My first weekend in Chicago

So here I am, already a week old in this goro ki basti. For weekend, got in touch with Satinder Singh who inturn contact Baba Daljeet Singh and finally I landed up at Gurudwara saheb on Friday evening ready to spend a weekend there.

Met up with Shunty VeerJee, Daler VeerJee and Amrit Singh Jee.

The gurduwara does not have any service on Saturday so had nothing much to do. Attended the diwan on Sunday and got to hear from Baba Daljeet Singh. He is a very soft spoken, down to earth person.

Zulfi was also here over the weekend but since I was in the Gurdwara and he ws busy roaming about in the downtown so did not get a chance to meet him in person. Just talked to him oevr the telephone.

Shiv had informed his sister about me being in Chicago. So, they decided to pick me up from the Gurudwara Saheb on sunday afternoon. Spent the entire Sunday afternoon and evening there at their house which BTW has an excellent view with a small lake running just behind their living room.

Gagan and her husband took excellent care of me. Boy they would surely be saying what a straneg creature am I with my eatign habits like eating this and not eating that. I took up their entire Sunday. But again they were excellent hosts probably much better than I may ever be. Thanks guys. Stupid me, I went to their house for the first time and forgot to get any gift alongwith me. All I could give them was a dabba of besan kain ladoo which I dont know whether they would like or not. Probably thinking of going with them sometime later say in September to a wallmart and ask them to help me buy some stuff for my imaginary cousin who is the same size as them and then gift them the same. That seems to be the only option right now.

Ate dinner at their place and then they dropped me at the hotel.

Shunty

Yeah thats the name of the person who picked me up from AmeriSuites and took me to the Gurudwara. He is from Delhi and has been here in the US for past 10 years. I might buy a cell from him once he unlocks one and gives me a good deal.

He is a good natured, jovial fella. Always making others laugh. Just wanted to thank him.

Chicago

Yeah thats where I am rite now. Not sure for how long though. The flight from Delhi to Chicago was very loooong especially with your plane stuck up on Detroit runway for 3 hours because of thunderstorms in Chicago.

Immigration passed off successfully and I am rite now staying in Schaumburg. Office has good number of Indians.

Lots of restructuring going on in the UMS with Arun and some more people planning to leave 3com. It would be difficult for us especially with Arun and Taminder leaving now and all their responsiblities is going to fall on our shoulders. Lets see how it goes ahead.

Have a long list of gifts for relatives to take back to India. Not sure how am I going to buy all that stuff especially we not having a car this time. Probably might go down to Denver if I get a good deal.

Chalo, bye for now.

Calcutta, Bangalore, Mysore, Hyderabad

Yeah the title says it all. Between Wednesday and sunday criss-crossed 3 states. Lets start on this journo once again:

Wednesday, 6th July
A twist in the story takes me to Calcutta. I had a VISA appointment with US consulate on Thursday. Oh, BTW while waiting for flight at Hydera Aiport, I get to see a couple of firangs taking a broom, packed and sealed. Soo, probably to show off to their gora friends in the West look wht they have got from India.

Thursday, 7th July
My turn comes and there is a problem with my fotu becoz it has more reflection in one of the eyes. BTW, that was the same fotu with which I got visa last time. Soo, cant do anything else than to run off to shop opposite consulate and get a new fotu. Interview goes off fine.

Once through with the interview, I get to have a chance to have a darshan of one of the Gurudwaras in Calcutta. There are lots of Sardars in Calcutta probably more than Bangaloor. Just next to the Gurudwara Saheb was "Balwant Singh Ka dhabha". Get to have lunch there.

Back to Hyderabad Thursday night.

Friday, 8th July
Need to go to Bangaloor to finally go down to Mysore to attend Karthik's marriage. Gosh everyone around me getting married. Not sure when my turn would come. Its raining heavily but finally make up my mind and board a bus to Bangloor.

On the way get to have dinner at a Punjabi dhabha on the NH-7.

Saturday, 9th July
Its morning and I am dropped off at Majestic. Get to see Batra, Kunal and Vasu. Vasu is leaving for Canada to do his MBA. Also catch-up with Paramjit and Deepa. Got a chance to visit Ulsoor Gurudwara.
Loitered away during the evening and saw "War of the Worlds". A real strange movie coming from Tom Cruise and Steven Speilberg.

Sunday, 10th July
Wake up 5 in the morning to get ready to catch bus for Mysore for Karthik's D-day. Attended his marriage and got to eat at the marriage with my bare hands since those guys some-how hate spoons.
Night and journey back to Hyderabad. What a bumpy ride it was considering the fact that I was almost at the end of the bus.
Had to count my bones, hands, fingers once I dropped off at Lakdi-ka-pul.

Soo, lots of travelling and might have to do lots more.

Apart from that, 1 good friend might just shift to Hyderabad. Lets see.