The American Citizens Support Association

Throughout the last year, you have heard me make reference to the American Citizens Support Association or ACSA.  I have referred to it as the “American Embassy Club” or simply “The Club.”  I think it warrants further explanation as it plays a significant role in the life of an American Ex-patriot in New Delhi.

ACSA is an arm of the US Embassy here in New Delhi and is located on embassy property adjacent to the embassy residence compound.  It is a fairly large campus consisting of a main building, a pool, a baseball diamond and a few out buildings. Anyone who has ever been on a military base will recognize the feel of the place.  Everything is whitewashed, well marked with clinical signs and very little overall personality.  In the main building, there is a bowling alley, a gym, a bookstore, a coffee shop and usually a local vendor hawking their wares.  The centerpiece to the main building, though, is the newly renovated restaurant. 

Before you get you hopes up that the restaurant is some cornucopia of super-deliciousness, it is not.   It serves average food, by waiters with a below average work ethic.  It does, though, have many things that you will never find outside the hallowed walls of the US Embassy.   For that reason, and that reason only, I frequent it often. 

Reason #1 – It serves beef! Yes, the illegal meat of Delhi is served freely on this little plot of US territory.  You can get Philly Cheese Steaks and Hamburgers with impunity.  They are not great Philly Cheese Steaks and Hamburgers, but after a year, I am not picky.  They also have a nice selection of Mexican food, like fajitas and taco salads which you cannot find anywhere in Delhi.  But that is not the entire story. 

ACSA also accepts US dollars and, if you have an account there, like we do, you can pay your monthly bills with a US check.  This is hugely convenient as I am paid directly into my US account and, although I have a Indian bank account here, it is ludicrously expensive to have money transferred to India.  Being able to pay with a US check saves me a great deal of money and makes ACSA a convenient place to hang out. 

Now, many of you are probably thinking that the other benefit is that you get away from the local population and get to interact with you fellow countrymen alone. Well, you would be wrong.  A large percentage of the population of New Delhi are naturalized US citizens and feel that it is important to join ACSA for their image.  After all, it is a club and Indians must join all the clubs to be considered important.  They bring with them all the habits and rudeness that most of us are trying to escape when we cross through the gate of the US Embassy.  Many times, I have had to remind Indians at the pool that behavior that may be acceptable outside these walls is not acceptable inside.  It is the one aspect that is most disappointing.  AS well, many other nationalities are able to join to club which makes for an interesting mix – especially when the French schools are out. 

Overall the place is, though, a nice get-a-way from the overwhelming dust, noise and aggressiveness of Delhi and, for those nationalities not allowed to join, is a point of jealousy within the ex-pat community.   For me, it is where I go for a swim and a beef fix and that sometimes is just enough to get me through the week!