Innocents Abroad

Our first stopovers in Geneva and Rome went off smoothly and most enjoyably. We were most exhilarated with both the famous historical sculptures and architecture in Rome and the natural beauties of Switzerland. For me, in addition, one of the most memorable experiences was our first meal in Europe. We asked the American Express person who changed our travellers' cheques where we would find a vegetarian meal,and he suggested, after finding out from us if we did eat cheese, a fondue. I have been a votary of this Swiss dish ever since! So much so that when we left Urbana, my colleagues at SRL presented me with a fondue pot.

After Rome, we spent a few days in London at our own expense, staying at the relatively cheaper Indian YMCA. Our last stop before embarking on our trans-atlantic flight was in Paris, and we were so keen on enjoying the Left Bank and Montmarte by night that we did not sleep much that night. Our various stopovers had been all very enjoyable and we were elated, even though quite a bit tired.

When we landed in JFK, we were told we had to take a bus to another terminal and the American accent confused us, leading us to get down at the wrong one! The jet lag did not help. When we made it to the check-in desk we found we had missed our flight to Chicago [which we was where we had to change planes for Urbana] and was I in a panic?! I babbled to the agent that we had no money to buy another ticket and kept 'sir'ring him lavishly, pleading, and almost missed his saying calmly, 'Don't worry, lady, we'll put you on another flight'. Even when that penetrated my head, I said plaintively, 'But we have no money and have to get to Urbana, sir'. He kept repeating - Not to worry, he would put us on the next flight, till finally, I asked him incredulously, 'You mean we do not have to pay for it?'.

That was not the end of our travails. We had plenty of time to change planes at Chicago, but this time we were careful to check the departure gate over and over again. Still, we did manage to lose that connection too! We had not realised that O'Hare was such a large airport that even if they were all in one building, one had to walk miles to get from gate to gate sometimes. Once again high drama, with me almost in tears now, for the last flight to Urbana for the day had left! This time I understood that they would put us on another flight on the same ticket the next day, but what about night stay? Don't worry, said this agent, another angel come alive, he would get us a room in the airport motel, the Ramada Inn. When I whined that we did not have any money, and he said reassuringly, 'It's on us', I did not catch it till the third time. Then I said' wow' to myself. I was most impressed by the casual generosity of the American airline staff! [This kind of generosity does not occur nowadays, of course].

Finally, we arrived at Urbana the afternoon of the day following our expected arrival date. The secretary at SRL, Peggy Green, and an Indian student who had been assigned to meet new Indian arrivals, had diligently come to meet us on the scheduled flight and even later ones on that day, but on the next, day they gave up, and we had to call the SRL office to find out where they had found some digs for us.