The Flint Episode
Place & Year: Flint, Michigan ,USA / 2007
Flint, a city not very far from Detroit,just around 70 miles.There is a Kasi Siva temple out there.I knew these people around me were going there,with their fresh licenses tickling their driving senses.But since I had to take the driving class that afternoon ,I was about to miss the trip.Saturday morning got a call from my room mate who had already got ready for the trip,asking whether I’m gonna come and it’s the last call.My reply was negative.I called John Pineon ,my instructor who replied me negative for a class that day.So,Start the Trip to Flint.
We took two cars ,one car drove by one year experienced gentlemen car drivers of our trip mates and another by the first time free way hitters.I was in the second one.It was drizzling when we started,I could sense heavy rains and then I went wrong.We crossed the mile roads and hit the freeways at 80 miles/hr.The song we chose for the intro was “Dil chahta hai” in the CD player.I could bet my head,this song is made for this road.A Classic enthralloing drive towards Flint.Reached there.Into the Temple.Shiva,Durga and everyone were awesome.I mean it was really a good atmosphere ,even though Americanized Indian Styled.Couples with their newly born baby ,NRI’s with their kids speaking in American slang trying ti make them understand their own Indian English were pretty usual sights though.
Flint, Michigan
The trip started with my startling trip to the General Motors headquarters for the whole world, where these guys work. This was my first trip to Detroit Downtown. The GM world is a world by itself as the name suggests and this showed me a few glimpses of how my trip is gonna be. We got into the people mover (GM’s Train inside the building) to reach the ‘Gray hound’ bus stand. The bus stand was full of African Americans and Mexicans.
Flint Kasi Shiva Temple, Michigan
Anjaneya and Navagraha (as they pronounced in the boards) were special too.Came out of the temple for the photograph session.Once that was done,went ahead ;had Idli and curd rice.
Had been for a walk around Chicago; came back at 5 and had a nap upto 8.Woke up and was struggling on the idea of which plan to stick to with around 4 plans in hand and at last we started our walk towards “The Millenium Park” which wasn’t very impressive since the city looks better than the park. After having a nice coffee in “Starbucks”, we proceeded towards the Union Station of Chicago to catch a train to Naperville where one of our friends stays. He picked us up in his car; refreshed in his house; started our journey to Sears Center which I knew would become a lifetime experience and it was an instant classic- The Rahman Live show in Chicago.But I never knew I’d meet a lot of my college mates over there.I met Vanitha,Arun Sakthi and Shalini;Also had a glimpse of Divyadharsini,my schoolmate who went out of my sight when I turned back and it was really hard to find one amongst 20k crazy fans.
Started towards the FLINT mall.Went on a wrong road.A gallon wasted.Then went to the mall.There was a GAP showroom.Got a hooded shirt and realized that was only “Made in India”.Felt proud,but also the thought that I shouldn’t be getting a India make in US haunted me and I dint care a damn.
The ame free way.Hit back.Came home.As simple as that.