As an Indian student in the US, I:
- Enquired about on-campus jobs even before I found a place to stay.
- Am a pro at currency conversions(only rupee - dollar and dollar - rupee, though. Not rupee - dirham, rupee - dinar, rupee - riyal like every schoolgoing Malayalee kid).
- Am a pro at time-zone conversions.
- Rely solely on the local church volunteer group for everything ranging from grocery shopping to local sightseeing.
- Worry perpetually about burning issues like changes to US immigration law, caps on H1-B visas, waiting periods for green cards and citizenship, health of the economy.
- Do my laundry every two weeks.
- Am still coming to terms with the huge variety of cars on the road. Not yet familiar with model names.
- No longer think that everybody in the US have chicken at every meal.
- Criticize Indian politicians and administration whenever I see a flyover or bridge.
- Nevertheless dream of returning to India.
- Am fed up with my own cooking.
- Am unfathomably happy at the sight of Indians. Ok, Indians and(!?) Asians.
- Regularly attend Indian pujas and celebrations that happen around, sometimes with alarming regularity.
- Am caught on the wrong side of The Great Indian Brain-Drain Debate.
- Miss family, friends, work, the crowds, the chaos, the bonhomie, the food. India, in general.
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