My two cents from Cincinnati.

American Diners

For the Cincinnati session, I stayed at Milford. It’s considered a suburb – a place where people can build sprawling structures because property is comparatively inexpensive. I chose to hang around in the suburb this time and get a feel for the life there. Well, for starters, you don’t feel much of a life there. My hotel was just of the highway, so all you feel are the cars pulsating through because they have more important places to go. The diners along the highway provide some much-needed fuel to weary travelers, so I hopped to the diner across the street to refuel. 

Eating at an American diner is a curious experience. When you enter, you kinda get the feeling that it’s been around for long and hasn’t changed much. Moreover, you’ll find some stereotypical folks there.  There’s the really nice young waitress who’s doing this to save money for college and there’s the old, rude waitress who’s been doing this for years and hates her job. Then there are the regular customers who probably live around the area and stick around for a bit. They know the waitresses by name and the menus by heart. Then there’s the creepy odd-ball character drinking alone at the bar trying to find someone to make conversations with. There are also the passer-by’s, like me, who just want to grab a quick bite and be on their way ASAP. And occasionally you'll also find a local band, making things a little lively, and who may find some sing-along fans amongst the crowd.

It was just a dinner but I felt it was a real American experience. This was an America beyond TV serials and Hollywood stars, beyond Obama and the political clout, beyond Wall Street and the financial institutions and beyond other things that we relate to the US. These were real people leading normal lives – It is an America beyond what normally meets the eye. 

Breaking the Rules

I’ve had a lot of people ask me, “Don’t you get tired/bored of running the same workshop everywhere?” And my answer to that is “tired? Yes, because it’s pretty demanding but bored? Never.” There’s a new dynamic with every group and it’s kept me on my toes. The best workshops have given me an insight on how the Indian society is changing. I’ll share an example. A lot of the women have very unconventional family situations. In most cases, the women alone have moved to the US and are involved in long distance marriages. Some have brought along their children and are raising them the American way in day care centres. Some have actually had husbands quit their jobs in India and moved to the US on visas sponsored by their wives. This would be unheard of 20 years ago! I’m not advocating whether any of these choices are good or bad. I’m highlighting a change that’s happening slowly- where women are no longer expected to be the one to sacrifice everything; where families are willing to take bold decisions and do what works for them as opposed to following a set norm. The change is slow but it’s coming and I’ve been honoured to meet the women who are pioneering the way.  

A missed encounter..

I’ve learnt a lot from cab drivers this trip. Most of them like to talk and they usually have a lot of insider info. My cabbie, while driving me to the Cincinnati Airport, dished out some scoop about the city. Let’s start with a lesser known fact – George Clooney is originally from the Cincinnati area. In fact, he was actually shooting in the city, the day of my workshop! Yep, you heard me right! and what better than a picture of the star whose movie has inspired my blog name!!  Unfortunately, I didn’t go into the city. Nobody seemed to think Cincinnati was worth making the traffic-congested trip from Milford. A missed opportunity, I guess – who knows what may have transpired. ;)