Here are 10 best things about US and to keep things in balance, here are 911 things to hate about US. While I don't agree with either of the lists 100%, out of the 10 best things, the following really hit a nerve:

"In America the destiny of the young is not given to them but created by them.: Not long ago, I asked myself, "What would my life have been like if I had never come to the United States?" If I had remained in India, I would probably have lived my whole life within a five-mile radius of where I was born. I would undoubtedly have married a woman of my identical religious and socioeconomic background. I would almost certainly have become a medical doctor, or an engineer, or a computer programmer. I would have socialized entirely within my ethic community. I would have a whole set of opinions that could be predicted in advance; indeed, they would not be very different from what my father believed, or his father before him. In sum, my destiny would to a large degree have been given to me." - Dinesh D'Souza

To the average reader, he is just another minstrel singing patriotic songs about the US for the upcoming 4th of July weekend. But delve a bit deeper and you realize that even though the Indian-born author only talks good about US, the article seems to be his way of justifying the burning question within himself (and everyone like him, including me) - why did he leave India and his family to come to the US? I used to think that once I've been here long enough, the guilt of leaving my family, friends, and all that I loved, for a better future in US, will vanish. It's far from the truth. While I have adjusted pretty well to the American life, every once in a while the question begs an answer - is money, career, education, name, fame (insert materialistic goals here) really worth leaving what God gave you?

Sometimes I think yes, sometimes I think no. I used to think well I'll get the answer the day I make my first billion. Now I think I'll never get the answer - frankly because this isn't a question/answer, it's an irresolvable conflict. On one hand I could have been happily married by now in India but in truth I will prolly be single for many more years to come. On the other hand, I wasn't satisfied by the education, computer-projects, and business contacts there, but am more than satisfied with everything here. So ya, the confusion and conflict remains. In the meantime, I go out and see Cigir after a LONG time :)

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