American Dream

So what is this 'American Dream'? The person who coined the phrase, James Truslow Adam said "The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement... It is not a dream of motor cars and high wages merely, but a dream of social order in which each man and each woman shall be able to attain to the fullest stature of which they are innately capable, and be recognized by others for what they are, regardless of the fortuitous circumstances of birth or position."

Mighty words. It makes me feel dignified, ambitious, capable of achieving the ultimate and deserving of the best. And the best feeling is that of empowerment, which after thinking hard enough, I realise that I haven't felt such an emotion with such magnitude, before. Not that I have encountered any discrimination or prejudice against me. Infact I have most often been rewarded, and I believe it is for my hardwork and good results! :)
But I guess there more often is a flavour of favouring probably for the wrong reasons ,present in most places like background music to lyrics. People who benefit deny it and people who suffer complain. At the same time I wonder , will they ,those very people who complain, stand up against unfairness if they themselves were being favoured. Is integrity there in us? It sure is a Right to fight for what one believes in, but isn't it equally important that he stands up for what he believes in, too!

I was reading an article on American culture and view by J. LaVelle Ingram, and understood why each american is the way he is. Their time sense is futuristic, and so, they plan. They plan everything with the idea to reap success in whatever they do. And their success is their own which describes another american quality- an individualistic attitude. Its about surviving for themselves, being self sufficient. If a son does not financially support his parents later on, its okay, he is not being heartless or selfish. His individual wishes, needs and aspirations are his priority and thats because IT IS the core system he has been brought up with. It is appropriate to move away and function independently of family or any bounding group. No obligations. And so, a college kid decides his subjects, a young daughter moves out into her own apartment. Wishes respected. No questions asked.

For americans, doing is much more logical than being. In the sense, what you do matters much more than what you are because the former leads to achievement and accomplishment. And that talks a lot about your status and good lifestyle.
In the USA, they believe that human nature is generally good and one will not deceive someone to profit himself. They believe in the good that there is, and strive to bring out the best in another. They swear by fairness and respect for others. And this is something I have witnessed and vouch for. Something very admirable. Thats probably the sole reason why the entire american society functions with such ease and miniscule chaos. And this attitude goes to say that they are very optimistic people and therefore there really is no need for enforcement of rigid laws to prevent people from doing wrong. Liberty rules because people live up to their best selves.

These aspects of USA, I have, quite clearly noticed in a few days of being here. I was quite apprehensive, sceptical and critical about America before coming here. Mostly fed in the negative by many who have had experienced a slice of it. But now I understand the principles of an american life. The author suggests "...the immigrant does not have to decide to adopt American worldviews to live in America (assimilation); nor does one have to hold rigidly to the culture of origin (rejection). Rather, it is simply a more effective living strategy to recognize the cultural differences and consciously negotiate them."
And I agree.

My Day, today!

Tring tring...uh mh...I switch on my cell to look at the time -9:36. Tring tringgggg... I swagger to the phone in the opposite room.I could see that the number belonged to my aunt. "uh..ehhllo?"

"Hello, good morning...got up now? hmm, so what else is happening? hows cooking- yeah I know..its so boring to cook for oneself...blah blah". She trailed off saying other things to which I could barely manage a "uh-ya" in a very hoarse voice.


Every night, I plegde to get up early, something that never happens despite the blaring alarm kept close to my ear. I have an exam next month on the 16th. I havent yet started studying. And I plan to do that every day. Its weird, once you are out of college, you just can't get yourself to studying. Studying sincerely and dedicatedly, I mean. And especially when you are at home. And being home alone makes it worst.


I have been home alone for 3 weeks now. Mum's left to the great US of A. In a way, its a good way to be independent, doing things on your own like cooking. Especially when I intend to fly to USA for my further studies( ha ha..."further studies" sounds so cliched!). But certainly, studies just dont happen, hmm... among other things!


But so far the day has been good. I have managed to do things I intended to. Posted the long due documents to the Ecfmg office in USA. I posted it via registered post, cost me rupees 56 for 70 gm envelope. The post office in my area has nice people. The girl who helped me was around 25-27yrs, and was wearing a pink striped shirt and black corduroy pants. Pleasing and polite. I was happy to see a fresh & young face in the insipid post office. Sometimes I wish I could be an invisible 'lakshmi bai" and scrub the place clean....that will be like a job well done.


Then I moved on to the beauty parlour. Its called Complexions and has classy red interiors with old english pop numbers playing in the background. What I like about this place is that there are never more than just one customer. Heh heh. So you get ample attention and I feel like a queen with all the pampering! This time too, I was the only one, come to trim my long wavy tresses. I loved them for the way they were...wavy!Waves suit me. Sometimes I picturise myself on the beach, wearing a clinging white crush kurti and my wavy damp hair swaying in the moist wind like the rising tides , a few curls clinging to my shoulders and back...hmmm!!!:):)

My hair was growing a little too unruly and had lost a little bounce. So there I was ,watching as the lady sprayed, from a couple of shiny bottles, some fluid onto my hair. Just for that moment when my hair was damp with the fluid, I liked it the best. It looked glamourous!!...I looked glamourous! heh heh....I wandered off to the beach again...


Sooner, all the chop chop and curl- curl and blow drying left me with bouncy hair, a lot shorter than before. But it felt good, lighter on the crown and I loved the way the curls bounced as I moved( read jerked) my head. I thought I would definitely be good for a shampoo ad! and probably the best place for that would be the beach...and me in a white crush kurti! ;) yeah...


I bought a few things on my way back home- Cup noodles, Goodday biscuits, Garnier fortifying conditioner for rough unruly hair & an Apricot scrub. Missed out on bread.

Lunch was yesterday's veg jafrezi gravy bought from outside with home cooked freshly made chappatis. The chappatis came out good. My hands, you see! ;)



Now done with the routine checking of gmail and orkut, I thought I'd write something while waiting for the maid to come and clean up the mess at home.