My experiences

Exploring new places have always attracted me except when I am forced to go somewhere.

When I got the opportunity to visit New York, I was not sure. I had travelled a lot in the recent past and didn’t wanted to travel again. But than financial markets had always excited me and New York was one of the world’s biggest financial centers.

Nevertheless, I liked or I didn’t, I had to travel. It was a business requirement!!

But I had to get a visa before traveling which I didn’t know would be a torturous process. Getting Visa processed takes a long time and everyone around me wanted an update everyday.  My manager used to ask about the progress of visa to which I had no answer. 

Every time I called Visa Desk I got the same reply…“Your application is under process”. And my manager will ask “What does it mean?” It’s in progress means its in progress, what else will it mean.

I was pressurized inspite of being fully aware that getting visa  was not in my hands. People sometimes behave abnormally to release their tensions, it starts from the top and ends at the bottom, i.e. at my level. Anyways, I had to run everywhere like a football to understand the system of Visa Issuance. Finally after lot of hiccups and uncertainty I got a visa.

Infact, I was well trained by now to become a Visa professional.

When my manager knew I had a visa, the next question I heard was “Why don’t you travel tomorrow?” 

It was not easy to travel suddenly outside the country. There were many many formalities to be completed before traveling …..Getting Insurance, Forex and Laptop were not a easy espically when things move slow in your organization. And to follow up for other things like getting remote connectivity, signing off travel documents, booking travel tickets, booking hotel were other time consuming activities.

But these things were not visible to those who wanted me to travel ASAP (as soon as possible). So I slogged to meet their expectations and started my visit to unexplored territory.

And finally, I arrived to New York. It was winter time; the temperature varying from +1 to -5 degree centigrade’s. As I took my first step out of airport, I felt that I can’t survive the weather. It was damn chilling andd eadly. The temperature was -1 degree centigrade that day, horrible for someone who has never experienced that kind of climate.

First things first. I bought  all winter stuff – gloves, cap, thermal, woolen socks and so on. And then , when I walked on road wearing winter attire, I had a changed opinion. …Yes, this climate is not too bad!

But still…staying at a place where you can’t come out of your house without stuffing yourself with warm attire was a painful thing. And most of the times when you come out, you are greeted by chilling wind. But people get used to the surrounding enviornment. If someone from New York comes to my hometown in summer (44 degree centigrade’s) he will be in similar situation like me.

Anyways, starting days were difficult. I couldn’t sleep for couple of days due to Jetlag. Finding indian food was difficult. And lastly understanding local accent was another tough task ….accept Indians I almost always asked people to repeat….. “Sorry, I didn’t get you”.

Fortunately I found a good apartment quite close to my office. It helped a lot as I had to walk hardly 10 minutes to reach my office. Had it been far it would have added to the list of my difficulties.

I liked excellent public infrastructure . Most of the things were followed as documented….No surprises. Kind of Wonderland… Everything works in a right way.

I bought electronic items (Electronic items here are cheaper than in India). Being Christmas, it was important to find avenues where I can have a decent time. I went to tourist attractions (Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge etc) and prepared food many times at home. I purchased a novel and watched online movies.

It was good but one question was still in my mind. Why New York is center of attraction for many people? May be because this city shines a lot, like Mumbai in India. But once you reach mumbai you realize that everything is same except people run a lot there.

But undoubtably, New York is a city of dreams. With its skyrocketing buildings, the view here is mesmerizing. People make fortunes and loose fortunes here.

It’s my observation that in society only those professions that are highly lucrative are respected and are followed after by majority. But once monetary part is removed, every profession comes to parity. Think of a situation where every one is paid same irrespective of the work they do. Suddenly, every profession will become equally respectable and people work what they want to rather than what pays them best…………………………An Ideal World!!