In California..

Hmm.. how do I start off.. what shall i start off with?

Well.. here it goes. my first experiences in San dimas, California..

I landed here at in the noon on a hot sunday afternoon in the Los Angeles airport.
My colleagues were supposed to pick me up from the airport and drop me to the hotel i had booked. I had taken the route map from google maps to the hotel from the airport.
I must thank all my colleagues and my manager who had given me so much of information about the place i will be going to and how it is going to be et all..

I must say i was all prepared..

But i did not get to see my colleagues face in the airport after i came to the exit.
So i took 1 dollar notes from the exchange counter and took coins from the vending machine..
I called up my colleagues number.. Unfortunately, he did not pick. Then I called up my other colleague's home. Got to know tht he had already left. Thinking about what I should do if I do not find them there, I came almost to the exit door and found them. I was happy that I located them.
Then we got into a taxi and went to the hotel with the route map.
They asked me if i need something to eat then. I thanked them and said I had carried enough from home when i left.

Whats this?? I have nt told anything about my first impressions abt the place..

Ahhh!!! It was like Chennai. So hot and humid. To add to my woe, i had even worn a jacket.. black jacket !!! god!! save me.. As i sat in taxi, this place reminded me abt my Visa interview experience in Chennai. Los angeles was nothing less than Chennai.

The place i lived was peaceful enough. A nice cosy hotel. It has all amenities. In a single room we get to cook as well. It was a well furnished one.

Here starts my agony in the evening when i turn on my lappie. the power chord is incompatible with the plug point in america. Only american channels in the tv. did nt feel like watching. So what do I do. nothing eat and sleep.. that day i did only this. Next morn, I checked with the front desk(thats what they call hotel reception as) if any store opens at 6am and if i could get toothpaste. I had got only one big toothpaste from India and the checking authority in Singapore threw it away saying its nt allowed. It was allowed when i checked in India. :(

I got ready and left at 7:30 to venture in the closeby places. Found a mall that was abt a km away. I paid 3$ for the paste. felt so bad.. I am spending so much... :( :( :( But California is an expensive state. No other go. More taxes to add to this :(

All the while from the time i set my foot there, I started feeling am alone in this country though my colleagues had come to pick up.

Next day i went to Office. Felt a little ok after seeing some Indian faces.

Next search was for a power chord or pin converter as i had to use my lap top and take internet connection in hotel. There was a radio shack store nearby. Had wandered in front of radio shock so many times. But did nt knw that we get it there. Asked for it in ralphs( super mall where u get almost everything at discounted prices). They guided me to Office assistant which was closeby. They then guided me to radio shack store. Here i had to opt for a power cable or pin converter. Unfortunately, pin converter was more costlier than the chord. So i bought the chord.

So guys beware.. If you r travelling with your lap top, make sure u take the compatible power chord. A lesson learnt. :) :)