Touchdown !!

Hello People........ Breaking news is that I have reached Los Angeles all safe and sound :)
The current days are passing by completing the formalities. I have some 10 days left before the Fall begins.

After leaving India and before landing in US.... I was in the air... in other words.... it was like.... "आज मैं ऊपर , आसमां नीचे " ........ literally. \
22 hrs of flight with one stopover can be quite boring and of course tiresome.

* The Procedure to board the plane (As per New Delhi Airport) :

1. Enter the airport after showing your passport and ticket. They will tell you the 'Row' where you'll get your Boarding Pass.
   
2. (optional)Wrap your luggage before security check. (Rs 150 per luggage)
3. Push your luggage (except cabin luggage) through the scanner. (DO NOT entertain any other worker other than the one operating the scanner)
4. Go to the appropriate Row. There are separate counters for the economy and business class, displayed on monitors.
   
5. You can tell the person there which seat do you want. The seats beside the emergency doors have more leg space but the windows are a bit far... so the view is restricted as well as obstructed. It's your choice. The luggages will be weighed and taken away. They are strict on the weight limits but generally allow 1-2 kg overshoot but not more. So Pack your luggage accordingly. You'll get a departure form at this counter.
   
6. Fill the form and go to the Immigration check-point. This is the point of no return. You can go outside the airport to bid goodbye to your loved ones before you cross this point, NOT after that. The officer will ask some regular questions and put a stamp beside your VISA. He'll also keep the departure form.
   
7. The Boarding Pass has your seat no. , the gate no. through which you'll board and the time of boarding. Just before the gate, there is another security check for the cabin luggage. No liquid is allowed, be it Ghee, Oily pickles,.... they all will be seized. So better not to take them. DO NOT keep vegetable knifes, peelers, etc in the cabin luggage.
8. Board the plane after showing your boarding pass. The Boarding pass is required throughout the journey, so keep it handy but safe.

* Inside the plane

1. Nothing much to know. They'll take care of everything.
2. Before Landing, they'll give you TWO forms to fill. They are very important forms. Keep them filled and safe.

* After Landing

1. They'll tell you the exit to the luggage claims. Remember the Carousal No. of your flight. Before you can claim your luggage, you'll be checked by immigration officer. There's nothing to worry, unless you are unsure why have you landed in US, or if you are not sure how will you meet your expenses if you are on a student VISA.
   
2. The Officer will put stamps beside your VISA and on your I-20. He'll return one form (the Customs one) and staple a part of the other form, which is a very very important form called the I-94, the immigration form. In my case the officer didn't staple it and I thought it to be a part of the formalities, only to realize its importance later. KEEP YOUR I-94 ALWAYS WITH YOUR PASSPORT. Staple it beside your VISA but NOT on your VISA.
3. Take your luggage and exit out of the airport. Before exiting, there are money machines, get some change from there as Quarter Dollar coins are required quite often in the US.
   

EXIT and WELCOME TO US !!!!

BTW.... HAPPY FRIENDSHIP DAY (belated) TO ALL OF YOU !!!