40 Years Ago: First Encounters In the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave

POINT TO PONDER

Diversity is the one true thing we all have in common. Celebrate it every day.

 

STORY LINE 40 Years since arriving in the Land of the Free and The Home of the Brave (and also what I had known as the land of Gregory Peck, Sean Connery, Audrey Hepburn, Sidney Poitier and Raquel Welch)

On January 22nd 1974, my colleague PG and I set foot on the shores of America in Los Angeles International Airport. Our Japan Airlines (JAL) flight was delayed due to mechanical troubles and arrived late in the evening. We went to the only open food place at the airport (in those days there were not many) and inquired “ We are very hungry, what food do you have?” The guy said “Only thing I go left is a hot dog.” Coming from strict vegetarian families we were in total shock. “Hot Dog?” We had heard that in America, they ate cows. But Dogs? Yuk. We turned around and left.

The next thing I did was to call the phone number of the USC foreign students office. Since it was late the phone was directed to the university security guard. I informed him that we had just arrived in USA and wanted to find out if there was a pick-up service. The guy said “Take the number 8 to downtown.” We thought we were already in town and were thoroughly confused by his instructions. So I used the SOS instructions that were given to us before we left India. I called my uncle in Anaheim who picked us up after a few hours.

The following day, we went to the USC foreign students’ office. The head of the foreign students office was Mr. Khetrapal, an immigrant from the northern part of India. While roaming around in the office, we met Saeed, also a new foreign student from Iran. We hit it off well and decided to be roommates. That afternoon, we found an apartment just across the campus. From his accent, the owner Mr. Kinarthi did not seem to be Amercian and on further inquiry told us that he was from Russia. I was wondering where Gregory and Sidney and of course, Audrey and Raquel could be hiding.

On our third day, we were moving to our new apartment. My Anaheim uncle who worked in the city of Compton, dropped us at the bus stop near his office. Early in the morning we were still drowsy and waiting at the bus stop with all our bags and backpacks. Suddenly a van came zooming in near the bus stop. Most of the people who were waiting with us started running shouting in some strange language. Two guys in suits and ties jumped out of the van. One of them approached PG and the other one came towards me showing me a badge with his picture and some strange emblem that said, “Immigration.” I extended my hand to him and said “Anand Shah” and told him, “you do not need to show me your picture, I trust you.” I was wondering why Americans have such strange way of introducing themselves until PG who had paid more attention told me “Show him your passport and USC ID card before he throws you in to that cage in the back of his van.”

That semester, USC had launched a new degree program in the area of Semiconductor Physics and Processing. It seemed to me that it was “A Road Not Taken (by many)” which meant learning new things and also chances of discovering (getting) new degree faster, I signed up. I had two other classmates in that inaugural semester, Pradyuman Patel- the guy from my home town I had never met before and Way-Seen Wang, a student from Taiwan. Coincidence or what but very first class, an elective, that I attended, the teacher was Professor Hwan Sha Ho.

That was my first week in the Land of The Free and The Home of The Brave. I had yet to meet Gregory Peck, Sean Connery, Sydney Poitier and of course Audrey Hepburn and Raquel Welch.

 

REFLECTION

In the second week and I met Professor Steir and Andrews and Whelan and Crowell which reconfirmed my faith that I had indeed come to America. But over next several months, I met people from many different cultures and countries and started realizing the true power of this land. The people from all over the world come here and bring with them their rich cultural heritage, ideas, opinions, and cuisines, And not to forget to the original inhabitants of this country who have a very rich cultural heritage of their own.

The past 40 years have been so fulfilling and enriching with the experiences I had in meeting some of the most creative, brilliant people from all over the world and witnessing the power of unlimited creativity and resulting innovations.

So looking back, I end this reflection with that Sherman brother’s song in Disneyland..

“There is so much that we share that it is time we are aware, it is a small world after all.”

Comments

[micro CEO]

It's a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing your history and historic photo.

I believe that Andrew Vitterbi (co-founder of Qualcomm) was also at USC studying semiconductor physics, since there is now a "Vitterbi School of Engineering" there. It was however 10+ years before you arrived, I guess. If only you had been born 10 years earlier, perhaps we would now have the "Anand Shah School of Engineering" at USC? :-)

Funny about those "dogs" you encountered.
Here is a silly joke about hot dogs that I heard recently.

** A Zen master visiting New York City goes up to a hot dog vendor and says,
** "Make me one with everything, please."
** The hot dog vendor fixes a hot dog and hands it to the Zen master, who pays with a $20 bill.
** The vendor puts the bill in the cash box and closes it.
** "Excuse me, but where’s my change?" asks the Zen master.
** The (enlightened) vendor responds,
** "Change must come from within."

[BHSC]

Wonderful story... thank you for sharing!

[sizzling in Shanghai]

Congratulations on 40 years of rich life experience in US.
It was so vivid to read your story feeling I was there as well, very different 40 years ago, and the world seems a little smaller now.

[Green Vibrance]

I enjoyed this one a lot! It sounds like Part 1 of a great story....

[AZ friend]

One of the things I have always loved about working here is meeting people from all over, learning about their origins, and hearing all the wonderful accents. It’s like being a world traveler without ever leaving home. I think being immersed in this mixture makes us more tolerant and accepting of differences, and more likely to pass it on.

[Mark Dennen]

The end of "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost has a terrific ending:

I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

[Still loving it]

I love this story. I’ve heard it several times, and I still love hearing it

[Shenzen Friend]

Thank you Anand for the great sharing! 

[alex]

great post: engaging, funny, kind, - also, lots of shared memories for those of us who came as newcomers to this country, albeit, at diffrent times...

[Reddy M]

Very nice and humorous story, Anand. Thoroughly enjoyed. Thanks for sharing.

[KEW]

and who was the first movie star you witnessed face to face? great story.

[JK]

Wonderful story Anand. I’ve always said that is what makes America so great. It is the most diverse country in the world. Walk around New York for 10 minutes and you’ll hear 20 different languages.
That picture of yourself embarking on your journey is great!

[SC: Fan]

Good article! I laughed when I read the hot dog story.  Congratulations on your 40th anniversary in the land of the free! This year will be my 30th.

[MS]

Nice one. Definitely world is getting smaller and smaller/diverse. Good people are good regardless of the island / origin they come from.
MS.

[KW]

Hmmm
If you came here for college in 74’ then how can you be just 48. Hope you had a wonderful holiday with the family and yourself

[Jennifer]

Great story Anand! Thank u so much for sharing this!!! Miss ya!

[Zhicong]

Thanks for sharing your experience of going to a new country. I cannot forget the night I arrived at Japan with another Chinese student 19 years ago. It was snowing heavily, we were so lucky that our professors and chair of Chinese student association of the college waited for us at the train station and sent us to the visitors house of the college, we stayed there for 2 nights before finding an apartment. Thanks to the people helped me, will remember them forever.

[Analisa]

Love my dad - 40 years in this country and he took the road less traveled. And that's made all the difference in his life

"That semester, USC had launched a new degree program in the area of Semiconductor Physics and Processing. It seemed to me that it was 'A Road Not Taken' (by many) and a faster way of getting a degree"

[Yoshinaga]

Anand,

Thanks of a lot of wonderful story, I can see you of 40 years ago, just arrived at LA.

[Thank You from TPE]

Anand,

Thanks! Your vivid old story always brings something new to me.

[Japan friend]

Anand,
Thank you for sharing the wonderful and vivid story as always, enlighting and engouraging. The Blue Ocien Strategy then was to select the Semiconductor Physics and Processing.

[Good Friend]

Very nice story. It reminds me of my first time arriving in the US. I was 15 at the time and came by myself. I slept the whole way (well, woke up for food in b/w) and later went to the immigration counter to explain my visit. I learnt limited English at the time, so before he questioned me, I just said “My name is ...., I’m 15 years old, I came to visit my mother and I don’t speak English very well” The African American guy giggled for a few seconds and let me pass. While I was waiting for my luggage another African American guy helped me drag my suitcases from the belt onto cart, I don’t remember how he looked, but a big bright smile. I pushed my cart down the hallway and followed the crowd until an African American lady checked my boarding pass and sent me to a different exit (most of the people are on connecting flight, but mine was direct) and there was my mom waiving at me. It’s not as adventurous as yours, but that was my first impression of America – people are soooooo nice.

[madhuri]

Thanks Anand- for bringing back some wonderful memories of my first days@ UTK. Standing on Kingston pike 3 things stuck me- No horns, cars actually stopped for me to cross the road, and folks entered the bus in a line vs. climbing all over each other.
On my 3rd day we went to McD- and a new friend wearing a “ Kurta (long tunic) and chappal (open sandals)- did not come in because the sign said” shirt and shoes required". I made my first Thai friend here- Noppavan Tanpipat. Growing up in India- and esp in St. Joseph's, I had met girls from other states. But- here I made friends from Poland, Tunisia and Portugal. From Andrew the Pol) I learnt- that warm beer w/ Cloves and cinnamon will treat most ailments - But I also learnt not to make fun of the fact that he eats Cow stomach- because growing up- at times that was the only affordable meat for his family. I learnt to find humor in curious questions from my neighbors’ teenage daughter- Do they have elephants on the street? No. Just cows.
My professor said to me ” Madhuri- In this country.. we s.p.e.a.k like this- implying that I was speaking too fast. – But also told me- my English was real English” and that in the US- they spoke American :)Each person I met- embraced my culture- to the extent- that when Ravi proposed- Dr. Van Hook, actually invited him and his parents over for dinner- to ‘ensure that this was the right guy’. Dale- my roommate of 5 years- made sure we bought Salt and Oil on separate days, because that is what we did in India.
I just read the book 2 States" by Chetan Bhagat- and it reminded me of really how much diversity was NOT appreciated when I was growing up.

I was in India last month- and countless times- found myself saying “ back Home.. we do this and that”. I thank my mom for having the courage to send me here to study- against all extended family wishes. I am indeed blessed to call this country my home.
And- I met Cameron Diaz at LAX last March.

[Bobby]

Thanks for taking us back in time. Thoroughly enjoyed reading this one.

[KFC]

This reminds me of my stay in Germany 14 years ago. My very first international trip – which I had to fly from Penang  KL  Bangkok  Amsterdam  Germany. When I collected my stack of flight tickets from German Embassy (the research was funded by German government) at KL, I had no clue at all how to fly international, go thru all the gates, terminals, immigration counters etc.. and, I had to fly alone. It was on Apr 1st and I always remember that April’s fool day on Millennium year (Y2000). I landed at a country that I knew very little of their language/culture. Besides German, I met people from China, Poland, UK, Czech, Italian, Taiwan, Japan etc…can’t forget all the good people out there that have helped me throughout the whole journey. A poor student back then was able to travel from west to east Germany, backpack in Italy on very lean budget, no cellphone, no internet, only with 1 guide book on hand…

Lots of interesting stories…shall talk to you more next time when we meet. 

Enjoy your Kitaro concert!

[Laxa]

Nicely written, like a scene from a movie, Anand. While I was reading it, I could imagine you and your friend PG living it! Ofcourse it shows your funny and cheerful personality too. :)