Getting the VISA
Everyone is aware that without a visa you cannot enter into another country. I put my next target as the USA in the year 2008. Why? Because at that time that was the best thing to do. I had finished under graduation in the UK and my ego was on top of the world. I felt I could achieve anything. I felt the need to leave India as it was no place for an egoist like me. I dedicatedly went to the classes of GRE and TOEFL. I wanted to score well to get into a good university. The tension while giving the exams was enormous. I scored well. The consultancy people gave me five universities to pick from. I even got a scholarship from Oklahoma, but the tuition fees - high.
I called the consultancy again and asked for a cheaper tuition fee university. Then they gave me, the University of South Alabama. Till then I never heard of this university. Apparently, the states in the south of the USA have lesser fees compared to the rest of the USA. Then started my loan application and visa date confirmation. At that time, the interview was in Chennai. I had to travel to Chennai and on my visa interview date, stood in a long queue with all my documents. After a long wait, my turn to face the interviewer came and it was a lady. She asked me few questions, what my parents did? and which course I applied for? Pretty straightforward. I on the other hand was so tensed, it took me a while to say that my parents were doc... doc.. doctors. My first stammer. She took my passport which means I got the visa. After few days, my passport came in the post with the VISA stamped for five years, to study at the University of South Alabama, up to this point, I was not even aware of where this university was situated in the USA.
Mobile, Alabama, USA
The place the university was situated was a small city called Mobile, not to be confused with mobile as in mobile phones. The state was Alabama. I booked my ticket and had that time "Orkut" was there, we did not have Facebook. I contacted the "Indian Student Association" and they sent the leader of the association to pick me and three others who were along with me. We stayed in his two-bedroom apartment. We went way before our course started. Mobile was near to the seacoast and the weather was so sultry. Away from home, I never really missed home. But Mobile was a very small city. We lived near to the university. I did not have a car or any means of transport. So, I walked around the campus and nearby stores. I made new friends. I got a mobile phone. I enrolled myself in the course. I really like my department, small but with all facilities.
I took Computer Information Systems for my Masters. The only thing was I had no clue of programming, I could not even type fast as others, which I improved on later on though. There was a bus that used to pick students up to go to Walmart, the giant supermarket in the USA. The bus used to come on every Friday. Basically in the USA if you do not have a car you are totally impaired. After shopping at Walmart then I realize who should carry the covers, me. No help from anyone. I have to clean my room, do the dishes, do the laundry, get the groceries, and then when I open the book to study, I get to sleep. The laundry there, we have a common washing machines area, where they have installed five washing machines. We need to put four quarters, 1 quarter = 25 cents, then the machine runs. We live in shared apartments so we need to do in turns the toilet cleaning also.
It is like imagine your maid does not come and you need to do everything and also do assignments, study, understand the subject. Of course, it was all too much. But, when all the hard work pays off you get an A grade, it's all worth it. After all, you came to the USA to study. All of us used to depend on our seniors a lot, why? because they had cars, our weekly transport to Walmart.
Needless to say, alcohol is sold in Walmart, you need to carry your passport though to show you are above 21. The guys and girls who are bold enough try new things, try them. As long as things do not go out of hand, everyone is fine.
Through my personal experience, I don't think I was ever ready to do all that. I honestly did not know what to expect from my journey to the USA. But I learned the lesson of life the hard way.
Why is it called Land of the Immigrants?
The USA was discovered by who? you know and since then the land never belonged to one human race. It is open to all, but yet the laws are strict. It is not easy to get citizenship unless you are born there.
Think carefully, it is like but any other country and people struggle there also to get through day to day lives. It is a free country. This also means you cannot just get away with wrongdoings. Every country is different, every country has its own set of rules.
Though it is called the land of immigrants, I do not see the proper justification for the words. Mostly dominated by Caucasian or African descent races. The other races in the country hardly have any say, I feel so.
