The America I thought I knew

The America I Thought I Knew

I knew America as a place for business as the world's most advanced market, and, therefore the best talents or resources from around the globe worked upon the most successful business strategies, plans, and roadmap here.

As I arrived in New York late March this year, despite a busy schedule at work, I promised that I would get under the skin of America before my three months stay. I had therefore diaried in a few weekends with friends - setting priority for those who have lived longer, and therefore truly reflect what Americans are about. Beyond how Hollywood showed, and more than what New York Times confessed. 

Did I not travel? Twelve States in 90 days. 

America is most certainly beyond being gigantic in every way - and more evident is the huge spaces between hubs of people. You are a tiny creäture in front of its natural or man-made environment. So, you always know that there is much more to do than however much you may have accomplished. 

I never got to the depth of how respect for human life is so naturally ingrained, and I don't believe that it exists because there is a Constitution so much in its favor. On the other hand, the American Constitution is yet to acknowledge full rights across race, genders, and communities that may have been already recognized in several other countries. 

Respect for labor, for human beings and the natural response to empathy and help, ought to be seen and experienced. Do not expect people to sit with you and cry when you are in pain, yet do know that an eye will not ignore you, and people would just do what is expected at that moment - but, move on! They did what best they could, but they will not hang on as they have more to do. 

What strikes me most is the courtesies so very naturally extended to people around in the day to day life, and, in particular towards the elderly citizen, children or the challenged one - not so articulated towards the fairer sex as one would consider from a Victorian point of view. 

The door will be held open until you are closer. if you are carrying luggage the door will stay open for you until you move ahead. Whether it is your condiment or the busy subway, there is no way that someone will let the door shut in your face. It is very natural to expect, but it is quite distinctive a culture to follow despite the challenge of time. And further to take that as a favor every time and be grateful. 

Being gentle is indeed America - do not mistake it for British politeness - it is another paradigm! You see that reflected in every sphere of your life: if you need to use muscles or brains to do anything, know that you are going wrong somewhere. 

Whether it is switching on the table lamp, shutting the door, opening a food can, the process ought to be finger touch: any pressure on your thumb or your fingers or your forehead should give you signal that you may just be breaking a life! That is how everything is designed and made. 

Whereas New York reflects the perfection of America's art to bring the best out of the resources, other parts of America may reflect how to make the best out of a living in the world's most prosperous country. 

Smaller towns reminded me of my experience of the 1970s in India. That was a time when the public transport had not reached every corner of India as it is today. So when you visited someone, you should have informed your hosts well in advance your arrival schedule lest you are held at the railway station without a vehicle to take you further to their homes. You may not encounter that at many train or bus stations in the US, but there are plenty that will make you feel more obligated to your hosts than a normal visit would. Expecting your host to drive 45 miles or even more to fetch you and do the honors on your return is stretches the hospitality a little beyond. 

Those on the West Coast feel so much at home and count the days that they would not feel the chill in their spines as those on the East Coast do. They have a life of their own. I visited San Francisco and its neighborhood cities and Los Angeles. For sure, none of those cities had the buzz of New York. Yet they had an ambiance that is strictly West Coast. Informal in business, a little more romantic, countryside glamor and a little more stretched out spaces. 

Boston tragedy was still alive, and it was touching to see the American Flag half mast. Change the World From Here slogan of the University of San Francisco spelled much for the role of the USA in its modern day leadership, yet a few miles away the Stanford University captures the unique sense of historic architecture and art. 

America in many ways is a multiplied version of Europe without the very definitive European cultures and distinctively different from several musts and must nots. What needs an attention must be done right then, you do not have the time to research and find who did that best when, or who should be doing it. Over the weekend the guy finds a few stray garbage around, he pulls out his mower, cleans up the mess, even if it is in a few people's backyards. And, suddenly he finds that the lawns are not as good. He does not diary in another day if he has the time but moves on to do that little more. You could question why he should enter your garden, but if he has done good and not spoilt the look of your best plants, do not be guilty that the filth in your backyard showed.

There will be a thousand things you will find wrong here as you would in other parts of the world. There is poverty here, there is the crime here, there is starvation and a yearn for better food or the better life. But once your talent or skills show nothing will come in your way towards accomplishment.

Nature has been very generous to the America. Despite very challenging weather conditions, the flora and fauna exist in every nook and corner. Having great fascination for valleys, hills, flowers and natural beauty in the Himalayan areas of India, I was awed by their presence on the urban streets. 

It is a very exciting time in America as the world changes from several traditional occupations, industries, and business to the newer much driven by the advancement in Information technology. Just as much as the societies in the 21st century are changing to require a whole new paradigm of governance and play of law. 

As America revives from its days of a recession to recognize these challenges while the world is no longer in the same mood to grant America its Superpower global status so silently, there will be plenty more that America will offer. 

This time, however, I think the Americans will have a greater role to play globally than its Government alone. A lot more people need to know and feel what America is, and what the Americans are genuinely about. That would require getting out of your doors. 

Will the world reach out? Or the Americans would take the lead? I cannot say. 

What I feel very strongly is that you cannot have a prosperous world without a prospering America.