Well done sunita- all are proud of you. explorations on any field can be explored only by courious minds and am sure you have enjoyed exploring to the maximum and best possible in the given circumstances. Curiosity too needs a break at times and probably that is the way exploration explores.
anyone with merit will always succeed in america, there is no need to pull strings, know a minister or have an uncle in an powerful position.
america is top in education (70% world top universities), science (270 nobel prizes in science), sports (most olympic medals)......because MERIT is given the greatest importance.