Time flies ... it was not long ago when I was preparing for my departure to the US and it has already been a couple of months after my arrival here. The first ride from the airport to my house is still fresh in my mind .. I was amazed by the cleanliness, organized traffic movement and green cover on the state and city roads. Having been brought up in a city like Delhi, this was an unusual site.
About a week after my arrival I got started with my course work. I found the course work pretty rigorous here. One will not have any reasons to complain for not being busy enough. I took time to settle down with my courses as I was not in the studying mode for almost an year after my masters. So my early weeks in US went with adjustment to a whole new life here. From Walmart to the school, from lakes to the Thai restaurants, hair cut saloons to book shops ... everything here is way so different from what it was in India ... so at every step I encountered a new thing, system, way of life, which initially was very exciting. This phase got washed off pretty soon like in about 4 weeks. It seems as if I have been here for a long time now. I have gotten used to everyday life here .. go to school, work from 10 to 5, get back home, cook for yourself, grocery shopping on weekends ... etc etc etc ...
A lot of times now I doubt whether I am actually in US, staying far away from family. Things have changed in the recent times. The communication technology boom has made it possible for people like me to talk live with the family and not miss them that much. But the only thing that bothers me at times is the distance. You can not just travel back anytime you feel like unless of course you are minting money :D.
It has been a pleasant stay overall. Despite the convenient life here, I still want to go back to my home country and serve there. Nothing ever can replace the joy of being with ones family and friends. Even though I see more humility in people here, but I still miss those who have been around all this while ....
