Reached safely in DC on 1st Aug and had a wonderful time at a five star hotel. It was " A REAL HONEY MOON TRIP", that's what the Fulbrights call that phase . We were given a royal treatment. Every one congratulated us and elevated our morale every minute. The orientation was very useful and the partner interaction helped us to understand the situations at our exchange positions. We also had lot of fun, food and sight seeing.
SIGHT SEEING - CAPITAL BUILDING
WAR MEMORIAL
MAHA AND ME AT WHITE HOUSE -WASHINGTON DC, US
BREAK FAST AND ORIENTATION AT RENAISSANCE DUPONT CIRCLE HOTEL, DC
CHENNAI -US TEAM , MAHA, ME, AMY AND JEFF.
DINNER WITH EXCHANGE PARTNER AMY, HER MOTHER AND DAUGHTER MAY
WITH THE Fhi 360 TEAM
AMY, MAHA, ME, WHITNEY AND VANITHA
All this ended with a sumptuous packed lunch at 12 noon when we were dropped at the airport on 5th August 2011. Most of the Fulbright Alumni were asking us to be prepared for the adventure and the bumps on our way. When Amy, my exchange partner, and me, reached the Regan airport,our first BUMP hit us. Our flight was delayed and we may miss our connection flight at Chicago to Detroit..Adding fuel to fire, one of our Indian Fulbright, who was taking her children to US, had left to Chicago by the previous flight and her children had to travel on their own by the next flight so that they meet her at Chicago and would catch another flight to Arizona. The children were worried if they would be able to catch up with the mother and the flight. We met them, pacified them and assured them that we would leave them with their mother. WHEN WE CHECKED IN THEY SAID THAT THE 8 YEAR OLD BOY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TRAVEL WITHOUT HIS PARENTS. The children started crying and we were in tension. We approached the authorities and explained the problem. We assured them that we would leave the boys with the mother and requested them to book their tickets to the later flight, contact the mother and ask her not to panic.At last they agreed and also allowed us to check in without getting into the queue. I really appreciate the fellow passengers who understood the situation and allowed us to check in first, without any displeasure on their faces!!! On reaching Chicago we understood that our flight was also delayed and we had only 10 min's to go to the other end of the airport. We left the children with a Fulbright alumni to be handed over to the mother and ran towards our terminal. At last, we reached, the pilot had not arrived and the flight was delayed. We could breathe only after getting into the flight. On reaching Detroit airport, Amy 's relative took us to my apartment, after a 45 min drive.It was dark and the surroundings looked scary!!
EMILY WELCOMING ME WITH BALLOONS AT MY APARTMENT !!!
EMILY DISPLAYED A WELCOME BANNER AND FLOWERS IN THE APARTMENT !!!
Mrs Emily ,a teacher from the Hazel Park School was already there in the house. Amy left me with her and went to her house which was another hour drive , as it was 9pm already and she was exhausted. The apartment was nice and comfortable, but i somehow felt uncomfortable and unsafe . Emily could read my mind and quickly said" i will not leave you here tonight ,you will stay in my house and come back in the morning," I did not hesitate, I went with her, had dinner and slept peacefully since I was exhausted. I realized that friendship needs no time!!!The next morning we left early after breakfast, went for shopping and returned to the apartment. On surveying the building in the day I felt I was foolish to be scared last night.Emily and I ,went for shopping again , had lunch in an Indian restaurant and was back home at 3pm. I felt still more comfortable after saying hello to my neighbours and now I am brave and alone,started skyping home.. I started getting phone calls from my new friends, and invitations for lunch and dinners.Amy and Emily were so thoughtful ,they had furnished my house so beautifully with all amenities and minimum accessories from rice to chili power, soap towels all............were ready at home. Emily is always ready to take me out any time i need, since there is no public transportation.Emily is very friendly and caring ........ I have started my Fulbright journey very comfortable from the home front.Waiting, mentally and physically prepared to meet my students........my school starts from Sept 6th ,till then i have to attend some orientations and preparations,think i am going to have lot of fun.I am trying to get the best out of my experience here so that i can carry home something good which is not there,may be the technology oriented
methodology........ I will keep sharing my experiences ...........
AT THE VEGETABLE DIVISION, EMILY
All this ended with a sumptuous packed lunch at 12 noon when we were dropped at the airport on 5th August 2011. Most of the Fulbright Alumni were asking us to be prepared for the adventure and the bumps on our way. When Amy, my exchange partner, and me, reached the Regan airport,our first BUMP hit us. Our flight was delayed and we may miss our connection flight at Chicago to Detroit..Adding fuel to fire, one of our Indian Fulbright, who was taking her children to US, had left to Chicago by the previous flight and her children had to travel on their own by the next flight so that they meet her at Chicago and would catch another flight to Arizona. The children were worried if they would be able to catch up with the mother and the flight. We met them, pacified them and assured them that we would leave them with their mother. WHEN WE CHECKED IN THEY SAID THAT THE 8 YEAR OLD BOY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TRAVEL WITHOUT HIS PARENTS. The children started crying and we were in tension. We approached the authorities and explained the problem. We assured them that we would leave the boys with the mother and requested them to book their tickets to the later flight, contact the mother and ask her not to panic.At last they agreed and also allowed us to check in without getting into the queue. I really appreciate the fellow passengers who understood the situation and allowed us to check in first, without any displeasure on their faces!!! On reaching Chicago we understood that our flight was also delayed and we had only 10 min's to go to the other end of the airport. We left the children with a Fulbright alumni to be handed over to the mother and ran towards our terminal. At last, we reached, the pilot had not arrived and the flight was delayed. We could breathe only after getting into the flight. On reaching Detroit airport, Amy 's relative took us to my apartment, after a 45 min drive.It was dark and the surroundings looked scary!!
Mrs Emily ,a teacher from the Hazel Park School was already there in the house. Amy left me with her and went to her house which was another hour drive , as it was 9pm already and she was exhausted. The apartment was nice and comfortable, but i somehow felt uncomfortable and unsafe . Emily could read my mind and quickly said" i will not leave you here tonight ,you will stay in my house and come back in the morning," I did not hesitate, I went with her, had dinner and slept peacefully since I was exhausted. I realized that friendship needs no time!!!The next morning we left early after breakfast, went for shopping and returned to the apartment. On surveying the building in the day I felt I was foolish to be scared last night.Emily and I ,went for shopping again , had lunch in an Indian restaurant and was back home at 3pm. I felt still more comfortable after saying hello to my neighbours and now I am brave and alone,started skyping home.. I started getting phone calls from my new friends, and invitations for lunch and dinners.Amy and Emily were so thoughtful ,they had furnished my house so beautifully with all amenities and minimum accessories from rice to chili power, soap towels all............were ready at home. Emily is always ready to take me out any time i need, since there is no public transportation.Emily is very friendly and caring ........ I have started my Fulbright journey very comfortable from the home front.Waiting, mentally and physically prepared to meet my students........my school starts from Sept 6th ,till then i have to attend some orientations and preparations,think i am going to have lot of fun.I am trying to get the best out of my experience here so that i can carry home something good which is not there,may be the technology oriented
methodology........ I will keep sharing my experiences ...........
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| SHOPPING AT MICHIGAN AS SOON AS I REACHED MICHIGAN. WITH EMILY |
What a wonderful journey you are on! So glad you are here!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Melissa,really fortunate to have a friend like you!
ReplyDelete