This is the fourth and the last blog of the 'Rediscovering myself' series. No wonder, you must be thinking, that my last three blogs had nothing to do with my blog title. It was more of a travel account, my journey from India to USA and my survival strategies on the land of the dominants and my pursuit of happiness in a nation about which, its truly said,
"From Every Mountain,
Let Freedom Sing - America!!!"
I took a long break since I started writing this blog. I was a student when I started writing it, somewhere in my second semseter, and now I am a beholder of the so called 'American degree'.
I don't know why it took so long, may be to organize all my emotions that had been scattered all my mind, may be to study everything around, everyone around and learn things every moment before being accidentally conclusive.
I owe my special thanks to one guy called Christopher Columbus, centuries before who had connected two diametrically opposite races of the world together. Serendipity led to history and an accident led to an irony. If only he had discovered India before and would have regarded our tribes as "Red Americans", pages of history would have said a different story. The point to be noted here is that the connection of India and America can hence be dated back centuries ago, when a falsified belief paved way to the greatest turning point in the history of mankind.
I have discovered America for sure, but in the process, I have discovered my nation and myself better. Never ever would I have got a better chance to introspect, deep inside to dig up the greatest truths of life, unless this visit to America. The crux of this story is that I have evolved. I have developed a more cleaner perspective of life. Is it again too much a prenatal comment that would perhaps prove to be a 'nip in the bud'; cant really say.
The life in America as I always say is like a drunken man's life; the drunk who does not even get the time to get rid of his hangover and his next drink is ready. The weirdest thing is that he does not complain ever, he keeps gulping drink after drink, happy and satisfied to have led the 'American Dream'. Yes...thats the word...'American Dream'. I heard that word during a movie review of some holly-bolly movie or some book by an NRI author. But I never realized the strong vitality of the word till the moment I myself had a dream...the American Dream.
The American Dream is not only about pleasure and comfort. It's about working your arse the whole day and then coming back to a well equipped, technologically sound, very modern apartment in a luxury sedan. It's about leading a life of credit and forgetting all debits. It's about leading a life with air all the time since you are in the most developed nation on earth.
Now the 'Rediscovering' chapter revitalizes itself when I started my life here as an international student like every other indian guy. My story is no different from others, perhaps a little here and there. America has been an ordeal for me. An ordeal that I am still fighting, not as a student anymore but as an aspiring professional now, ready to dwelve in the world of earning and living.
When I landed on the American soil, little did I know the essence of American education, little did I know the stories of Indian students like me, and little did I know about the ordeal I was going to face here. Intially I always had a sombre look on face, sussing everyone I met, living a life of disbelief every moment. But thanks, as I always said "Life goes on"...the American ship sailed. I started becoming more happy at the fact that I was here. I was no more scared of being dependent on anyone. I started living the American way. I enjoyed walking alone to the college with my ipod earphones plugged into my ears. I ate Mexican, and burgers and sandwiches all the time. Coke was like water to me. My accent changed, my dressing style changed. I suddenly started liking wearing funny long shorts, and wearing the 'American flip-flops'. I enjoyed the American liberty that I had always heard of. I rediscovered myself every moment. I learnt that there is life for every individual in USA.
I started making friends here, to my surprise.
I started confiding in them I learnt that you can make friends every moment in life. I was sharing an apartment with a Punjabi, a Bong, and a Malyali. I had befriended a Gujju, a Bong, a Telugu guy. I learnt new cultures more than I learnt in my hostel back in India. I made best friends in USA who were longer to stay in my life. I met people more beautiful and nicer then ever. I met people who pointed out my negatives and helped me in every step or every move.
I joined Agromeck, the NCState Student Media. As a part of my job, I travelled around the huge campus, covered events, interviewed people and wrote articles about them. It was hence easier for me to study the American culture. I learnt how courteous these guys are. I learnt that racism is still an issue in USA. I learnt that what all young American undergrads know is cheese burgers, beer and sex. I learnt that American gradueates are smarter.
I joined a coffee shop and started working as a cashier and a barrista. I interacted 200 americans every day, taking orders, smiling at them like a robot and tiresomely saying "Hi, How can I help you?" and "Thank you!" at them. I learnt how important is cleanliness for Americans. I learnt how they throw food at the end of every day. I learnt that rules in America are like laws and they do not change for any one.
I travelled NYC, Atlanta, LA, SJ, NJ. I saw differences between the eastern coast and western coast cultures. I understood the pshyce of people staying in these places. Today when I am a graduate from NCSU, and I am desperately looking for a job, I look back when I landed on this soil. I feel like closing my eyes and try to dream again that American dream. I am living American Dream now. USA has made me more patriotic. USA has given me more nice friends. USA has shown me how diverse cultures can stay together in peace and harmony. USA has showed me what liberty and freedom is. I listen to more Hindi music than ever, I watch more Hindi movies than ever. USA has made me sound more Indian in its own way.
When Columbus discovered America, he did not know that his discovery will ever impact so much. And little did he know that on Decmeber 20th, 2008, ages after his discovery, would another person discover himself. This was a rediscovery. This re-discovery was about a common guy who found new ways of happiness to life. Happiness when discovered in the right tone and color, paves way to an eternal bliss - a bliss that the guy is pursuing. He got a new meaning to his life, a re-definition. It's like adding a color to a picture and setting a new thought to it. It's like seeing things with the same eyes but getting to know them better.
That was the rediscovery I made in the soil of America! And that is my final verdict!
A revellation driven my passion...A re-discovery...
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