God bless America

 A pile of navy bluish hallmark ‘Thank you’ cards were lying on the table. I took one card and grabbed a glitter pen. Although I had planned to write a Thank you note for the list of people, I couldn’t go further after ‘Dear’. Thank you note for America, would be the right one to do first. So here goes  Thank you note to the United States of America.

Dear USA,

I had no clue that I would meet you at the age of 22. That was the most adventurous thing I ever did. Coming out of home, living in an unknown country was an unbelievable experience. Starting from Day 1 of the USA to the last day, you have always laid my path with an equal amount of happiness and sorrow. Although I had an immense change in my knowledge, approach, and profession, there are two important things which you have taught me in these 4 years.  

Independence and Dependence. Both are contradictory aspects of life, but it is important to know how to be independent and where to be dependent. 

Naïve extroverted girl from the suburbs, hiding behind mom is the best way to describe me when I met you.  I hardly operated ATMs and my visits to banks were in numbers. I had no idea how Indian embassies worked for foreign visitors or workers. I don’t cook, do household chores either lived with siblings or roommates. But you made me do everything when I came here. As a person, I evolved with humanity and courtesy. You made people breach my privacy and taught me to be stronger. You stole a lot of monetary stuff from me, yet you said you were making me survive the worst. You tortured every cell of me by physical stress and raised me as a sport. You depressed me with emotional stress and made me independent. Independent women, who can manage household, career and to be wild and free. Being independent is a common factor that people get adapted to but you clearly taught me where to be dependent.

You made me dependent on people who love me from their hearts. You stripped the heart of people and presented their inner soul to me. Human values which I experienced from the people, made me better. No matter I have money or not, I have a job or not, I have a bunch of people who stood by me and gave me a light of positivity during my dark times. I have a handful of people who saved me from emotional stress. I have a soulful of people who filled my world with peach and happiness. I never had a homeless day or foodless night in this unknown country just because I expressed love and I was dependent on my loved ones. Love is one thing that can save you from anything in this world. Every heart which cared for me, cried for me, or supported me, will remain in my life forever. My mom taught me the value of people than money and you did the same and made it stronger than ever.

You made me survive just by love. Whenever my heart was in pain due to rejections and demotivation, there was a family who was holding my back, making me feel comfortable. For all the mood swings I had, I had my friends to bear it. For all the tired evenings of work, I had a crew of friends who just grabbed me into Burger King. For all the torture I faced, there was a roommate who put a smile on my face. For all the celebrations I had families. For all the moving scenes, I had my beloved brother to buckle up. For all the driving experiments I had my friend to guide me. For all the research and professional knowledge, I had the best managers to take care of me. For all the movie discussion, I had a friend to entertain me. For all the thirst of Tamil, I had Tamil school to satiate. For all the moods, I had AR, Santhosh Narayanan & the Tamil music industry with me. For all the good and bad times, I had my mom with me. My life is beautiful, and it is still. You gave me everything I want, and now it’s time to leave you. I never imagined that I will ever love you in my life, but now I am going to tell this for the first time. I love you USA and I will miss you badly. 

‘Innoru ponneram ennai thedi vandhaal……”  

(If I get a chance to meet you again….)