I have always been curious about the common Indian man's fascination for settling abroad especially the US. So on my short trip of three weeks I tried understanding this. I am put up in Virginia, a state with lots of open spaces and quaint little communities. Most houses here have a little private yard and a large community playground for soccer and tennis with a good-sized swimming pool. That is all good. People here are friendly and never fail to greet you on the street or on lifts in shopping malls. But, most human contact ends there. People prefer staying indoors or driving around in cars. They do all their housework themselves. True that there are gadgets to wash clothes and utensils, mow lawns, etc. But I get the feeling that a person just cannot afford to fall sick even for a day. That would mean that the garbage has piled up or dirty dishes are lying in the sink. Besides healthcare is superbly expensive. By sunset everyone has shut their doors and windows and drawn up the blinds. Winters in this part of the country are harsh, giving you all the more reason to stay at home.
In India, I have gotten used to the noise, the pollution, the crowds and especially the heat. It makes me feel alive. I can always find house-help and not panic when I fall ill. I might be hard pressed to find some open spaces but once a year vacations to a beach or some hill station would solve that problem. So although it's nice to visit the US as a tourist, I can never settle there.