It was 8.00 am in Germany as the plane landed on the frankfurt airport, I immediately adjusted my watch that was showing 11.30 am (IST). I took my hand baggage and entered into the huge looking terminus of frankfurt airport. Thanks to lufthansa staff who guided us to the immigration clearnce or else I would have easliy got lost as one gets in bhul bhuliya of Lucknow.
Standing in the immegration clearnace que, I was praying to god that the guy checking the passport clears me and shouldn't find anything missing in my passport. This feeling was actually stupid but since it was my first trip abroad I was thinking about all the possible problems that might create a scene there. I even thought that he might ask me some extra questions because of my brown skin.
I was cleared and was now looking for the way to the Frankfurt railway station which was actually linked with the airport. As I was coming down from the escalator, I saw 2 other brown sk people standing on the platform. To my suprise they were my acquaintance from India, who also had admission in my university. We all were happy to be together and were waiting for our trains that can take us to stuttgart. Soon came the zipping ICE (Inter city express), a great example of advanced German technology which runs at an average speed of 180-200 kms/hr and at a maximum speed of 280-300 kms/hr.
My friends boarded this train as I waited for mine which was scheduled after an hour. I was itching to have a express ride in ICE and so one hour seemed a long time on a reasonably empty platform (wonder why terrorist dont attack these stations unlike CST).
As the time passed, came my ICE and I got myself perfectly placed in it for a zipping ride. But as few things happen to our suprise, I felt asleep. Slept so long that i missed all the beautiful sights and din't even bother about my luggage (which i always do in IR). But thanks to my mobile alarm which wake me up just 5 mins from stuttgart.
I got down in stuttgart and saw a bunch of indians on the platform asking the people of this train that were they from IIT?. I learned later that they were here to recieve some IITians coming from India. I felt proud of myself when they asked me "are you from IIT?" wondering that atleast I look like an iitian.
I finally reached my wohnheim (student dormitory), collected the keys and came to my room. I was accompanied by my seniors (Indians). They stood for us in case we needed anything(wonderful gesture). Hope we could also do the same for our juniors. My room was like a 3 star hotel room with a balcony facing Neckar river.
We (all indians) cooked dinner together "chole chawal". I felt as if I was still in india as I never dreamt in my wildest of dreams that I will get to eat chole chawal on my first day in Germany. Again thanks to our seniors (Baljeet, Aditya and Parikshit).
My first day in Germany for which I have waited and dreamt from a long time ended up leaving me in a happy state of mind. After taking the shower I rushed to my bed like a drunkerd (very sleepy) man and the cozy bed and blanket took me in their arms and gave me...... "sweet dreams".
