New Delhi Versus New York

I never wished to leave my country..my loved ones....my Delhi...for anything... not even for a better job!! but thanks to the institution called "Marriage"...the journey from New Delhi to New York took only a few months of courtship followed by a traditional wedding & a visa interview :)

New Delhi...my place...with my people and my comfort zone...and New York...an alien place..with my partner for life...together working towards a comfort zone for both of us :) Though nothing compares my love for my Delhi and SWADESH still there are a few things which impresses me about this new place and which I feel if could be a part of our lives in India would anytime make living there much better..Let's talk about them...

Hi, How are you :)
If you thought I have got insane to be saying hi, how are you all of a sudden...you are not quite right :) That's just what one gets used to saying to anyone s/he comes across after a brief stay here..anyone means anyone... you happen to make an eye contact with someone by chance and prompt comes a smiling hi followed by how are you...s/he may not know you and may never meet you again but yes they greet you like that always...probably a manner of saying... "Hey, I acknowledge your existence and am glad about it!" isn't that great??? while back home we will most often notice people (not being an exception ourselves) trying to avoid each other unless they are friends/family or need each other's help/support/favor...here people see eye to eye and greet with a smile no matter who you are...

Car-Pool!!
Now what about this...we heard every now and then and yeah sometimes practiced it as well....well...what's new about it is, how it is promoted here... on all major highways in cities there's a Diamond Lane specially for Cars with more than 2 passengers during busy hours...and special check out windows on toll gates...so if your practice car pool you can invariably reach faster than your counterparts who wish to enjoy their ride alone!!!

911... Your emergency is ours too!!
Ever tried calling 100 number for emergency help by police??? I have.. Trust me they'll ensure to reach when situation crosses that emergency dead line... :) 911 is what is used for emergency help here...and amazingly enough...here emergency means emergency!!! Call them and they'll tell you exactly how many minutes and how many seconds they'll take to reach you for assistance...and they'll be there before that!!! All major highways and busy lanes have a special lane for these vehicles... phewww!!! Every cellular connection user pays a monthly tax which goes for this service..and I guess every bit of it is worth it...at least you get a service after paying for it!!

It's my work..I'll do it!!!
I remember how easily we get working aids in Delhi...you name it and you have it...be it a house-maid, car washer, plumber, gardener, etc..etc.. and we take great pride in using their services...here in NY... every one does all their work by themselves...even tiling...white-washing... because product services here are expensive in comparison to the products themselves..so I can do all on my own :)

Rules are meant to be followed...
Oh is it??? back home in India even before a law is enforced crooks would have in place a way to break it !! We believe, "Rules are meant to be broken!!" not the same case here..there are stringent traffic rules in place and everyone follows them even we Indians famous for breaking rules :) If you see a waiting school bus/an ambulance you must stop where you are no matter which side of the road that vehicle may be...if there's a STOP sign you must stop to see if someone else needs to pass...you can't just change lanes anywhere and everywhere...there are places well defined for these...if it's school area your speed must not exceed 15MPH....if there's a lane for bikes...you better not try overtaking using that way :) so on and so forth....it's good to see everyone following rules....and why wouldn't they follow...if not followed they bring huge penalties and tickets...and after a set number of tickets you lose your driving license!! makes sense!! pretty much..

No littering please!!
Men with the habit of considering all the roads a public toilet in Delhi better stay away from NY...because the pleasure of littering in public areas here comes for a price as much as USD 500.. which means you would probably find it better to pee in your car than on road :) what is more shameful is that to the limited amount of travelling that I have done here..I see that the fine is higher in localities with higher Indian population... are Indians that famous for it???

It's your life...Live it the way you want!!!
:) wondering what that means... simple as this.. no one cares what you wear..what you do for living...who are you roaming with..how's your life going??? Well, though I donot like this concept as a whole but then it has it's pros and cons... you are free to do your things your way..no old crabby neighbourhood aunt or too curious relative will keep poking nose in your affairs worrying about your wedding..your type of friends...or anything for that matter... I remember how irritating it used to be when everyone around except my family and I was worried about my growing age and not getting a good match for wedding!!! How I wished to say at times...for god's sake...concentrate on your life and let me live mine....it irritates..it hurts and at times its depressive... however, the biggest con of this right to freedom is lack of bonding between children and parents..it's sad to see old aged hardly able to walk...shopping for selves...with none to accompany them... gratefulness and thoughts for parents are limited to a few occasions... a card, a phone call or may be a gift or meeting parents on a Sunday reserved by the names mother's day & father's day.. Halloween....Christmas... it's sad indeed!! But then when I compare our circumstances... I ask myself what could we do for the ones who did everything to bring a smile on our faces...they were their to hold our hands when we needed...would we be there to hold theirs when they need ours???? Miles away from home...from my loved ones....am i not as bad as people here..calling near and dear ones at leisure.....wishing them on certain occasions....and rest being occupied with self... well I hope not??

Crimes are not gender-biased..
All said and done...it's not there are no crimes here...but I get solace in knowing that at least the crimes are not gender biased which means it may be unsafe for me to go out alone in the dark but that will not be because I'm a girl... I'm sorry to say this but I feel safer In NY than New Delhi...Any one listening back home??