…… yet to finish this article
Prepping up (T-10days to T)
At the time, I was pursuing my Master’s in Computer Science at Pace University in Lower Manhattan (shoutout to the incredible views from campus!). But asking for leave is always a bit of a gamble. I had to email three professors: William Buttigieg for “Concept and Structures in Internet Computing” (wasted my money here by enrolling into this core course, he taught REST API’s -_- , when I asked him a RPC question, he said, “I have worked as a DBA, I don’t have an answer for what you have asked. Seriously?"), Sania Saleem for “Human-Computer Interaction” (she’s cool and gorgeous, and when I demo-ed her my app for TC-disrupt she allowed me to miss lectures on usability and heuristics), and Hyuk Sun Cha for “Pattern Recognition” (where math meets magic). Fingers crossed they didn’t hold grudges.
Day 1 - Sept 16 2023 (T)
The morning of September 16th was a blur, started early, really early—5 am to be exact. I was (super)pumped iykyk. You know that feeling when you’re excited but also running on three hours of sleep because you were up late packing, debating a hoodie which gives an “I’m a serious tech enthusiast”vibes vs “I am here to sell you my product” formals? Yeah, that was me. I rolled out of bed, downed an avocado smoothie (my attempt at healthy habits), and threw on a white shirt with wenge cargo pants. The house was already buzzing with life. Siddhant was in the living room, as usual, with his cup of ground coffee. For him, coffee is like air, and it’s the same story with Sujay. Both of them—Central Mumbai boys, NYC transplants—share a weirdly intense bond over caffeine and code. Honestly, if there were a Coffee Coders Club, they’d be president and VP. They say Tim Horton’s their dealer.
Siddhant’s hoodie that morning had “Fast” written across it, a constant reminder of how quickly life seemed to be moving around me. Every time I saw it, it felt like a metaphor—everything happening fast, and we were all just trying to keep up. He’s also got this “Up and Above” tattoo, which, knowing him, feels just about right. Sujay didn’t make it that morning, but it was cool—I knew he had his reasons.
Then there was Pratik. He showed up just in time, and I was fortunate that Siddhant and Pratik dropped me off at Journal Square PATH station before they headed off to work.
After they dropped me off at Journal Square, I hopped on the PATH train to WTC, feeling like my adventure was finally starting. From there, it was the usual transfer to the A train towards Howard Beach—except, of course, MTA had other plans. Some glitch rerouted us onto buses. Ah, New York. The journey from World Trade Center to JFK is one I’ve done at least 15 times over the last two years, but this time, it felt different. Maybe it was the houses in Brooklyn—so many of them reminded me of home. They looked like something straight out of a Shahrukh Khan film, or maybe it was more of a Karan Johar set. These places were desi through and through. Every time I pass through, I half expect to see SRK himself in a slow-motion walk, arms wide open.
By the time I reached JFK, it felt familiar—too familiar, almost routine. Today’s flight was with Delta, scheduled for 11 am, and I made it to the terminal just in time to see the Flight Information Display Systems (FIDS). Those screens made me feel like I am in some movie where I was the main character (yep, diagnosed with a severe case of Main Character Syndrome, as Atharva calls his friend Shubham). It’s a funny, surreal feeling, especially when things are happening around, but all I felt was.. on the verge of something big—yet uncertain.
In reality, though, I was far from calm. There was guilt, anxiety, and a little bit of dread bubbling up. That mix of emotions that sneaks up on you when you’re leaving for a trip, unsure of what’s ahead, and unsure of yourself. But I had my trusty brochodilators handy (because, yes, breathlessness is my thing), so I was prepared for any “just in case” moments.
As if on cue, my phone buzzed. It was Chris, asking if I could spare time for an interview. In that moment, I felt like the universe was messing with me—because, honestly, I needed the job more than it needed me. Yet somehow, I wasn’t even applying, and my career trajectory felt like it was slipping away. As I walked onto the passenger boarding bridge, Lewis Capaldi’s acoustic version of "Forget Me" played in the background. That song just hit me differently.
Capaldi’s voice, paired with the uncertainty of the moment, created a bittersweet backdrop for my departure. And with that, I boarded, not sure if I was flying towards something new or away from something…..hmmmm I still needed to figure out.
The flight was smooth, which is more than I can say for my anxiety to kick-in super hard. I was sweating and the people on either side of me Aisle and window actually wondered if I needed an EMS. They gave me an “are you kay?!!” and I reciprocated with an “This is normal me” expression. Touching down in San Francisco felt surreal. There’s something about Silicon Valley that just screams innovation—and maybe a bit of overpriced coffee, fantasy? huh! but I digress.
As soon as I deboarded the plane and started the long trek toward baggage claim, I was instantly greeted by—what else?—ads for generative AI. It was like San Francisco wanted to remind me that I was entering tech central, the land where algorithms are king and innovation never sleeps. Seriously, nothing says “Welcome to San Francisco” quite like a massive billboard talking about how AI is going to revolutionize your life (and maybe steal your job).
It felt both hilarious and oddly fitting. Here I was, fresh off a flight, barely awake, and already being bombarded by the future.
After grabbing my bag, I hopped on the BART from SFO to Powell Street. Let me tell you, as much as the MTA subway has its quirks, the BART gives it a run for its money in the “shady transit” department. It’s like the underground version of the Wild West—dimmer lighting, fewer people, and a general feeling that anything could happen at any moment. Quite the welcome to the Bay Area, but hey, it adds character, right?
After checking into my hotel, I decided to explore Union Square and just soak in the vibe for the evening. After wandering around, I grabbed a meal—a comforting bowl of ramen and a cheese soft cake from Paris Baguette. Little did I know, that cake would change me. Fast forward to today, and I’m still pushing my NYC friends to go to Paris Baguette with me. During this trip alone, I probably devoured 12 of those cakes. It’s safe to say that the place turned into an addiction.
Day 2 - Sept 17 2023 (T+1)
