American Adventures - II

On my first day in US, just getting ready to office! Just out of bed after a long call with the offshore team, I had a shower. Got a steamy hot shower, fresh and getting into my pants, I heard my room mate’s voice. (He is just 1.5 days old room mate, then!)

Room Mate: Hey R, did you put the shower curtain inside the tub when u took shower?
Me: Which curtain?

I was in a hurry and I did not notice a curtain anywhere.
FYI, in most of the condos and the one - two apartments the IT people usually rent, has a typical American style bathroom. I mean a bath-room with a shower over a bath tub, a ceramic European closet and a half mirror with a wash basin. So as bath is an integral part of any malayali’s routine, bath was more of a shower standing inside the tub. It happened that the curtain was not in place as I was in real hurry. The conversation went on with my room mate like this.

Room Mate (RM): Hey man, come with me.

He gestured me to follow him to the bath room.

RM: Look, this is the curtain. (Pointing the plastic sheet)
Me: Hmmmm Err, sorry man (Embarrassed smile)
RM: You have to keep it like this (Pulling the plastic parting curtain) when you take a shower, ok?
Me: OK man, I will do that.
RM: Also make sure that the lower part of the curtain is kept inside the tub, ok?
Me: ok.
RM: If not, you will make the whole bath room floor wet and there is not outlet also.
Me: Ok, I will take care

I had missed many basic steps to live in US (First day in US)

You have to keep the doors of apartment closed and locked all the time.
If there is knock over the door, look through the peer hole and only if you are sure that you know the person outside will not harm you, then open the door.
911 is a very handy and useful number in case of emergency. Make sure one don’t dial a 911 accidentally as it might trigger the nearest emergency police vehicle.
One cannot make loud noises even inside their own house as the neighbor might call up 911. This can happen even if you are playing your home theatre systems on a loud sound scale.
Avoid being all alone stranded in parking or empty streets. One might become target of mugging.
When encountered with the ‘punks’, avoid looking at them as they might pick a fight with you.
Express your ‘thanks’ even the event is a very small gesture or help. Here they use the phrase ‘I appreciate it!’
If uncertain about anything, please don’t assume, ASK them again. J
Any buffet in US, if you are going for a second serving, leave you first plates and go for the second set of plates and spoons. Here they don’t entertain use of same plates on a second serve.
TIP at least 10% of bill amount, if happy with their help; increase it to 15 or 20%. This includes Cab fares, waiters and room helpers.
Any lift, elevator, make sure ladies get in first and allow them get out first. The gathering really expects this much!
Vegetarian means a lot of Cabbage and tomato over your hamr and if one needs veggie food, tell them NO MEAT, NO CHICKEN, NO HAM, NO BEEF, NO EGG! Consider yourself really lucky if you get anything with these constraints in US
Last but the best; NEVER expect any of these from any of the Desi crowd out here towards us. Desi – desi, no one cares. If you are in a desi food market, don’t even dream about any part of courtesy. They just simply don’t care!