30 years ago today (Dec. 27, 2006)

Chennai2Atlanta 

or
Where there is a will

                                              
0.  Introduction

Today (December 26, 1976) is exactly 30 years since I boarded the plane for the first time in my life. I boarded the Indian Airlines plane at Madras - Meenambakkam Airport en route to Chicago via Bombay, London and New York. I had gained admission to Northwestern University (NU) to do my M.S.

I have travelled a long way. For those who do not know me or do not know where I have been, let me mention briefly. Today I am settled in Atlanta. When I left Chennai, I was an Assistant Professor of Planning at the School of Architecture and Planning at the (then) University of Madras. I came to the US on a student visa, having gotten admission to NU. I borrowed from my Life Insurance Policy for my flight and initial expenses in the US. I had to use our house in Chennai (built by my father, and in my name) as a collateral. I came here with just $80 (which I lost the second day of my arrival) as allowed by the RBI, leaving my wife and young children back in Madras. I was given 6 months leave with half salary (Rs. 400/mo) by my employer University of 8 years. I did my MS in Northwestern University (NU), then went on to Purdue University (PU) in W. Lafayette, Indiana for my Ph.D. After working in 4 States in the US and in Malaysia, including 18 months of unemployment during 1986-87, I retired as a Professor of Civil Engineering at Alabama A&M University on January 1, 2005. I am sharing my travels and travails through a series of blog entries.

My objective is in showing the truth in the statement “Where there is a will, there is a way”.  Though many of my experiences are not relevant to the current generation, the basic underlying fact of venturing to leave one’s family and folks in search of better opportunities is one of facing unexpected problems and the will power needed in facing them.

Dec. 26, 2006
When there’s a will there’s a way 🤓
............