A few weeks ago, I finished reading The Hindi-Bindi Club by Monica Pradhan. The novel tells the story of three Indian women who immigrated to the United States in the 1960s and their three adult daughters who were born in the US. In one chapter, one of the Indian women is asked which she likes more, India or America. She compares that question to someone asking her which of her two children she prefers. In the end, she says that there are things that she loves about both India and America. I think she summed it up rather well:
Things I prefer in India...Real men ask for directions. Spirituality. Hospitality. Community. Respect for elders. Cultural diversity. Multiple languages. Traditions and celebrations. Family values. Family values.
Things I prefer America...Cleanliness. Relatively low corruption. Safety. Education. Efficiency. Use of please and thank you. Orderly lines (queues) and the concept of "first-come-first-served." Infrastructure. Conveniences. Work ethic. Respect for manual laborers and subordinates. Acceptance of outsiders. Cultural diversity. Accurate, detailed maps.
