When thinking of India, many people think of the stereotypical barren land with elephants, cows and snake charmers roaming. Coming from an inside source who was born, raised, and lived in India for 17 years of her life, these common misconceptions are furthest from the truth.
I had the privilege of interviewing Srishti, a Eastern Illinois University student and member of the tennis team from Secunderabad, India, to hear an outside perspective of the United States and the differences she encounters each day living in the U.S.
After accepting an offer to play tennis in the U.S., Srishti packed nine bags and boarded a 13-hour flight to begin her new life in the States. As she stepped out of the plane from the long flight, she quickly noticed the security of the United States was stricter than any of the security in India. No one smiled to greet her. Instead, dogs attacked, sniffing out any suspicious objects being brought into the United States. It was evident how much differently the Indian people were treated not being from the U.S. and how much stricter security was in America.
Driving to Eastern Illinois University was quite the shock as the steering wheel was located on the complete opposite side of the vehicle as the steering in India. Once Srishti arrived on campus, she needed to purchase many items she was unable to travel with from India to the U.S. Immediately the price difference alarmed her as everything in the United States is much more expensive than India. Since the exchange rate is 65 to 1, everything is 65 times more expensive in the United States than India.
One of the biggest differences in lifestyles throughout the U.S. and India is the mass consumption of beef and the treatment of cows. Here in the United States, it was a shock to see cows fenced and herded together. Across the world in India, cows are sacred and worshiped daily by those who believe in certain religions. It is not uncommon for cows to roam the streets. Cutting into a cow would never be allowed, so people from India consume no beef whatsoever. McDonalds serves no beef or even pork throughout the entire country; the only meat the Indian people can only find is chicken at all restaurants throughout India.
India does in fact have four seasons, all the landscapes we have in America, and people do indeed drive cars instead of riding elephants as transportation. Although many citizens of the United States think these misinterpretations are true, many parts of India are not too different from the United States itself.
