Solo travel from London to Kolkata : Blog by Tulip, 10, London

Solo travel from London to Kolkata

How I felt at first 

I arrived at the airport at around 10:00 am on 9th July, 2023. In four and a half hours, I would fly to Dubai, alone. For about two hours I sat in a café with my parents and my little brother Ren. I had brunch and waited there for two whole hours! Finally, we went down, and the air hostess took me to do security checks. I said my goodbyes. I knew I wouldn’t see my parents and brother for almost two months. 

Boarding the plane 

After my security check, I waited for 45 minutes. I called my dad. Finally, it was time to get on the plane. I was one of the first to board. Time went by really fast. After what felt like two seconds but was actually 15 minutes, the plane took off. 

Landing in Dubai 

I enjoyed my flight. Every now and then the air hostess would come and check on me. I watched movies, slept, ate and played on my Nintendo Switch. At 1:00 am, I arrived in Dubai. My flight was at 2:30 am for Kolkata, so I quickly did another security check and boarded the plane. Once again, the plane took off. I braced myself, because in 5 hours, I would see the family I hadn’t seen since last year. 

Arriving in Kolkata 

Seconds felt like minutes, minutes felt like hours and hours felt like days. But finally, I arrived in Kolkata at 7:00 am. I was bursting with excitement. After one hour of waiting in the immigration queue, collecting my check-in luggage, I saw my grandma and my uncle. I was so excited. Of course, for the first few days I really missed my parents and Ren but it was so much fun! 

Back to London, England from Kolkata, India  

Leaving my grandma and uncle 

I couldn’t believe it. I was returning to London already! Two months felt like two days. Time flies when you’re having fun. When I arrived at the airport, I remembered all the fun I had from Day 1. Playing with Linda and Clara (my uncle’s dogs), going to Puri (a place in India) and learning knitting and sewing with my grandma. I was really sad, because I knew I would not see them for a really long time.  

At the airport 

On the 1st of September 2023, I arrived at the airport at 5:00 pm. I spent two hours in immigration, security and handing in my check-in luggage. My flight to Dubai was at 8pm, and I boarded the plane. Like I said, time flies. In a matter of time, I was in the sky, quite far away from my parents still, but just above my uncle and grandma. It was a long and exciting journey, and after thinking long and hard of what I would do when I arrived in London, I fell asleep. To my surprise, during the last 30 minutes of the flight, an air hostess woke me up and told me to go to First Class! I was shocked but really excited, as I’ve always been wanting to see what it’s like in First Class! 

Landing in Dubai 

I landed in Dubai at 2:00 am. My flight to London was at 3:30 am. Once more, for the second last time, I did a security check and waited. However, now time was slow. Time is always slow before something exciting. I was going to be with my mother and father. And of course, little Ren. As soon as 3:30 am struck, we were up in the air. 

Home was close 

I was dreaming. Dreaming that all of us, my parents, Ren, my uncle and my grandma lived together in one, big house. No more travelling to distant places, no more sadness, because we were together. But I was back in London, where I spent 10 years from when I was born till this day. This was the moment I hated but loved. Seeing my parents and brother was great but I missed my uncle and grandma. The moment I saw my dad, I felt a million different feelings trickling up my spine. Joy, excitement, sadness etc! As soon as I opened the front door, I ran in and looked around my house. It felt weird, as my house smelt different, looked different and even felt different. Now here I am, writing this incredible experience in my bedroom, hoping I will never forget this incredible journey to India, there and back! 

** This story is by special arrangement with Shree, an organisation that passionately promotes folk arts and artists from India to the world. 

About the artist : Artist Nisha Thakur hails from Darbhanga in Bihar. She has been practicing Madhubani painting since childhood. It is an heirloom tradition that she has imbibed from her mom and sister. The money they earn is used for their education. She is at present preparing for her MBA entrance exam and is supporting a few other female artists to earn a livelihood through their paintings.

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Pic Credit-   Nisha Thakur hails from Darbhanga in Bihar.