Shanti Thokchom's Life Experiences
- Part 25 -
The ride to Brownsville, Texas

By Shanti Thokchom *

I must say the summer of '08 has been the best so far. Me and my little son embarked on an ambassadorial road trips. The first one was to Brownsville, Texas which is 853 miles from Tulsa, Oklahoma and a good approximate 13 to 14 hours drive.

I printed out a map from the Google website and also had one prepared by the AAA.It really helps. I am still backward in technology so I prefer the good old fashioned way of using a map. Many friends have suggested me to use the GPS or something....but hey!! there is so much fun and excitement in finding out the places yourself than being directed by a machine voice saying "you have reached so and so corner of the road, please turn left,right ..etc.."

I went to visit my nurse friend Ms. H at her invitation. She was very lonely there in Texas and did not have any friends from Manipur.

All of you readers, please forgive me, for I keep mentioning people by the name of their community but that does not represent all of them. Its only the only ones that I come across and find them that way. Its nothing to offend them.

But I can't sugar coat it and not tell it like it is!! Some may not like it, well I can't help it. When you stay with them for so long in your hostel and know them inside out, its hard to shake off your perceptions about them.

I am pretty sure there are many who are much more broadminded and very open minded in these times and age which is good but I am mentioning about those of my Jorhat, Assam nursing batchmates in my stories as I had been with them long enough !! So please excuse my bluntness!! Nowadays we have so many of our Manipuri folks getting married into other communities and getting very well adjusted. Thats a very good sign of openness!!

Anyway, we were so excited to head down to her place!! New places, new everything.....!! Before the trip, I made a pact with my son not to ask me to buy stuffs from the stores and that we were on limited budget due to the rising high gas prices which dug big holes in my pocket and also to keep himself busy and occupied with watching movies on his portable DVD player or just play with his game boy!!

Mind you all, these two gadgets really are helpful for road trips ! I did not let the high fuel prices dampen my spirits as I had already made up my mind to go ahead with the trip!! I packed up my car with snacks, water and other non-perishible lunchables so as to save money!! On the way, I stopped only for filling the gas in the car and rest room breaks and some stretching of legs!!!

We detoured and decided to meet up with my Assamese friends in Houston. These wonderful friends were so nice and warm and very hospitable. They made an effort to wait for us at one of the friend's house just to see us and say hello. I was very touched by their genuine gesture.

I came to know them from my visit to their "Bihu" program and its very exciting to meet and get to know the very many people from our own North East region who are working or studying here. It becomes all the more valuable when you are outside your own land. I feel very blessed to have met them at the Bihu program in Houston.Its a very enriching experience.

We were put up at Saba's place in Houston and she has a very cute little daughter. She had prepared so much Khana-khajana ( delicious dishes....my mouth waters as I am mentioning this!!)just for us!!! This couple is the most down to earth !! They are very well grounded and I really appreciate their warmth and kindness to us!!

Both of them are highly educated...doing their Post Doc studies......!! I am very fortunate to have met all of them there!! We had a wonderful time at their house. The little daughter hit it off well with my son as they played together. I was having doubts about my son playing with a younger kid ..that too ...a gal!!

But it was great fun..I had brought "Samosas" to share with all of them. I had brought baked chicken too but they got spoiled due to the intense heat and the long drive down there and so we had to throw them away! So much for all my efforts at preparing them the night ..till late into 2am.....before the trip !!! But no regrets.....because we reached there safely without any mishaps.. Thats whats is more important!! We can always cook the chicken any time....ha..ha..ha..!!

The next day, some more friends dropped by at Saba's place to say hello to us before we headed off to Brownsville. My son really enjoyed being there and having so many uncles and aunties from all over. We left Houston around 9am and mind you, this good friend Saba packed up so much goodies for us to munch on the way!! So nice and thoughtful of her to do so!! We Indians always have that in us...dont we? packing up food for our guests so that they dont get hungry on the way!!! Its just our inborn thingy in all of us, I guess!!!

I said a little prayer as I was driving into unknown horizon and miles and miles of no-man's land!! It was an awesome experience to enjoy the scenic beauty of Texas on our drive......!! We saw huge farms , big hay stacks,cows grazing and big sprinkler systems in the farms...!! Indeed, its a big state and the sheer size of it is quite incredible!!!

The highway patrol police were busy checking out for illegal immigrants and I saw many cars being stopped on the way just because they had passengers who looked different !! I am sure they had their legitimate resons to stop them as there are lots of illegal drug activities, human trafficking going on at the borders and so more increased security checks taking place...more so in view of the sept 11th attacks!!

The highways are very good roadways..Thats why I am able to drive anywhere cos I can see the signs and wont get lost even if I have maps with me all the time!! I would be lost back home if I was to take up such trips!!

My friend Ms. H was anxiously waiting for us. She could not even sleep nor sit still. She kept calling me to inquire about my location and how long it gonna be before I reach her place!!! I had to deal with my son's asking me too many questions from behind my seat about why Texas police were wearing cowboy hats and why they have the sprinklers in the midst of the big farms and so on....!!

Man o man, I was trying to concentrate on my driving so as not to lose the road signs to Brownsvillle and here my son is curious about these stuffs!!! Anyway, I pulled over a gas store and explained to him that I needed to stay focussed on driving in these unknown roads and that I would really appreciate if he kept himself busy and occupied!!

He agreed and we again proceeded on our trip..!! Not long after, he started again his questioning...this time, I was a little rattlled and had to be firm with him about the agreement we made..I guess he was feeling lonely and needed to talk.. O gosh, he just loves to talk 19-dozen.....about anything.....!! Its part of their growing up phase..Hope they soon out grow it!!

We at last reached my friend's place and boy we were so glad and relieved to be there all in one piece without any mishaps on the way!!! We ate all the traditional goodies she made. We had a good talk and we did not even know how time flew by so fast!! Next day, we went to the South Padre Island which was nearly an hour's drive from her place.

We had so much fun at the beach, playing in the sand , water and just anything under the sun....!! We went window shopping around the town!! This is much more fun than the actual shopping because we are not obligated to buy any of the expensive stuffs but we could only look and gaze at them and salivate over them if our pockets did not agree with the prices!!!

Cool way to be there!! so we can say.. been there, seen there and not buy them as we did not like them...ha..ha..ha...!! But frankly, its a nice way to visit a sea beach... just watching the surfers and the sun bathers!!! We are so blessed with our own tan but I see other foreigners tanning themselves in the hot sun makes me think that we are very lucky in our own skin!!

So much for our Indians stressing so much on wanting a wheatish and fair -complexioned brides in their matrimonial ads everywhere!! And here the people are paying to get themselves tanned in the tanning saloons or sunbathe at the beaches!! What a contrast!!

Coming back to the South Padre Island visit, its truly a paradise for surfers, fishing afficianados or for any family vacation at a not so far off places for a sea beach!! At Brownsville where my friend lives and works, it did not even looked like it was part of the States ! The Mexico border was only some few hundred feet away. The houses were all all in Mexican designs and my friend did not even try to venture out anywhere by herself as she did not feel safe!!

We did have an all gals night talk shop late into the night. It was a very good time for her and me and my son to be able to relax and enjoy her hospitality....!!!! We returned after 2 days of good fun and frolic at the beach and the town of Brownsville!!

I drove through San Antonio, Austin and Dallas and boy, it seemed unending miles of busy roads on my way back.. I reached Tulsa after 15 hours straight driving..!!! My son was already tired and exhausted and did not bother me this time around!!!

My only company was listening to the classic rock or christian music on the radio which kept me awake!!! These radio stations keep playing continuous good music and I really love it more so when they play my favourites. It reminds me of my childhood when I used to hear those songs blaring from the radio repairing shop near my home in Imphal!!

Its from there that I began to get introduced to the music of the Beatles, Eagles, Bee Gees and others!! I never knew these groups but always remembered the tunes of the songs they sang....and only now I can make out who is singing what!!

I have more stories to share with all of you later next time....!!



More stories later ...... to be continued ...!!