During my recent, first-ever, visit to the United States, I was struck by the stark contrast with India where I have spent the last fifty years. The absence of the constant chaos and noise that I had grown so accustomed to was both surprising and refreshing. The moment I woke up in the United States, I was immediately overwhelmed by the vast openness and profound silence that surrounded me.
The unparalleled tranquility left me with an unnerving sense of calm. How can a place exist without the incessant clamor of people bustling through their daily lives, without the blaring horns of vehicles, and without the chaotic sprawl of kiosks and shops encroaching upon every available space, so pathognomonic of the Indian omnipresent maelstrom. While I have previously traveled to a few places in Europe and kept in regular contact with my brother, who has been living in the US for over two decades, this first visit truly left me culturally shocked.
It wasn’t the opulence and scale of the luxury cars on the roads that mesmerized me, but rather the elegance with which they navigated, adhering to a sense of order and civility. I found myself more captivated by the meticulously maintained greenery lining the roads than the rows of beautiful houses, marvelling at the absence of even a speck of dust.
I wanted to write so much, as I have always done after returning from any enthralling tour, but this first visit to my brother’s house in the past twenty-five years since he moved to the US has created a bouquet of memories that will slowly ebb
The Nordstrom Story: A Tale Of Two Worlds
Nordstrom, a renowned American fashion retailer, is known for its exceptional customer service. Years ago, at a Nordstrom store in Fairbanks, Alaska, a customer walked in rolling a pair of tires. He had driven 50 miles to return them, expecting a refund because they had been sold with a return guarantee. He was pretty sure this was the place he bought the tires from.
Despite the confusion, Craig Trounce, the store associate, didn’t hesitate. Understanding the importance of maintaining Nordstrom’s reputation for customer care, he called the tire manufacturer to get an estimate of the refund amount and handed the money over to the customer, no questions asked.
You might think it’s just a routine story, so what’s so special about it? Any company with a reasonable reputation and ethics would do the same. Well, here is the surprising twist: Nordstrom never sold tires. The store had taken over the location from a company that did sell automobile accessories at one point. Craig Trounce knew it, but the customer was unaware of this change.
I was standing inside the glass cabin of Skydeck Chicago, mesmerized by the magnificent city skyline, the serene Chicago River, and the allure of Navy Pier below. I casually made a comment that it would take about 100 years for India to reach here. Today, I am willing to eat my words. 100 years are not enough.
Thanks for sharing it. We do have the advantages of copying and pasting the products and services from overseas and help save on years of R&D put in by others but we lack the customer focus and attitude to serve. And it happens so often that we too have become partly used to it. Though with increasing availability and adaptability people have started raising their voices and at.times are also being heard.
Keep sharing your short stories which are always a treat to read.
Raj, thank you for your insightful thoughts. It’s important for us to reflect on our actions and work towards positive change in order to advance as a civilized nation.
DR.SHISHIR
YOU R VERY GOOD WRITER ,EXCELLENT OBSERVER.
I WAS IN MAURITIUS FROM 2002-2007.AFTER 17 years,I STILL RECOLL MAURITIUS MEMORIES.
I OBSERVED WE R LACKING IN 02 THINGS.
(1) UNCONTROLLED POPULATION
(2)LACK OF CIVIC SENSE DUE TO WEAK AND COMPLICATED AND LENGTHY JUIDICIAL SYSTEM.
BEST WISHES
DR.P.K.GUPTA
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences. It’s clear that uncontrolled population growth and lack of space are significant issues. However, an even bigger problem seems to be the nonchalant attitude of our people. We seem to be resistant to learning even the simplest etiquette and moral codes necessary for civilized living.
Thanks dear Shishir for sharing your experience in US, my niece recently shifted to US, SFO. Got 100 % scholarship by the university. She is just 18 years & travelled alone abroad for the first time to conquer her dreams
Congratulations! That’s fantastic news. I wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
Agree with you Shishir, need a mind set change completely. But am more hopeful that it will happen sooner than a 100 years 🙂
Look forward to catching up and hearing your travel stories over coffee
We tend to hide behind the veil of population, when it comes to civility, courteousness, customer service while the same traits produce different results in countries like Sri Lanka and China. I had similar experiences during my first visit to Australia.
But then, there are exceptions on both sides. Old markets and businesses in our cities like Purani Dilli and Lucknow still make you feel valued. New businesses hire new generation and fail to transfer the organizational value systems to their staff. Businesses like Nordstrom do that well and thrive. Word spreads and they thrive further.
Great story to share!