<p>In the United States of America, watching fireworks with family and friends, while enjoying a delicious barbecue and having a great time is what July 4 is all about. With many American expatriates living in Bengaluru, the community is coming together to celebrate their independence day here. <br /><br />As a kid, Ellen Buckler Jose remembers going to the city centre in Philadelphia to watch the crowd celebrate. She recalls, “The Liberty Bell area would be filled with people. The Art Museum would arrange a firework show — it was one of my favourite places to be. But I never dared step into the crowd. I’d just watch all the colours and celebrate through the glass window of my office.” <br /><br />Though she doesn’t live in the US anymore, she makes sure that she celebrates the day with as much as grandeur as she would back home. She says, “We’ve invited friends over for a barbecue party. There will be hot dogs, burgers, my special ‘deviled eggs’ and coleslaw. I’ve also asked my friends to come in reds and whites to match the occasion!”<br /><br />Bret Mueller moved from Washington DC to the city four years ago to start ‘California Burrito’. He talks about the great celebration in the capital where everyone would get together to show their pride for the country. He says, “It’s been a while since I experienced that kind of vibe. But I think we can kickstart that party with a few friends here as well. I’ve already purchased fireworks, I’m getting ready for my barbecue and it’s going to be a great day.”<br /><br />Like other Americans, for Lily Holt and husband Robert, the fireworks are the first thing that comes to their mind when they think of July 4. Lily talks about her experience in New York and says, “The celebrations in New York are mainly in Coney Island, Brooklyn or by the Hudson River in Lower Manhattan in front of the Statue of Liberty. After barbecues, around sunset, everybody comes to the nearest beach to witness some amazing fireworks. Anywhere you get a seat is a good spot to watch it. I used to love it because it was like a community feeling. From grown-ups to little ones, Americans to immigrants, one could see everyone celebrate in full spirit.” <br /><br />The couple with son Conor are looking forward to celebrating the day at a brunch or event. “I might go to some friends’ house and enjoy some veg and non-veg grilled delicacies. I’ve already decorated my house with some red, white and blue and we have our American-themed outfits ready for the day,” she says.<br /><br />As for Nicole Vuthar, a tutor from Houston, she says that she misses the festivals and concerts that would take place on July 4. “There would be plenty of music, food, fireworks and concerts that take place. The venues will be a little too overcrowded but it’s so much fun when everyone comes together to join the party,” she says. But the food wasn’t something that she would look forward to like the others. She says, “I’m a <br />vegetarian and it’s not really an option that many choose to take into consideration on that day. So I just eat chips or other grilled vegetables (if any) and enjoy the rest of the day.”<br /><br />But there’s Nathan <br /><br />Woerter, RJ at Indigo 91.9, who says he was never allowed to play with fireworks. He recalls, “A cousin of mine burnt his hand while playing with fireworks, since then, we were all forbidden to play with them. And like others who lived in Florida, we’d make sure that we never hit the beach because the rest of the country will be there. We’d hang out at home, be extremely lazy and eat till we can’t move anymore. If we aren’t that lazy, we might find a quiet spot to watch the fireworks from afar.” <br /><br />But if there’s one thing that he’d like to take from the Indian culture to make the party back home much more glamorous, he says it would be the spontaneous dances. “The July 4 celebration is quite a chilled out one and we all have a lot of fun no matter what the circumstances are. But if we could add the spontaneous dance routine to our celebration, it would be complete,” he adds. <br /><br /><br /></p>
<p>In the United States of America, watching fireworks with family and friends, while enjoying a delicious barbecue and having a great time is what July 4 is all about. With many American expatriates living in Bengaluru, the community is coming together to celebrate their independence day here. <br /><br />As a kid, Ellen Buckler Jose remembers going to the city centre in Philadelphia to watch the crowd celebrate. She recalls, “The Liberty Bell area would be filled with people. The Art Museum would arrange a firework show — it was one of my favourite places to be. But I never dared step into the crowd. I’d just watch all the colours and celebrate through the glass window of my office.” <br /><br />Though she doesn’t live in the US anymore, she makes sure that she celebrates the day with as much as grandeur as she would back home. She says, “We’ve invited friends over for a barbecue party. There will be hot dogs, burgers, my special ‘deviled eggs’ and coleslaw. I’ve also asked my friends to come in reds and whites to match the occasion!”<br /><br />Bret Mueller moved from Washington DC to the city four years ago to start ‘California Burrito’. He talks about the great celebration in the capital where everyone would get together to show their pride for the country. He says, “It’s been a while since I experienced that kind of vibe. But I think we can kickstart that party with a few friends here as well. I’ve already purchased fireworks, I’m getting ready for my barbecue and it’s going to be a great day.”<br /><br />Like other Americans, for Lily Holt and husband Robert, the fireworks are the first thing that comes to their mind when they think of July 4. Lily talks about her experience in New York and says, “The celebrations in New York are mainly in Coney Island, Brooklyn or by the Hudson River in Lower Manhattan in front of the Statue of Liberty. After barbecues, around sunset, everybody comes to the nearest beach to witness some amazing fireworks. Anywhere you get a seat is a good spot to watch it. I used to love it because it was like a community feeling. From grown-ups to little ones, Americans to immigrants, one could see everyone celebrate in full spirit.” <br /><br />The couple with son Conor are looking forward to celebrating the day at a brunch or event. “I might go to some friends’ house and enjoy some veg and non-veg grilled delicacies. I’ve already decorated my house with some red, white and blue and we have our American-themed outfits ready for the day,” she says.<br /><br />As for Nicole Vuthar, a tutor from Houston, she says that she misses the festivals and concerts that would take place on July 4. “There would be plenty of music, food, fireworks and concerts that take place. The venues will be a little too overcrowded but it’s so much fun when everyone comes together to join the party,” she says. But the food wasn’t something that she would look forward to like the others. She says, “I’m a <br />vegetarian and it’s not really an option that many choose to take into consideration on that day. So I just eat chips or other grilled vegetables (if any) and enjoy the rest of the day.”<br /><br />But there’s Nathan <br /><br />Woerter, RJ at Indigo 91.9, who says he was never allowed to play with fireworks. He recalls, “A cousin of mine burnt his hand while playing with fireworks, since then, we were all forbidden to play with them. And like others who lived in Florida, we’d make sure that we never hit the beach because the rest of the country will be there. We’d hang out at home, be extremely lazy and eat till we can’t move anymore. If we aren’t that lazy, we might find a quiet spot to watch the fireworks from afar.” <br /><br />But if there’s one thing that he’d like to take from the Indian culture to make the party back home much more glamorous, he says it would be the spontaneous dances. “The July 4 celebration is quite a chilled out one and we all have a lot of fun no matter what the circumstances are. But if we could add the spontaneous dance routine to our celebration, it would be complete,” he adds. <br /><br /><br /></p>