MY FIRST INTERNATIONAL JOURNEY

It began as an application form. Then it turned into numerous trips and files of paperwork. Then came the shopping, and oh, boy, was it a lot! Shifting abroad to a place where some familiar things are not available means one has to carry them from home. As an Asian (YES, the Indian subcontinent is a part of Asia!), food is the main concern. So, one month before my flight to Lille, I went around with my parents and my friends and bought everything, from a pressure cooker (for rice) and new suitcases, to new socks. We needed an experienced person to help us buy the right winter apparel. I was genuinely surprised by how expensive winter clothes can be. I consider them among my most valuable items, along with my electronics, and of course, my rock collection. 

Packets of ready-to-eat food, basic ingredients, utensils and mom-made snacks – I was prepared. The problem was fitting everything in the two suitcases and one backpack. Many times, I felt like giving up on packing and flying with just my backpack. We did have help from many people, who gave some practical tips. Nevertheless, there was a package weighing almost 20kg to be sent once I reached Lille. 

Along with the shopping spree, I had to keep in touch with the people handling my documents, and my university co-ordinator. Never before had I emailed so much. Plus, I was visiting my relatives and friends, or they were coming to our house. Though it is a hundred percent true that I loved meeting everyone, it did get a bit exhausting as my flight date got closer. I had to pay attention to my health and eat well, especially since I would not be getting home-cooked food for the next one year, at least. 

Also, there was this constant train of thought saying, “I am actually, really going abroad!” Accepting the reality took a bit of time. The fact I was going abroad, away from home, away from everything familiar, and starting a new life there, was something I had only heard of. The level of independence I was going to experience was something I had never known before. I had purposefully kept the emotional part of leaving my parents at the very back of my mind. I could not bear to let that out before it was required. That time came on the day we left for Mumbai. After a tearful conversation, we departed for Mumbai. As my flight was at night, we were going to spend time at a hotel and relax a bit. 

Very soon, it was time to leave for the airport. My uncle and his wife who stay in Mumbai came to see me off. After parking their car, we went upstairs and I could see the throng of people like us, who had come to see someone off, just outside the airport doors. It was scary. Once we reached closer to the doors, confirmed the name of my airlines on the list, it was time for the final bye-bye’s. We took a nice photo together, and off I went ! 

The next 2 hours were a blur. I was completely focused on getting myself through check-in and security on time, and find my departure gate so that I could breathe and relax. This is how the lobby looked at 1.00 am. I was sitting there, sending pictures to my parents, letting my friends know that I was waiting for my flight. Then I heard the announcement for boarding. 

Ten minutes later, I was buckled in my window seat, without any thoughts in my head, just looking around. It started raining and was dark outside (obviously). 

My flight was going to be nine and half hours long, and I had no idea what to do. As it turned out, I slept intermittently for about six of them. There was a guy next to me who was going to fly to Canada from Paris (thinking of that makes my body ache). We chatted for some time, and he asked me how my parents allowed me to go to a foreign country all by myself. 

At that moment, I realised, I was the grown-up responsible for me. All decisions, henceforth, were going to be my own, and so were their consequences. 

I landed in Paris the next morning, extremely jittery, but stiff all over from sitting for so long. Finally, after half an hour I was waiting for my luggage. The moment I saw my bags, I grabbed them (which was definitely as easy as it sounds) and rushed to find a toilet. And was hoping to grab some food after that.

Now, one thing you should know about Paris is that it is quite normal to get lost inside public transport establishments. So of course, I couldn’t even find a coffee shop. Thankfully, I met a really nice French girl in the washroom, and she said she’ll help me keep an eye on my bags. While exiting the washroom, I asked if she can help me find food, and was lucky to be guided there instead of getting just verbal directions. We chatted for a while, and shared contacts. At around 13.00, I had to catch the bus to Lille. Again, I had no idea how to reach the bus stop. But the girl helped me ask in French, and after going wrong once, we found the airport’s metro that would take me to the bus stop. 

I waited at the bus stop for almost an hour, under the hot sun, with all my luggage. I spent the time calling my parents and texting friends that I had reached Paris and waiting for my bus. Then came the bus. I had to ask for help from the driver for putting my bags in the boot. I was sort of embarrassed about it, then. But now that I think about it, why is asking for help embarrassing? We have been conditioned to think that seeking help in our daily lives is demeaning, but it’s not. After this point, I have been helped and I have helped others so often that it has become a part of my life. Independence, for me, is more intellectual than social. We are social animals and are co-dependent on one another. 

The bus departed and my task was to not sleep… It was difficult, yes. I kept listening to music, and also took care not to consume all my data (internet). This was another thing I had to get done before leaving India – adding an international roaming data pack to my sim card. These are seemingly small things but very important when you are going abroad. 

Lille is so flat, that I could see trees at least a kilometre far. As far as my eyes could see, the land was level, with fields of grass dotted with tall trees. Oh, and windmills were scattered in some parts of the plains. 

After two and a half hours, I could see the Gare Lille Europe bus stop. A senior from my program had come to pick me up at the stop. A few minutes later, I found her and trudged over dragging my bags behind me. Thanks to her, I didn’t have to ask people how to use the metro to get to the university campus. It was a blurry half an hour or so until I got into my room in the student residence on campus. 

My weariness got the better of me and I totally forgot to call my parents after getting off the bus. Now I want you to imagine what unfolded the moment I took out my phone and called them. From their point of view, I was on my own in a foreign country for the first time in my life, was supposed to meet someone for the first time and find my way to campus… And suddenly, after telling them I had got onto the bus, I hadn’t contacted them… Sounds a bit scary, right? 

So, the moment I called them, I got scolded, and then they calmed down. I was already feeling like a stretched rubber-band. After assuring them I was fine and in my room without problems, I cried tears of relief. All that stress of travelling and physical effort of carrying those heavy bags was a first for me. It took the next two-three days for the reality to sink in – that I was finally in Lille, France which is on a different continent than my home. And I was on my own from then on (in a good way, of course). 

I needed that day to settle down. I opened my luggage and first ate some food, which was a bit comforting. Then I took my time emptying my bags and just relaxing. The most important thing I had to do the next day was buy water, as I wasn’t sure the tap water was potable. I slept like a rock that night.