A New (York) Story: "NEW!!!"

Till few days ago.. the word "New" was not a frequently used word in my life. There were very few things that I was experiencing or hearing or talking were "New". And if I got something new I used to be happy.. But in last couple of weeks.... whatever I am facing, experiencing is NEW.. my every movement, every action... every second is bringing me something "New".. something that I never experienced.. and now if I come across something "Old".. I feel really old is gold :)

First new thing that came into my circumference of concern is the city itself "NEW York".. (the word new starts from here itself.. :)... the day my boss told me that with in few week u need to fly to New York.. the world around me started moving.. till that point it was so routine that this line from boss just shaken normal lifestyle.. office also didn’t allowed me wait and think and within 2 weeks I was ready with Stamped VISA. And is been told that with in a week I will be flying.. So for my preparation I got just one week (without any holiday of course)..

Ohh I had to complete so many things.. I wanted to meet so many ppl .. luckily most of the ppl I had met a week before.. but still some were remaining.. but I was helpless. I had just 6 days to pack my old world in two bags (each of 32kgs ;) ) and proceed to new world :D.. so it was not me alone but my entire family, friends and office mates working for me.. sab log kaam pe lag gaye.. Office mein daily topic was wht to take along with and what to keep there itself..:D how to go.. whom to contact.. what to eat.. who are ppl there.. their tradition n all.. also they were helping a lot by not assigning much work to me :D On the other front my parent were verry busy in shopping.. only for cloths and shoes I did shopping myself.. baki sab unpe chhod diya.. beside this I was very very tense about documents and procedures (as usual).. all office mates wee busy in minimizing the tensions...

Beside this, log milke jaa rhe the.. my aunt came to meet me all the way from Pune.. Ppl calling me from long distances.. I was truly touched.. Ghar pe toh khub care li jaa rhi thi.. I was treated like a king for last week :D.. And after very long week with all tensions, curiosity, "fear of unknown" and excitement of journey THE DAY arrived.

It was really "THE DAY".. since morning I was feeling for every action, that this is my last action in India for next few months.. or may be couple of years.. :D... full alag lag raha thaa.. went to office as usual.. got plane tickets.. sab office public ko bye bye .. everything was different.. everything was pleasant .. still there was fear of unknown somewhere deep in mind.. as it was Friday. I didn’t miss the non-canteen day.. ;).. had lunch outside.. Anu (as usual) cheered and lowered my tension.... after saying bye to shubham, anu and jepsi.. it was turn of project ppl.. their wonderful farewell with good wishes .. everything was nice.. Manjusha, ashwini and anish came to say bye bye till bus.. it was so nice gesture..

At home all packing packing and packing till last minute.. The friends arrived at home.. and then we went to airport.. and the journey of "NEW" things begins.. the air journey for completely new for me.... all family members, and very dearest friends came there to see me.. I was about to be in tears when I was saying goodbye to them.. but as usual I controlled my feelings to be shown (sorry guys I rarely show my feelings :D).. after this emotional scene.. it was the immigration, customs etc.. and then in the Air Plane.. a new thing.. airplane was nice.. first half till London I got non window eat to appreciate inner beauties of plane ;).. luckily a sweet gal was beside (in matter of gals.. mostly luck is with my side )... though we talked lil.. as she was sleeping all the time..

Then at London we had to come down to Heathrow.. a verrrrrrrrry confusing airport.. again all security check .. but till now in plane there were very less "gora" public.. but even after London.. most public was "Desi" only.. may be air India was the reason... but let me tell you I like the moment when plane landed or took off from London.. it is very neat city..and the day was clear.. I could clearly see London bridge.. big ben and parliament house before landing and after take off.. it was really great.. finally I touched the land of british ;)..

My next and final stop was new york... JFK.. the airport that I had seen in many movies.. I was going to see actually.. and it was really nice.. the process of immigration and customs was very smooth... bags also got in 15-20 mins.. so I was set to head towards New york city..
My booking was in RAMADA hotel in jersey city.. and a lemo was booked for me for transportation.. it was nice.. the first sight of city was nothing but tallllllll towers and skyscrapers... and toooooooo much cars on road.. moving very fast.. and in opposite directions than India...:D

We crossed some bridge. it was same like Brooklyn bridge (kal ho na ho).. but it was not that.. (earlier I thot it is the same :) ) and I reached the new york .. the birth place of American dream.. the door of capitalism.. the gateway of America.. the most metropolitan and biggest city of world was welcoming me with its own pace.. own light and own style.. and really like this first sight of city... it was going to be "My city" for next year...

A New (York) Story: First Visit to Down town

If you ask me (I know you won’t ask this ;)) to Define New York I would say “New York is the ‘showcase’ of the World”. You just name the religion, Culture or Community in this world... You will find equal representation here at New York. A real New-Yorker can be an American, Black, European, Chinese, Japanese or Indian…or can be Christian, Hindu, Muslim or Baudhha… when you are in New York you are New Yorker….

The pace of this city make you run along… this city has charm... a global face... smell of money is every where.. Neatness... you will find something familiar to your culture... But still you are alone… This city is running... Walking... Crawling... Singing... Dancing… eating... Roaming... whatever may be the time but city is always busy... Indeed, it is a very “Alive” city.

As I said earlier, you will always find something similar to your own culture/place somewhere... But if you are from Mumbai (Like Me) for you everything is familiar, similar but still different. And hence you can’t stop comparing the cities… It has everything that my Mumbai has... it has Local trains... It has Very fast life... It has mix population... It has variety of food... It has Awesome downtown... Nevertheless it has hawkers and beggars too ;)

My Job Was on The famous Wall Street... and at one of the oldest stock exchanges in the world “New York Stock Exchange”. My First Working Day was something like a dream..
With help of one of my friend I catch the train... The way of getting tickets was simple and effective.. My mind automatically (and rather unnecessarily) started comparing the two cities.. There unless you punch your ticket you can enter the Station… But then I though if we want to implement this kind of system.. I am sure for most of people it will result in miss of usual train .. I wan simple system but was it feasible for large crowd like stations like CST or Churchgate??

Any way I caught the train.. Surprisingly the train was crowded.. With my knowledge through movies about USA was nice trains with proper seats.. But here train was pack like Mumbai.. With my expertise knowledge of catching train ;) I could get into it.. It was as pack as our train.. but difference was there was no space to stand in door.. as doors closes .. and second difference was crowd was very decent.. No horrible perfumes... and no body contact.. people leave train if they cant get in properly.. (Of course here in India it is not feasible to leave a train :D)

I get down At WTC station.. World Trade center.. The Station was beneath the famous twin towers.. From here you can see the Ground zero.. It was first glimps of new york for me.. I came out of train and saw that even at this crowded place.. Same huge crowd as in any big station in India.. and the ticket validation was working as effectively as in journal square.. (So for me it is nice simple and implementable system in India with People cooperation)..


I came out with the large flow of people and my first view of New York was nothing but Tall Sky scrapper.. buildings are really tall.. so long that if you wear hat and try to see top floor.. your hat should fell definitely :D

So I was in downtown.. The New York down town... I was on mid of Wall street.. I was among few who were entering in “New York Stock Exchange”… I was among few who get to work in Down town of New York... I was the one who was beginning new American Journey in very new city .. with new hope… new dereams… Or you can say I was in very friendly and wonderful city with many new things.. some already in front of me and many yet to come…