Reverse first time experiences

ladyvetphd · Dec 21st, 2005, 16:46

I like this thread. My first visit was asa student to the USA in 1991. The immigration officer was friendly and I rememeber the freeways made a big impression as we seemed to fly across the streets. Since the airlines had lost my baggage my friends took me to the superstore, and I was just amazed, at the huge expanse of neatly stacked goods of every kind:-).

Of course it was also very nice to see so many tall handsome guys that looked like movie stars. Also very much enjoyed seeing all the different eye and hair colors.

Most Americans that I met were very friendly, I rememember going to a small church in Ohio with the secretary of grad.dept. and the priest's comment of how tiny my hands were when I shook hands with him.

It was also great fun to watch older American families having fun at the
water parks etc. It was bit boring to see no faces on the streets, only well manicured lawns.

Since then after living and visiting various different places in the US, I had commented on US cities being clones of each other with same malls, same coffee shops, same street names.
What I enjoyed most was the opportunity to try out different adventure sports-which probably is very difficult in India (and not enough safety measures). I have particulary enjoyed sailing on summer mornings on Lake Erie.

Many fond memories and also not so great ones!

ammadas · Dec 22nd, 2005, 14:10

go out and buy the book inscrutable americans,its a great read one of the funniest books i have read in a while.its about a 20 yearold india man named Gopal who goes to america for one year.it is written by an indian author based on his experiences but his name escapes me.
Namaste ammadas

TimMakins · Dec 22nd, 2005, 14:55

I was with a group of people chatting to a tour-guide in Sri Lanka. He had done such a great job over the years that the English company he worked for wanted to show their appreciation and had paid for him to go on a trip to the UK, visit Head Office, see some sites. He'd never left Sri Lanka before, so was button-holing every English person he met to ask for tips about the journey. One person told him that the weather in Novermber would be chilly, so he might need special clothing, quite different from his normal wear in Sri Lanka. He asked 'What kind of clothing will I need?". They replied "Oh, well you'll certainly need a jersey or pullover". He thought about this for a moment, then asked "when I get there, will I be able to hire one?"

Tim in Ireland.

ashishkec · Dec 22nd, 2005, 16:47

Great book, 'The Inscrutable Americans' by Anurag Mathur

SPACEBUM · Mar 19th, 2008, 06:22

Well, coming back to Moscow was a bit depressing. The cold, the snow and the ugly wind when out of the plane. Customs officials were strangely disinterested in my persona, nobody cares about you and nobody looks at you when you walk. Taxi driver just asks where to go, you automatically assume he knows the place. No questions asked - where I am from, who my relatives are and whether I am going to a hotel that was booked or staying at my friend's place. What a relief! When buying cigarettes, I just tell what I want and the salesperson understands immediately without extra questions. European espresso brewed by a coffee machine is available everywhere. Taxi ride to home is $200 for 1 hundred kilometres. Finally back home.

When unpacking my bag, start smelling smells from all the scarves and sweaters I bought in Delhi and Dharamsala. Sudden attack of nostalgia makes me sit and smell things I am taking out. Like that special sweater which is only sold by Tibetans because it is part of their traditional national costume. Or the silky-soft cachemere scarve bought in Delhi for $100 that would cost $400 here.

And looking at the stuff, you start to remember things that just don't happen here. Like riding an Indian bus. The Indian bus is a vehicle that drives to the destination unfamiliar to the bus driver. Yes, you can go to Delhi, come inside. After 5 hours you start to realize that the bus is actually climbing up the mountains and Delhi is lower than Dharamsala so you must be driving opposite direction. Or... when you ask the bus driver how much is a tickes, he doesn't reply. You decide to get the car and the car owner says the car is very new, just bought recently, only several rides. When getting closer to Delhi, you understand that the car is actually more than 10 years old, but for some strange reason seats are still covered with plastic. Remembering those things, you start brewing chai. Actually, to this moment I am unable to drink black tea without the milk and at least 4 teaspoons of sugar.

When you go out, nobody is asking where are you from and what is that you want. You want hashish, I can get it for you. Hashish smoking is very dangerous, but I can show you a very safe place. You want girls? No problem too. You can stay in my house and that will also be OK. And by the way, the hotel you are staying at is a dangerous place. Your life is in danger, you need to get out now. If you want safe hotel, I can show you. And my friend is just across the corner at the government travel office, he will help. I am doing all this for you because you re my best friend. If I ever come to Russia, will stay in your house too. :-) Are you married?

Dec 22nd, 2005, 14:55	#63
TimMakins Surprised and Delighted by Life Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: On the road... Posts: 1,010	I was with a group of people chatting to a tour-guide in Sri Lanka. He had done such a great job over the years that the English company he worked for wanted to show their appreciation and had paid for him to go on a trip to the UK, visit Head Office, see some sites. He'd never left Sri Lanka before, so was button-holing every English person he met to ask for tips about the journey. One person told him that the weather in Novermber would be chilly, so he might need special clothing, quite different from his normal wear in Sri Lanka. He asked 'What kind of clothing will I need?". They replied "Oh, well you'll certainly need a jersey or pullover". He thought about this for a moment, then asked "when I get there, will I be able to hire one?" Tim in Ireland. __________________ Travelling Tim - http://www.mapability.com/blogs/ My images at Lonely Planet - http://tinyurl.com/yk43ams "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." Mark Twain

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Dec 21st, 2005, 16:46	#61
ladyvetphd Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: mumbai, india Posts: 332	I like this thread. My first visit was asa student to the USA in 1991. The immigration officer was friendly and I rememeber the freeways made a big impression as we seemed to fly across the streets. Since the airlines had lost my baggage my friends took me to the superstore, and I was just amazed, at the huge expanse of neatly stacked goods of every kind:-). Of course it was also very nice to see so many tall handsome guys that looked like movie stars. Also very much enjoyed seeing all the different eye and hair colors. Most Americans that I met were very friendly, I rememember going to a small church in Ohio with the secretary of grad.dept. and the priest's comment of how tiny my hands were when I shook hands with him. It was also great fun to watch older American families having fun at the water parks etc. It was bit boring to see no faces on the streets, only well manicured lawns. Since then after living and visiting various different places in the US, I had commented on US cities being clones of each other with same malls, same coffee shops, same street names. What I enjoyed most was the opportunity to try out different adventure sports-which probably is very difficult in India (and not enough safety measures). I have particulary enjoyed sailing on summer mornings on Lake Erie. Many fond memories and also not so great ones!

Dec 22nd, 2005, 14:10	#62
ammadas Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: minneapolis,mn Posts: 156	go out and buy the book inscrutable americans,its a great read one of the funniest books i have read in a while.its about a 20 yearold india man named Gopal who goes to america for one year.it is written by an indian author based on his experiences but his name escapes me. Namaste ammadas

Dec 22nd, 2005, 16:47	#64
ashishkec Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 52	Great book, 'The Inscrutable Americans' by Anurag Mathur

Mar 19th, 2008, 06:22	#65
SPACEBUM Account Closed Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Russia Posts: 117	Well, coming back to Moscow was a bit depressing. The cold, the snow and the ugly wind when out of the plane. Customs officials were strangely disinterested in my persona, nobody cares about you and nobody looks at you when you walk. Taxi driver just asks where to go, you automatically assume he knows the place. No questions asked - where I am from, who my relatives are and whether I am going to a hotel that was booked or staying at my friend's place. What a relief! When buying cigarettes, I just tell what I want and the salesperson understands immediately without extra questions. European espresso brewed by a coffee machine is available everywhere. Taxi ride to home is $200 for 1 hundred kilometres. Finally back home. When unpacking my bag, start smelling smells from all the scarves and sweaters I bought in Delhi and Dharamsala. Sudden attack of nostalgia makes me sit and smell things I am taking out. Like that special sweater which is only sold by Tibetans because it is part of their traditional national costume. Or the silky-soft cachemere scarve bought in Delhi for $100 that would cost $400 here. And looking at the stuff, you start to remember things that just don't happen here. Like riding an Indian bus. The Indian bus is a vehicle that drives to the destination unfamiliar to the bus driver. Yes, you can go to Delhi, come inside. After 5 hours you start to realize that the bus is actually climbing up the mountains and Delhi is lower than Dharamsala so you must be driving opposite direction. Or... when you ask the bus driver how much is a tickes, he doesn't reply. You decide to get the car and the car owner says the car is very new, just bought recently, only several rides. When getting closer to Delhi, you understand that the car is actually more than 10 years old, but for some strange reason seats are still covered with plastic. Remembering those things, you start brewing chai. Actually, to this moment I am unable to drink black tea without the milk and at least 4 teaspoons of sugar. When you go out, nobody is asking where are you from and what is that you want. You want hashish, I can get it for you. Hashish smoking is very dangerous, but I can show you a very safe place. You want girls? No problem too. You can stay in my house and that will also be OK. And by the way, the hotel you are staying at is a dangerous place. Your life is in danger, you need to get out now. If you want safe hotel, I can show you. And my friend is just across the corner at the government travel office, he will help. I am doing all this for you because you re my best friend. If I ever come to Russia, will stay in your house too. :-) Are you married?