Chronicles of a Jongleur

For most of us who have originated from the bigger cities in India into the bigger cities of America, the the overall ecosystem of people around us is pretty much unchanged. You will see officegoers, school children, traffic policemen, young teenie boppers, thieves, peddlers and the usual assortment of local beggars, hoodlums, goons and stereotypes. Purely from that perspective, Chennai to Chicago is not a big difference. But move away from the metro cities into the suburbs and you will start seeing a gradual but sure shift in the local demographics.

Rural America is an experience in itself and quite a stark departure from the scenes that pepper Karan Johar’s movies. The towns are small, and people go about their daily stuff untouched by the madness of frenzied schedules that proliferates almost every big city. The general laidback attitude can be felt in the air, and more often than not people are more welcoming of any outsider who happens to chance on their town.

The layout of these towns in itself is pretty standard, with populations sometimes falling as low as a meager 10000 people. There almost always is a two storied building that also serves as the motel, the town club, panchayat, gossip zone et al. A local pub with painted signs that date back at least 40 years, a run down brewery or a shoe factory, and a strip mall which typically has a barbers shop, a video rental/convenience place, a coffee shop and a post office. And a town wouldn’t be a town without a stereotypical McDonalds/Wendy’s/Applebee’s/KFC’s to complete the repertoire.

If this makes one feel that the entire system has a drab air to it, they are totally mistaken. The people you will encounter are some of the most simple, honest and cheery lot that you can hope to find in this part of the world. Strangers are rare in their areas, and a new face is often welcomed with some of the broadest smiles and the most cheerful “Howdys!” that you have ever heard. There is an undertone of genuineness and integrity to their approaches that never ceases to amaze (and sometimes amuse) a visitor.

Look closer and you will see a beginnings of a trend that has begin to worry American economists lately-that most of the population is in the upper end of the age spectrum. Retired school teachers and ageless farmers chatter boisterously over their daily beer. Genteel ladies in full gowns and fuller aprons go about their daily business in as calm and collected a manner that you can ever hope to see. Afternoons are officially and unofficially classified as siesta time and the only business that remains at these times are the gas stations. You might wonder how the this serene atmosphere even connects with the pulse of America’s economy, but remember these are the roots of the esscence of that thoroughly enjoyable experience of rural America

So next time you see that detour that skids off the Interstate you are zooming on, take time out, and swivel into the narrow lanes. Traverse country roads and little known farm alleys. Leave your city mindset in your car and stop at the first small settlement you see. Its a whole new experience. One that will be cherished for a long time to come.