Well now that you are all set for leaving comes the fun part. Firstly before you go to the states or wherever you are going to go get your DGCA class 1 medical simply because it would be the lousiest thing to spend 15-20 lakhs and find out that you have an irregular heart beat (believe me thats a grounds of dismissal)… The initial is the most irritating one simply because its your 1st and they are very strict on the first one.

I got mine done in Jorhat, Assam. Personally I would love to do my renewals there every year simply because they are the sweetest people around who don’t give you crap.(Hate to say this being a proud Bangalorean but IAM is the last place on earth you want to do your medical simply because they treat even 777 capts like shit.Been there never wanna go back again). Well the medical is not that bad. You go there of course in an empty stomach with your EEG and hearing exam. First they will take a blood and urine sample. Then comes the eye,ENT and the chest X-ray which is pretty much the same as what you did in the class 2. However girls have some extra tests. They have to go through a gynecologist (hey I am not the one setting the rules here). If you are excess weight also you have some extra exams.Then comes the dreaded physicals.

This is the sick part you will have to bend over and cough. (I know tell me about it) But once thats done you can pull your pants up (Unless of course you are SOL(shit outta luck)*favorite term used by american instructors). He will tell you to stand tip toed on one leg to see if you can balance yourself. Then you will have to streach your hands completely with you fingers and make sure it doesnt shiver(mine did and i had to get an extra blood test done). And thats it you are done.

Well the stay in Jorhat is quite nice. There is this amazing hotel near the railway station which is really good. The food is great and the service is pretty good and its very cheap. Best part is the people there are really friendly. True there were all these soldiers roaming around hunting for some ultras but it wasn’t like you could hear shootings or anything like that. If you have time they have a beautiful wildlife sanctuary not far away which you could check out. I however had to run back and pack my bags for the states.Jet and Indian fly there from Kolkatta. I dont know if they still do it now though. These days you can do your medicals in all these private places but if you have a chance to go to Jorhat just go there cause thats one hell of a place.

Speaking of packing there is only 2 things you have pack. Pack a lot of food and medicines. Get loads of crocin, cough syrups, cold medicines, band aid, dettol, allegra(get lots of these), stuff for constipation (believe me once you get there thats gonna be your no1 problem till you get used to the food there), skin creme and balms like moov, vicks. This is pretty much all you need for a year.

Food well the most important rule of them all NO READY TO EAT STUFF.  They are heavy and just lasts a meal thats it. Instead take lots and lots of rajma and channa masala (both come in cans). That will be your staple diet cause its the easiest and quickest to make so LEARN TO MAKE THESE BEFORE YOU LEAVE. Well if you love maggi take only the masala and not the noodles. You get the noodles there and you dont need to waste space. If you are going in a group just get only 1 big cooker. Ya I know you can make rice in the micro wave but for south indians its impossible. Take the idly trays too. Speaking of which take all the Rava idly & rava dosa mixes that you can cause they are worth carrying.

Apart from this take the usual spices. Chilli, haldi, jeera, dhania powder,garam masala, chicken masala,meat masala, tandoori chicken masala (vegetarians these masalas have no meat in it and are the closest thing to maggi that you will get there so buy them).No need for salt and sugar. Take dried chillis and dried curry leaves and dals. South Indians the extra stuff is sambar and rasam powder, hing and other powders (like chutney powder, malga powder you know your local stuff). All mixtures and other stuff would get over in seconds so thats your call.

Once all this is in your suitcase then comes your toileteries. Things that are cheap here are blades, soaps and shampoos. Apart from these get shaving cream, scissors, nail cutters, moisturiser (very very important if you are going to arizona), sun screen, deos combs and get a mug (you will never know when you need one).

Then shoes. Carry the bare essentials and buy some good stuff there. And finally your clothes. Dont pack formals. Only uniform pants. You will not have any occasion for formals so dont carry. Uniform shirts you buy there.Take only casuals and lots of T-shirts and shorts. Socks, underwear, handkerchiefs,belts and night wear. Well I am an absolute couch potato (hey I am proud of my 6-pack beer belly which got even bigger once i went there sadly)so I am not into running around. But if you those fitness freaks pack for that. I swam alot but the trunks there are much better. (Guys whatever you do DONT BUY SPEEDO CHADIS(I love calling them that) AND EVEN WORST THONGS). They wear really long funky looking shorts and I swear you will drive away all the chicks if you wear those and trust me none of you friends will want that.

That I guess is pretty much all there is to pack for your trip. Before I left I ate all the chat and Indian sweets I could eat. Little did I know that that would be the last Pani puri I would have for more than a year. Well Bon Voyage and send me a post card.

P.S-Insane Buddha that thong was meant for you.