Since the time I been in the U.S., my life has taken a completely new direction and turn. The first few months were like unwrapping a gift box everyday. Each day brought with it a new set of wonders and surprises. The first day that I landed in the U.S., I was taken out by my roommates for some Mexican food. They were very nice to me, but I only remember being enthralled with the fact that in spite it being past 8.30 in the night, it was still as bright as afternoon. I couldn't stop marveling at the sun setting so late for days. It did turn my sleeping cycle upside down for the first few nights. My body refused to co-operate when I would feed it dinner at 8.00. "No!", it protested. It was still too light outside to have dinner. Finally, after a couple of weeks, my body learned to adjust.
The next surprising thing that I encountered was when I got lost. On my 3rd day, I was to attend an orientation for new students. Given a bike, and some vague directions, I decided to make my way to the campus. I pride myself on being rather good with directions, and so cleverly I took a wrong turn only to land up around 8 miles away from my destination. Still smarting at my cleverness, I asked a passerby for directions. He was also kind enough to offer me a drive, but I refused (I have been taught never to accept ride from strangers, no matter what!). So I huffed and puffed and made my uphill way to the campus. It was a hot September day and my muscles screamed in protest. But I figured that getting lost is one of the best ways to learn about a place.
And then of course came the 'how you doing/how are you?' part. I was well-prepared for it, but it really hit me the first time it was thrown out at me. This was the first cultural difference that I experienced. Weird was the thought in my head then. I still don't feel comfortable with it, but now I have made my peace with it.
I also learned a lot about independence here. I had to do everything alone. I took my first flight all alone. I started to go buy my groceries all alone. I ventured to the scary downtown area all alone. From being used to do things in groups back home, this alone thing was daunting. But I persisted.
Also this alone thing was translated in the courses that I took. Only difference is that they call it individualism. The courses at first were very frightening. I felt awkward and out of place. I didn't know when to make a suitable comment and when to inject my opinion (and I still don't!, but I'm learning). I couldn't muster my thoughts to put it into words. Now it is slowly becoming routine in all the classes. A word here, a sentence there. It made me think how different it was back in school and college in India- It was instilled in us that talking is bad, and me being the ever-obedient student, I was eager to comply with those stupid rules (Yeah I was goody-two shoes back then!). And now here, if you refrain from talking, points are docked off from your grade. Well!
But the most curious thing that surprises me is that I don't miss home at all. I occasionally miss my friends and family, but nothing about the past makes me yearn for it again. Probably, it is the excitement of a new place. It does make me feel very hollow at times, as if I have lost the capacity to feel. I realized that I neither miss the old times nor the old moments . I just miss the familiar faces and the sound of their comforting laughter.
The next surprising thing that I encountered was when I got lost. On my 3rd day, I was to attend an orientation for new students. Given a bike, and some vague directions, I decided to make my way to the campus. I pride myself on being rather good with directions, and so cleverly I took a wrong turn only to land up around 8 miles away from my destination. Still smarting at my cleverness, I asked a passerby for directions. He was also kind enough to offer me a drive, but I refused (I have been taught never to accept ride from strangers, no matter what!). So I huffed and puffed and made my uphill way to the campus. It was a hot September day and my muscles screamed in protest. But I figured that getting lost is one of the best ways to learn about a place.
And then of course came the 'how you doing/how are you?' part. I was well-prepared for it, but it really hit me the first time it was thrown out at me. This was the first cultural difference that I experienced. Weird was the thought in my head then. I still don't feel comfortable with it, but now I have made my peace with it.
I also learned a lot about independence here. I had to do everything alone. I took my first flight all alone. I started to go buy my groceries all alone. I ventured to the scary downtown area all alone. From being used to do things in groups back home, this alone thing was daunting. But I persisted.
Also this alone thing was translated in the courses that I took. Only difference is that they call it individualism. The courses at first were very frightening. I felt awkward and out of place. I didn't know when to make a suitable comment and when to inject my opinion (and I still don't!, but I'm learning). I couldn't muster my thoughts to put it into words. Now it is slowly becoming routine in all the classes. A word here, a sentence there. It made me think how different it was back in school and college in India- It was instilled in us that talking is bad, and me being the ever-obedient student, I was eager to comply with those stupid rules (Yeah I was goody-two shoes back then!). And now here, if you refrain from talking, points are docked off from your grade. Well!
But the most curious thing that surprises me is that I don't miss home at all. I occasionally miss my friends and family, but nothing about the past makes me yearn for it again. Probably, it is the excitement of a new place. It does make me feel very hollow at times, as if I have lost the capacity to feel. I realized that I neither miss the old times nor the old moments . I just miss the familiar faces and the sound of their comforting laughter.
