India USA differences

Lifestyle Differences

Neighbors:

In India, the interaction with neighbors is very informal. The relations with the neighbors are just like family members who can come and go anytime, especially if you are living in a colony. Here it is not like that. You will hardly find any neighbors to talk to. Mostly, people leave their homes in the morning and come back in the evening except weekends.

Weekends:

In India typically Sunday is the only holiday. However, in USA, there are two days in a week which are off, Saturday and Sunday. On weekdays, people are busy at work and weekends are meant to enjoy, take care of household stuff, socializing etc.

Servants or maids:

One thing you will miss here for sure and that is having servants or maids. Here all the work has to be done to by yourself whether it is washing utensils to getting the groceries to lifting your own stuff whether it is heavy or light etc etc.!! Here people take pride in doing their work no matter even if its a menial or a skillful job. You will find people fixing their own cars, doing gardening, lawn mowing etc.

Convenience:

USA has some very good systems to offer. Here you dont have stand in a line to pay any bills. Everything can be done on phone or via internet or by post whether it is paying electricity, phone, insurance payments etc. If you want to invest in shares and do trading, even that is possible via internet!! One thing is for sure that life is much more convenient here as compared to India.

Public local transport buses :

There is no ticket conductor. Also in some places you won't get any formal tickets for travelling, unless you want a day pass. You need to make a stop request to the driver, by pulling the bell string.

When police /cop stops you :

Follow speed signs carefully. If you are caught speeding, you will fined. If a cop (police officer) asks you to stop while you are driving, just stop the car at the right side of the road, and wait inside. Never get out of the car. Cop may consider it as an offense, and might shoot you for self defense.

Restaurants :

In most of the restaurants you will find buffet. At buffets, it is a custom to use a fresh plate for each next serving. Leave the earlier one at the table itself, server will clear it up. When you want a drink without ice, say "No Ice", and not "Without Ice". At fast food joints, you would be asked if the food is for "Here" or "To Go"? "Here" means to have there itself, and "To Go" means packed/ parceled

Daylight Saving:

All watches are reset twice every year (viz. April and October), in order to make the maximum use of the day light.

Addressing People :

Don't call a black person a "Negro" or "Black", it is always polite to call them "African Americans". Also never call an "American Indian" as a "Red Indian", they get very offended

Measurement system in US

Measurement Differences and Units :
Weights:

The basic units of distance are inch, foot, yard and mile.
1 yard = 0.9 meter,
1 mile = 1.6 km.


Temperature:

Temperature is measured in Fahrenheit, not in centigrade. 1 Celsius = 1.8 Fahrenheit. 1 Celsius is 1.8 Fahrenheit.

C=(5/9)*(T-32)
F=(9/5)*C+32
C=temperature in degrees Celsius
F=temperature in degrees Fahrenheit


Volume:
1 Ounce (OZ) Fluid = 29.57 ml
1 Gallon = 3.785 Liters

Electrical and Electronic devices

• Electrical devices like hair dryer, microwaves, music system, laptops etc may not work in India if bought from the US and vice versa. The electricity voltage in USA is 110-120 volts and in India, it is 220-240 volts.

Alternate solution: You can buy converters which convert electricity according to the location.

• Video systems such as TV, VCR, Camcorder video cassettes etc have NTSC system and in India it is PAL-B. If you are bringing a VHS, VCR from India, it may not work in the US and vice versa.
• Telephone systems, chargers, musical instruments can work as it is by changing the power adaptors according to the location (whether in India or in the US)
• Wireless phones bought from the US may not work in India or vice versa.