"Umreeka mein Main" is just a funny collection of totally random observations from my first couple of weeks in America. There's no sampling, no science, perhaps not even any fact - just my first impressions of what I saw and heard....for entertainment only....

1. Umreeka
mein
Main
Wandering
&
Wondering…..
DISCLAIMER – Purely for entertainment. Not based on any factual data. Based on my very very very limited exposure. No
offence meant to anybody. I love India and I love Umreeka – dual citizenship chalegi !

2. Nice differences – Wish it was the same back home…
• Open space and Mulch around all tree roots – love it
• House Sparrows – how I miss having those around now in Delhi !
• Cars stop at traffic lights for pedestrians– they see you from a distance and slow
down ! It’s traumatic !! I feel so guilty – now when I see a car coming up, I slow
down so I’m nowhere near the crossing !!!
• No security guards in shops, malls – looks like people feel very safe here!
• Make eye contact and smile – even to strangers on streets ! I have to train myself to
do that !

3. Hushhhh – Why are they so silent?
• Kids so quiet ! Don’t make a racket in public places. Have seen infants – even
they don’t holler !
• Dogs so obedient ! – “Sit- Casper” – and he sits and sits and keeps on sitting!!
• Birds so quiet ! I see many of them, But they are quieter. Have come to the
conclusion that birds in Delhi are just stressed and feel the need to shout to
be heard – like us.
• Quiet rain, soundless snow – even their clouds don’t thunder !

4. Weird differences – Can’t figure out the logic why one was
preferred over the other
• Left hand driving – Why RH drive in India and LH here? Both are equally OK .
Why is it not the same everywhere ??
• Light Switches – In India, when you press down, it is ‘ON’ , here when you push
up/press up it is ON. Why ???
• Fridges & appliances with doors hinged on their right – ours hinge on their left
• Fordism – Why did they get fixated on wearing black ! Don’t they get sick of it !
• Schooling styles – Ours is more fact oriented, rigorous and theirs more analysis.

5. Not so nice …
• Fuel Guzzling - Every vehicle, every home’s a fuel guzzler – no e-vehicles, no 2 wheelers. A few
bicycles – as a fad – doesn’t really count.
• …But fuel guzzling for keeping my house, showers, toilet seats and office warm is OK – I approve 
• Verizon – expensive, restrictive and limited – why is it selling ???
• Prejudices, discrimination ….class, color, race, gender…they are equally bad.
• Broken families.
• The burden on women – Emancipated (translation – earning & able to move freely) but
burdened – children /home /finances /being seen as professional /being thin / being attractive
/being emancipated.
• Pro-business rules, taxes, politics – skewed democracy.
• Some still ask – does India have snake charmers & do we travel on elephants !