An onsite opportunity or a university admission in the US might be the best and shortest route to success for anyone today. The moment a person comes to know that their admission to a university or the work visa is approved, they are on seventh heaven.
The travel arrangements start next day itself—right from the clothes, the documents, medicines and what not. Your family and friends will surely advice you to carry some foods, masalas, even the typically Indian pressure cookers, pots and utensils, to make the stay there as comfortable as possible.
The first one month on the American soil feels like the beginning of a beautiful dream. New place, amazing infrastructure, meeting people and the sheer joy and freedom of being in a foreign land feels surreal.
But, after the dust settles down, you come to realise some basic differences in the Indian and the American life. While some adapt to the changes (both emotional and physical) with great aplomb, some struggle or eventually give up.
If you are one of those who dream of settling in the US or in the process of travelling there soon, it’s very important to understand some of the basic lifestyle differences you will experience.
This awareness will be crucial for you to set your expectations for a long stay and also help you ensure you are prepared for what is coming your way.
Here Are 13 Points You Must Pay Attention To
1. First and the foremost, you do not have domestic workers in the US. Especially for boys who are used to getting everything ready from their the women in their lives, it becomes a huge challenge.
You have to do everything—meaning you have to clean your toilet as well. Yes, they have dish washers but that doesn’t clean the pot in which you make the Indian tea or a curry with Indian gravy. You clean it yourself.
2. There is no doodhwala (milkman). So, people who love their morning tea/coffee have to go and get the milk carton every two to four days.
Initially, it feels great to go shopping every other day, but after a while it takes a huge conviction to take out your car or walk those two miles only to get milk and vegetables.
3. There is no Dunzo, Big Basket, Grofers, Blinkit, Pickily or the local kirana wala bhaiya, to deliver your groceries to you. You have to go and buy everything yourself. And, sometimes, you also have to do the self-check out because there is not enough staff to help you with the billing.
4. Most of the amusement parks, public places of entertainment, or even some of the malls will be closed by 7 p.m., even if its summer and there is light, places will shut by 9 p.m. If you like to just wander out with friends in the evening or night, make sure it’s not for shopping.
5. Most of the restaurants and dine-ins will be closed by 2 p.m. in the afternoon and 9 p.m. at night. So, if you reach even two seconds late, you will be turned down with empty stomachs.
Moreover, they will be strictly following the opening time as well, so you wont be able to get aloo paratha, missal pav, idli-sambar or chholey-samosa at 8 a.m. in the morning even if you die of those cravings.
6. America is not for people who have a spicy taste pallet. Almost all the American food is bland. Even the Chinese, Italians and Mexicans make it milder to suit the American taste.
7. In some apartments, you cannot wet the floor because it’s wooden. You don’t have a water jet to clean your butt. You can’t spill water even in the bathroom (oh, come on!).
You just squeeze your body in a small bathtub and get a quick shower, before the water starts spilling outside the tub. No-one understands this weird American fixation about having it dry everywhere. I mean bathrooms are meant to be wet. Aren’t they?
8. Bedrooms are carpeted. Yes, it’s very nice, soft and cushy. But, it’s double the effort to clean them… Especially when you or your kids spill milk/juice/soup or anything sticky, on the carpet.
9. “Everything is huge.” The pots, pans, glasses, bowls, plates, spoons. Even when you order food, the one plate of your favorite curry, the burger, the coke glass, the ice cream cup, the popcorn—it’s huge.
A personal pizza in the US is almost the size of a large pizza in India. You don’t get anything in the amounts of 100 or 200 grams. The minimum size of anything in 500 grams or one kilogram.
The small size in a t-shirt in the US is almost the large size in India. Women might experience momentary happiness with the reduction in their t-shirt sizes there.
10. There is no concept of fresh fruits and vegetables. Everything is frozen and available in malls, like Food Lion, Walmart, etc.
In fact, many of the vegetables are genetically processed which gives them their distinct size and shape. If you are a meat eater—congrats! You have hundreds of varieties of frozen meat.
11. The US has very clean and fresh air. There is less air pollution. But, you will hardly get to enjoy it. The entire apartment has air conditioning (AC).
The car, the shops, malls, gas stations, everything has AC even when you have great weather outside. You cant just open the windows and enjoy the breeze, because they are tightly locked and extremely difficult to open.
12. Doctor appointments are hard to get and are very costly (unless you have insurance). Most of the people take self-medication for basic health problems. For some advanced medications, antibiotics, you need an American doctor’s prescription.
13. Finally, there are several security and safety concerns all over the country. In spite of all the security arrangements everywhere, you cant just roam around alone even in the vicinity of your own housing society.
Some areas, places are prone to mugging, thefts and robberies. There can be random incidences of shooting (like the recent school shootouts). So, most Indians avoid moving alone and only go in groups.
There are obviously exceptions to these facts. Also, there are many aspects which are much better in the US than back home. You can find your own peace or way out to stay there happily. The only thing is you should be aware and well prepared about what to expect.