it's 30th April 2008, it's my B'day, today I'm going back to India after 9+ months in U.S.A. it was whole great period with loads of learnings and heartful of memories.
9 Months: in 9 Months a baby gets birth; after 9 months I am reborn; Personally as well as professionally. With all new learnings of life it's time to say good bye to US and head back to home.
9 Months: in 9 Months a baby gets birth; after 9 months I am reborn; Personally as well as professionally. With all new learnings of life it's time to say good bye to US and head back to home.
30th Aptil: I had no idea when I started from home to airport that I'm gonna have real adventureous journey (same as all my previous trips);
Begging @ Airport: I started from Macon to Atlanta in the afternoon by cab, it was sunny & pleasant day. Cab fellow dropped me at airport and left. I went to rent a CART & got shocked; Where is my wallet? I searched for wallet but it's no where; Probably it's dropped in the CAB; gosh, NOW WHAT? I'm left with no money (not even 3 $bills to take the CART) and also bigger worry was all my CREDIT Cards, Driver's License are there in the Wallet, which can be misused. I had few $1 coins but machine accepts either $ Bill or Credit Card. I was already running late for my flight and thought of dropping the idea of searching for wallet anymore. I started asking people for $ Bill (even though I was ready to give $1 coin for each $1 bill; I realized people interpreted me a beggar :)). One kind old lady had only 1 Dollar bill; she said "I don't have whole bunch of $ bills but I can give you one"; I wanted to give her $1 coin but she refused saying "God Bless you". I still need 2 more $1 bills.
T-Mobile: I called up T-Mobile and informed that since I'm going back to India please discontinue my service from 30th onwards.
I Need Cart: In order to catch the flight I must go inside the airport and before that I must get a CART to carry all the bags; Since morning I was facing problem with my mobile (was not able to make calls and couldn't hear the incoming calls at all), I got even worried what will happen if this number is barred? I tried calling 'Suman' so that he can contact Macon GROOME centre and report this loss, I always feel myself lucky in some situations :). yea yea I could reach him successfully and informed about what all happened; he said he'll contact GROOME office and will let me know in another 15 mins; he called me back but same problem I couldn't hear anything from him. I tried calling him but failed. Hufffff, I'm in mess
Running short of time: It's less than 2.30hrs left for me to board the international flight and still I was standing outside the airport; I tried Suman again and this time it went thru :), he said he talked to GROOME office and they confirmed that my wallet is there in the GROOME and driver is coming back to return me at the same place he dropped me; he also told me not to move from the place (I said boss, even if I want I can't move). I waited for another 10 minutes and could see the GROOME coming towards me, I thanked the drive and finally got the CART.
Security check @ Atlanta airport: I had smooth Checking of baggages but while Security checking officer said "OK, this mark on your ticket shows we need to perform an additional security check sir" come with me, I followed him they scanned all my cabin luggage twice; even one lady officer checked it manually; officer said "No Alarm", lady officer said "looks good". You can go sir; thank you (I didn't understand, why this?).
Security check @ Frankfurt airport: Till Frankfurt journey was pleasant; I changed flight @ Frankfurt airport; while security checking again I was caught for special security check. Officer: "Please carry all your stuff and follow me" one lady officer also came to inspect all my items; she said we've doubt on your Laptop bag, Open it Please, I took out all the items "What's this?" I told her it's Speaker for laptop (looks like bomb, she mumbled). she was still searching for something suspective after a min "Oh my God, aahahahahaha see this, Harley-Davidson toy bike" actually in the scanning machine that Harley-Davidson toy bike looked like a small Revolver and that was the reason Atlanta security also suspected me (finally I came to know what's wrong :) ).
Swap the Seat: I got a seat in set of 3 chairs row and was alone (two other seats were not booked); little after take-off airhostess requested "sir would you mind swapping your seat with a "window seat" currently allotted to a lady, she's carrying two children, and if you swap she'll be comfortable with these two empty seats"; why not!!!
From Frankfurt airport Mr. BODA RAO (project manager, SEAGATE) joinned me; he was also asked for a swap; I was sleeping when he came and stood next to my seat, he had an argument with lady airhostess; she was telling him; sir you are not supposed to use your mobile, even after strict instruction why is it still on, Mr. BODA was trying to explain her but she was not convinced; she took his mobile and said she'll hand this over to him once flight LANDS.
He sat next to me and we started chatting about IT, he had worked for Wipro; (he was curious to know about Infosys, and wanted me to compare Infosys with Wipro); I said I have no idea about Wipro and it won't be good if I say something without knowing anything about Wipro; then some general talks; I was sharing my U.S. experiences and "how I met with a major CAR accident and the car was scrapped, how I got ticket for clicking one of the tunnels, missing flight and recent most of loosing the wallet and getting it back". he said "wow, now I must pray that, this plane will land safely"; I smiled.
After a while the same lady airhostess came running and was very furious; sir this mobile is ringing, I was shocked how come @ the height of 35,000 feet this mobile is working, it was ringing perfectly (you should have seen the face of airhostess). Mr BODA wanted to say something but airhostess said "yea it's ringing see". Mr. BODA: it's just alarm; she just gone MAD :) and requested him to switch off the phone. I laughed and said to Mr. BODA, you drove her nuts, he smiled.
Rest of the journey was fine, smooth clearance of my luggage without any loss and finally reached guest house at 1.45am.
Running short of time: It's less than 2.30hrs left for me to board the international flight and still I was standing outside the airport; I tried Suman again and this time it went thru :), he said he talked to GROOME office and they confirmed that my wallet is there in the GROOME and driver is coming back to return me at the same place he dropped me; he also told me not to move from the place (I said boss, even if I want I can't move). I waited for another 10 minutes and could see the GROOME coming towards me, I thanked the drive and finally got the CART.
Security check @ Atlanta airport: I had smooth Checking of baggages but while Security checking officer said "OK, this mark on your ticket shows we need to perform an additional security check sir" come with me, I followed him they scanned all my cabin luggage twice; even one lady officer checked it manually; officer said "No Alarm", lady officer said "looks good". You can go sir; thank you (I didn't understand, why this?).
Security check @ Frankfurt airport: Till Frankfurt journey was pleasant; I changed flight @ Frankfurt airport; while security checking again I was caught for special security check. Officer: "Please carry all your stuff and follow me" one lady officer also came to inspect all my items; she said we've doubt on your Laptop bag, Open it Please, I took out all the items "What's this?" I told her it's Speaker for laptop (looks like bomb, she mumbled). she was still searching for something suspective after a min "Oh my God, aahahahahaha see this, Harley-Davidson toy bike" actually in the scanning machine that Harley-Davidson toy bike looked like a small Revolver and that was the reason Atlanta security also suspected me (finally I came to know what's wrong :) ).
Swap the Seat: I got a seat in set of 3 chairs row and was alone (two other seats were not booked); little after take-off airhostess requested "sir would you mind swapping your seat with a "window seat" currently allotted to a lady, she's carrying two children, and if you swap she'll be comfortable with these two empty seats"; why not!!!
From Frankfurt airport Mr. BODA RAO (project manager, SEAGATE) joinned me; he was also asked for a swap; I was sleeping when he came and stood next to my seat, he had an argument with lady airhostess; she was telling him; sir you are not supposed to use your mobile, even after strict instruction why is it still on, Mr. BODA was trying to explain her but she was not convinced; she took his mobile and said she'll hand this over to him once flight LANDS.
He sat next to me and we started chatting about IT, he had worked for Wipro; (he was curious to know about Infosys, and wanted me to compare Infosys with Wipro); I said I have no idea about Wipro and it won't be good if I say something without knowing anything about Wipro; then some general talks; I was sharing my U.S. experiences and "how I met with a major CAR accident and the car was scrapped, how I got ticket for clicking one of the tunnels, missing flight and recent most of loosing the wallet and getting it back". he said "wow, now I must pray that, this plane will land safely"; I smiled.
After a while the same lady airhostess came running and was very furious; sir this mobile is ringing, I was shocked how come @ the height of 35,000 feet this mobile is working, it was ringing perfectly (you should have seen the face of airhostess). Mr BODA wanted to say something but airhostess said "yea it's ringing see". Mr. BODA: it's just alarm; she just gone MAD :) and requested him to switch off the phone. I laughed and said to Mr. BODA, you drove her nuts, he smiled.
Rest of the journey was fine, smooth clearance of my luggage without any loss and finally reached guest house at 1.45am.
Hope you enjoyed.
