Virendra's Blog

I was at a business trip to United States of America for around a month, few weeks back. It was nice to finally visit the world’ most powerful, rich and advanced country. I had looked forward to it. Contrary to what I had heard, trip was smooth, the people at immigration and customs were nice (nicer than what I see at Bangalore and Delhi airports) and the weather there was great. Apart from a few problems like, lack of public transport, lack of vegetarian food options and tonnes of office work that I had at hand – time was well spent. During one of lunch outings there with my American counterparts, I was asked – what will you tell your family and friends about Americans?
And I wondered – what indeed? Movies and media have a way of depicting other cultures. But when you actually visit the place (not as a tourist for 2-3 days) for some significant time, you realise – all people are same – very minor difference. An American is as worried about his job, his relation with his wife and kids, his kids education and schools and the weather tomorrow as an Indian, Russian or Brazilian would be. The American is a nice guy who would help you in finding direction, when you are lost and in choosing options at restaurant, when you are clueless, just like an Indian would do. He is also that moron, who likes to pass an offending comment because you speak English with an accent and because you don’t eat certain kinds of meat – just like a moron you will find in India.
All I could tell to me friends there was – I would tell that you all were like person I would find in any place of world – you were like how human are.