6mile’s … many more to go

Its been little over an year since I set foot in the Americas and I still am bewildered at why I really chose to come here. Life never turns out the way you want it to, if you had asked me the past if I was ever going to go to the US, the answer would have been a big NO !. My bro was supposed to be here and do all the stuff he planned on doing, but then SEP11, halts his steep ambitions ( but thats another story) and a twist of fate brings this not so bright and lazy kid to toil hard in a land far away. I’ve spent many an hour thinking what is it I could do to make India ( and the world ) a better place,lts not talk about that either.

Without boring you any further, id like to share my experience of the Uniter States as an outsider. So, I land on the east coast and the cab driver rips $110 off me, at least i get to reach home safely. I walk around campus and town doing my paperwork and mandatory stuff. What pissed me off is that most people did not understand a single word I said. I’ve been speaking English since i was a kid, and thought myself to be moderately good. Then I realised i was speaking too fast in the slow south.

Anyways, I end up living in a parallel society, with indian roommates ( all of them from andhra ), most of the guys living around me Indians and cooking up Indian food everyday. Like a mini India, minus the fact that you cant visit your parents whenever you like. Even my classes are made up of Indian and Chinese ( they are the most hardworking people i’ve ever seen ever ever…..) graduate students with a sprinkle of Americans thrown in. As, you can imagine life gets pretty boring, sometimes. I was raised on the east and the west coast and I’ve never had trouble integrating into the Indian fabric, just that I have trouble getting the regional quirks sometimes.

Its surprising that, I could actually live in America, without getting to know a lot of Americans. I’ve befriended the engineering undergrads I work with and they frankly ain’t the best role models of american society…. at least when the talk to me having 3-4 girl friends and hook ups. I’ve made a few friends here and there, most really interested in indian culture ( i always tell them about the negatives , lol) and a few evangelists.

Fed up at not being able to just walk right up and make new friends. Not being able to choose your friends is the most frustrating experience ever. I get myself enrolled in rock climbing and a dance courses and people I meet are really nice and friendly, but dont want to have anything to do, with me.

Anyways, im getting better with my american ppl skills, and it can only get better for me………