Observations of a Bharatvasi on a visit to America

 > As I step into the store, I hear someone asking me ‘Hello! How are you doing today?’. Surprised, I answer ‘I am fine, Thank you’. We exchange smiles!

> While going on one of my evening walks, the man walking in the opposite direction gesticulates a wish aimed at me as if we have known each other for years. My mind races to strange thoughts like, ‘is he smiling because he finds the brown skin threatening?’.

> While crossing the road, cars stop to let me go. When I let them go, they thank me!

> The persons at the check out counter at my favourite Trader Joes engages in small talk with me and finds my Chicago Marathon tee a good conversation starter. I know about their lives too as they are curious to know about mine!

> I love walking the streets of New York City when I go on my sight seeing jaunts there. No one pesters me to get on to the sightseeing bus or to buy something. Everyone seems to be in a hurry to do their own thing. No greetings on the street unlike in other towns here. It has the best places to eat and a pleasant weather for most part of the year except the 09/06/23 when it was a sizzling 99F.

(Courtesy: iPhone😊)

> The price of food in restaurants in USA has gone up 30 to 50% between my last visit in Dec 2022 and this in August 2023. Also the prices of grocery and vegetables show an inflation of about 25% even though gas prices are down by 20% during the same period.

> I was fortunate to go to the interiors of Pennsylvania on a driving holiday with my family. The MAGA (Make America Great Again) campaign of ex Prez Trump is very evident on some caps and cars!

> People living in US know India more than they did in the past. Some parts of the country have a majority of people who have their roots in India, that is Bharath. Saw more Tesla cars in these locales than any other!