First Impression of Western World

I moved to Canada almost a decade ago. Whenever I visit my home country India, one common question encountered is how life is different in Canada than India. This is quite an interesting question as this was the first question that used to pop in my mind when I first moved there. And, it is equally interesting to note when my near and dear ones visit the Canada, America or Europe, what they find amazing there and what makes their tour worth visiting.

First thing, which everyone visiting a western land observes is fresh air. Though America is one of the big contributors to pollution, but thanks to its huge landscape that its pollution stands nowhere in the eyes of tourists of India. Air is so pure and blissful even a blind person can testify this. And the overall beauty of the place and cleanness complements the fresh air. Cleanness is a first big impression that every tourist from India has.

This one is a big surprise that markets and shopping malls are either totally closed or close early on weekends in western countries, which is a big contrast to India where malls and shops are open till late hours on weekends. If it is Europe, shops close after 7 on weekdays and Sunday is totally closed.

Another thing that can not go unnoticed in Europe is the ringing of Church bells after every quarter. To me, it is like music to the ear.

Another thing that amaze the most to the tourists from India is that they do not find any traffic police officer at the roads, and everyone whether car driver, bike or bicycle rider or pedestrian, almost all follow the traffic rules even when no one is observing them (Tourists do not know that citizens in western countries are well educated about traffic rules in schools as well as they know that there might be cameras and if they were captured on camera while violating any rule, they will be fined huge).

Next thing that they observe is big, luxurious cars of big brands like BMW, Lexus, Audi, and Mercedes running at high speeds, thanks to the money of taxpayers and strict tax rules as well as good governance that roads are kept pretty maintained.

This is something which really impresses many tourists from India that Train and buses run according to their timetable. When people say time is money, it is something which is truly believed and practiced in western countries.

Again, western countries are so well-planned and organized, that you can truly plan a trip reliably depending on the GPS only, which is something far from reality in India(especially in the real rural India; India has big hopes from the Digital India project). In India, not only drivers but every individual is a GPS in itself and can give you the direction. But you will be surprised to know that even bus drivers in western countries can not help you with the directions. They usually know only their bus route.

Indians always wonder during their trip to foreign countries is that why do westerners mostly wear black and white. Moreover, it amazes them the most that there is no school uniform for the students.

Indians have a common perception that western countries are always cold and it snows there all the time. So, they are always curious to know that why westerners need a refrigerator. My people from India do wonder that whether all the western nation people live in Igloos or wooden houses. And, how do western people walk or drive on snow.

In western countries, everyone has a weather forecast app on their mobile phones, which is something I never have given a thought while living in India. And, I always used to wonder in India why they do show the weather forecast. But, viewing the weather forecast before leaving the house in western countries is like reading the horoscope by Indians before leaving home.

When it comes to gifts from a western country, everyone expects Jackets. Again, girls and women in India think that all the beauty products in America, Canada or say Europe are the best in the world. Not only cosmetics but also handbags. So, the first choice of their gift from a western country is cosmetic products or a handbag. And, boys or tech geeks want electronic gadgets. Not to forget the wine bottles for adults, nobody asks but who would say no to English wine. And chocolates are obvious.

Another thing that can not go unnoticed is the different color dumpsters and recycling site, which is something which almost does not exist in India. And, people need to buy the special garbage bags to throw their garbage. And, the most interesting one is that people also have to buy the special poo packets to clean the shit of their dogs.

The things I find interesting is that I do not need to boil the milk twice a day as I do in India because of the hot weather. Tap water is so clean and fresh, so I do not need any aqua guard or RO (Reverse Osmosis) or any water filter.

Cleanness, pollution-free fresh air, well-maintained roads, beautiful cities, disciplined people, these are really good things that make a country world class. And these are the same things that cling to memories of many Indians after they return back to India from expensive, gala trips from a western land. And, these are the things that are the dreams of many common people in India to witness at least once in their life.