Lost in Chicago

I was informed [from company] to carry $50.00 to $100.00 equivalent in cash & exchange it at Chicago airport. For no reason, I didn’t change Indian rupees to US Dollars at Cochin. I thought like changing it at Chicago. I saw they are open 24x7 at Cochin and thought I can exchange at Chicago. But, my flight was delayed at Frankfurt by 2 hours; some delay in landing at Chicago and other delays due to customs & security checks altogether delayed me by 3 hours or so. It was about 7:30 or 8:00 in the evening. But foreign exchange was closed after office hours.

Yes I was in Chicago airport, without any US dollars in my hand. My next flight was at 6:30 am next day. I had to wait for 9 to 10 hours there. Sounds Ok? Absolutely Ok, if my plan was something else. But I had to inform my parents that I reached US, I got entry permit, and I am safe. I had to inform my company that I got entry permit and I may reach Nashville, next day around 9:00 am. They never know that if I got entry permit or not. Also I was informed not to take any mobile phones and can have a phone connection here. So I was lost without a single dollar at Chicago airport.

At Frankfurt I saw some coin-box kind of phones that accept credit cards. I tried with almost 10+ such phones & none of them worked because I was new to such phones. Again I had no coins. So I shuttled between terminals to find such a phone from which I can call my company. I know if I inform my company, they can call my home and let them know my status.

At last, I found a guy (an Afro-American). I think he was among the security guards. He offered his mobile phone to make calls to my company. I informed them my status and informed them to call my home. So I was relaxed.

Oh, now I am hungry. Again I started shuttling between terminals in search of restaurants. I can’t go out of the airport without a single dollar with me. In one terminal I found a restaurant, from which I could get a sandwich & a Pepsi. But after food I felt like calling home. So I was in search of money. Then I saw a white man and a lady buying sandwiches from another restaurant. I approached them and asked; if I can pay from my credit card and let them pay me cash. Yes it worked. They owed the cashier $ 11.16 and I paid it from credit card and they gave me $ 11.25. Neither of us had change to make it $ 11.16. Now I have cash. I approached cashier & she gave me quarter coins (25 cents coins) for $2.00. Oh now I can make calls.

Sorry, to call India, charge is some $ 1.5 per minute. I.e. I need some 6 coins to talk for 1 minute. I was again in search of more coins. I approached another shop for coin. When I was talking with cashier, a lady aged 40 - 45 came and told me, better buy a calling card. She helped me in buying $20.00 calling card. I called home and my company already informed them my status.

So, it was already some 10 pm, but I had to wait till 6:00 am next day. Where to sit-down and take rest? I decided not to sleep. I thought like finding place where I need to check-in next day. I found that location and got information like; I can check through terminal 1 though it’s written as terminal 2 on my ticket. So I went to terminal 2 and 1 to figure out what to do with check-in, when can I check-in, flight schedule etc. So I spend few hours in terminal 3, then in terminal 2 and then in terminal 1.

At terminal 2, when I was sitting down (on floor as there where only few chairs, already occupied. I saw many people sit down on floor and I found a pillar to lean on ), a guy, may be aged 30 to 35, white, approached me. He had a story, how his car was stolen. He came there to send his friends off to some other city (I don’t remember). When he got back, he found his car stolen. So he asked me if I could give him $10. Oh!. Isn’t it a trick to get money? I am not sure. I had no money too. I asked him, did he inform security in parking place. He said No. Did he inform police? answer was no. I felt it’s a fraud. I don’t know, but from experience with customs/immigration and another two officers I met there, I know if he tells his story to police, they will help him. I told him, "See, I don’t have money with me. But I know some policemen in this terminal. If you want real help in reaching home, I can help you meeting them." He said "Oh no, I will manage myself. Thank you". Is it a fraud? Is this, the way begging works in USA? Yes, later my friends told, it is the oldest method of fraud & they wonder if that guy approached me with this old trick.

Another thing, I got pick-pocketed at Chicago airport, lost my pen, few pieces of blank paper I had. I have a habit of keeping a pen & few pieces of blank paper in my pocket when I am on a long journey, to take notes/phone numbers, in case.

I have few contacts in Chicago, my cousin, friends, neighbors etc. But I chose to be alone and experience it. So I have a story to tell you.

THANKS TO ALL UNKNOWN PEOPLE WHO HELPED ME AT CHICAGO AIRPORT.

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