Fifty Observations

Spanning the last ten days or so...ever since I left home to come to my new home...here are fifty random observations.

1. The Indira Gandhi International Airport sucks. So much so that loo doors don't close.
2. The staff at the IGI Airport is cooperative and friendly.
3. I have had kinder-faced principals than the stern looking airhostesses that were aboard my flight from Delhi to Frankfurt. I was so petrified of them that debated a hundred times before asking them for water.
4. The same flight played several movies back to back...and entertaining ones at that.
5. Different matter altogether that they were all silent since something was wrong with the plane's sound system.
7. Watched a silent Ice Age for the first time in my life.
8. The food aboard this flight was cold, flaky, and little in amount.
9. The Frankfurt airport is spotlessly clean.
10. The Germans look and behave so efficiently that it's nearly scary.
11. The Air India flight from Frankfurt to Los Angeles had pretty and attentive airhostesses, very very good food, excellent sound system, and better TV programs.
12. Why? Just because the number of firangs were more on this flight than the earlier one did AI think it necessary to spruce up its act?
13. A flight where 96% or so of the passengers were Indians didn't deserve good service and good food is it?
14. The Los Angeles airport is HUGE.
15. I got lost a hundred times.
16. Everytime there was some staff member to bail me out with a "Hi! How may I help you?"
17. People (and not just staff) of all ages, shapes, sizes, features, and colors were helpful. So much for all those who had made me paranoid that post 9/11, American airports treat South Asians badly.
18. Los Angeles airport is big, huge, and somewhat confusing. But the people are friendly and helpful.
19. From Los Angeles, I caught an Alaska Airlines flight to the city of Spokane in the state of Washington.
20. Domestic airlines within the USA do not give the kind of meals Indian domestic airlines do.
21. They serve only meager refreshments.
22. I had a brilliantly red colored cranberry juice. The glass and the juice in it were lovely.
23. And the accompanying spicy peanuts were very good too.
24. The Americans love students.
25. Idaho is a mountanous state.
26. Walking up and down my University will make sure that I am reduced to half my size by the time I come back home.
27. Which is a good thing.
28. Of the international students I have met here I got along exceptionally well with this one guy from Peru and another from Zimbabwe.
29. The largest ethnic group from India here in Moscow comprises Teluguites...yes, Andhra Pradesh rules here.
30. My apartment number is B7.
31. It is located in the quietest place I have ever lived in my life. No one blows horns.
32. The food servings in America are huge.
33. You better not order a single plate by yourself. You will never be able to finish it.
34. I love my teachers already.
35. They are maha excited to have someone from India, a completely new experience for them too.
36. People actually work.
37. And they look up when you approach their desk/counter with a question. They take pains to answer and if they can't help you they make sure to direct you to someone who can.
38. In a small town like Moscow, it's common enough to leave your car unlocked for long periods of time.
39. My flatmate is a darling. Manasi loves silver, food, men, movies, books...in no particular order.
40. And makes excellent food.
41. Walmart spoils you for choices. Too many choices, too many brands may not always be a good thing.
42. Saying "hi" is inbuilt in this system. But at times I do wonder how much they mean it.
43. Moscow is pretty.
44. Health and health insurance is a hugely big deal.
45. Dinner invitations are at the ridiculous time of 5/6 pm usually!
46. It's nice and warm during the day but chilly at night.
47. I miss my phone.
48. And therefore not being able to call and sms all those people who were an intrinsic part of my daily life.
49. Life is good here.
50. I miss my mum the most.