The pronunciation of New York en Newark is little confusing for a US newcomer. It is even more confusing to learn that both cities have a train station called Penn Station just fifteen minutes apart on the same line. So there was no wonder that I got the ticket to Penn Station which was not supposed to be my destination.
Just a few days ago at the US immigration, infamous finger printing procedure passed smoothly. You first put your right index finger on a glass followed by the left index finger and then you look into a webcam like camera. If everything is ok you are welcome in the US. Just after clearing the customs, I was supposed to board the flight to Pittsburgh. The Newark airport is being renovated at least at some places. The chaos at the airport seemed familiar to me as I have passed thru this airport before in 1999. After queuing up for about half an hour, two rather confused looking baggage handlers took my baggage for the connecting flight. The wait for half an hour in the queue seemed like ages as my connecting flight was to depart within next 45 minutes. The next task was to reach at the gate finding my way thru the maze of signboards, security check and queues of people for my connecting flight. TSA staff performs security checks in a ruthless manner which is unseen in Europe so far. I unpacked my laptop and took off my shoes and managed a short and timely security check to be on time to my flight to Pittsburgh.
I learnt at the gate that the flight to Pittsburgh has been rescheduled due to bad weather. I had about two hours to spend at the airport. In the big airport in the US, it is never boring to spend few hours while you wait for your flight. It is, however, another matter when you learn that your flight will not depart at all after waiting for few hours. This is exactly what happened at Newark Liberty International Airport when my co-passengers learnt about the cancellation of Newark- Pittsburgh flight by sudden disappearance of Pittsburgh flight information from the monitors.
Tbc…
