Buying a car and "Do you speak Arabic?"

From past one week, one of my friends and colleague, Ravi Lobo is trying to purchase a used car from a local car dealer in Hattiesburg. The Sales manager and the Sales executive at the dealer's office recognize me as I bought my car from them.

Billy Miller, the manager at Ryan's Used Car Super Store is a perfect sales manager. He got such a good memory that he remembers your name even after 6 months (when I walked in he wished me with my name).

Justin Oury, the Sales executive is also a nice person to talk with. He is a no non-sense guy with a good sense of humor. But I think, he has a poor knowledge in Geography.

Out of the Americans whom I met in the last six months, at least 25% of them asked me the same question - "Do you speak Arabic?" . Initially, my answer used to be elaborative. When I tell them that I am an Indian, they again asked me the another common question - Are you into a profession where you guys do some magic with the computers?? Uh...I am scared to do anything with my computer, 'coz if I screw it up and call u guys, u gonna charge us like hell!!!. Justin is no exception.

When I met him six months back, I explained him where I am from and what I do. He remembers only one thing, that 'we' guys eat lot of spices, don't drink beer and we are good at cooking 'curry'. This time the questions are - "Do you speak Arabic?" , "What language you speak in India?" and "Where is India?".

It took five minutes for me to explain him and he regained his 'lost' knowledge of India and started saying that he is planning to visit Goa and have some fun.

I explained him where Saudi Arabia is and he thinks that I am a very intelligent and well learned person. Am I really?? ;)

Coming to my friend's car purchase - he couldn't finally found one of his choice and we returned empty hands.

People and punctuality!!!

It is six months since I landed in US and I could able to see that all the Indians, who are in US from a long time, are very punctual. But for some new comers, it is hard to adjust to this rule.

Most of the Indians, who are not punctual, attribute their quality as a quality of the nation. They try to make humor out of it by saying, IST – Indian Standard Time – always late. I wonder why they do not realize that they are defaming their country with their deeds. Some of them even go to a level saying that being punctual is “American” way of living but not ours (Indians). Hey guys, just look at where you are now?

I read an interesting article on Punctuality in the Wikipedia. Click here to see the article.