On July 9, early in the morning I got up to pack my bags and get ready for my flight to Almaty. Shukhrat and Aki Murod helped to get to Dushanbe International Airport. I had 103 somonis (around $23) in my pocket which I wanted to spend before leaving Tajikistan. Shukhrat told me I could spend this Tajik money for my overweight luggage. So after saying “Bye” to Shukhrat and Aki Murod at the airport, I went to custom office where I was asked by custom officer about my flight and my luggage, interestingly about money too! I said I have no somonis(though I had 103) but have dollars (I had $170). He looked so pleased and offered me his assistance as a porter. I said I do not need the service of carrying my bags as they are not too heavy. But the officer was continuing to carry my bag thinking he can get some of my money when my bag is overweight! There were also some foreign passengers whom they were very careful 
When we weighted my bag it was 21,5 kg and a female officer who was checking my ticket said “there is no need to pay for overweight 1,5 kg.” It was sad to see the custom officer who changed his status to porter to get some of my dollars…but could not…
I wish I could give my somonis to Aki Murod or at least Shukhrat. It was good that I passed Tajik customs without paying a penny.
At 3:30pm Almaty time I arrived in Almaty. There was a room at Aksunkar Hotel near Almaty International Airport was reserved. When I passed Kazakh custom, I was greeted by many taxi drivers. They were offering me to help with my bag, to take to Almaty Downtown, even one of them said Aksunkar is not a good hotel to stay…
Refusing to all taxi drivers’ offers I gave my bag to Luggage Storage and walked 100 meters to get to Aksunkar Hotel. It was a nice hotel with many Air Companies (Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, Tajik Air etc) Offices in the ground and first floors.
My room was nice (it had a nice bed, TV with cable, air conditioner, hot water to shower). Everybody was telling Aksunkar Hotel was not a good hotel, but it is one of the good hotels. I think taxi driver was saying so hoping to take me to Almaty downtown and earn some money…
Later July 9 and early in the morning of July 10 at 3am Almaty time I took a flight to Frankfurt, Germany. I arrived in Frankfurt at 7:30am and had to wait my flight to Pennsylvania, US till 1:30pm Frankfurt time. I could manage to call my wife and let my family know I arrived safely arrived in Germany. It was good to be able to call home easily. Those passengers who have laptops can enjoy free wireless Internet, and those who haven’t can still use Internet, in other words Internet-Taxis with metallic keyboard and ball mouse. (one hour of web browsing is 16 Euros!)
For lunch at Frankfurt airport I had a pie and a cola for 4,50 Euros. At last the time of my next transatlantic flight came. I sit near window and enjoyed my flight to the US listening music and news. There were lots of movies but I watched only a movie Confessions of a Shopaholic about a girl who is Shopaholic. You can see some photos from this movie at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1093908/mediaindex
I see many passengers also were reading books and a man sitting by me was reading this book
At 3:30 pm Philadelphia time I landed safely and it was a very long flight. I used to see the overhead monitor which displays maps, time left and destination.
There were so many visitors to the USA. It was interesting to see people of almost all nationalities standing in line waiting to pass customs. Compared to US citizens and permanent residents, the number of visitors were bigger as there were uncountable crowd of people. At last I was called by officer who kindly asked about my documents and reasons of visit. He had welcoming look and asked why I had to cancel my first visa. Due to my Russianized name IbraGimdjon on my DS form which has also another version like in my current passport IbraGimDZHon, on July 2 I missed my flight and had to re-issue my visa on July 8 canceling the previous one. I showed my previous DS form with misspelled name of mine. I think those who have russianized names like mine with Tajik “Ҷ” russified with DJ or DZH must simplify their names avoiding Russifications!
The officer said it was good to keep a copy and welcomed me to the USA! Then I moved to and got my luggage. A representative from the University of Delaware was waiting for me holding a paper with a note “University of Delaware”. I approached and introduced myself and Mr. Ken said my name but could not say my official russified name. I told him to just call me Ibrahim or Ibrahimjon From Pennsylvania International Airport Mr. Ken drove me to Newark. The highway was full of vehicles as at the end of Friday many people go out of town to spend their week-end. Mr. Ken said Newark is a nice place mostly populated by students and showed me English Language Institute and UDel students’ dormitories.
Mr. Ken also guided me to UDel Students’ Center where I was given a key with a small plastic device(key) to open the main door of the dormitory. I got my room key and my roommates were off to Washington DC tour. Next week I should not miss New York City tour to see the Statue of Liberty!
This week-end I need to prepare for my test on Monday and be ready for my upcoming classes
I have tried to briefly write all about my travel. If there is any question, please leave them as comments below or contact me
(I haven’t camera and computer yet. I will be writing in detail and posting photos soon) Thanks for understanding.
