Firstly, I would like to thank everyone here who has ever posted. I must say that I have visited several forums (cultural, technology, etc..) but the people here are probably the most co-operative I have ever met.
After going through a lot of inspiring diaries (all of them have been wonderful) I have decided to take a dive and write a diary myself. So here goes....
Synopsis:
As per the Title goes, these are all the places I have stayed in the last 17 years in the U.S.A. I went to U.S at a baby age of 17 :) For all the mathematics genius - you got it right. 17 + 17 = 34 and that's my age right now.
So after staying 17 years in Ahmedabad, completing my 12th, spending the next 17 years in the U.S, I am back to my home land to find out where the next 17 years are going..
For now, I have kick-started the 3rd innings of the life in the most happening place in India (at least that's what I think) - Mumbai
It's been a great ride so far - from the time we decided to R2I to this point in time. And in the future posts, I will go over some of the most memorable experiences (good and bad)
Before I start, I would like to say this. Very few people who move out of India actually think about returning back. Out of these, very few get the opportunity to move back (either company sends them, or they decide themselves), and once moved back, some stay in India and some return back to where they come from.
No matter if we settle down in India or go back to where we came from, we should all definitely feel lucky in the sense to get the opportunity to even explore this and be proud that we all gave it our best effort.
Look forward to meeting some of the greatest Intellectuals here.
Ciao
From Ahmedabad -> Chicago -> Connecticut -> New York -> New Jersey -> Mumbai ->?
-
r2i2011_venkat
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Fri May 16, 2008 9:25 pm
From Ahmedabad -> Chicago -> Connecticut -> New York -> New Jersey -> Mumbai ->?
Looking forward to know your experience in Mumbai, as we will be moving to Mumbai by Dec 2010.
From Ahmedabad -> Chicago -> Connecticut -> New York -> New Jersey -> Mumbai ->?
Waiting for your saga….
Few similarities between us…. From Ahmedbad --- lived in Connecticut—New Jersey and want to go back to Ahmedbad. You spend 17 years in US I am close behind you….
You came after 12th so most probably came on immigrant visa correct? Why you moved? Job transfer? Or something else?
Few similarities between us…. From Ahmedbad --- lived in Connecticut—New Jersey and want to go back to Ahmedbad. You spend 17 years in US I am close behind you….
You came after 12th so most probably came on immigrant visa correct? Why you moved? Job transfer? Or something else?
From Ahmedabad -> Chicago -> Connecticut -> New York -> New Jersey -> Mumbai ->?
Lakshya, I enjoyed your write up before. Looking forward for your diary....best luck and enjoy India.
-
crashnburn
- Posts: 40
- Joined: Thu Apr 17, 2008 6:37 am
From Ahmedabad -> Chicago -> Connecticut -> New York -> New Jersey -> Mumbai ->?
About time we had a Bombay / Mumbai meet up :)
From Ahmedabad -> Chicago -> Connecticut -> New York -> New Jersey -> Mumbai ->?
Saga, eh?? :-) I am not sure about that, but it has been a fun roller coaster ride. And I am sure it is only going to get faster and better....
FLASHBACK (1993)
Leaving India at a young age of 17, right out of high school, flying all by myself, was something that I didn't plan out at all. I remember coming to US in 1991 on Tourist visa and since Immigration gave me 5 years of Tourist Visa, my dad and I felt it was safe if I could just go to US on Tourist and then convert the visa to F1 (Student visa) in USA. YES, BACK THEN EVERYTHING WAS POSSIBLE BOSS. You could even get a Social Security Number on a Tourist visa - imagine that??? Also, we didn't want to take a chance getting the Student visa rejected. So here I was - about to start the 2nd innings of my life.
Only when landing in the US I found out that the college admission which was promised to be done by my dad's friend (who was the closest relative I had in US), was not really done. WELCOME TO AMERICA BABY!!!!
But at 17, you have more guts and balls to do almost anything impossible. And anyways, I was already in US so I had to figure out something. That is when I got myself admitted into a Community College before I transferred out to a real university.
I did eventually get to convert my visa to Student Visa and went onto pursue the American Dream that everyone keeps talking about.
Fast Forward (1999)
After 6 gruesome years of undergraduate studies (Computer Science) it was time to get the degree certificate. And for all the inquiring minds, I know you guys must be thinking that why did it take me 6 years to complete the undergraduate degree. I will tell you exactly why. Firstly, going to US at 17 is a daring step I must say. I didn't realize it myself till few years down the road - especially when there is no immediate family and you are left on your own. Yes, there were few things I could have done differently. But common, how many of us really are fully matured enough to take the right decisions at 17? At least I wasn't.
Lesson to be learned: Unless and until you have immediate family to help you there or your parents can afford visiting you every so often, think before you go for undergraduate.
I still don't know if going for undergrad was the right decision or not. On one hand I missed out on all the college fun days in India and trust me, Indian college days are much more fun than the U.S. It's much lively. On the other hand, I do feel that if I had stayed back here, I would have wasted my college years. So, in the end, I left it to my destiny and those famous quote from GITA. "WHATEVER HAPPENED, HAPPENED FOR GOOD."
Second reason for the delay was a combination of first reason I told you, and plus because of switching from community college to a university and then to another university (because of financial problems) I ended up losing quite a lot of credits.
Lesson to be learned: STICK TO ONE COLLEGE or at least put PROPER PLANNING in place. But like I said, not many of us know what is the right thing to do when we are 17.
So there you have it, 1999 was when I finally got the degree in B.S Computer Science. And after 6 years living in the Windy City of Chicago, it was time to finally say adios and move to the big North east.
Few things about Chicago:
It is probably one of the best cities in the U.S. People are very nice. You will find a lot of Indians here - ofcourse you will find them everywhere :-) hehe....
Positives of living in Chicago
1. Nicely planned city - Broad roads, not as expensive as some of the other metros
2. Beautiful downtown - even though smaller than Manhattan (NY), I personally like Chicago downtown to be much cleaner than NYC.
3. Great Food
4. Lots of good colleges and universities
5. Plenty of things to do - even for kids
- Millenium Park
- Museum
- Wisonsin Dells (Water Park approximately 100 miles away)
- Lake Michigan (boardwalk)
- Navy Pier
and many more....
Negatives
1. TOO DAMN COLD
- I kid you not. There is a reason why it is called the Windy City. It is really windy. When I first went there, I was even told to not leave your tongue out for more than 2 minutes else it will freeze. I swear I am not making this up. Later I realized someone was playing a prank with me. :-)
The winters are really really long. It starts in October and goes all the way till April (sometimes even May). Summers are nice and short, falls equally beautiful and you are back to winter. See that's how fast it goes !!!!
2. People are a bit laid back (only when you compare it with North east)
- Now honestly I didn't mind this at all. North east is just too fast for its own good. So this one is a little dicey, based on where you have lived.
Anyways, with all the positives and negatives, it was time to leave the Windy City and move to the North East - Connecticut in particular to do something bigger and better!! I resigned from the full time job in downtown Chicago, packed all my stuff (funny all of it fit in my 1989 Honda Civic) , my cousin and I drove off to Connecticut.
We left Chicago around 6 AM, made two stops for fuel and snacks, and around 10pm I found myself looking at the greatest George Washington Bridge - the grand entrance into NYC.
The movie has just begun. Picture abhi baaki hai mere dost!!!!
FLASHBACK (1993)
Leaving India at a young age of 17, right out of high school, flying all by myself, was something that I didn't plan out at all. I remember coming to US in 1991 on Tourist visa and since Immigration gave me 5 years of Tourist Visa, my dad and I felt it was safe if I could just go to US on Tourist and then convert the visa to F1 (Student visa) in USA. YES, BACK THEN EVERYTHING WAS POSSIBLE BOSS. You could even get a Social Security Number on a Tourist visa - imagine that??? Also, we didn't want to take a chance getting the Student visa rejected. So here I was - about to start the 2nd innings of my life.
Only when landing in the US I found out that the college admission which was promised to be done by my dad's friend (who was the closest relative I had in US), was not really done. WELCOME TO AMERICA BABY!!!!
But at 17, you have more guts and balls to do almost anything impossible. And anyways, I was already in US so I had to figure out something. That is when I got myself admitted into a Community College before I transferred out to a real university.
I did eventually get to convert my visa to Student Visa and went onto pursue the American Dream that everyone keeps talking about.
Fast Forward (1999)
After 6 gruesome years of undergraduate studies (Computer Science) it was time to get the degree certificate. And for all the inquiring minds, I know you guys must be thinking that why did it take me 6 years to complete the undergraduate degree. I will tell you exactly why. Firstly, going to US at 17 is a daring step I must say. I didn't realize it myself till few years down the road - especially when there is no immediate family and you are left on your own. Yes, there were few things I could have done differently. But common, how many of us really are fully matured enough to take the right decisions at 17? At least I wasn't.
Lesson to be learned: Unless and until you have immediate family to help you there or your parents can afford visiting you every so often, think before you go for undergraduate.
I still don't know if going for undergrad was the right decision or not. On one hand I missed out on all the college fun days in India and trust me, Indian college days are much more fun than the U.S. It's much lively. On the other hand, I do feel that if I had stayed back here, I would have wasted my college years. So, in the end, I left it to my destiny and those famous quote from GITA. "WHATEVER HAPPENED, HAPPENED FOR GOOD."
Second reason for the delay was a combination of first reason I told you, and plus because of switching from community college to a university and then to another university (because of financial problems) I ended up losing quite a lot of credits.
Lesson to be learned: STICK TO ONE COLLEGE or at least put PROPER PLANNING in place. But like I said, not many of us know what is the right thing to do when we are 17.
So there you have it, 1999 was when I finally got the degree in B.S Computer Science. And after 6 years living in the Windy City of Chicago, it was time to finally say adios and move to the big North east.
Few things about Chicago:
It is probably one of the best cities in the U.S. People are very nice. You will find a lot of Indians here - ofcourse you will find them everywhere :-) hehe....
Positives of living in Chicago
1. Nicely planned city - Broad roads, not as expensive as some of the other metros
2. Beautiful downtown - even though smaller than Manhattan (NY), I personally like Chicago downtown to be much cleaner than NYC.
3. Great Food
4. Lots of good colleges and universities
5. Plenty of things to do - even for kids
- Millenium Park
- Museum
- Wisonsin Dells (Water Park approximately 100 miles away)
- Lake Michigan (boardwalk)
- Navy Pier
and many more....
Negatives
1. TOO DAMN COLD
- I kid you not. There is a reason why it is called the Windy City. It is really windy. When I first went there, I was even told to not leave your tongue out for more than 2 minutes else it will freeze. I swear I am not making this up. Later I realized someone was playing a prank with me. :-)
The winters are really really long. It starts in October and goes all the way till April (sometimes even May). Summers are nice and short, falls equally beautiful and you are back to winter. See that's how fast it goes !!!!
2. People are a bit laid back (only when you compare it with North east)
- Now honestly I didn't mind this at all. North east is just too fast for its own good. So this one is a little dicey, based on where you have lived.
Anyways, with all the positives and negatives, it was time to leave the Windy City and move to the North East - Connecticut in particular to do something bigger and better!! I resigned from the full time job in downtown Chicago, packed all my stuff (funny all of it fit in my 1989 Honda Civic) , my cousin and I drove off to Connecticut.
We left Chicago around 6 AM, made two stops for fuel and snacks, and around 10pm I found myself looking at the greatest George Washington Bridge - the grand entrance into NYC.
The movie has just begun. Picture abhi baaki hai mere dost!!!!
From Ahmedabad -> Chicago -> Connecticut -> New York -> New Jersey -> Mumbai ->?
Absolutely. Where are you at? I have been thinking about doing a union of some sort of all the R2I. May be it is time to put that plan in action.
crashnburn;334090About time we had a Bombay / Mumbai meet up :)
From Ahmedabad -> Chicago -> Connecticut -> New York -> New Jersey -> Mumbai ->?
Lakshya;333828Waiting for your saga….
Few similarities between us…. From Ahmedbad --- lived in Connecticut—New Jersey and want to go back to Ahmedbad. You spend 17 years in US I am close behind you….
How Close ??? :-)
Lakshya;333828
You came after 12th so most probably came on immigrant visa correct? Why you moved? Job transfer? Or something else?
No Lakshya, I wish I was on immigrant visa. As I just mentioned in the second post, came on Tourist Visa and converted to Student Visa. And why I moved back - was it job transfer???? well, you will find out soon..
From Ahmedabad -> Chicago -> Connecticut -> New York -> New Jersey -> Mumbai ->?
pm071;334045Lakshya, I enjoyed your write up before. Looking forward for your diary....best luck and enjoy India.
You have to wait for loooong time! Mood nahi banta yaar. May be when Actual R2i will happen.
From Ahmedabad -> Chicago -> Connecticut -> New York -> New Jersey -> Mumbai ->?
CKramer;334098How Close ??? :-)
No Lakshya, I wish I was on immigrant visa. ..
The Grass is Always Greener on the other side of the fence.:e