An unexpected cross border ingress

What happens when you switch countries, abounding in passion and aspiration, and your very arrival end up being a tragic episode? Yes, it appears to be discouraging and demotivating but brings along a lot of learning, adding to one’s self-preservation. Here is my version of experiencing one such nightmare and still bring home the bacon.

Immediately after receiving a student visa, I was on the ninth cloud but never knew that this shift from India to UK would take its own toll. Battle began from the very first stride of converting my Indian resident account to NR account. The usual process takes about 7 days but for me it took more than a month. More advanced I was in my planning; more delay I had to confront. On top of it a fraudulent transaction from my bank account was an added melancholy. ^①

The above was followed by the customary luggage management. First it was about buying a proper travelling bag which was a cinch. Next was to load the bag with a baggage of limited weight as designated by the air service.  I was allowed to carry 50 kgs as check in and 7 kg as a hand carry luggage, yet it turned out to be a distressful task wherein I kept juggling with the stuff, baffled between put up or shut up. Lastly the mission was accomplished! ^②

Now the time came to board a flight in wee hours. Being an international flight, you are supposed to enter the airport beforehand which invites bags of anxiety and unrest. I was told it is common but 1.5 hrs of immigration process accompanied by 1.5 hrs of security check was totally unexpected before just getting on to the flight. ^③ The flight took off and was a pleasant one until I landed in Abu Dhabi where it was long halt of 7 hours before checking in for the connecting flight. If you are not a privileged passenger you need to accommodate yourself on chairs where you can neither sleep nor you can sit for that long. Also, one can’t indulge into shopping as that will be a money pit, keeping in mind you are a student. ^④

It was the time to take up the connecting flight to London. I entered the flight after all the rigorous security checks including smith test which was truly daunting. It was a window seat which I am sure every passenger is excited about and so was I. But from the moment the flight took off till it landed in Heathrow I was cursed with vertigo for the very first time in life spoiling my entire flight experience for the complete 7 hours of journey. However, safely landing in London gave me a sense of relief along with a lot of excitement to start a new chapter in life. Who knew what is in store ahead but I was blessed to have had friends who really cared and comforted at every junction of my admittance to London, ahead of it and until this very moment.

My best friend came to pick me up at the airport and waited for really long as the immigration process took more than expected. He was kind enough to book train tickets for my forward journey to leeds. Immediately after my arrival we ran to catch the tube to Kings Cross from where I had to take a train to leeds but guess what, we missed it by 10 mins. This was the real start of the tragic event that was to succeed. The very first challenge was to find a place to spend a night till I could catch the next train in the morning. Most of the hotels nearby were unattainable but still second friend of mine intensely hunted google and found me a hostel. Somehow, I managed to reach there with a 57 KG of luggage in hand and assertively arrived at the reception for check-in. As a common practice I was asked to present the passport. I looked for it in every nook of my bag but couldn’t find it. This very moment was absolutely nerve wrecking leaving me mentally, psychologically and emotionally strained. Within a second, all the enthusiasm collapsed like a house of cards. ^⑤ It was with the help of my friends on call, I pulled myself together and rushed to the airport looking for my passport. ^⑥ There was just one officer I could see across the airport who asked me to come early morning the next day and check with lost and found department. There was more to it though. When I returned back to the hotel and was to pay to the cab, I realised that I have also lost my debit card. ^⑦ What more could have gone wrong at this point? I tried to remain calm, checked with reception if they have found any debit card but the misfortune seemed to be at its peak. I just went to take a quick sleep of three hours which didn’t came easy either. Woke up at 6 to go back to the airport and when I was heading the hotel exit, I found my debit card at the reception. This showed a small sign of things getting right. As soon as I hit the airport I rushed to the lost and found but couldn’t find my passport and I was directed to central lost and found section. On the way I was told by the officer that I should first go and check the place where I actually left it which was the underground station at terminal 4 of heathrow airport. Amidst all the turmoil I reached the station and informed the personnel there who when checked with the supervisor discovered that my passport was safe and intact. I thanked the universe, grabbed my passport and returned to the hostel. Quickly packed my bags and requested the third friend to help me reach the station and guide me take a train to leeds. He turned up in no time and helped me catch the train after feeding me with a wonderful coffee and cookie. By now I had almost not eaten or drunk anything.

This was my first train journey in UK and even this involved some drama. In the middle of the route there was an announcement of delay which kept increasing minute after minute and finally the train got terminated in between. Passengers were asked to take another train to leeds. I pulled out all my luggage, went to another far-off platform, took another train and finally reached leeds by 4:30 pm. Got into the cab and reached by accommodation where I was denied the entry as my name was not there in that day’s check ins. But the god was kind enough in the end, the Pakistani security guard of the property came to my rescue and agreed to help me check in. Entering my room after combating the tangled web made me feel like a victorious warrior whose spirits have doubled and perseverance have amplified.

I thought of writing this entire episode at length not to sob about my suffering but to sheer create an awareness in terms of how cautious and careful one should be while traveling from one country to another. In connection to the numbers listed above I will be inditing few suggestions which I believe will help many in making their international travel a memorable one along the right lines.

1. Just make sure that if you have to apply for a NRE / NRO account choose a bank that has promising international presence and start the process well in advance. Also while making international transactions please be extra cautious and make sure you are not ticking the wrong check box.
2. While deciding on what to take and what not to take please enlist the essentials beforehand and its not necessary to fill the baggage with the allocated weight. Lesser and as required is better because end of the day you have to carry it to places.
3. As you will have to wait in long queues for immigration and security check, make sure that the hand baggage you are carrying is not too heavy and should not be many in numbers. Also, that you should be able to comfortably carry it on your shoulder, else it becomes an unforeseen trouble.
4. Try and grab a sit with leg rest. Also, it would be good if you carry some home-made food that can last. This will save your funds from spending on excessively expensive food on international airports. This suggestion is specifically for students going for higher studies.
5. Please make sure that you have your international number activated before you land in the country you are going to. Your important documents like passport and identities should be safely kept in waist bag and should not be handheld at all.

• If your local friends are suggesting a way out do listen to them and don’t panic as they know the place and its systems better than you for sure. Running on your own will make you spend for no reason.
• Please keep your debits cards very safely and double check while you keep it back after making its use. In case you lose the debit card, please block it then and there.
• Last but not least, just be prepared to combat any challenge than comes your way. Believe you me the people across the border are also humans and they will try and help you to the best on their capacities. Just be patient and loose your calm as that would have cascading effect. Believe in yourself and believe in humanity. Yes it does exists.