HOMECOMING - Vacation Trip to India

Like getting to America is a Dream come true for many people. Going to India from America for a vacation is also one of big dream event for many NRI families. I don't want to talk for anybody but I have seen that its always the case most of the time. They would totally agree with me or atleast they won't deny my statement.

First of all, its tough to get a month(reasonable length to enjoy) long vacation from the busy work schedule and second timing has to be perfect enough to have fun with the family. These two things is never easy to make it happen. Its not an exception for me either.

Going to India needs lot of planning and preparation. Its not an easy task. You have to plan atleast 6 months in advance. First step of all, I had to request leave for the vacation from work for a month. As you soon you say, a Month acation. "A MONTH LONG VACATION", thats too long. Its tough for them to understand why need that long. They will ask "n" number of questions which need to be answered with patience to convince them to get the approval.

Once you get the approval for certain dates you wanted, now you need to find out whether you can get a reasonable flight ticket for that dates. Its a tricky thing and a catch 22. You will find good fare tickets, but it doesn match your dates. You won't get good fare ticket for the dates you got the leave. Its tough decision to run around. After calling number of agents, I finally got the closest ticket fare you can afford for the days you wanted go.

Next comes the biggest task of all. Buying gifts for relatives. You have to start putting a big list of people who are important to you and your wifes family. Then start thinking in term of what they might use and need? From that list, you need try and find items which you can buy in US for a good price. You also need to think in terms of the space limitation. You can't buy everything and anything. You have to buy it lite but have face weight to gift it. If you buy too much, its tough to fit in the baggage limitation of the Airlines. Its a mind boggling activity.

I did start preping 6months ago and planned to get this all done slowly to avoid tension at last minute to have good trip. I been waiting for this trip since Nov 06. My 5 day count down started this Monday. I am on my final day of the countdown. Now every hour passes like a day, as it gets closer and closer. Time is not moving fast anymore like it used to.

Its been 2 years since I visited my motherland. It doesn't seem that long but its long enough to long for lot of things. For some people, 2 years is too close as they only get to every 4-5 years. I salute them for the sacrifice. I don't think I can do that. I am really looking forward for this trip after 2 years. This trip which is going to be interesting one with lot of planned activities including the one to meet with sulekha bloggers.

It will be totally a different trip compared to the previous ones. There is a paradiagm shift in my thought process. I am now a father and every body will start looking at me as a family man. I am nolonger just a married man. I have more responsibilities and it gets too complicated from there. Now I need to think of things to take for my son for a month so he won't any problem in india. I have to think of things to buy for him in India so you can learn things like every other kid in India. Just a thought, it won't work always. The list just gets longer and longer.

As usual, it will be blast to see all my relative and friends. They get to see my son for the first time after his birth(after a year). I get to see my son play his own set of new friends. Its going to interesting to watch him learn new things and try to fit in the family. We have planned few tradition activites for him which would of good importance.

Anyways, its all for goodtimes. I just can't wait anymore. I am finally packed and ready to leave. It took me 3days to complete the packing as its tough to dump everything in just 2 suitcases with a limit of just 23kgs. You have things to buy for people since you going after 2 years. Its tradeoff of space. Somehow I did it and got over it. Now I am just counting on each hour passing by until I get to the Airport tomorrow to catch my flight. After that, I will still be counting for another 20hours until I reach Chennai.

I am hoping for a good trip with loads of fun and another set of memorable events to be stored in my memory to last for another 3 more years. I am going to try to login and post blogs whenever I get chance. Lets see how it goes...