The Colors of American Life

America is a country of many contradictions. To see it from afar and to see it closely is like seeing two different countries. For an aging or elderly Indian, it is very difficult to spend time in America if he/she does not have any work. It is not easy for them to spend time. Five days a week, when the whole of America is working like crazy, people who come from other countries to visit with their families feel extremely distressed. Dreams of a good life are shattered and you can spend all your time from Monday to Friday reading books and watching television only. Every member of the family is busy working throughout the day and loneliness begins to hurt the visitor. These 5 days are painful as you spend locked behind the four walls of your home. If you don’t have your own car, you cannot go anywhere and because you have come from another country, you don’t have a car, a driving license or any other means of which you can use. In most parts of America, there are no public buses, train frequency is very little and is in very few places.

There is a strange loneliness in this American life. There is nothing called neighbors there. Everything is formal. Without making an appointment you cannot go and meet anyone and if you do go, even your friend will refuse to talk to you. Just like me, an acquaintance had gone to America from India for the first time and he used to go for walks everyday. For three months, he would go for walks with a person of his own age and both had developed a good relationship. When this person did not come for three to four days, he thought that maybe this person had taken ill. He lived nearby. So he went to his home to ask about his health. The person, who used to go for walks with him, opened the door and then closed it shut by saying that he should have called before coming. Rules were more important there than a human being.

I also had a similar experience. A doctor who had come from Mumbai and settled down in America had given me some books and magazines to read. About fifteen days later I called and asked him when I should come to return his books. It was five in the evening. He said that I should call at 8:30 and find out. I again called and asked what time I should come. He said that he could not meet today. Call me after four or five days. I again called after seven days. He was again not able to give me any time. It wasn’t appropriate to go without making an appointment. He lived about two houses away. So it would have taken me only 2 minutes to walk down to his house. Even after trying for about a month, I could not return the books and magazines. Before I came back to India, I gave the books and magazines to my daughter, asking her to make an appointment with him and return the books. I am sure that this Indian-born doctor would have indeed not liked it if I had knocked on his door without making an appointment.

They have their own houses, their own facilities, their own priorities, their own programs, and their own time to work. You will be dying to see a human face during working days. You will only see cars going in every direction. The disease of not knowing your neighbor is there in Mumbai also, but at least you can see humans, even if they are running.

My daughter’s bungalow is located in a posh locality in Nashville, the capital of Tennessee State and the music capital of the country. There is grass in the front and the back. There is a garden in the front. There is a series of trees in the back. The whole bungalow is located in the midst of nature at a slightly high level. There is no noise. There is no one to make noise either. There is no one who will listen to the noise either. The bungalows are located far from each other. They are made of wood and glass. Most houses in America are made of wood and glass. In some places you might see bricks and stones. Most homes are completely empty during the five weekdays. There are cases of burglaries and thefts, but very few. Many crimes take place in big cities such as New York and Chicago, but life in small cities, areas and villages is relatively safe. Now illegal immigrants have disturbed the peace a little. In my mind, stories of crime in America kept echoing before I went to America. But when I reached there I found that crime only took place in a few areas. There is one thing though–in America, pistols are sold like vegetables. Guns without licenses can be bought anywhere. Due to this crime is increasing.

Although America is a new country, it has a deep cultural consciousness. This is the consciousness that does not allow it to die as a country. In America every library is a historical center and there are a large number of libraries. Almost every big city has a public library. The libraries are crowded with people interested in reading.

There is more than one museum in every city and area. Establishing a museum in America is considered a matter of interest, pride and is a source of knowledge. Museums are personal and public also.

There are a large number of government schools in America. There are a different school for different areas. There is a ranking for every school in the county, city, area and state. There are no fees in school. All education before college is free. All kinds of sports facilities are present in every school. Every school is very grand. In every school, only children of that particular area can study. If you want your child to study in a different school, you have to change your area or locality. No recommendation can help you here. In some ways, American children get heaven-like facilities.

It is necessary that children aged 12 years or less stay with someone who is 16 years or more, whether it is at home, in the car or anywhere else. So you have to spend money for a babysitter. My grand-daughter works as a babysitter on the holidays. She gets 10 dollars per hour. If a child of less than 12 years is left alone at home, the parents or guardians are booked and sometimes even jailed. No one can overtake a school bus. Not even the governor or mayor. You can even be punished for scolding a child. Beating a child is a crime.

There are malls in different parts of Nashville. You can shop at any time and of any amount. Examples of a consumer society can be seen anywhere. American people are very fond of food and also throwing away leftover food. They also eat more than required. You will find overweight people everywhere.

Despite a few drawbacks and mistakes, America’s strength lies in its people and their love for their country. America is one and the feeling of unity is very strong. This is why they are different from us. There are divisions in many parts of India. Religious blindness and communalism, regionalism, individualism and petty viewpoints are strong. These defects are almost absent in America. This is why the American public can overcome any problem with ease.