The day has arrived.

0 days to go. Time to go.

The day has arrived. Packed bags, packed hearts, numerous goodbyes and reflections come flowing like an unsuspected avalanche.

When a senior took such a route a few years ago, I was an unsuspecting kid- I didn't have an iota of idea of what would transpire finally. All that came to my mind was the variety of chocolates that I could get my hands on. USA, to me, was represented by Barack Obama's 'Audacity of Hope', the failing football team, the NBA and the overrates American Football.

15 months ago, when 'What is he going to do after BE?' chatter went out loud, the thinking process commenced. I had dismissed US by then thanks to it's exorbitant Investments. I was Singapore-bound, mentally. And I made a rookie mistake- to prepare and write GRE. That's a mistake that would set the balls rolling, much later.

With a plan to work for some years and catch the long flight later, I sat for a few interviews. In the meantime, the GRE score was too compelling to push the deadline for applying to a few more years later. One fine day, I woke up and decided that it was a now or never chance. I had to finish the TOEFL test within a week (it was almost a disaster).

Although a lot of good souls motivated me, pushed me, self-motivation was sometimes reaching dangerous lows. I pulled myself to a consultancy finally. What was the first piece of advice they gave? "You will face some bouts of depression. You have to be prepared for that!"

Depression #1: Looking at the plethora of questions asked in the online application. The questions kept coming and I kept filling. The task of getting Letter of Recommendations on time was a challenge thanks to the schedules that the professors had. The SOPs took itts time coming to fruition.

Depression #2: You have applied. Now you wait for the decisions. You wait for sometime. You check the website daily. You double check daily, just in case. The 'Yes or No' will take time to come and each day passes with bated breath. At some point, you light want to think again if you applied for the right university.

Depression #3: You get the admits. Now you want the i20 (an official form given while you apply for VISA). For that, the university needs an assurance about your financial stability. Needless to say, not everyone is born with a silver spoon and the first piece of self-doubt if you are financially sound to pursue MS creeps in.

Depression #4: You've chosen the university and the course. You might have to apply for a loan. The banks have to avoid sanctioning bad loans (loans that are not repaid). Yet, the process of obtaining it is riddled with paperwork and people. Now, that is a dangerous combination.

Depression #5 and the most significant: You are moving away from your parents, family and friends for some time (long enough to cause longing). You can't taste your mom's thakkali chutney and travel to heaven for a brief moment. The lovely songs she sings while you wake up in the morning are not going to be a constant in your life for a while. You miss getting to see a man who is dedicated to the family like your dad daily. The family and friends you had will be miles away, despite the technology in hand. Let us admit it, Skype and WhatsApp are ways to just convince ourselves that distance is an illusion. The distance is huge. Ouch!

Yet, good things are worth fighting for. A new dawn has just begun. The good days are coming. Everyday that slowly builds up to those good days- the days when your father and mother are going to be so damn proud of you- will be definitely worth it. Miles to go, miles to go before you sleep.