Priyanka Chopra, the Quantico lead – at least that’s how
people know her here said in a lot of her interviews with her even more
Americanized accent that since her move here “there is a lot of education that
is happening”. (so much for shorter
sentences ;) And I definitely agree to
that. Education is definitely happening. Like it will when you are acquainted
to any new culture. Honestly I won’t even blame her for those rolled R’s and
what may seem to many as “aff” pronunciations, it’s just so much simpler. It
is. Else you just land up repeating
yourself. But I sure find myself smirk a little every time I hear some recent immigrant
Indian try and want to make their accents sound American but instead just land
up sounding awfully nasal and funny.
How am I getting educated? Well for one I am a Global
citizen or at least that is what I thought. After all I am a Mumbaikar, how
much more global can it get. Mumbai has
it all, doesn’t it? From street food to high end restaurants, from Vada Pav to
Vietnamese, from high tech metros to leaky buses, from suave Sea Links to
stinky creeks you find it all. If I were
to define Seattle or say the US I’ve seen until now in the simplest and the
crudest of ways I’d say most of it looks like “Powai Hiranandani.” Yep, there you go! As plain as one could put
it.
So I am going to quickly list down the things I’ve found
great, impressive and not so great in the almost half a year I have spent here….
-> Let me begin
with Great : The things I find wonderful here
1) A country, an institute, an organization is only as good
as its PEOPLE. People here seem awfully kind. The customer care representatives,
staff, shop owners will make you feel like they really “listen” to you. They
won’t seem morose or like they are doing you a favor by engaging with you when
you step into their outlet to give them business. Everyone definitely seems more responsible,
disciplined and respectful not only to others but also to public property even
Indians J.
Whether it is ascending or getting off trains or buses, through doors, on the
street, in queues, it shows. Perks of having lesser population and more
resources. Though that definitely can’t
be sighted as reasons for the red paan (betel leaf) stains on newly constructed
railway stations or lovers names being etched on the walls of forts.
2) Work Life Balance in its TRUE sense. Though you have HQ’s
of FB, Microsoft, Amazon and other IT companies here, the lives of people here
seem fairly relaxed. Google Maps will pop up with a red even if there are merely
four cars in front of you. And they call that Traffic!! You rarely end up stuck
at the same signal more than once! Well if that’s traffic, then try the western
express flyover in front of Oberoi Mall Goregaon from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on any
given day. We might as well have a new word coined. J
3) Respect for YOUR time. No ones in a hurry yet everyone’s
on time. They’ll respect your time, apologize profusely even if you waited only
for ten mins. 8 out of 10 times the bus will exactly be on its scheduled time.
And I mean EXACTLY on time. The accuracy freaks me out at times especially after
having waited for buses that arrive so royally and unapologetically late by an
hour at times in fact many a times. And if you are wondering about the other
two times the buses are late? Well in one case it’ll be not more than 2 mins
later and incase it does delay more, that may be because of some ad hoc road
block or pardonable road incident. We don’t realize it but it definitely helps
us plan our day better. And since we are talking about public transport having
the same smart card for trains and buses? Smart I’d say!
4) RESPECT for everyone in general. Even the homeless on the
streets and that is what I love. We deny with respect. They accept with
respect. Even if they are faking it, at least it is civil. Thanks Giving, Christmas and New Years saw
everything shut. Showrooms, restaurants, outlets almost everything. People need to be home spending it with family
and friends and not slogging it out in the name of profit. Ever think we will like or have something
like this on Diwali? And I say like with a reason….
5) NO ONE Cares. No one cares about what you are wearing,
whether your hair is colored green on one side and shaven the other, whether
you are dating someone younger to you or twice your age, about what you are
doing in your personal life and even if they are interested they don’t show it
at least. In short, you save yourself from being judged for no rime or reason
by people you don’t give a dime about. Living your life as yours is way easier
here.
6) How every apartment has a savior in a DISHWASHER. Period.
No honk, tops my list ;-)
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