I was there (US of A) for my Masters' recently upon completion of my Bachelors' from IIT.

The initial reaction upon entering the country was truly mesmerizing; it being my first ever ride outside India. Huge airports, tall buildings, wider roads, big houses and cars, and the list goes on.. It seemed as if the entire world around me had got magnified, to at least twice its usual size!

In America, one gets 24-hour water supply, with both hot and cold option, everywhere. The same is true for electricity as well. Medical emergency service is available at the press of a button. Basic amenities are all practically guaranteed by the government to everybody.

One more thing I noticed to my delight was the cleanliness all around. Boy! they do keep themselves and their surroundings neat and tidy.

Frankly, it was a new world for me altogether. With so many amenities at one's disposal, who wouldn't feel free? Freedom from the daily "Indian" routine of travelling in over-crowded shuttle bus/trains, hurrying to get the household chores done lest the power would go off, waiting for the water supply to take bath...

This freedom also manifests in their culture.

There is freedom of opportunity in getting admission to a school/college or getting a job.

No discrimination (neither reservation) based on sex, caste, religion, etc exists. Every teenager gets on the bread-earning wagon as soon as he reaches 15; thereby becoming self-dependent. American girls drive buses and trucks, play soccer alongside guys, practically do everything that boys do!

However, not everything there is all-good. Else, the country would become the mythical heaven!

There is the "other side" to this freedom as well.

As the children get on their own early, they never have the "Indian" attachment towards their parents and/or relatives. People have a hard life, particularly in their old age, when they need their near-and-dear-ones alongside.

For girls, sex is just an "experience"; something they want to experiment with different people, in different forms, throughout their life.

Marriage has become practically a "joke" there. People divorce and remarry for petty things. The culture of single-parents has crept in steadily and comprehensively.

The freedom of opportunity that non-Americans "enjoy" there is equally stark. With the economy down, American companies don't even allow foreign students to seek employment with them. The primary targets of layoffs from American companies are foreigners. Getting the Green card and/or citizenship of the country has become next to impossible!

All said-and-done, I returned back to my country for good.

Though America might be good for earning some quick-bucks and enjoying the "good" side of freedom for a while, its not so when it comes to settling down for life.