know what awaited me in Australia.
Thoughts of the future—nice and not so nice—continued to bubble in my mind. I wasn't anxious or nervous though; internally, I was prepared to handle whatever came my way. I was simply quiet. This had always been my way. In the face of grave adversity, extreme joy or an unfamiliar emotion, I would become quiet. The quietude allowed the emotion I was experiencing to sink in and it allowed me to think. I held no conversations with my fellow passengers; I didn’t watch any movies or listen to music. I simply sat there, dreaming and reflecting.
I remembered how excited I had been when my agent, who had not only handled my college admission but also my travel arrangements, had told me that my college would be arranging for a ‘home stay’: I would be living with an Australian family. This kind of accommodation would give me a chance to learn about Australian culture. I was also pleased to know that vegetarian food wouldn't be an issue for the family.
'We've already sent the fax to the college administration and they'll arrange for someone,' the agent told me. 'They will hold a placard with your name on it at the airport,’ he said with conviction.
Upon my arrival in Sydney, I went through immigration and baggage collection and then waited in the arrivals area. I was eager to see who was coming to pick me up and wondered what kind of family I would be staying with. I waited and waited but no one turned up. I approached the crowd outside, scanning people’s faces anxiously, expecting someone to step forward and ask if I was Amit Sharma. I peered at the signs they were holding, hoping my name might be on one of them. I went from one corner of the arrivals area to the other, thinking I may have come out of the wrong exit. But my efforts were in vain.
I passed an hour moving around like a squirrel searching for walnuts in the rainy season. I was slightly nervous and restless; hopeful too. The faces of my loved ones flashed before me. They must have been wondering if I'd reached safely. I got change for five dollars from a florist at the airport. Popping two one-dollar coins into a payphone, I made a brief call home to let them know I was safe and sound and everything was fine. My family was relieved to hear my voice.
I went back to waiting, which I did for another three hours. Anyone who could have turned up or intended to be here should have been here by now, I thought. Eventually, I concluded that no one was coming to get me. Later, the college administration would tell me that they were never given any intimation about an airport pick up or a home stay arrangement.
Now, I had nowhere to go. Other than the Australian flag, kangaroos and the Sydney Opera House, all of which I had seen on the TV and on the college brochure, I recognized nothing else in Australia. I knew no one here. Actually, that wasn’t entirely true. I did have a cousin here but I wasn’t in touch with him.
A friend of a friend lived in Australia as well. I had a number for him, in fact, two numbers. I tried them but both turned out wrong numbers. For a moment, I felt a sweat break out on my body. I scratched my head. Literally. Where was I to go now? Where could I find a place to stay and where would I eat? I could go to a hotel but, with just over three thousand dollars being my entire lifeline, how long could I survive?
Just then, I remembered that my agent’s son lived in Sydney, and he had given me his son’s phone number. 'You can call him if there’s any emergency,' he had said. Well, this was an emergency for me. I tried the number. Someone picked up the phone; it was the agent's son. I thanked my lucky stars. I briefly told him about the home stay fiasco and that I had nowhere to go.
'My brother and sister have gone to India for the next three weeks, so I can accommodate you,’ he said. 'Take a taxi and come over.' He gave me his address.
I hailed a taxi and got in. The taxi driver said, 'G’day
Thoughts of the future—nice and not so nice—continued to bubble in my mind. I wasn't anxious or nervous though; internally, I was prepared to handle whatever came my way. I was simply quiet. This had always been my way. In the face of grave adversity, extreme joy or an unfamiliar emotion, I would become quiet. The quietude allowed the emotion I was experiencing to sink in and it allowed me to think. I held no conversations with my fellow passengers; I didn’t watch any movies or listen to music. I simply sat there, dreaming and reflecting.
I remembered how excited I had been when my agent, who had not only handled my college admission but also my travel arrangements, had told me that my college would be arranging for a ‘home stay’: I would be living with an Australian family. This kind of accommodation would give me a chance to learn about Australian culture. I was also pleased to know that vegetarian food wouldn't be an issue for the family.
'We've already sent the fax to the college administration and they'll arrange for someone,' the agent told me. 'They will hold a placard with your name on it at the airport,’ he said with conviction.
Upon my arrival in Sydney, I went through immigration and baggage collection and then waited in the arrivals area. I was eager to see who was coming to pick me up and wondered what kind of family I would be staying with. I waited and waited but no one turned up. I approached the crowd outside, scanning people’s faces anxiously, expecting someone to step forward and ask if I was Amit Sharma. I peered at the signs they were holding, hoping my name might be on one of them. I went from one corner of the arrivals area to the other, thinking I may have come out of the wrong exit. But my efforts were in vain.
I passed an hour moving around like a squirrel searching for walnuts in the rainy season. I was slightly nervous and restless; hopeful too. The faces of my loved ones flashed before me. They must have been wondering if I'd reached safely. I got change for five dollars from a florist at the airport. Popping two one-dollar coins into a payphone, I made a brief call home to let them know I was safe and sound and everything was fine. My family was relieved to hear my voice.
I went back to waiting, which I did for another three hours. Anyone who could have turned up or intended to be here should have been here by now, I thought. Eventually, I concluded that no one was coming to get me. Later, the college administration would tell me that they were never given any intimation about an airport pick up or a home stay arrangement.
Now, I had nowhere to go. Other than the Australian flag, kangaroos and the Sydney Opera House, all of which I had seen on the TV and on the college brochure, I recognized nothing else in Australia. I knew no one here. Actually, that wasn’t entirely true. I did have a cousin here but I wasn’t in touch with him.
A friend of a friend lived in Australia as well. I had a number for him, in fact, two numbers. I tried them but both turned out wrong numbers. For a moment, I felt a sweat break out on my body. I scratched my head. Literally. Where was I to go now? Where could I find a place to stay and where would I eat? I could go to a hotel but, with just over three thousand dollars being my entire lifeline, how long could I survive?
Just then, I remembered that my agent’s son lived in Sydney, and he had given me his son’s phone number. 'You can call him if there’s any emergency,' he had said. Well, this was an emergency for me. I tried the number. Someone picked up the phone; it was the agent's son. I thanked my lucky stars. I briefly told him about the home stay fiasco and that I had nowhere to go.
'My brother and sister have gone to India for the next three weeks, so I can accommodate you,’ he said. 'Take a taxi and come over.' He gave me his address.
I hailed a taxi and got in. The taxi driver said, 'G’day
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