It’s been more than a decade since my last post here!!
I don’t think anyone really blogs anymore, and I am pretty sure no one reads this one anymore, but I find myself feeling the urge to journal some thoughts. Just so I can visit this years later and hopefully relive some of the emotions I currently feel. It is also quite typical that I am posting this while aboard a long haul flight, with not much to do except ruminate. It is somewhat sad that such moments are now far and few between - but that is something I will remedy going forward.
So we did a big fat holiday recently - the full monty. Mumbai to the US, multiple flights, multiple cities, multiple coasts, hotels, cuisines, experiences! All 5 of us, trying things that we had not tried before. I was a bit apprehensive prior to the trip, but we all turned out ok. I drove around in great cars, over long distances and at rapid speeds, on the “wrong side” for the first time. And enjoyed it :-).
My first observation is that the US as a country is still the greatest nation on Earth. Systems work just fine, for all the alarms that social media seems to raise. Our oldest child had a fit of dehydration in the long immigration line at Dulles airport, and immediately received comprehensive medical attention. Over my many hours of driving, I saw police cars maintain discipline and apprehend defaulters, and fire and emergency services respond promptly. The infrastructure is not new, whether airports or roads or malls or office blocks, but it works just fine! Public parks in large cities are large and clean, the air is fresh and bracing and natural beauty abounds, whether in the small towns of Virginia or Maryland, or in the redwood forests of California.
My second observation is that the great universities are hugely inspirational, and continue to attract the best and brightest from all over the world. Many times during our trip, I felt the urge to get back to academia because of the beautiful campuses, the energetic students and the general “let’s change the world” vibe! Till the US remains the go-to place for the world’s talent, it will maintain its formidable edge in innovation and quality.
It’s not as if everything is perfect - I saw a lot of homelessness and abject poverty on the streets of Philadelphia and elsewhere. And I am sure that economic inequality is stark and unfortunately rising. However, I also noticed general humanity among ordinary folks - whether displayed through road etiquette, Uber drivers, general retail behaviour or in the actions of a kind official from Delta Airlines who got us checked in in time for our cross-continent flight.
It was somewhat strange that the things that hog headlines - politics, companies, international affairs - hold so little significance in the day-to-day life of the folks I visited with. Another reminder to me that social media is an echo chamber designed to create noise, not signals.
The one thing that stood out to me, as a lay consumer, was that the only metric on which India is better than the US currently seems to be the service economy. We have quick commerce and food delivery that is faster and significantly cheaper than in the US. UPI seems a bit overhyped - during our entire trip, the only time I used cash was at a vending machine where our youngest child wanted to use “her money”.
At the end of it, I am actually feeling a bit sad at the end of our holiday. I am also feeling a little envious of the folks that stay behind - to enjoy the brilliant weather, the clean air and the great outdoors! I think we will be visiting during the beautiful summer months many times hence!
