Living in a foreign land?

We had yet another party @ work. (Yes, I know what you are thinking, looks like they just party@ work?;) ) This time it was Halloween. We had all dressed up in whatever gear we could find.

Without digressing any further into the party (I can't stop if I start), let me come right to the point. We were served Samosas and Spring Rolls. Yet again. I remember the first time I saw Samosas @ an office party, for a release we just had, I was positively shocked. I was aghast at how Indian the Bay Area really is. But a bigger shock was in store for me. When John Chambers hosted a company meeting in the Santa Clara Convention Center, we were served Samosas yet again. Notwithstanding Chambers' admiration for India, this was a little too much for me to digest. All the top executives eating Samosas? I was overjoyed and shocked and palate-thrilled all at the same time. And not to mention, proud.

So the point? Are we really living in a foreign land? Almost everyone I know lives an Indian life. Not just in the Bay Area, (of course the Bay Area is beyond anything I have ever seen;) ) But even places as remote as Dubuque (Iowa). I have seen Indian stores and Indians just about everywhere.

We were having a discussion on this topic a couple nights ago, Subhash's parents and I. I was telling his dad how I thought his friends were the only ones that can truly take the credit of living in a foreign land and managing well. Because the whole of our generation just doesn't do it. We get up, we pray to our own Gods in temples, we buy groceries off Indian stores' shelves, eat our own food, socialize with fellow Indians (in the Bay Area you don't even have to go looking to make Indian friends) we just live an Indian life in a foreign land. In short, except for your postal address nothing changes. You live, breathe, eat, listen and what not else Indian. So much so, that the change/adjustment would probably be higher if some one from Chennai moves to Kolkata or Delhi. (all Indian cities)

So what is foreign about living anywhere in the US? Nothing. Zilch. Zero. We don't live any different here in the US than if we were in India. When someone tries to tell me how much US is better than India, there is the only one thing I want to tell them. If you love the US so much, live like an American. If you want to have the true experience of living in a foreign country and want to be away from Indian-ness so much, don't go anywhere close to that Indian Grocery store. Socialize with Americans and live like them. If you can't, at the very least, stop insulting your roots.

I know a lot of others don't share the same opinion. It is my perception and we all have our own perceptions. I am not saying that my way of thinking is right. But it is what I think, all the same :)

I used to think, maybe if I go to some remote country in Africa, I might have the experience of living in a foreign land. But my uncle recently moved to Nigeria and apparently they have temples and stores and everything all set already. And my aunt used to live in Tanzania way back in the 1970s and they had Indian friends there ;) At that time too :D

Actually makes me feel proud. About how we have spread our wings (and with it, our influence). We are everywhere, we have been everywhere. Yet, I long to be back. On that soil where I first set foot on this earth.

Talking of India, Subhash's Dad reminded me of this very beautiful four liner.

Ye Desamaegina
Yendu Kaledina
Pogadara Nee Thalli Bhumi Bharathi ni
Nilupara Nee Jaathi Nindu Gauravamu.

Roughly translates to:

Whataver country you go to
Wherever you set foot on
Praise your motherland, India
Keep up the dignity of your country.