For a lot of Indians, proudly owning a automotive could be a matter of consolation or comfort, significantly in cities the place buses, metros, autorickshaws and different modes of public transport are available. An Indian girl residing in the USA, nevertheless, says her expertise there utterly modified the way in which she checked out automotive possession.

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In a video shared on Instagram, Drishti Baldeva spoke about what she described as one of many largest life-style variations between India and the US, saying that exterior a couple of main American cities, proudly owning a automobile can rapidly develop into a necessity.
‘It’s a survival want’
“In India, I used to assume a automotive was a luxurious, however after coming to the US, I realised it’s not a luxurious – it’s a survival want. In India, each two minutes yow will discover a rickshaw, bus, e-rickshaw, metro, or something in any respect to go anyplace,” Baldeva mentioned.
She contrasted this together with her expertise within the US, including, “Right here, go away apart two or three cities like New York, and public transport in the remainder of the US is sort of non-existent. You need to wait as much as 45 minutes for a bus, and walkability is nearly zero.”
Baldeva additionally pointed to the distances concerned in finishing up on a regular basis duties. “The whole lot right here is so unfold out that you need to drive 10 miles simply to get groceries. And in the event you take an Uber daily, it prices you round 50 to 60 {dollars} day by day.”
She added that for newcomers, getting behind the wheel can rapidly develop into a precedence. “That’s why, whether or not you’re a scholar or an engineer, inside one month of touchdown, studying to drive and shopping for a automotive each develop into a necessity. So principally, within the US, having no automotive is the same as home arrest.”
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‘Actually a tradition shock’
Sharing the video, Baldeva wrote, “America has one rule: in the event you don’t drive, life will get exhausting. Coming from India, the place an auto, metro or bus is often just some minutes away, this was truthfully a tradition shock.”
She additional highlighted the extra bills concerned in proudly owning a automobile, together with “Automobile + insurance coverage + gasoline + upkeep”, and requested individuals whether or not they would favor India’s public transport accessibility or America’s car-dependent life-style.
Watch the clip right here:
Web reacts
The video drew reactions from customers who agreed together with her observations. One individual wrote, “A automotive is principally a necessity within the US.” One other remarked, “America is constructed round automobiles.”
A 3rd consumer mentioned, “That is one thing newcomers to the US ought to know,” whereas one other merely agreed with the expertise, writing, “That is so true.”
HT.com has reached out to the consumer for her feedback, and the copy will likely be up to date as soon as her response is obtained.
(Disclaimer: This report is predicated on user-generated content material from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and doesn’t endorse them.)