10 Myths about USA

By Shashi Lakkaraju

With the US visa season approaching it is time to dispel your myths about the US. Read Shashi Lakkaraju destroy them with ease.

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#1 - US is full of sky-scrapers

America has sky-scrapers only in big cities like Chicago, New York, San Francisco etc and commercial localities called downtowns. The suburbs typically have one or two storey building. All visitors who visit America during the summer, find it very green with trees, forests and plants. The grass is mowed and well cut. Wild flowers grow even on highways on land patches.

#2 - I can take a cab to ?

US has poor public transport, taxis and cabs are luxuries and are extremely expensive. Only some big cities have buses and subways for public transport. Major sight seeing attractions like Niagara falls , Grand Canyon etc. also have little access through public transport. One can rent a car and can travel through the country to any part. Some travel packages (which are expensive) offer trips to major tourist attractions.

#3 - Winters are very cold

US is a very big country, it is 5 times the size of India, there are 4 different time zones. The northern USA can get very very cold during the winter season, however the weather in the southern states like Florida, California, Texas is very comparable to weather in southern India.

#4 - Food is a problem for vegetarians

With a large immigrant population in most parts of the country, America has a lot of variety to offer where food is concerned. With more and more Indians migrating to the US, Indian restaurants are commonly found in major cities, a salad with no meat, french fries can be found almost at any remote place in America.

#5 - Vegetarian means no meat, no fish...

Contrary to the Indian definition of vegetarianism, in America seafood is considered vegetarian. Therefore when you ask for vegetarian food (as we Indians mean it), be sure to mention no meat, seafood or white meat (chicken for e.g. is white meat while red meat is pork, beef etc)

#6 - Indians are us!

When an American talks about Indians, more often than not he or she means ?Red Indians?, the only true Americans who lived two centuries back in US. We come under the category of ?Asian-Indians?

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#7 - I can shop for friends and family back home

Most of the products that are sold in America which have day to day use such as clothes, shoes etc are imported from third world countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia etc. The electrical gadgets cannot be taken back due to difference in voltages (220 versus 110). Shopping for friends and family is often difficult. Be careful lest you buy a lovely shirt for your near and dear one, only to realize later that it is ?Made in India?.

#8 - Americans sleep late

Americans are very early risers. Their day starts very early and ends very early, the peak hour for dinner at restaurants is 6.00 PM ? 7.00 PM. Americans eat an early dinner and lights are off by 10.00 PM on a working day.

#9 - I can walk to keep healthy

While walking is second nature to us Indians, the lifestyle in US is very sedentary. Walking is prohibited and is a chargeable offense on highways. Walking paths do not exist everywhere and can get very uncomfortable at some places, not to mention the weird looks that people in cars give when you walk in ?strictly driving? kind of places. Walking is seen most often in shopping malls.

#10 - Food is expensive in US

If one is earning an American salary, food is the cheapest in the world in America. The conversion between American dollars and Indian rupees makes the food appear expensive. Housing is the most expensive monthly expense that an average American feels the pinch for.