An Unforgettable Drive: From East Coast to West Coast, Alone

By Niaz Murshed Chowdhury

From the far East of America — Jersey City, New Jersey — to the far West — Reno, Nevada — a single solo drive of 4,800 kilometers.

Today marks one full year at the University of Nevada, Reno, and on July 29, I’ll complete five years in the United States. So many years have quietly slipped away from my life, one season after another. In the middle of all my unfinished dreams, I can swear I have two things that feel truly complete:

First — back in my third year at the University of Chittagong, I promised myself I’d do my PhD in the USA. I’m still far from finished (still a long way to go! 😅) but I’m on the road.

Second — I’ve always loved driving, but I never imagined I’d be lucky enough to drive alone from one edge of America to the other.

While living in New Jersey, I got my admission offer for the PhD at UNR — a place nearly 4,800 kilometers away. Deciding to drive all that distance alone was one of the toughest and most exciting choices I’ve ever made. With inspiration from Ipel and Sohrab, I set out on July 16, 2017, for the University of Nevada, Reno.

1️⃣ The First Day

I started from Jersey City, New Jersey, and after driving for 11 hours through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, I finally arrived in Indiana at 10:30 PM. I still remember how beautiful the roads in Pennsylvania looked — like something out of a painting — winding through mountains and connected by bridges between hills. It felt like a movie.

2️⃣ The Second Day

The next morning at 8 AM, I hit the road again. By 11 AM, I reached The University of Chicago — a dream place for anyone who loves economics. I wandered through the economics department for a while, then at noon, I continued my drive through Illinois and Wisconsin, finally reaching Minnesota around 8 PM.

I stayed a night at Nabid’s house in Minnesota. After a good rest, I hit the road again the next day.

3️⃣ The Final Stretch

I crossed through Minnesota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho — and finally, on July 22, 2017, after seven exhausting but unforgettable days, I reached my new home: the University of Nevada, Reno.

4️⃣ Memories That Stay Forever

Along the way, I was blessed to see places I’d only read about. Yellowstone National Park was a highlight — easily the most breathtaking place I’ve seen in the USA so far. Driving through the winding mountain roads of Wyoming was equal parts nerve-wracking and thrilling — an adventure I’ll never forget.

There were so many beautiful moments — so many sights that words can’t fully capture.

Those seven days behind the wheel were one of the greatest experiences of my life — not just a drive, but a test of courage, patience, and dreams coming true, mile by mile.

Here’s to the road ahead. 🚗✨