Airport Adventures - JFK to CSIA

So, the airport. Everyone's best friend or worst nightmare? For me, John F. Kennedy International airport in Jamaica, N.Y. was a neutral experience. On May 17, 2009 I left New York and was on my way to Mumbai on Air-India flight 140. Security was a breeze; the only part I was worried about was customs in Mumbai...but that's for later. My flight was at 9 p.m. and I got through check-in and security quick enough so I sat around for a good two hours before boarding.
From the number of people I saw at the gate, I didn't think the flight would be that full, but alas it was. My dad warned me before leaving that Indians bring as much luggage as possible and they will put it in any open overhead compartment they can find, even if it's not close to their seat. I'm a skinny, shy girl...I don't like having to fight for space, just don't get in mine. Luckily, I was able to put my bag above my seat with no trouble.
Oh and one more thing: as soon as I stepped onto the aircraft I remembered that Indian people tend to smell. Yes, I am myself Indian and I am saying this. Some people seriously need deodorant and/or body spray. I don't know the reasons for such smells, but I did read once that odorous sweat is caused by what one eats. And Indian people eat smelly (although very tasty) food.
Speaking of food, the meals on the airplane weren't too exciting. The food was rather dry and well, didn't taste good. Although I will admit that the food on the way back to the U.S. was better than the food leaving from here. And because of that I didn't eat all that was given to me and that brought me to wondering how much food gets wasted on airplanes?
The one cool thing about Air-India's 747s was that they have external cameras so that you can watch the take off and landing on the screen in front of your seat. It's like every seat is a window seat!

Moving onto my landing at CSIA... The plane landed early, but we were stopped for a good half an hour and then taxied for another half an hour with apparently no destination. In the end we de-planed onto the tarmac(which I've never done before) and headed toward a bus that would bring us to the airport building. Let me warn you that as soon as you step off the plane in Mumbai you will be hit with a blast of humid air (that was the one thing I remembered about my last visit to CSIA, eight years ago.) Okay, so I made it to Mumbai in one piece.
Upon entering the building I was faced with airport staff in medical face masks handing out forms. Unfortunately for me and probably everyone else, they didn't actually tell us what we should be doing with the forms. So I half-followed the crowd and then befriended a woman from Arizona who was also confused as to what we should be doing. We had to fill out the questionnaire, which asked if we'd had a fever recently or were feeling ill. Then to a person behind the counter who took the form, read it, confirmed that I wasn't feverish by asking again and then stamped the paper.
Well that wasn't too terrible. Now onto immigration. No questions asked, forms read and stamped. I was on my way to customs and baggage claim. My bags took forever to come out onto the carousel and all I wanted was to get outside and see people. And then I saw the customs line and feared that I'd have to wait even longer after I got my bags. Fortunately, after I finally did get my bags, I remembered that I had been advised to go toward the "green sign." So I walked on through, having nothing to declare and no questions were asked. I was safely in Mumbai, although sticky from the humidity and we won't even start on the frizz ball that was my hair...