I have been back in
It is quite like the expression, “unless you have been underneath a rock for so long.” Although I managed to come back to
This hiatus and return does offer me a unique perspective on American society. It is not only this long absence from this society, but also the mental programming of Indian society has helped to develop a frame of mind quite different from where I had left off.
The rapid rate at which technology advanced has also left me behind. At 2004 when I left for
It is in regards to Pop culture that this comatose experience is striking. One thing that I have noticed is the synergy that exists in media. TV shows have web surveys and the results of these surveys are displayed live on TV. Sports stars are also music celebs and music celebs are also film stars. The ubiquitous nature of internet has just about changed every aspect of life. In casual conversations I find myself the only one who does not get the jokes which are reliant on some pop cultural reference.
Changes in circle of family and friends also is affected by this change. Some have changed residence and I still assume that they are living in their old apartments. Many friends have gotten married and have children. Nieces and nephews who were infants have grown older and do not recognize their uncle.
A while ago in the witty satire paper The Onion, I read an article about a person who is only aware of Pop culture prior to 1995. He only played the original Nintendo games, only listened to older version of songs from his favorite band – U2. He only understood pop cultural references from the 80s and early 90s. I feel quite like that person. However the significant difference is that the subject of the newspaper story was insistent on not catching up while I will have caught up very soon.
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