“Come fast so we can leave this place ASAP. We need to leave quickly. It is cold, fucking expensive and …” Yelled my friend on GTALK in BOLD and Caps. This was after just a day in Oslo. I still had two days before I would touch down to Europe, starting my ‘Eurotrip’ from almost the end of the world…
Autumn of 2010 was our gateway to three-four months of student exchange program-culture exchange, information exchange and loads of traveling. I was visiting BI Norwegian school of Management, Oslo from IIM Calcutta. It was an unusual place considering not many students would opt to go to Norway-a secluded rich country at the corner of Europe. But we had opted for it, neither had we a choice, nor any second thoughts.
Equipped with as much luggage as economy Aerofloat allows, a global 3 month Euro rail pass and currency prepaid card, I set out for the journey of my life, which will turn to be the most reckless, most crazy and clearly the most cherished one. Icing on cake- a student tourist in Europe who happens to be a girl with history of jinx, bad timing and carelessness got off without being robbed at all!
I set on to my journey on August 28, 2010 by an early hour flight. Delhi-->Moscow--> Oslo. Incidentally I met my friends at Airport- outbound for similar program at Copenhagen. We had same flight till Moscow. I hopped on the flight, choosing a window seat- (I fail to understand why I do that as I prefer Aisle!)
These hopping flights are interesting. Aerofloat’s main hub is Moscow from where it operates smaller planes to other places. Hence a flight to Moscow is full of people bound to all sort of places- Oslo, Copenhagen, Finland, London, Paris- and Moscow termination-like Michael.
Michael was sitting next to me on flight and we soon entered into a conversation. I can’t claim to have made a friendship over a six hour long flight but it was a pleasant experience to know him- and I continue to keep in touch over Face book. Michael was as pleasing as he was amusing. Unlike usual assumption, he was extremely sober, very disciplined and had too many good habits to digest! Like he was a non drinker, no food at night, was keen at Sanskrit, Yoga and Vedas and what not. I felt like a complete brash youngster sitting next to him. But all in all it was a great beginning to a marvelous journey.
At Sheremetyevo Airport Moscow, I was finally on my own. It was a wait of some six hours. I walked the entire terminal many times, thanked for free internet, cursed for low battery of my laptop, wandered hungry, didn’t buy anything as prices were exorbitant and currency conversion made them feel more so. With all those thoughts and restlessness, I hopped on the small plane headed to Gardermoen, Oslo.
One can feel the beauty of Norway much before landing. The lush green trees, clear deep water is visible from flight. You will be excited and die to land quickly to see it at touch’s distance. Anyway one has heard how awesome the place-one of the most beautiful on Earth is. Hindsight- Totally Agree
Reaching Oslo was also one of a kind experience. Now that I look back, my stay there is enveloped by bitter experience at arrival and departure, everything in between was beautiful. I was welcomed by light showers. Talking about the arrival part, I simply took the superfast bullet train to Oslo S or the Sentralstasjon. I luckily found a girl at Airport who helped me enough-got me half price for student ticket, and loads help with holding my luggage.
I got down at Kringsja, which is house to thousands of students and where my friends were stationed as well. Now I had reached on Saturday and Kringsja is closed on Saturday and Sunday. They had put up a notice for students reaching on weekends but I had no phone on me. Thus I went round and round-trying to figure out a phone or any help- I didn’t remember my friend’s place exactly and was in no position with all the luggage to go hunt for assistance. Finally I called for help from passing-by people and managed getting one of them to call the Krigsja guys. Eventually someone came and took me to a nearby student housing village called Sogn. I was put up at a small room meant for cases like me- to be allotted a room on Monday. All was finally settled- except that there was still a catch- I did not have keys to that room!
The room had two sofa-cum-bed, table, air blower, and no keys! I wondered what could I do, chain my stuff and go, leave and hope no one knows its unlocked…my laptop was of a bit help but This meant I was stuck. I could stay inside-but can’t go anywhere. I had reached in evening and I just sat there and slept off. It must have been one of the longest night of my life. New country- appearing-disappearing sounds outside my room, slamming of doors. This place was next to Amatoren- a club for students which made it much more miserable and ‘foreign’. I slept.
Next day I got up with same thoughts. I had mailed my friends the last night about my whereabouts hoping they can come but I was not sure. Finally I had enough. I took all my luggage upstairs-asked some random person to keep it for me and then set out towards Kringsja to hunt for my friends. I had no clue of the way or distance or clarity of address. But I went.
Kringsja is nearly 2 kms from Sognsveien. I asked, took directions and reached. Then I crossed hassles of locating the building, figuring out how to enter the locked buildings, wings, rooms and finally met my friends- “Are there Indian students here?”
Now I was settled. Found my people. This also told me how familiarity is relative. In that foreign land, I connected so much to them while back at college, I din’t know them at all. I’d call them Tom and AP. Tom for the name that he used often to help people remember easier name. AP is plain initials. Since I do not know if people who form integral part of my Eurotrip prefer to be named, I’d use codes as and when required.
So finally my Eurotrip started- like most of the memorable trips- long journey, unknowns places, lot of confusion with Murphy’s blessings- but peace at last.
Autumn of 2010 was our gateway to three-four months of student exchange program-culture exchange, information exchange and loads of traveling. I was visiting BI Norwegian school of Management, Oslo from IIM Calcutta. It was an unusual place considering not many students would opt to go to Norway-a secluded rich country at the corner of Europe. But we had opted for it, neither had we a choice, nor any second thoughts.
Equipped with as much luggage as economy Aerofloat allows, a global 3 month Euro rail pass and currency prepaid card, I set out for the journey of my life, which will turn to be the most reckless, most crazy and clearly the most cherished one. Icing on cake- a student tourist in Europe who happens to be a girl with history of jinx, bad timing and carelessness got off without being robbed at all!
I set on to my journey on August 28, 2010 by an early hour flight. Delhi-->Moscow--> Oslo. Incidentally I met my friends at Airport- outbound for similar program at Copenhagen. We had same flight till Moscow. I hopped on the flight, choosing a window seat- (I fail to understand why I do that as I prefer Aisle!)
These hopping flights are interesting. Aerofloat’s main hub is Moscow from where it operates smaller planes to other places. Hence a flight to Moscow is full of people bound to all sort of places- Oslo, Copenhagen, Finland, London, Paris- and Moscow termination-like Michael.
Michael was sitting next to me on flight and we soon entered into a conversation. I can’t claim to have made a friendship over a six hour long flight but it was a pleasant experience to know him- and I continue to keep in touch over Face book. Michael was as pleasing as he was amusing. Unlike usual assumption, he was extremely sober, very disciplined and had too many good habits to digest! Like he was a non drinker, no food at night, was keen at Sanskrit, Yoga and Vedas and what not. I felt like a complete brash youngster sitting next to him. But all in all it was a great beginning to a marvelous journey.
At Sheremetyevo Airport Moscow, I was finally on my own. It was a wait of some six hours. I walked the entire terminal many times, thanked for free internet, cursed for low battery of my laptop, wandered hungry, didn’t buy anything as prices were exorbitant and currency conversion made them feel more so. With all those thoughts and restlessness, I hopped on the small plane headed to Gardermoen, Oslo.
One can feel the beauty of Norway much before landing. The lush green trees, clear deep water is visible from flight. You will be excited and die to land quickly to see it at touch’s distance. Anyway one has heard how awesome the place-one of the most beautiful on Earth is. Hindsight- Totally Agree
Reaching Oslo was also one of a kind experience. Now that I look back, my stay there is enveloped by bitter experience at arrival and departure, everything in between was beautiful. I was welcomed by light showers. Talking about the arrival part, I simply took the superfast bullet train to Oslo S or the Sentralstasjon. I luckily found a girl at Airport who helped me enough-got me half price for student ticket, and loads help with holding my luggage.
I got down at Kringsja, which is house to thousands of students and where my friends were stationed as well. Now I had reached on Saturday and Kringsja is closed on Saturday and Sunday. They had put up a notice for students reaching on weekends but I had no phone on me. Thus I went round and round-trying to figure out a phone or any help- I didn’t remember my friend’s place exactly and was in no position with all the luggage to go hunt for assistance. Finally I called for help from passing-by people and managed getting one of them to call the Krigsja guys. Eventually someone came and took me to a nearby student housing village called Sogn. I was put up at a small room meant for cases like me- to be allotted a room on Monday. All was finally settled- except that there was still a catch- I did not have keys to that room!
The room had two sofa-cum-bed, table, air blower, and no keys! I wondered what could I do, chain my stuff and go, leave and hope no one knows its unlocked…my laptop was of a bit help but This meant I was stuck. I could stay inside-but can’t go anywhere. I had reached in evening and I just sat there and slept off. It must have been one of the longest night of my life. New country- appearing-disappearing sounds outside my room, slamming of doors. This place was next to Amatoren- a club for students which made it much more miserable and ‘foreign’. I slept.
Next day I got up with same thoughts. I had mailed my friends the last night about my whereabouts hoping they can come but I was not sure. Finally I had enough. I took all my luggage upstairs-asked some random person to keep it for me and then set out towards Kringsja to hunt for my friends. I had no clue of the way or distance or clarity of address. But I went.
Kringsja is nearly 2 kms from Sognsveien. I asked, took directions and reached. Then I crossed hassles of locating the building, figuring out how to enter the locked buildings, wings, rooms and finally met my friends- “Are there Indian students here?”
Now I was settled. Found my people. This also told me how familiarity is relative. In that foreign land, I connected so much to them while back at college, I din’t know them at all. I’d call them Tom and AP. Tom for the name that he used often to help people remember easier name. AP is plain initials. Since I do not know if people who form integral part of my Eurotrip prefer to be named, I’d use codes as and when required.
So finally my Eurotrip started- like most of the memorable trips- long journey, unknowns places, lot of confusion with Murphy’s blessings- but peace at last.
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