A big hi to all my friends. It's been long since I have posted something in here. Lot of things were happening. Firstly, got my VISA renewed and managed to grow stones in my kidney. Drink Lots of water. Standard advice. All the time I feel like a water tanker lorry in rolling in my stomach. Visiting the rest room atleast 15 to 20 times. Okay...planning to reach US on 22nd or 23rd. Hopefully the new place should be good to me. Just for the curious cats among my friends, the following is the conversation I had during the VISA interview.
Went to the consulate at 11.30am for the appointment at 12.45pm. They checked my schedule outside and let me in. Passed through metal detector. Paid the courier fees and VISA processing fees. Surprisingly one of my school mates was working at one of the counters where I had to submit my documents. Then went inside the interview block and waited.....for a long time. Finally they decided to call me. I was called to one particular counter, the man there said. "wait, i will call you at the next counter". And some other guy from the next counter called me.
VO: hi...just give me minute ok
ME: OK
VO: Ok aravind, you want to go to southern Illinois university at carbondale..hmm tell me why did u choose this...why not stanford?
ME:(thinking: yeah standford..my foot) with a big smile, I am quite comfortable with the midwest and in my experience in the past three years in US, more than university ranking, it is the department and the courses they offer which make a difference.
VO: what do u want to do over there?
ME: Study VLSI and other chip designing....blah..blah (VO not interested)
VO: How will u pay for it?
ME: (Like a dumb jerk...pay what..VISA processing Fee???!!!) DD ofcourse
VO: what?
ME: oh sorry....my parents are going to fund me
VO: and what are they doing?
ME: both are employed with the central government...telecommunications
VO: What in central government???
ME: BSNL....my mom works in BSNL and so is my dad
VO: Oh ok...I have one last question...I see that your VISA is valid..so why did u come here?
ME: (Jeez..these guys can really be more dummer than me). Actually since I am changing the university, the annotation has to be changed..
VO: Just me a second, (he switches off the speaker and goes to the next counter and has a small discussion with another VO)..Ok..u r right..you have to have a new VISA. I will cancel the current VISA and you will get your new visa within 3 days.
ME: oh sure..thanks so much
VO: you are welcome..
ME: (thinking..yeah a very good bye_