(It has actually been almost a week since I got here, and I'm finally about to share my reflections with you, in this first blog-entry of my India trip! Apologies! By the way, if you cannot already tell, this is one lengthy blog-entry.
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I'd like to start by acknowledging that it has certainly been a while since I "wrote" here!
In reflecting on the last few months of school (between returning from my away rotation and interviews), I have tried to learn as much as possible prior to intern year, and for the most part, been glad that I got what I wanted out of most to all of my rotations this year.
Speaking of which, I cannot wait to discover what the residency training experience will be like at Mercy Medical Center, Merced, CA. Quite a few things remain to be done when I'm back in the states, to prepare for the move/transition!
The weeks preceding my India trip (and move out of my apartment) have been busy, with much work culminating the day before my flight! I cannot be more thankful to have had help from three guys, without whom I would not have been able to conduct the move. Specifically, I need to thank Prashant for his empathic support throughout my most stressful of moments and trouble-shooting to help with all the moving tasks...). I think I will leave it at that – I could go on and on with praises. Haha!
People at Airports
And now to a little bit about my reflections on airports and people we may meet at airports. I may refer to events that took place and specific examples of interactions with people that may have been a little more noteworthy...
First I wish to say, it is remarkable that in airports like ICT (Wichita mid-Continent) or MCI (Kansas City, Missouri International Airport. Don’t even get my started on the idiosyncrancy of MCI’s airport abbreviation), one can often get through security/check-in pretty quickly. Of course it still felt like I had to rush/stress out with the long lines that are supposedly common for early morning flights out of ICT. Since I didn't have the luxury of too much time before my Wichita flight, we ended up not bothering with changing the status of my domestic flight being "linked to" the international flight by the itinerary so that American Airlines would easily be able to honor the policy that Emirates has, to allow one to check in two bags. This "issue" becomes relevant because I subsequently asked an AA employee at the Dallas airport if it was too late to work on that paperwork but he claimed that it was, and in fact rather rudely asked me "what is your question” as I was trying to formulate one and explain the “situation.” So interestingly, as happens generally in larger airports than in those Midwestern airports I referenced earlier, many airport personnel at various “large” airports that I have travelled through (in major cities, i.e. Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, Washington DC to name a few) understandably have a “melting pot” of employees, complete with different accents and cultural behaviors to go along with their likely first-generation immigrant status. I am a huge fan of diversity and learning from other cultures. That is why in fact, this “rude” airport employee was actually probably just behaving that way because first of all, he certainly acted impatient and likely for good reason – must have much on his mind! I would truly hope that a view of women or “a young woman” such as myself, was not clouding his perceptions and therefore attitude toward me (disrespect for a naïve young lady?!). And lastly, it is possible that from his cultural point of view, he was not being rude at all! Now, I must add, after he basically told me that they could not do anything at this point since I had already paid for one bag’s check-in (while in Wichita), I should proceed and should go to get my checked in bag and then go to Emirates and check both in (and if Emirates tries charging me, to tell them about this ordeal). Anyway, sorry to dwell on this, but yes, sort of an interesting experience!
Some Images From Dallas-Fort Worth Airport
I will likely put more images on Picasa, as that'll be easier!
The Creepy Airport Personnel: “I have magical ways to know your name”
Travelling alone, of course I was being incredibly cautious to guard my boarding passes, passport, etc with lots of vigilance. So, as I stood (first and only one ready-to-go!) in line, waiting for Emirates employees to boot their computers and begin checking people in, I sat on my luggage “in line” awaiting patiently and likely messing around on my phone ;)
I walked literally five feet away from my luggage (having my backpack on), and grabbed the tags to label my bags. When I got back, a tall slim airport worker that was helping with check-in for a different airline (Korean Air) with dark hair and Caucasian-type of complexion, and a thick Middle-Eastern accent, walked up to me and immediately started talking. “Where are you travelling? Is your name Amy? I have magical powers to know your name?” In my puzzlement and somewhat shock I just said I was going to Dubai and asked him how he knew my name. He had the audacity to continue asking me if I live or work in Dubai and I said I do neither of the two. Whereas I do not have a problem in talking to strangers, I think I had decided that making eye-contact with men of descent from the middle-east (especially once I arrived in the UAE) would not be something I would do (I already felt like I was disrespecting their cultural norms/mores but not covering my hair!). I am unsure what to say about this interaction other than it was certainly a little creepy…but I brushed it off. He did say something else later to me when the Emirates personnel were finally ready. “They are ready just for you” or something bizaare. Again, the best I could do was nod, smile, and walk carefully with my two bags.
Learning the hard way: Over-priced trolley and how it really probably was not necessary!
Briefly, I will discuss the futility of hastily getting a $5 (!) trolley, only to end up needing it for less than ten minutes!
I had already decided once I knew I would have to transport my two bags from the domestic terminal (after landing in Dallas), to my next (international) terminal, in preparation for my connecting-flight. I had plenty of time (~4 hours) between landing in Dallas and departing for Dubai. Anyway, when I stood at the baggage claim, awaiting my large blue bag (photos to follow!), a sweet female airport employee came to and asked if I needed help. I rhetorically said no thanks, but contemplated asking her to elaborate. Instead, I asked how much the trolleys in the distance cost per use, and she quipped, $5. She gave me a warm look and said, “they are too expensive. But if you go outside this building and look, you may be able to see a (stray) trolley that you can use!” Well, as it turns out, I was barely trying to figure out the best way to drag the large blue plastic-encased bag with a small pulley-handle, with my small black bag with the more common-place (now) large handles. I kept bumping into my blue bag and knew I would appreciate having a trolley. And “looking out the windows/doors” for a trolley seemed like more work than it was worth, so I dished out the $5 and slid it through the machine (after realizing after three or so attempts, that the credit-card use option was dysfunctional on the trolley-dispensing machine). Next, it wasn’t too much longer until another employee calls me out. “Hey, you cannot take those bags near there, you need to check them in!” (I was almost near the lines for the security). I proceeded to ask him the best way to get to terminal D for my international flight. I had anticipated taking the train but I believe that is more common-place if you’re already in the secure parts of the airport. In his thick Central or West-African accent, he said I need to take the “terminal line” (the local name used at DFW airport for the shuttle running between airports). I followed the signs as I barely had understood what he said (with the accent, speed, and of course use of jargon that wasn’t familiar to me!). I suppose you could say the trolley was worth it for the few blocks I walked with it to get to the shuttle stop. And the shuttle-driver was nice enough to carry my bags onto and off the shuttle. In another friendly encounter when I was the only passenger (after he had dropped off the only other passenger at her terminal, the driver started asking me my final destination and why I’m headed there). He had a beautiful traditional Mexican accent where all the sounds of “B’s” become “V’s.” It wasn’t until I got to the international terminal that I realized if I drag the awkwardly large blue bag with my dominant (right) hand, the episodes of bag-to-shin/calf bumping are significantly reduced.
The Emirates Experience from my opinions and experience: What to expect for your “vegan” and/or “Hindu Vegetarian Meal,” in-flight entertainment, and more
The excitement and eerie realization that this was really happening all dawned on me as I walked in the plane, searching for my seat. I was hungry by this point (even though I had eaten a descent brunch around 9:30am at DFW airport, at a place called 360 World Grill that served food that was like “Chipotle” but not as tasty! How ironic that in Texas I didn’t get a more authentic “Mexican” (inspired) cuisine experience than I would at “Chipotle!”).
I walked in with my back-pack as my only carry-on at this point, and one of the local UAE newspapers that I had grabbed prior to officially boarding (they had a variety of local newspapers, written in English, for us to pick up, prior to entering the plane, while on the sky-walk). The paper listed (understandably) world news, with stories as diverse as the middle-east and Europe’s woes, to US politics and the record-lottery making three lucky people multi-millionaires on Friday March 30th!
So, the food! I was probably expecting something amazing, and let down…my first meal (lunch) included:
- salad (pretty good) with Italian dressing
- entrée: Steamed rice with cauliflower and pea stew (Indian style with curries)
o I suppose I was upset that mine didn’t come with lentil soup! I figured I had probably chosen “vegan” and they were trying to avoid anything that may possibly have milk (but as you’ll read later, the concept of “vegan” was probably not very strict after all)
- Side of fruits (the typical ensemble of cantaloupe, honey-dew melon, grape and watermelon pieces)
- Mineral water in a pre-packaged cup
At night we were actually served breakfast food (likely since in Dubai it was early morning). That explains why I was given hashbrowns (likely were frozen and heated. Pretty soft compared to what you may eat at a restaurant), boiled spinach, tomatoes, and mushrooms. Also, there was some blue-berry yogurt which was not too bad (at this point I realized I must not have ordered “vegan” because this was normal yogurt, not soy yogurt or anything). I sound so spoiled. Well, I will admit that recently I have been fascinated by veganism and tried following it, and therefore actually realized that whereas purchasing soy milk or soy yogurt is understandably the costlier purchase, they certainly taste good to me so if I did decide to “buy into veganism” and follow it, I don’t really think I would miss my milk! As for cheese, there are good soy cheeses too! They taste like the original stuff to me (don’t know about you!).
There was also a slice of pizza that was brought in as a snack for everyone while I was sleeping, and I was not sure what had been brought in, but then the steward brought me a slice too. It was pretty good. The crust felt and looked more like a thick piece of pita bread! And whereas the pizza barely had any pizza-sauce and had a more generous amount of cheese, it wasn’t too bad.
On my other Emirates airline (Dubai Ahmedabad, which started around 11pm Dubai time and reached AMD around 2:30am), they actually served us dinner… even though I had eaten at the airport-hotel around 7pm earlier that night, I ate again (haha, no inhibitions during this trip?!). This time it was ravioli filled with what seemed like a soft Indian curry-infused (masala?!). No idea. Wasn’t bad. They did give some hummus on the side, with something I had never eaten or heard of before (just looked it up): dolmathakia (stuffed-grape leaf). Mine was stuffed with some vegetables. It was served cold.
In-Flight Entertainment: No Complaints!
I started with Big Bang Theory (there were about 6-8 episodes from season 4), and I watched 3-4 of them…skipped over at least one that I recalled having seen on TV. Watched a few episodes of Modern Family (never watched the show before really, but glad it wasn’t too hard to get into it without watching from season 1!). Also saw one of the House MD episodes from season 8 (I had no idea he had gone to prison! Kind of glad the show directors realized they needed to change their format a little bit. Luckily, House did still get opportunities to show his medical brilliance with a rare disease that of course presented itself in his presence at the prison). Also saw “Rockstar” and loved it! Although it did make me cry! I saw half of “The Help” and again was not disappointed…(I thought I would finish it on my next flight, since I was anxious to try to get some sleep on the first flight. As it turns out, however, my next Emirates flight did not have the exact same digital in-flight entertainment system…one could not choose from a long list of movies/TV-shows and have the ability to start the movie/show from the beginning, and instead one just had to watch “whatever was on the channel”). On my next flight I saw much of this movie – “Mujhse Fraaandship Karoge” (which was somewhat entertaining but made me wonder if Indian college students really do dress like that. Whatever happened to “conservative Indian values” that many Indians abroad are still trying to preserve? I would hope that a small minority of people really espouse the Western ways without respect for the cultures that our ancestors prided and passed on. I suppose I sound like a conservative old lady now. Anyway, it’s a definitely not a movie I would spend money to watch in the theater, but if you have time to kill, it’s not bad. And one of the few dance-numbers I saw in the movie looked more like a music-video than your typical Indian movie song. Oh and then they went a little crazy with jumping in the air which is “in” now too.
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| Until I started walking in the plane (and reading the logo of "Emirates" on each seat), while searching for my own seat, this trip didn't seem like it was "really happening." |
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| Just one of many paper options. This is the one I grabbed and read through briefly during my flight... |
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| That looks like it'd be a good vacation place! |
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| Felt like I was on "cloud nine" with Sheldon Cooper's strange humor... |
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| Getting glimpses of Prague in this scene of "Rockstar." |
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| Flight crew had a good way of trying to get our minds adjusted to the time-change by turning the lights off at Dubai's "night time" and also serving meals corresponding to Dubai-time. Screen - again, looks like a scene out of "Rockstar." |
Just "a few more" words
I had been given the impression that driving here, in India, is a scary experience (as passenger, anyway!). Granted, whereas I have to agree, I am reminded of the traffic and road-rage in cities in the US as well, with the difference being that here there are “unwritten rules” and over there people generally drive in the correct lanes. You have to be aggressive in cities there too if you wish to change lanes, and here people may just not follow lanes very easily. Honking is also of course more generously used as a means of communication (or lackthereof) between drivers/pedestrians/animals. Somehow though, everyone does “share the road.” And by the grace of goodness, everything works out…
My mom told me that an Indian family from Topeka, KS was recently visiting India, and their young children (ages 4-6?) said they wanted to stay here because “animals are free here.” I’m not sure if they meant the animals are free to roam around, or “free” if you wish to take one into your home!
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Let's see if I have the motivation or endurance to keep blogging. I promise to try to keep them shorter in the future!
