The US trip was conceived and planned for more than a few months. We have been looking forward for the road trip with the best of our buddies from SFO to Las Vegas. What better way to start your new year partying in LV heading out back home. The plan was to start from San Francisco, go down to LA moving on the Route 1.
A lucky 2 days of leave, we decided to advance our ticket a little bit and spend time in and around Stanford. An STVP blog addict, the worshipper of the Silicon Valley, I could not think of any other University to get a feel of the University and research life.
When we landed in SFO, this being our first US trip, we had quick judgements to pass from immigration to airport to the shared taxis. The immigration office was a bit rude, not overtly so, especially noticed because I am so used to traveling in ‘friendly’ APAC countries. I was to be in the US in 2001 for my studies which never happened. Perhaps, if I had landed in the US then, the awe of the airport would have been a recognised feeling. Unfortunately, we have got a better airport back home in Bangalore and I let the awe of SFO pass without registering. SFO position as an immigrant place was clearly visible right at the airport. Although unfairly classifying the ‘whites’ or more precisely ‘continental europe immigrants’ as the original Americans, I saw hardly anyone in the airport. The immigration official was hispanic, the potters were Asians, the visitors in the lounge all had come directly off the Bennetton Advert, the taxi driver was a Farsi. Of all the things that we did that evening, except Motel registration, were done with ‘non-original’ denizens.
For a few minutes after landing, I left my wife with my luggage and went back a few years. That was when US was THE destination whether it was for making money, or a better life or better opportunities. Not that US has lost its pre-eminence as such a place, but it is no more THE place. Growing up in small town in India, I would have dreamt of such houses, cars, luxuries; perhaps, only with a license, thanks to the stupid Indian licensing Raj. Now with globalisation, India’s resurgence, particularly, Indians’ growth up the wealth levels, the gap has dimmed if not completely gone. 10 years ago, I was struggling to think how will I pay my fees in USCLA where I was admitted. Now, I dont need to blink to do a ‘pleasure trip’ on getting a short break. I dont speak this for myself, I speak it for millions of my generation guys who have seen the growth in economic levels like no other generation.
All of us have seen the US, may not be in person, but in the numerous Hollywood movies, the various books, the magazines that we regularly supply, or simply our friends’ holiday pictures. In my mind, I had some little caricatures of the US that I wanted to see in real and experience. We did exactly that. We stayed in a Motel by Stanford University. I laughed when the motel owner suggested choices for our dinner – the Chinese place on the left and the Thai on the right. We went to a ‘authentic American’ place called Boston Market – another one of my mental caricatures. You cant have food without the cheese. Even our standard Vegetarian fare was so rich – but we loved it. Sat by the window and saw cars zipping along. Funny, When I paid the bill, I experienced something I never thought I would – The American bill was cheaper than that I would have to foot back home (HK for now). I remember a bunch of Indian Americans I met 15 years ago, who were so excited about shopping in India as it was so ‘cheap’. With most of us now used to the regular brands, it costs pretty much the same in the US as in India. Again, another set of new immigrants – Hispanics – at the restaurant.
We came back to our hotel and turned on the heater – a huge monster – a reminder of why Americans are the big green-gas offenders, ate the complimentary sugar-rich pie. I have been counting calories since I landed with so many sugary stuff thrown at us. Hey, let it go! We are here for 12 days. We as well live an American life and get a little fat! 
