Culture Shock

It does not matter from where you are travelling to US; it’s always a culture shock for anyone who comes here. Most of the things are different here starting from the way you walk, eat or do anything. It’s a left hand drive here, while in India its right hand. Even while walking, you have to be on right side. Different licenses for each states-this one is too much. To switch on a tube light, you have to move the switch up, these are just examples many more are there, so get your gear up.

My hall

Houses:

Houses are made up of wood to keep it warm in winter season, you have to be careful, follow lots of etiquettes while living here. For example if you are living in upper floors make sure you are walking slowly, else the person living below will have issues. Same goes for water, water should not be spilled anywhere, else it may squeeze downstairs.

Shopping Store

Shopping markets/Sales:

It’s a completely different scenario in shopping malls. The funniest time is sale time; you have to be ready to run in order grab the sale deal. People will shop as if it’s the last day and in black Friday is the first and last day of sale.

Big Shock for Veggies

Culture Shock:

Now you must have understood that there is a lot to learn, you have to acclimatize according to US culture. The best way to integrate is to understand and accept the difference as soon as you can. Stop complaining and start accepting. Faster you accept, faster you feel comfortable.

Be in contact:

No matter where you are, how much time you have been, always have a regular touch base with your families, friends. This will make you feel connected, make you among them, you will still know what is going on. Your families will feel confident about you. Now-a-days technology is so advanced that you can be in touch/see each other daily, you wont feel any distance at least geographically.

History:

US is everything about history and its not US History. It’s our history. If you are looking for a loan or a credit card/shopping card, they will check your history and then provide you a card. If history is good, you will get less interest rate. Even while selling/buying a car/house/anything its history will be checked and depending on history its rate will be calculated. So if you are planning to take a loan make sure that you apply for a credit card in your bank and build a good history. There are many ways to build a good history, you gotta learn that. Before all of this, first apply for SSN (Social Security No.)- In the United States, a SSN is a nine-digit number issued to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and temporary (working) residents. It’s a mandate if you are staying in US. This card will be required everywhere such as while calculating your salary, leasing a house, buying car or anything related to money which is everything.

When I was about to post this blog, I googled some more and understood, I am not alone. Read below articles.

http://www.realclear.com/travel/2014/04/21/5_little_culture_shocks_that_asians_encounter_in_america__5992.html

http://matadornetwork.com/abroad/13-moments-of-culture-shock-for-the-first-time-american-traveler/

http://www.aupairinamerica.com/resources/life_in_the_us/culture_shock.asp

In the end: 

When you have this option

Dont be like this

Fantastic 4

Fantastic 4

Before entering into a different country, we should take a break and formally meet the crew. Starting from South, we had Anna- a Christian boy born and brought up in Kerala. Also studied from Indore, which made him to like it, as of now, he is working in one of biggest IT Company (Wipro) of India. I gave him the name “Anna” because he is like a bro to me and in their language Anna means the same. I must say, he is a good person, sometimes kiddish and foolish too but an understanding one. 

Anna

Traversing upwards we reach Maag- a Marwadi Brahmin whose ancestors belonged to Rajasthan. She is like a mother figure, being the eldest amongst all. She takes care of everyone, understands everyone and a spiritual personality. She is completely into spiritual things and her guruji is Shri shri shri Ravishankar g. I gave her the name because of her attitude only, first distributing food to everyone and then eating, Cmon man, who does this, except an Indian typical mother. In the whole journey, she was too much cautious, only through which she gave us wise decisions. She even became a mediator and removed the air gap when 3 of us had a fight. Interesting thing was she felt suffocated when we were fighting. I give credits to Pahadi for all the fight.

Me

We should talk about me also, since we are in Madhya part of India, but there is a lot I can write about me, since I am writing about myself, Funny isn’t it, still I will keep it crisp. You can always talk to me for detailed info. I do not refer to myself with any other name, but “Kuntal” only. Even my crew members also refer to me as “Kuntal” and nothing else. I am Gujju Vaishnav from Indore, studied there only and as of now working in TCS- IT Company in Chennai. I have an understanding and caring nature. People often say that I am too sensitive, maybe I am. I am a good listener and also a confident speaker. There was a thing which was bugging me from past year, but I think I will get over it slowly slowly. I also tried to break the ice, when Pahadi was angry, but she got angry on me too.

Maag

Let us move towards north and meet the only cute, funny and understanding person of the team. Yes we are talking about Pahadi. Pahadi as the name suggests, born and raised in mountains near rivers, in other words she is from heaven on earth-Jammu. She is about to complete her PHD and then she will be called as Dr. She is studying in Indore from last 9yrs and it has become her second home, 9yrs is really a long time. In such long time, anyone can feel attached to the city, to people and to environment. I respect her for being there for me. She is like sister to me, who knows a lot about me and understand me. She is the one who got angry and then Maag had to jump in to resolve the tense situation between us.

Pahadi

This was all about the crew members, stay tuned to continue “The Journey” in coming posts.

Will Power

From previous posts you might know/ remember that there were 4 diffrent cultures present in our conversation.

Israeli-Jewish
Musicia-Christian
Driver-Tamil
Me-Hindu.

Our conversation started with some here and there talks, that why this Israeli person came to India. He said he feels good to roam in India, even alone. Many people from his place have already visited India including his brother, so I said "is it normal for your side people to visit India". He said "no its not like that, even my grandmother does not understand my philosophy of coming India, but I do, whatever I like"

Then Driver said "How do you earn so much that you have came to roam in India for 6 months". he said "its easy and cheap to travel in India by trains and for stay, I work wherever I stay"
Musician said "You dont have to give any share of your earnings to your parent." He said "No, I dont, they are also earning, I am also earning, now I dont take anything from them and I dont give anything".

He said "I was living near Kodaikanal for last 2 months and before that in Goa for a month". In Kodaikanal his rent was very less (since it was in outskirts of Kodai, it was not famous and hence less rent) and in Goa, he lived in beach and worked there so they gave him place to stay, food and on weekends, they gave him bike.
He has planning to live in North for next 3 months because his sister and her Boyfriend were coming next month to visit India. And then visit Nepal for visa renewal and again back to India.

You might be thinking that why I am giving every detail about him, "what we have to do with some Israel person".

So let me tell you the reason behind every detail, that guy aged 20 yrs only was just a security guard for his village and didnt had a lot of money, still he had courage, will to visit such a big, multicultured, little dangersous country like India. If he can do it, why we cant do our little works like talking with our parents, texting a friend, organinsing a get together. We just say, we didnt had time or money or whatever foolish reason such as my parents wont allow me.

Just think about it, its not about time or money its about priority, if you make something your priority, you will be able to do it, these little reason wont be able to stop you in any way.

Only English

Welcome.

First of all, let me reveal the secret of “Only English” guy from last post. Well the secret of him knowing English only was….he was not from India. He was an Israeli, strange right.

Israeli and I started talking about here and there, and then I asked him “where are you from? How come you know only English” He told me “I am from Israel” Believe me, with his dressing sense no one could have guessed, just by bare looking that he’s not from India. Obviously if you keenly look, you can tell, ………………………………but being a guy, I gave only a bare look. 

Although know it was confirmed that he’s not from India, still I had doubts on him being from same location he says. It is in me, that I do not believe on anyone so easily, especially when I am travelling alone and person sitting right next to me know this very well. In order to clear my doubts, I asked him for his passport, he showed me and it proved that he was actually the person, he was saying to be. Another person (Tamil guy-Driver) sitting on left, found it very interesting that a man from Israel has come to visit India. Since he did not know English, I helped translated whatever he was saying. I have this level of maturity/ common sense that if I am sitting between different cultures, either I speak common language. In addition if someone is lacking some part and I know that I can help him by translating, I take that responsibility. 

But where I live/work/ have fun, I barely find a person who understands this thing. For example, 2 days back I was sitting with my Bolly* friends; suddenly they started talking in their regional language. I didn’t say a word, but one of them spotted me being annoyed, so I just said it feels like I am sitting between Blues*.

Even today, when I was in training, I experienced the same. One guy from my area was giving training; even then I asked all the doubts in neutral language respecting all the cultures which were sitting with me. But But But when it came turn of a Blue guy, one of my colleagues asked a question in Blue language only and he got reply back in Blue. I didn’t do anything, thinking that all the people besides me have lower level of maturity and even if I get frustrated/ get angry, I will be the loser one. So I just keep my calm and smiled from inside.

I have this thing daily in my shift. Once all the people from my area leave for the day and I am the only one left, all Blue started laughing on everything I say, Even if they are not laughing on me, but being on my side, just think, How I feel  and when I say what happened, they simply says learn Blue. Sometimes I think how fools are all these. They don’t have any professional skills and they are working in an MNC. How Funny.

I apologies to deviate from main story, but these small things are very necessary.

Well coming back to my Original story, so 4 (me, Israeli, Driver and Musician) started talking. In starting musician was sleeping but eventually when our conversation seemed interesting to him, he also joined. I tried to speak English as much as possible to make the ground neutral, because he Israeli was our guest, we should not say anything that makes him feel bad and also English was understood by maximum population (me musician and Israeli) involved in conversation. Also to respect Blue guy, I translated all the major points in discussion from time to time

.

I think It is enough for this post. Will tell you about our conversation in next post,

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