No Driving force!

 




Days of super speed has arrived long back, everyone is running busily around through the day. In countries like India, where there is wide facility of public transport, someone who has not learnt to drive a vehicle, who can't afford an own vehicle, who can't drive due to health and other personal reasons can survive easily...however, even in India, having a personal vehicle and being able to drive on own pays well in times of urgency....


Once we cross the country and reach Western countries like USA, where not every state has public transport, survival becomes difficult, dependency increases. Who thought getting married will force a woman to stay between the four walls, leaving behind her busy career, family and friends, other activities in India? Until the husband teaches her to drive left-handed, she is left always at home. I am not discussing much about the Work permit Visa issues, but they make it worse. Students who finish their Masters in USA learn to drive on their own, but life is definitely different for a woman from India who gets married to someone abroad. It happens with anyone coming to a new country on a dependent visa, and no driving permit. 

Unlike India, not  every city is busy, with people seen everywhere. Until, one makes friends, gets busy in life, she has to cut the boring time...Its a new place, one side is the anxiety and worry that she left all her own people so far...the other side is the exciting feeling of getting to know new people, new culture, new places..there is lot of chance and time to go around and visit while the husband is at work, but all that stops her is the inability to drive...even though she drove a 4-wheeler in India, in America its left-handed driving, she still needs practice and a driving permit. Another angle is the hesitation whether to ask the husband to teach her to drive, or ask to take her out as she is feeling home-sick and wants to be as busy as possible inorder to forget the memories of her family back in India. The husband might be busy, too tired, or he might feel she is not allowing him to get rest...all these thoughts and feelings may not happen to every woman, but most of us encounter these.....

There are so many eyes looking for good friends...so much disappointment, but all i could say is...wait, give it some time, if he can't take you out, you make the habit of going for a walk, during winter, go out when sunny..or go to the fitness center, every apartment community has one, look for other Indians to make friends, but look for like-mindedness. If you life crafts or cooking, learn new stuff, internet provides every coaching, even new technologies if you are a techie, bring a plant home, do some gardening, decorate your home....these are just passing clouds, slowly take a friend's or your husband's help to learn driving. After a year of so, when you turn around, you will laugh at these times, and sigh saying "Gone are those leisure days, i had so much of time in hand". Cheer up!!