It has been around 8 months since I’ve come to US; still the feeling of living in a different country has not totally sunk in. It still feels like being in India.
I thought eating Indian food will give you that nice ‘Reminds me of India’ feeling. But again, due to lack of rarity, that feeling doesn’t exist anymore. I am having ‘Paneer Paratha’ almost every second day; rotis and Indian vegetables everyday; rice and varieties (Puloa, Jeera Rice, Biryani, Tamarind Rice and all) with good frequency. Chai is there. You can even have the ‘Masala Pan’ here at a reasonable price.
The restaurants we often visit are Indian/Mexican/Arabic/Pakistani restaurants which serve food which comes very close to Indian food. Krazy Kebob was playing ‘Aatif Aslam’ songs the last time we went there. At any moment, one of my roomies puts on a Hindi song on You Tube. We have watched Hindi movies here in theatres as well as online. Today, we even got a chance to attend a Kailash Kher concert at Kennedy Centre. It was great to see such a large crowd turn up. I listened to foreign secretary Nirupama Rao speak at the Indian embassy.
There are lots of Indians to talk to around; lots of Indians in my courses too! India calling rates are cheaper than my local Vodafone calling rates in India. So, people back home are just a phone call away. My mom speaks to me more often now than when I was in Mumbai. Internet is on 24 hours, in bus, in college at home, in cafes, on the phones, so skype, facebook chat, g-talk makes you feel like home (although you’ll rarely ever see me on those!).
We celebrate every Indian festival. I had Sabudana Khichadi on Shiv Jayanti, Sheera in Diwali, Ganpati Aarti during Ganesh Jayanti, Garba and Dandiya dance in college, Holi is coming. I have followed cricket more in US than I did in India.
I had been in India in December and now there is no burning desire as such to go to India any sooner. This is a mini-India in itself. When I was packing my bags to go back to US again after my India trip, I was carrying a bag full of Indian food items. These things lasted for a while. Homemade food again!
Sometimes, I feel this is not the way to go. One of these days, I am going to live life differently. I am not going to start my day with ‘Aloo Patty’ and Bournvita. I am going to try different things. I am going to visit a local store or small market and buy from there. I am going to eat American food in an American restaurant (They say it’s bland…let’s taste what bland looks like!). I am going to keep my India calling off for a week (Not now, someday!). I am going to roam around the Museums and learn a few bits of history. I am going to go on a hike, going to rent a bike! Listen to some random concert, watch a live opera.
After doing those things, I’d really like to say, ‘Now, I’m missing India!’
I thought eating Indian food will give you that nice ‘Reminds me of India’ feeling. But again, due to lack of rarity, that feeling doesn’t exist anymore. I am having ‘Paneer Paratha’ almost every second day; rotis and Indian vegetables everyday; rice and varieties (Puloa, Jeera Rice, Biryani, Tamarind Rice and all) with good frequency. Chai is there. You can even have the ‘Masala Pan’ here at a reasonable price.
The restaurants we often visit are Indian/Mexican/Arabic/Pakistani restaurants which serve food which comes very close to Indian food. Krazy Kebob was playing ‘Aatif Aslam’ songs the last time we went there. At any moment, one of my roomies puts on a Hindi song on You Tube. We have watched Hindi movies here in theatres as well as online. Today, we even got a chance to attend a Kailash Kher concert at Kennedy Centre. It was great to see such a large crowd turn up. I listened to foreign secretary Nirupama Rao speak at the Indian embassy.
There are lots of Indians to talk to around; lots of Indians in my courses too! India calling rates are cheaper than my local Vodafone calling rates in India. So, people back home are just a phone call away. My mom speaks to me more often now than when I was in Mumbai. Internet is on 24 hours, in bus, in college at home, in cafes, on the phones, so skype, facebook chat, g-talk makes you feel like home (although you’ll rarely ever see me on those!).
We celebrate every Indian festival. I had Sabudana Khichadi on Shiv Jayanti, Sheera in Diwali, Ganpati Aarti during Ganesh Jayanti, Garba and Dandiya dance in college, Holi is coming. I have followed cricket more in US than I did in India.
I had been in India in December and now there is no burning desire as such to go to India any sooner. This is a mini-India in itself. When I was packing my bags to go back to US again after my India trip, I was carrying a bag full of Indian food items. These things lasted for a while. Homemade food again!
Sometimes, I feel this is not the way to go. One of these days, I am going to live life differently. I am not going to start my day with ‘Aloo Patty’ and Bournvita. I am going to try different things. I am going to visit a local store or small market and buy from there. I am going to eat American food in an American restaurant (They say it’s bland…let’s taste what bland looks like!). I am going to keep my India calling off for a week (Not now, someday!). I am going to roam around the Museums and learn a few bits of history. I am going to go on a hike, going to rent a bike! Listen to some random concert, watch a live opera.
After doing those things, I’d really like to say, ‘Now, I’m missing India!’
