Life in America

In one word …It’s cool dude… no no it’s busy, no organized, no routine, no fun… AArrrgghh I am myself confused. But surely can say one thing… quiet different from India. Ahhh India… reminds me of my city… Hyderabad.

Right from the minute I landed in US I experienced this huge difference. For us in India, a city would be full of tall buildings, with little or no greenery and a glimpse of open land/ground in centre of city is almost impossible unless there is a park. The drive from airport to little Apt of our’s was quiet shocking to me. With that picture of Indian city in my mind, I was perplexed finding all flat structures without even a single building raising to two floors above the ground. And in the heart of city you can find green and empty lands, contrary to our city centers like Ameerpet or Abids, may be because of the low population density here. Down towns are the only places in all cities where we can see tall buildings. Shopping malls, Theatres with 4-5 screens, chain stores all are flat, probably I felt it more because I landed in Texas, the biggest state of US. The comforts in India are necessities in US, even a Pizza delivery boy would come in a big car to deliver a pizza.

When I am talking about US I can’t stop praising the roads here. They are so organized and simplified. Driving to other cities is as simple as pressing a button… Yes, get the directions with a finger touch on key board and simply follow them. All the freeways have numbers and all the small roads have names, and there are huge boards on the roads helping us follow the directions. I always wonder how people commute from one city to other in India.The flyovers here are awesome, you can find 5-6 flyovers, one over the other.

Nature seems to be much more beautiful here, the fall colors, the green hills are all adorable. My first experience in snow is unforgettable. I played like a kid making snow balls and hitting others. Yet to encounter the experience of Niagara FallsJ , The gambling in Casinos in Las Vegas…probably we could never get such acquaintances in India.

People here are so polite, they smile and say ‘Hi’ and wish you a nice day, even though you are complete stranger to them. Americans care for handicapped people, they have reservations every where starting from the parking place.

Rules and regulations are strictly followed on you irrespective of the power you have. Freedom of expression/speech is not just in books, the movie Fahrenheit 9/11 uncovering the facts of Bush’s presidency and his connections with the Soudi Arabian businessmen including Bin Laden, reveals the extent of freedom in expression. An Indian film can never bring forth black faces of any ruling leader, even a small coincidence of any character in the movie with a real life politician will create lots of chaos ending in ban of the film. A pepsi ad here can show a coke can and advice people ‘Don’t drink coke, drink pepsi’. Unlike our Indian Pepsi ad, where they try to imitate a coke ambassador or a coke package and advice us not to drink coke beating around the bush.

The education system here is designed so well giving little or no pressure to the kids and the official age for admission of the kids in the school would be 5. Learning is not confined to just classroom, there are many good approaches for practical learning. Kids start attending classes like swimming, soccer, skating at age of 4 or 5. Extra activities are equally encouraged.

Speech on USA advancement will never terminate, why not it is a super power country. Now let me tell you some facts about the life in US. Life here is routine, mechanical and full of tensions, you don’t know when you are going to be fired. You will neither be made a manger nor given a hike even after being eligible, because you are an Indian. Week days you work hard, and weekends are the only days where you get some time to relax or freak around. You are left with little time after your laundry, cleaning and vacuuming sessions.

My whole writing about the life in US is reminding me of my home town. Life was much more beautiful then, those relations, those family get togethers, those attachments. Those marriages of our cousins, long lasting anthyakshari , dumb charades, not to forget thambola, hiding of the jiju’s shoes… The college life, freaking around with friends, be it be necklace road or a secret lake, the pani puri bandi’s. Every thing is sweet memory.

US might be a super power nation advanced in almost all the fields than India, working here brings us overseas experience apart from $$,but India is India, Though we complain on things like under development and corruption in India, we value our tradition, culture and our sentiments which are unbeatable. There is joy being in our place with our dear ones.