My American Expedition

I’m still a bit spaced out post my US visit. I guess flying between the coasts did me in. While the sleep cycle is fine, I’m crashing out a bit too early for my liking and the afternoon naps are back after two decades, as well. The afternoon naps are fun though I have to admit!

Getting back to my US visit, it was fantastic. Not because it’s a great country but because it’s a promise fulfilled to me by me. I had told myself that I will go to the US only when I get my sabbatical or quit my job for a break. While the former didn’t happen the latter I made happen and boy was it worth it – no stress of what I might have to come back to made the entire experience even more exhilarating.

Outside of all the fun, I made a few observations about the country and its people that both pleasantly surprised and disappointed me. Below are a few of these.

For starters, the underlying pride that regular citizens have in being ‘American’ is pretty apparent to an outsider – they love to just consume as if it’s a necessity; hoist US flags on construction cranes and on every 10th building in NYC; and stand-up for what they believe in and scream their guts out at town halls (check out CNN for one of the town halls on this entire health legislation that’s being debated currently) among others. The point isn’t whether it right or wrong or reflects of narcissism at times, but the general coherence in their pride on belonging to that country. We Indians could learn a bit more about this daily sense of pride, which comes to the fore mostly post a terrible tragedy or media harping about how the country is being unfairly targeted by its neighbours or the developed world.

Two other things that stood out for me were the general disposition of the law to protect every individual and what all ones taxes can do for them – free education and health insurance!! It seems to work the other way round in India in both cases. Neither is human life valued nor does an honest citizen’s taxes take him anywhere but down in his societal status!

The good said, what disappointed me immensely was the wastage in abundance in two specific areas – energy and food; and their services culture, in general.

I don’t understand why the skyscrapers have to be lit all night or for that matter cars need to have headlights on during the day? I won’t bother getting into what happens within the house. I also don’t understand why the general meal portions are so huge. You can tell me Americans have big appetites, in which case I would argue the need to have calories mentioned against every dish on the menu? So if someone generally has a big appetite they love their food period! Moreover the average American in NYC or LA, going by their waste lines, didn’t seem like they had large appetites.

I can only imagine what all that energy and food saved would do for some of the poorer African countries.

Moreover, the audacity of the Americans to pressurize India to commit to carbon emissions targets!! It’s a case of we screwed up the environment, but you control your emissions because we can’t control our consumption. WTF???

In the area of ‘services’, my experience was limited to the airlines (they suck big time), hotels and general shopping. While people employed in these sectors were extremely courteous and polite, they seemed to lack the skill to go the extra mile for customer delight! It existed in the restaurants/bars/clubs though, which would only make me assume that it’s linked to their tip or maybe I was in high spirits  In comparison, the Indian airline and hospitality sectors are fantastic. I was always told that but to experience it first hand was a different feeling altogether.

So I realize while there are things that India needs to emulate from the US such as focus on basic necessities - education and healthcare; there are loads they can learn from us as well. Prime amongst that list is the ability to exercise ‘restraint’, which we as Indians sometimes over do but makes our way of life more appealing in today’s ecological environment. One could argue the ‘restraint’ in our case is due to economic and societal pressures, but even when we manage to overcome them we don’t let that virtue slip away!

I guess a bit of discussion on ‘values’ at some inter country bilateral discussion wouldn’t be that bad a thing. It doesn’t have to always be about trade!