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The grueling experience at US

Discussion in 'Snippets of Life (Non-Fiction)' started by PushpavalliSrinivasan, Jan 16, 2010.

  1. PushpavalliSrinivasan

    PushpavalliSrinivasan IL Hall of Fame

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    The grueling experience at US

    During our <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:eek:ffice:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place> trip this time we had two bitter and grueling experiences.
    The first one is connected with ER. My grandchild had a fall and got a cut at her chin before we went. The child was taken to ER and it took nearly six long hours to examine the wound and apply sutures. After we went again the child got hurt at the same place and the sutures opened and blood started oozing out. Immediately after cleaning the wound band aid was applied at home. My son and d-i-l took the child to ER around 6.30 p.m.

    It nearly took more than an hour for a doctor to see the child. My son and d-i-l told the doctor that they wanted to go for plastic surgery this time.
    The doctor just removed the band aid to see the wound and then left the place telling that he would call for the plastic surgeon. Again blood started oozing out and so they approached a nursing assistant and asked for a band aid. Then he went to the computer to find out the location of the band aid and it took nearly 20 minutes to get the band aid. The plastic surgeon came only after a long time and when they came home it was nearly 12.30 a.m. When I asked why they took so long in ER, my son told me only serious cases will get prompt attention.

    The second experience was at the airport. We had stayed with our younger son at <st1:State w:st="on">New Jersey</st1:State> and we were all returning to <st1:City w:st="on">Minneapolis</st1:City> from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">New Jersey</st1:State></st1:place>. We had booked our tickets in the afternoon flight which was scheduled to leave at 12.30 p.m. We reached the airport by 11 a.m. and boarded the flight.

    The flight started moving on the runway after a delay of half an hour. Then it halted every five minutes on the runway and was parked at some place nearly for two and half hours. There were passengers with babies and small children and elderly people also. No one was offered even a drop of water. We were struck with wonder to see all the passengers sitting quietly and didn't even ask for the reason why the flight was not taking off. We could see some other flights taking off.

    When the air hostess was passing us we had mustered courage and asked what was causing the delay. Then she replied that due to bad weather the plane could not take off. All passengers were seated in the plane nearly for 3 hours and then the plane started moving. We felt relieved, but to our dismay the plane returned to the air port and the passengers were asked to disembark as the flight was cancelled. When we asked at what time we have to report again, they told they could not tell and that if we come next morning as early as possible we could be accommodated. By this time it was nearly 6.30 p.m. and my son had hired a vehicle to go home and come back again in the morning. We had our dinner at Saravana Bhava hotel as all of us were feeling hungry.

    Next morning we got up at 3 a.m. as if we were going to celebrate diwali and got ready for the journey. We were lucky to get seats in the 6.30 flight and after boarding the flight we kept our fingers crossed until the flight took off after maneuvering the run way.

    Personal security check up is another harrowing experience for sari clad and mangal suthra wearing ladies. If there is zari in the sari the hand held instrument starts beeping!

    The joy of being with our near and dear ones makes us forget all the bitter experience.

    All is well that ends well!
     
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  2. SriVidya75

    SriVidya75 Platinum IL'ite

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    Totally agree with you madam! What a coincidence, today only I was telling my brother what a horrifying and embarassing experience it is for aged parents to go through such nasty security checks, when the real culprits are getting away , with gun powder tucked in their under wears...I felt really bad when the security women put those metal detectors at some nasty places to check my moms sari...she was all scared and was telling us repeatedly that she would never come to US as its insulting to see the kind of checking they do..that too in domestic flights..

    These security people let go off all the culprits and do these rigorous and intensive checks for innocent people. Today morning there was a 6yr old kid on television who said, since he was 3 month old, everytime he travels by air, he is being held at airports for additional security clearance..guess what is the reason..it seems the kids name matches with one of the wanted person in their database....(so, they are checking a 3 month old baby..just based on the name in the database...) no wonder people need to be trained more sensibly

    Really scary to hear about the ER incident, isnt it a serious case??? a kid oozing blood is infact a damn serious issue..how can the doctor even just leave like that??? and no one to give even a band aid???I am speechless
     
  3. Kamalji

    Kamalji IL Hall of Fame

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    Dear Pushpa,

    After reading all that u had to go thru, the doctors, and the flight, i can say just one thing, they are as bad as us, or rather we are better than them.

    Not a drop of water in the 3 horus in fht flight ? Now let me tell u something about my wife's expierence on a private airline.

    Harsha's mother expired and she had to make a sudden trip to Cheenai, and there is just one flight, Spicejet from Jaipur in the afternoon, no other flight goes direct to Cheennai.

    Being a private ariline, they sell everything on the flight, sandwitches, and everything.

    My wife, ate her lunch at went, and in the flight, she was feeling sad about the demise of hermother, the body was kept for her to come and have a last look.

    She was sobbing in the flight, a male crew, looked very concerned, and got her tea and coffee and sandwitches, all for free, and she told him she does not want, but he was kind enough to forct it on her, and repeadly came and offered more tea or coffee, or whatever she wanted.

    when she offered to pay, he said pls dont insult me, u are like my mom, please accept yr son's offering.

    I do not know what to say , there are good people here too, and who says indian flight services are poor, and the Americans giove ui good sercive.

    WE put down our own country, just be polite, and see the world fall at yr feet.Have a few kind words for everyone.

    Good blog and i feel sorry for what u went thru.

    East or west, india is the best, is my motto, and i stick by it.

    Regards

    kamal
     
  4. SriVidya75

    SriVidya75 Platinum IL'ite

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    Kamal sir

    Very well said! Yep I guess its all about the attitude of the people, rather than the country. Just like any other country or continent, India/US every place has its good and bad.

    WE take our country and our people for granted thats what I realised lately. When the same kindness comes from some one in US we are all praise for them, but when its from our own Indians, we think no big deal!
     
  5. PushpavalliSrinivasan

    PushpavalliSrinivasan IL Hall of Fame

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    Dear Vidya,
    Thanks for dropping in and sharing your experience. I would say that our country is outatanding in medical facilities with lesser expenditure. Only yesterday I read in newspsper that a Pakistani child was treated free for heart problem and the doctors were very kind and offered food and everything free to the parents also. The child's parents praised the doctors and the staff also. It is no wonder that from Gulf countries and African countries also people are flocking to get treatment in our country.

    My advice to those who are visiting US is to remove all the ornaments and keep them in handbangs and wear plain cotton saris for sari clad ladies.
    Thanks once again for dropping in,
    Love,
    PS
     
  6. PushpavalliSrinivasan

    PushpavalliSrinivasan IL Hall of Fame

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    Dear Kamalji,
    Our country is best in every way, except the corrupt politicians, corrupt judges and the corrupt govt employees who thrive without any fear.Of course there are good people in all these above mentioned. But one black sheep spoils the name of the whole lot.
    But I admired the American people that day for their patience. And another thing is they never jump queues and never break traffic rules even if there are no cops watching them even at residential area.
    As Srividya says there are good people everywhere.
    Thanks for sharing Harsha's experience which shows in time of sorrow there are people to show kindness and go out of the way to boost our morale,
    Love,
    PS
     
  7. monifa13

    monifa13 Bronze IL'ite

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    Dear PS - I fully agree with you and Kamalji -East or West India is the best. If the whole world looks down upon us Indians It's the Indians who live abroad who are resposible for that. They leave India as Indians and after living there for a few years they become and behave like foreigners. Please understand I am not generalizing here. I have visited US several times and whenever I happened to meet an Indian family in the Indian shops or in public places I smile at them and say Hello and they don't even acknowledge my greetings.They just look at me as thogh I am an alien and try to walk away! They think it's a disgrace to recognize people from their own country. I don't feel hurt but I just feel ashamed to see our own people behaving in this fashion. I have found Americans and their living pattern so different from ours and I think they are living a more macahnized and computerized life but believe me they are generally Okay kind of people. They are under great stress with political and security problems as we all understand. Whichever country we belong to we live here now and share our lives in this world together. We should learn to behave like good human beings no matter which country we belong to.....
     
  8. shantisubra

    shantisubra Gold IL'ite

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    People think US is a great country. Nevertheless it was, but not any more. Racism prevails still in US and European countries also. The whites will treat the Indian Brown with no respect only. The mind set cannot be changed even if India is recognised in the world map now, or if Indians are found in every sq.mtr of US or UK land or in other European countries / AUS/NZ.

    Secondly, American Airlines is one of the worst airlines and their aircrafts are old and filthy. Their services are poor to the bottom of the pit. I dont know which airline Mrs. PS took.

    My cousin who has travelled many times to USA had problem in her last visit after 9/11, when she visited for her daughter's Graduation. The mother and her younger daughter have been kept under constant watch and the police have been sitting opposite to her in the aircraft also during domestic travel. When she went to the toilet, they were standing outside. She gave her handbag to them to keep with themselves, so not to worry at all. Thank God, they did not face for any reason any questioning or arrest or any of such actions for the REASON UNKNOWN TO HER.

    Later on, she understood that a name similar to hers is in their crime books. Her name is SushILA. ILA in reverse is ALI !!! So the authorities / cops had her under their check, similar to Shahrukh KHAN.

    These brains are to be kept in which MUSEUMS?

    I would suggest anyone wishes to travel to western countries in Sari, please wear the Sari without any ZARI. You can choose to wear a simple non slippery Silk sari with some embroid border for beauty. Not to wear cotton which will go up and stay in the sky after 12 hours+ air journey........ or go for Churidar or a comfy pants and shirts.

    Best Regards
    Shanti
     
  9. Tubelight

    Tubelight Bronze IL'ite

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    Really bitter experiences.I could not believe that medical personnel are so indifferent there ! Our own country is so much better.

    It must be so embarassing for Indian ladies to go through at all checking. My aunt had a tough time once trying to explain the safety pin holding her saree pleats which made such a noise on the detector that the security women there ordered her to remove the pleats and show right there with all other pasengers looking ! She was so angry and was swearing she would never travel abroad again.
     
  10. radsahana

    radsahana Silver IL'ite

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    Dear Pushpa Aunty,

    Yes, we often praise, services of foreign countries is better and blah blah, and try to bring down our own countries down.

    I have two tiny tots, and even i sometime feel scared, how much serious here is serious enough for them to treat the child.

    I remembere, in India, my son got ear pain, he was crying for 2 hrs, we took him to ENT, and the doc said, we may have to do emergency srugery, for removing fluid from his ear, and the did immediatley within 3 hrs.

    Is it possible here like that, they would have to fix appt, find doctors dates, my god. I pray daily, pls dont put us in such emergency

    Also while coming here i was travelling alone with 2 kids, by BA flight, and transit in Heathrow. There they asked us to go for extra check, since my 6 years old daughter was wearing Stockings.

    Already i was worried, since my connecting flight time was in next 15 min, and these guys are checking again me, my daughter, all my hand baggages.

    I asked them straight do you do this only to Asians????? For that they said, no we dont do any racism. Later on my DH and friends said, you lucky you got away even by making that statement, otherwise for they could have kept me hold for tlaking like that.
     

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