The US of A

The  US of A

The year 2007 was the most awaited and scariest at the same time, both for the same reason, I was going to US for 2 years for some project and this was awaited since this would give me an experience to work directly with clients. And it was scary coz I was leaving my husband and going for that long a time!!!!

Anyways, this write up is not going to go on my emotional front of how I missed my hubby but this will explain my experience as an Indian (NRI – non reliable Indian) who goes to US J (and white castle too).

Pre-warning: All my friends and known people in US, there is absolutely “NO PUN INTENDED” and it is meant to be taken in good humor J

I landed in US and was received by a friend (Thanks a lot Praveen for picking me up and giving me all the comfort in a new place completely unknown to me). This was my first trip abroad (you know we Indians like to really impress others of our abroad tips) J. So there I was zooming on the roads of US (from  Newark to Pennsylvania) in Praveen’s car. And was quite happy that life outside India is very clean.

I was little scared, rather anxious at the thought of having to adjust in a new country (completely unknown) all on my own; but was a bit relaxed at the thought having a big Indian community (from same company) being there to help (if needed).

All the known Indians were quite welcoming and warm people and they did really help me settle down pretty quick. I took an apartment of my own in 15 days and started staying alone. I was very sure that I do not want to share an apartment and would like to be on my own, even though I was quite bored initially.

I was walking past my apartment once, when I met a gentleman (angrez, as we all call) walk past by me and he smiled at me gently and wished me Good morning.

For hours I kept thinking if I have ever met this fellow before. Unable to recall, I narrated this incident to my friend at work. He told me that people here do greet even if they don’t know you. I was very surprised and it made me feel really “Welcome(d)” in the US of A. I had always heard that people outside are very cold and they really do not bother about others (will come back to this later).

I was greeted the same way by every one who passed by and whoever saw me at work or otherwise and I reciprocated. Now the surprising part here is that we INDIANS, never smiled at other unknown Indians (rather ignored them completely) but made sure to smile back to all other Videshi’s.

And we complain of racism!!!.

My team at work was a mixture of Russians and Indians but most of the Russians were US settled. During our conversation we would find them visiting various countries and places and just having fun by relaxing. Their definition of holiday or vacation was very different from ours.

They would take a week or 10 days off to some destination and would enjoy it at much leisure, relax and not just roam places.  Whereas our definition of vacation would be choose a destination, take 2 days off, club it with weekend, look for all deals and coupons of that place and exhaust us completely by seeing each and every nook and corner of that destination. So the vacation was not again just a vacation, we had a task in hand – see every tourist spot in that city.

Again, I am not complaining, as I was one amongst them but am just trying to narrate my observations. J

There were couple of incidents that took place with the localities there and I just can’t forget. I would really want to bring it up here since most people here are under impression that the Americans live a very individual life and are not really bothered.

I remember my neighbor, in apartment I took in Morrisville, PA, was a black woman (am not being racist here). She lived with her family there. Every time I would pass by or she would cross me, she would greet me with such warmth and make me feel so comfortable with her around. She once told me she had tongue cancer and her tongue was going to be cut to save her. She was very worried and asked me to pray for her. I was very sad to hear about that and just prayed in my mind once for her.

Few days later she met me on the road outside our apartment. I asked how she was and if she had herself operated. She told me “Rupali, you have saved me.” I was wondering in my mind what did I do!! She told me “You prayed for me and doctors have told me that my tongue will not be cut as the medicines reacted very positively”

I cannot express in words how I felt. This lady who barely knew me, asked me to pray for her and she was not even sure if I did, was here thanking me for her life. I must have cried in my heart out of joy and was quite overwhelmed. I was so thankful to God that she is fine.

I had once gone to the supermarket. When I came out of the super market, it was drizzling and had already rained enough. As I was walking towards the parking lot, don’t know how, but I slipped and fell on the road and bruised my knee. An approaching car stopped and a gentleman (again an angrez) came out and asked me if I needed help. I was hurt but again felt great that someone cared to ask. I thanked him and told him am fine and managed to get back home just fine.  He did not move till I crossed the road and reached the parking lot.

I am not sure, if anyone in India would ever stop his or her car to ask someone who would have hurt himself. We would rather feel that it could be some sort of trap.

People there wait till all women enter the elevator and then hop in themselves. They do not rush to get out or get in. They would stop the elevator if they see anyone coming.

We on the other hand are always in hurry, forget the chivalry, the thought is "I need to get in before the elevator is full". I don’t care if anyone is rushing towards the elevator; I need to rush to be in canteen or at my desk (as if either of them would run away if I don’t reach quickly).

Well all in all I loved that country and that place actually taught me a lot, in terms of infrastructure, cleanliness, friendliness and approachability and affordability.

USA is so much like Mumbai. That place has people from various countries’ settled there and it’s not all about just the Americans. The infrastructure and the law there is so strict that you cannot but follow them. Littering is a fine (I just love this), be it you or your pet.  Every place is so approachable either by road or rail or air and a good living is so affordable. You don’t have to be filthy rich to enjoy the simple things in life or to buy some luxuries.

Believe it or not, there was one place that made me feel like so at home (as in India), I did not miss India at all – Jersey City.

Its as good as little India. You will find that place flocked with Indians, Indian food, clothes, jewelry and you name it, its there. Yes even the filth J. That was the only place where I found people littering around and actually saw pile of dump.

It was also hilarious to know of a woman who ran a barbershop in her apartment in Jersey City and there used to be a queue outside her apartment till the end of staircase, just because she would chop their hair in 5$ J.

Since there was such a big queue always, she didn’t have the time to go down to throw away the collected pile. So she would just collect the stuff in a garbage bag and throw down the bag through her window and that would land straight in the garbage bin below her apartment J.

The US of A was a great experience and I learnt a lot from that city and am sure many other folks did too.

Unfortunately when we are back in our country, we initially laugh at certain things, crib at lot of things, hate our country for lot of things but eventually merge into the insane crowd and become one amongst them.

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