FIRST DAY IN KIEV

October 4^th, 2009 – Sunday, 01:20 pm 

It was hard to see through the crowd, milling about among expecting faces, yearning to catch a glimpse of the face of their loved ones. I had no idea who to look for, except that perhaps someone would be holding my name written on a placard or something like that. 

 KIEV ARRIVAL LOUNGE

Now I am out into the arrival lounge well into the throng, and a steady panic has almost began to set in. Thoughts like what if my date of arrival or time of arrival has been mixed up and no one is waiting for me. Whom should I call or ask?  What if this has all been a mistake? Being out of my own for the first time in my life coupled with the jet lag and vivid images of leaving my parents behind at the airport haunting me, desperation at the thought of being abandoned in a country where I don’t speak the language, had almost by now reduced me to tears. 

 LEAVING INDIA BEHIND

Did you ever had this sensation, when you start feeling calm even when things around you is crumbling down, a sense of peace where things go into a slow motion state, almost to the feeling of euphoria and you feel a heightened sense of hope, I know it sounds almost similar to the sensation of being high with weeds, but amidst all the chaos and pandemonium at the airport, I suddenly found myself considering optional contingency plans. But it was when I was spotted and I knew with all my heart that it had to be HIM. 

HIM. It was so unmistakably HIM. Standing tall near the coffee stall, HE looked elegant in a long black Peabody coat, grey woolen scarf and alligator skin shoes. He did not have a placard with my name on it. He had that defiant smile instead, that made him stand out from miles away. How did I know that it was HIM? Well, I don’t know the answer even to this date. 

I walked up to him and asked with concealed fear, “Excuse me, But I was wondering if you are from EduFacts India,” HE smiled and looked at me, and said, “Welcome to Ukraine, your dream begins NOW”

Well if you are expecting a picture of him here, then you are so mistaken, you are not getting one. But, he looked right into my eyes and said, "for the next 6 years, you shall have the best time of your life, growing up, learning and knowing your place in the world". 

We left the airport, shortly afterward, and much to my surprise, he took me on a tour of Kiev City. We went to the magnificient City Center, and went about a stroll. Well readers, you do understand, that it was my first time in Kiev, hell it was my first time out of India, everything looked marvellous. !! It felt like I had an explosion of sound, music and sight right in front of me. I shall upload the pictures of Kyiv in a separate segment, but for now, a few glimpse I suppose won't hurt. It was like a dream coming true. Knowing that I am FINALLY HERE.. FINALLY IN EUROPE. But I also knew, that it was just a new beginning, my path towards becoming a doctor has just started, and I have miles to go before I can sleep. 

KIEV, THE CITY OF DREAMS

To be continued..............

MEMOIR

Hi all,

How many of you got fooled today? Say what ? None? Damn you liars. I got duped like zillions of times today. But that’s not the point. Tell me about your most memorable APRIL FOOL’s DAY prank. 

So, today I want to try out something new. I want to try writing about a memoir about my life in Ukraine. While I am still living it.  You and me, we shall commence this journey together and I shall try to give you a detailed look into my life and let you what is it to be like the awesome me  :P

Welcome to my life .. the life of a medical student in Ukraine. Our story begins 5 years ago, in the year of 2009. I was a FIRST YEAR Student. Some douche would also call us “Fresh Meat” 

FLASHBACK 5 YEARS AGO……………………………………

October 4^th, 2009- Sunday

Through the thick cobweb of my drowsiness, I could hear the bustle in the flight cabin, the flight attendants asking passenger to fasten their seat belts and straightening up seats to upright position. I woke up with a start, slightly disoriented, from the lack of sleep over the past few days, over anxiety, separation woes from my parents, uncertainties all had led to an exhausted dream less sleep for less than an hour now. Throughout the flight I could hardly sleep because for one, whatever may others tell you, economy seats are not the most spacious places to sleep. Thankfully, I had the one next to me vacant which added little to my comfort because the armrest was poking into my ribs every time I wanted to move, so yeah I had to give up my hope to occupy both to try arranging a makeshift business class seat. The Turkish coffee that I had downed last night is still suggesting its presence. I think I need to visit the loo again. 

The temperature outside was announced to be +2’C (now that is something new for me, being from a temperate country, don’t ever really remember to have experienced such low a temperature. Also, it was apparent that I wasn’t adequately dressed). Anyway, regardless of my premonition, the flight had already started its descent towards KYIV BORYSPIL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. I had no idea what to expect, all I had known that someone from EdufactsIndia would be there to pick me up and escort me to my university. 

As usual I went through the arriving zone down to the immigration zone. Here, the first year students were asked to wait with their documents ready. I later learned that this was routinely done by the border control to prevent unauthorized entry into mainland Ukraine.  Well finally after, 2 and a half hour wait, we were ushered into the baggage area where we collected our baggage from the carousel and I took my first step towards European Soil. 

The frigid air blasted on my face as the sliding glass door separated, and I stared across the expansive hallway at the faces of the expecting, patiently waiting crowd beyond. It was such a mixed feeling; here I am thousands of miles away from my homeland, from the comforting embrace of my family and my safety cocoon. I don’t know what to expect, whom to turn, all I knew was that the journey has begun.. and I have to stay on board or risk left behind. I could not turn back from it anymore, the step has been taken and all I can now do is move forward towards the unknown, exploring, discovering and revealing on my way. I have never known vulnerability in my life because I was never left alone, not for a moment. A sheltered, protected, warm and cozy life was all I had; now I am looking at a life where I have to fend for myself and look after my needs and necessities. By then it had started to sink in that my parents are far, far behind. I can’t run into their hiding anymore. All I could do now is push forward and taking life as it comes.

Then, I saw HIM…… 

To be continued……………