My dad still remembers that November day, 22 years ago, in Bombay, India. It was the day that he got his visa to come to the US for graduate school. His parents, until then, had not even fathomed leaving their hometown, let alone the country. As he and his dad excitedly called home and conveyed the news to near and dear ones, they knew that this was the fork in the road for their future generations.
America was pervasive. Even though it was completely foreign, my dad could relate to it. He could relate to the suburban ease of Archie and Riverdale High; to being C.A.Ts (as Indian teens called them) – Casual American Teenagers – sporting jeans, t-shirts, sunglasses and a Walkman; to the Oscars and Grammys they watched religiously every year; to Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan and Mike Tyson who were all part of his life. America was always in the news – leading the world and always being counted in public opinion. That’s where he wanted to be.
He found America to be welcoming of people seeking opportunity. He could come to grad-school to learn computer science. Within months of coming here he secured a scholarship and a campus job that paid all his bills – and allowed him to even afford a car and a TV – something that took his dad a lot longer to get. He married his high school sweetheart while still in his early twenties, and then she came over to pursue her dreams for higher education and a successful career.
Yet, it was painful in the beginning. Everything was new – different seasons, different people, different food, different social expectations. They hadn’t realized they would miss home so much. But, along the way they grew to see that there was a bit of them in everyone around. Everyone was from somewhere, united by the empowerment this society gave them, and the freedom they had to contribute who they were into this potluck of cultures.
Today my parents have the professional success they aspired for. They wanted to raise their child with a sense of comfort, stability and security – they have been able to do that in a manner that their parents only aspired for. They have been able to get their parents to experience America and see the world, which is something they cannot do enough of. America allowed to lead their life fully. This is why, for all the world, America has been that “shining city on the hill”. And the very reason, why my parents now proudly call this home.
