The Exciting Opportunity
Japan was the first foreign country I visited in 2002. Getting a Japan VISA was a thrilling and unforgettable experience for me. When my manager, Dil, at HP, informed me that I needed to travel to Japan to demonstrate a research and development product, Mail Cluster Solution – Porcupine, to NTT DoCoMo, I was both excited and nervous.
The catch? I didn’t even have a passport! And I had only two weeks to get everything ready.
Passport Struggles: A Race Against Time
In 2002, the normal process for getting a passport in India took about a month. To make things worse, my passport application had been stuck in the Tamil Nadu (TN) Passport Office for over a year.
I was clueless but determined. For many young people, traveling abroad is a dream. I didn’t want to miss this chance and decided to give my 100% effort.
At the time, there were no online systems, SMS updates, or tracking tools to check your application status. I had to visit the TN Passport Office in person. To get there, I took an overnight train in an unreserved compartment, standing for the entire 8-hour journey.
A Lesson in Perseverance
At the passport office, I arrived at 6:30 AM and spent hours talking to people before finally getting a slip confirming my application. The issue? My passport was delayed because my address verification was incomplete. To make matters worse, the constables handling the verification demanded bribes.
The Tatkal Scheme: A New Hope
My manager and his friend helped me apply for a Tatkal passport, which would take just five days. For this, I needed a personal recommendation from a senior government officer. My manager’s friend’s wife, a senior officer at HAL Bangalore, spoke to the HAL director to arrange the recommendation.
I will always be grateful to Dil, Cherian, and his wife for their support. Everything happened so fast, yet it felt like an eternity.
A Young Heart Full of Worries
I was supposed to travel on November 4. The Japan Consulate, located in Chennai at the time, needed three working days to process the VISA. Adding to the stress, November 1 was a holiday in Bangalore, and it was also Diwali season.
At 22 years old, my heart was racing. Every day, I wondered:
- Will I get my passport?
- Will I get my VISA on time?
- Will I make it for my first foreign trip?
Learning Japanese and Team Spirit
While all this was happening, my senior team members at HP were teaching me basic Japanese phrases like Konichiwa(Hello), Domo (Thanks), and Arigato (Thank you). Their support and encouragement kept me motivated.
The Final Hours: A Miracle Journey
On October 31, I finally received my passport and immediately sent it to the Japan Consulate. November 1 turned out to be a working day in Chennai, so my VISA was ready by November 3.
The HP travel team booked my tickets: Bangalore to Chennai to Singapore to Tokyo. A travel agent collected my passport on my behalf and delivered it to me at the Chennai airport. That night, I boarded the flight to Japan.
What seemed impossible became possible, thanks to my willpower, incredible support from my team, and the kindness of so many people.
Full Circle: A Beautiful Connection
In 2018, NTT acquired my startup, and I still work with NTT Com. Looking back, I can’t help but marvel at how beautifully life connects the dots. My journey to Japan in 2002 was just the beginning of something much bigger.
Takeaways from My Experience
- Persistence Pays Off: Determination and hard work can overcome the toughest obstacles.
- Gratitude Matters: Never forget the people who help you during challenging times.
- Stretch Beyond Comfort: Success often requires sacrifices, like traveling unreserved or standing in long queues.
- Connections Are Priceless: The relationships we build today can create meaningful opportunities in the future.
- Cherish the Journey: The struggles make the achievements even sweeter.
What are the memorable challenges you faced on your first big adventure? Share your thoughts!
