and send mails.

Welcome dinner was at 7 pm. Wine was served. I met a few delegates and both the coordinators (Prof. Ben Baliga & Prof. Hiral Shah), both were from Indian origin (US citizens). Then I ventured out of the hotel, to have a look at the scenic view of roads and buildings, of that US city.

Roads, with beautiful landscaping, were very attractive!

After a brief walk outside, I returned to hotel room and tried to sleep early, but got up quite early.

Next morning (on 3^rd Oct.), I first verified all the facilities, provisions and fittings of my hotel room. My Charger plug (of laptop & mobile) was not fitting. I asked student-volunteers, for a small converter. I used coffee maker to boil water (for drinking purpose). Half-a-litre bottled water was costing 1.5 USD. So, I used tap water (boiled by me) and avoided incurring extra expenditure on water (in hotel room). Silu Called up. I tried my ATM cards in hotel ATM machine, and to my pleasant surprise, it worked! I got the much needed dollars! It was like oxygen for me! There after I became much relaxed (after having sufficient currency in my pocket), with sigh of relief.

I had no papers to present today. Inaugural speech and a few others’ papers were presented. Then they took us for an industrial visit. Our group went to the famous 3M Innovation Centre, for which I was eagerly waiting for. Road travel (for 240 km) and industry visit, both were quite enjoyable. Company executives explained us about the uniqueness of their (hundreds of) innovative products.

After our return, most of the delegates went to the Mall of America (Said to be the biggest mall of USA). However, I stayed back in hotel. There was an entry fee of $30 USD for that. I checked net, wrote mails, from my hotel room.

My first research paper was scheduled for presentation, next day, on 4^th Oct. It went on very well. I interacted with a few foreign delegates. Called Mita in the evening (which was early morning in India). Per minute call cost was 19 $; bit costly, but it was necessary for me. I could not sleep well at night. So, I prepared for the second paper presentation.

My second paper presentation (on Media Industry of Odisha) was on next day morning (on 5^th October).

Then, as per the plan, I (along with Prof. Upinder Dhar) went to St. Cloud State University (SCSU) by a car (with two student volunteers as escorts). 120 km drive on the beautifully landscaped American roads was enjoyable. On our way, we stopped and shopped at a Mall. Then reached SCSU by 2 pm. University campus was situated on the bank of river Mississippi; Campus looked very beautiful. Their provost, Prof. D. Malhotra (Indian origin) gave us some quality time. One Prof. Latha Ramakrishnan took us around the campus. Then Arta Ratha (younger brother of Dillip) took us to his residence. He is married to an American girl, and blessed with two daughters. His bungalow type house was very attractive. They treated us very well, with high tea. I returned his $305, which I had owed. Then we came back to our hotel, by late evening. Though the day was quite hectic, still I could not sleep again in the night. Hardly, I could manage to sleep only for 2 hours.

Return journey (on 6^th, Sunday). Got up early in the morning. Although, there was free breakfast in the hotel, available for us after 7 am, I was some how feeling very anxious to return early; so left hotel by 7 am (without breakfast), for Minneapolis airport. Hotel van dropped me at MN airport. After getting the boarding pass and security check, I waited there in the lobby & checked internet, emails. Left Minneapolis airport at 9.30 am, reached Chicago by 11 am. Got my connecting flight for Delhi at 12:30 noon. There was a huge rush at airport, with all Indian passengers having heavy baggage/ luggage. When we left Chicago, it was already 7^th October, in India.

After a tiring nonstop air travel of 15 hours, we reached Delhi at 3.30pm, (on 7^th Oct. Monday). Next fight was actually at 6.30 pm. Then, it got changed to 7 pm. When the flight was about to take off, one passenger had serious health problem; so the flight had return back (form mid runway, to the bay) to drop back that ailing passenger. So again, it was delayed by 1 more hour. Finally, it reached BBSR by 10 PM. I had asked Satya nana to come to airport, to receive me. He dropped me at Rabindra Mandap. Then I took an auto up to our residence (Patia). Reached home at 10:40 pm; took rest, after dinner. And had much needed sound sleep.

So, the entire journey, by God’s grace, was hassle free, and truly a memorable one!