tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post962482653182474172..comments2024-01-29T10:33:48.188+05:30Comments on A Corner Of My World: One WorldAparnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05527786215758008556noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post-84917320971492835272010-12-04T00:57:54.031+05:302010-12-04T00:57:54.031+05:30Been here for 6 yrs now (time flies and you never ...Been here for 6 yrs now (time flies and you never realise it). I am itching to get back home - to India. But then, I got married recently and he wants a few more years here, now. So I need to put up with this place till then. I mean, yes, US is a great place to work , stay away from interfering folks, but my social circle - 0. I can not stand going to Indian cultural shows, and clubs where folks flaunt their best clothes, talk about school districts and stuff I can't relate to. I can not wait to get back !Aditihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11334388145479709921noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post-18432429119835739032010-12-03T15:42:20.685+05:302010-12-03T15:42:20.685+05:30"Is it money? Is it opportunity? Is it freedo..."Is it money? Is it opportunity? Is it freedom? Is it the convenience? What do they look for? Do they really find it?"<br /><br />Hi Aparna, in my case, the answer to your questions is: No. No. Yes. Yes. I looked for freedom, space and convenience. And yes, I found them. But the MAIN reason I'm in the UK is because that's where my husband is from. Otherwise I'd be with the rest of my family in the USA. <br /><br />I did a post on my blog on living in the West, a while back, and here's the link if you'd like a look:<br /><br />http://shyamram.blogspot.com/2008/01/to-tell-truth.html<br /><br />You'll probably disagree with my take, of course. <br /><br />By the way, I enjoy reading your blog. It's not often I come across people who write eloquently and well.Shammihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07905000396589717457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post-82660239068036399222010-12-03T15:41:17.075+05:302010-12-03T15:41:17.075+05:30This comment has been removed by the author.Shammihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07905000396589717457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post-6678956532076877332010-11-12T11:24:15.989+05:302010-11-12T11:24:15.989+05:30I read each and every comment carefully, just addr...I read each and every comment carefully, just addressing all of you together. <br />I guess, every one has his or her reason for settling abroad. Personally, I could never do it. Who will look after my and my husband's parents? I do not want to depend on any body else for this. <br />In the last few years, India has changed a lot. It is possible to have a world class living if you are qualified and prepared to work hard. Schools are good, so are the colleges. I know this kind of life style is only limited to large cities, but I have hope.<br />I have nothing against NRIs. I just wish they would stop trying to ape the Americans blindly. And it would be also good not to hear them deride their country of birth. India is a poor country but it does not deserve to be made fun of.<br /><br />@Bluebird, long time. The Chileans had a miraculous escape. I shudder to think what would have happened if no one came to know they were still alive in the mine.Aparnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05527786215758008556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post-3389883165039533602010-11-12T10:11:41.916+05:302010-11-12T10:11:41.916+05:30as usual, Aparna, your writing leaves me spell-bou...as usual, Aparna, your writing leaves me spell-bound by the depth, balance and beauty that comes so easily and naturally to it. <br /><br />regarding the Chileans, I would just say they were lucky, very lucky indeed, that someone took note, and screamed it out to the world. I read that San Sebastin, the company that owned the mine and by compromising on safety let the accident happen in the first place, took no steps to locate them. in fact, after it was found that they were alive, the company stopped paying even the meagre blood-money that they had been giving to the mine's families. The argument? Well, the miners were not dead, were they? Neither were they working for the company anymore, right? Besides, the mine had since been declared as 'closed' also.<br /><br />Think about the last bit again. Was the company considering demanding rent from the trapped miners for 'illegal occupation'?<br /><br />I say again they were just lucky, the poor ********.G S Pillaihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13871448250887577505noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post-90068572980939806662010-11-03T17:18:12.286+05:302010-11-03T17:18:12.286+05:30Everything is avaiable in India some points are in...Everything is avaiable in India some points are in + status and some are -. The false pride of relatives of NRI is unmatching.pradipwritenowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06321320863952722189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post-3207253196902557302010-11-03T13:45:38.869+05:302010-11-03T13:45:38.869+05:30to my understanding its oppurtunity. Many a times ...to my understanding its oppurtunity. Many a times we hear people telling they cannot accomplish their dreams 'cos of dirty pollitics, slowness in things and lack of proper process.ravihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03458316929180261229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post-71514196275734719262010-11-02T10:32:38.238+05:302010-11-02T10:32:38.238+05:30I read all your recent comments, and everybody see...I read all your recent comments, and everybody seems to have the same feeling towards this issue.<br />I know people like your blogger friend wordsndreamz, who are the people who have settled there find good things to tell about their adopted country and also have a deep love for their own country, despite its various problems.<br />My own sister and cousins have been living abroad for years and years, but when they come to India they really have good time, and never complain about the pollution, corruption etc. ( for we all know that these things are there everywhere in a higher scale only the common people are not directly affected by them)<br />They enjoy eating roadside food, without making a big fuss, and even by chance something doesn't suit them they always carry with them the right medicines for such things. <br />My BIL specially likes to travel in Brindavan express just so that he can keep eating all the things on offer there. He has found that he is allergic to coconut , but he likes it and if by chance he happens to eat it somewhere he is quite cool and just pops in a pill and keep going.<br />They also come for 3 weeks , and really feel very bad every time they leave India.<br />It is those people who forget their origins and think they have all the right to bash India that are a irritating lot. They should always think before they open their American, British or Canadian mouth.Rama Ananthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00962222316822524699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post-65203217763377110602010-10-31T16:35:54.837+05:302010-10-31T16:35:54.837+05:30In stead of trying to make their own country bette...In stead of trying to make their own country better, people go to places which appear to them better. I don't think, they get true satisfaction.Onkarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15549012098621516316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post-3889047883140568222010-10-31T02:00:29.685+05:302010-10-31T02:00:29.685+05:30Very interesting, Aparna, and as somebody who has ...Very interesting, Aparna, and as somebody who has been living in the UK for the last few years, here is my take. <br /><br />When we first came here, both of us came on projects, and the max, we thought we would stay was 1 year. At that time, it made sense, the career opportunity - in terms of working directly with clients and the opportunity to travel, and make some money was on the top. As time went by, we got more used to the place - I have both Indian and non-Indian friends, my child goes to a state school - nothing fancy, and we still plan to come back and live in Bangalore - if all goes as per plan. I love being in India, we know the problems there and yet know that India is where we want to be - finally. As for the UK, it has plenty of benefits, easier life(in a lot of ways), wonderful libraries but somehow we don't see ourselves growing old here. <br /><br />Today, I think plenty of people comeback to India after living for years abroad- and happily too. <br />I think every person has a reason for staying back here or coming back - each to his own.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post-27253588952102052462010-10-31T00:57:52.095+05:302010-10-31T00:57:52.095+05:30My uncle who went to stay in the US for six months...My uncle who went to stay in the US for six months returned within a month. He couldn't stay since he found that the attachment and affection was missing there.<br />All too machinated with nothing to look for.nsiyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03727614252106495292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post-16497718495589810382010-10-30T10:54:38.889+05:302010-10-30T10:54:38.889+05:30very focused post gud one to read.very focused post gud one to read.Shilpahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02015787881507315443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post-35554407258528111412010-10-28T15:40:04.242+05:302010-10-28T15:40:04.242+05:30Good one, Aparna!! and what a number of comments.....Good one, Aparna!! and what a number of comments.. had to scroll and scroll and scroll.. which just shows how grave the issue is... most of my friends and relatives are abroad too, and i have the same questions as you... no matter how people justify things, I guess i will never understand... left to me,I wish I could go back to my roots.. maybe the village we came from, once upon a time... or at least the city nearby....Anuradha Shankarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10460310200883662583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post-25435550366604170202010-10-28T13:44:46.746+05:302010-10-28T13:44:46.746+05:30http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/displa...http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?ID=804Kavita Sahariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11342095914702911870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post-15188028848422724162010-10-28T13:42:04.547+05:302010-10-28T13:42:04.547+05:30There was a huge pressure on us right after we got...There was a huge pressure on us right after we got married to settle down in USA .Every trick in the book was tried on us .We did our continuous study course from NYU but after that returned back home.Nothing in this world compares to motherland !If you remember Aparna ,i wrote a post on similar topic this year - it was in response to a NRIs rude comments about India on my facebook status .Some of them shed their Indian past too along with their Indian passports.I read another interesting article this morning,have a look if you got time.<br />http://www.migrationinformation.org/Feature/display.cfm?ID=804Kavita Sahariahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11342095914702911870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post-5661698090119761262010-10-27T21:03:04.067+05:302010-10-27T21:03:04.067+05:30SG, I mainly talked about Indians settled in US be...SG, I mainly talked about Indians settled in US because there are a lot of them permanently settled there. More over as I said in the first sentence, this was written because a very close friend of mine became an US citizen recently.<br />Yes there are many people who migrate to Indian cities from villages. But with these people I share a common history, a common culture, some times the same language and similar food. No matter where we all come from, there are similarities. I doubt I would feel the same bond with a Chinese or Irish immigrant in US. That is my view and as I've said in my post, it is perhaps parochial.<br /><br />Saroj, 15 years ago, Delhi was an unsafe city. Not any more. I have stayed there for a few years with my 2 kids alone. My husband was posted in Mumbai and I had to stay back for my daughters' school. Now I do see a lot of women staying alone in different parts of India, this was not possible a few years back.<br /><br />RGB, each individual is different but I'd never feel comfortable living in an alien land. To me, the sub-standard housing, the poor infrastructure, the less than perfect education all seem worth it when I see my mother's happy face.<br /><br />Holy Lama, my father was a central government employee. He was posted among other places, Muscat for a few years. So my I've grown up in various cities but mainly in Delhi. Since then, my father has bought a house in Kolkata where he lives with my brother. My brother incidentally has worked both in Mumbai and in Delhi before settling down in Kolkata. Moreover, i share the same culture with the people who live in these cities. we celebrate the same festivals,we admire the same sports stars, we listen to the same music. Do you know what a huge fan following Rahman has in Kolkata? It is the same as Dhoni in Chennai. Also, the biggest thing is that my mother in law, who is not getting any younger, is staying with her son and his family. It surely would not have been possible if we had settled down in USA or any where else.Aparnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05527786215758008556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post-44715806972141535562010-10-27T20:18:33.390+05:302010-10-27T20:18:33.390+05:30As soon as I read this post, I knew I had to share...As soon as I read this post, I knew I had to share this with a few friends! My fiancé is currently in Boston for some work and met his best friend there. <br /><br />He told me things, how he felt and how people started to think once they became NRIs - its a reflection of your blog. He was upset that his friend even got into an argument where his friend [who by the way is living there since the last 4 years only] was glorifying America and looking down on our country.Irehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225452291299150178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post-53413469348217681782010-10-27T20:08:41.970+05:302010-10-27T20:08:41.970+05:30Nice post..:)Nice post..:)Tomzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13809990191742945893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post-81256446955643809502010-10-27T19:36:17.330+05:302010-10-27T19:36:17.330+05:30Nicely articulated! My two cents - there are vario...Nicely articulated! My two cents - there are various reasons why people choose or have to live in another country, usually a job opp or studies or being married to one who went there for the former reasons. I find it akin to people migrating to other cities in India for similar reasons but the world being a smaller place now, the migration crosses borders more often now than before. I have cousins who lived in other states who knew no Kannada (our mother tongue) and had no inclination to learn either. So were they drifting away from their roots? You bet! And then there was this one family in the US that had deep rooted love for all things Indian - the kids spoke better Kannada than I did, were good classical musicians etc. They live there because that is where their livelihood is. More and more people are coming back to India these days than the previous generations. My uncle who migrated to the US in the late 60s will never come back for good. He used to visit India once every 4 years. Phone connections used to be terrible until a decade ago and his family never felt close to us. He still thinks of India as when he left decades ago. The recent generations visit almost every year, apart from having parents/grand parents visiting more often. The kids too are better connected with India than the earlier gen. A passport does not necessarily define a person. It is what they are doing as Indians (or of Indian descent) that does. India bashing really ticks me off but that does not mean that just because they are NRIs, they cannot discuss India and the issues plaguing it. Don't we? Does that make us anti-Indian? <br />I'll stop now. I'm starting to digress and my two cents is more like 50 now! :) Thanks for a thought provoking post.Vanihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02990053720835647706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post-16118808844503605742010-10-27T19:08:11.885+05:302010-10-27T19:08:11.885+05:30It may be all of the things you mentioned: career,...It may be all of the things you mentioned: career, money, better life style...I think the ones who choose to stay there forever are those who found what they were looking for. And in the process perhaps they forget whatever they left behind or the way they came. There is nothing more annoying than meeting NRIs who exaggerate their horror at things we (and they too for half their lives) find commonplace.Destiny's child...https://www.blogger.com/profile/17057033204086978256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post-49912466389816609812010-10-27T12:31:54.608+05:302010-10-27T12:31:54.608+05:30It's simple. We all seek a good life. For you,...It's simple. We all seek a good life. For you, a Bengali Delhi and Mumbai are the cities where you spent most of your life. Your relatives back in Kolkatta can write a similar post about you not being in Bengal. And then for us who stay back in India even if given a better opportunity abroad, emotions and feelings rule. For others the choice is better school, home, security, infrastructre. Each of us make our own choices. And as you said, it becomes just one world at times like the Chilean miner episode. <br /><br />But each time I hear the NRI cribbing about India, I try to sympathize with his problem that he can't remember where he came from and perhaps ask," if you got subsidized world class education here but chose to use it somewhere else, can't you be decent enough not to crib?"The Holy Lamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03386836612848424194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post-29714054858641552702010-10-27T08:33:59.724+05:302010-10-27T08:33:59.724+05:30We've had similar discussions here with friend...We've had similar discussions here with friends, family and colleagues. We have so many advantages living in our own country - family foremost; we're always in touch with our roots and culture; decent work, money and lifestyle; our OWN homeland (we don't feel alienated) and such. I often think, why would anybody want to give up all of this, in search of greener pastures...obviously you have to make many compromises being away, in a foreign land! But I guess it's a choice that the individual makes. They perhaps find a comfort space that justifies their prolonged or permanent stay!RGBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15279590663523317849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post-88161561200854768142010-10-26T23:19:32.749+05:302010-10-26T23:19:32.749+05:30I am a NRI and the truth is, I do love India but I...I am a NRI and the truth is, I do love India but I chose Norway as my home merely because it felt safe. In India I always felt I had to be taken care of or have a chaperone. It isn't always easy being a woman there. I know many will disagree with me but that was my experience. But I don't trash India. I think its a choice one makes, it doesn't necessarily mean you don't like the country of your birth. Good post Aparna!The Panoramahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17919885693479046926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post-63248504031416937932010-10-26T21:18:38.629+05:302010-10-26T21:18:38.629+05:30Very interesting post. As Jyothi wrote, you are a...Very interesting post. As Jyothi wrote, you are addressing Indians living in USA only. There are many Indians in UK and Canada and elsewhere.<br /><br />Countries with borders are man made. Why don’t you think that this is one world and people can live anywhere they want to. You asked “Is it money? Is it opportunity? Is it convenience? What do they look for? Do they really find it?”.<br /><br />In a narrow sense, the same questions can be asked of people migrating from villages and small towns in India to big cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai.<br /><br />Naturally, many people will say this is one country and we can live anywhere we want to. Same goes for one world too.SGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05790347071764332430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7376829085082321753.post-53245199181490172172010-10-26T20:52:22.098+05:302010-10-26T20:52:22.098+05:30Aditya, one can get used to the comforts of a fore...Aditya, one can get used to the comforts of a foreign country but that does not mean one can criticize the country of one's birth, right?<br /><br />Nona, well the roads and the infrastructure are still not much to speak of!<br /><br />Sakshi, I have very fond memories of USA, it is a very beautiful country and you are lucky you get to see all the fabulous places.<br />My problem is with the people who crib about every thing Indian. It is as if they have to tell themselves and others why they migrated in the first place. <br />Someone asked me there if Ishita's school in Mumbai was any good. I said of course it was, since it was full of Indians!<br />Hope you get to come back to India before your son brings home the Umreekan bahu!<br /><br />Sonu, thank you so much.<br /><br />Rachna, family is a big factor. Who will look after our parents if we stay away?<br /><br />Dr. Anthony, all the points that you have mentioned here are valid. Here I have to wait longer for a gas cylinder. Better quality of living is desirable. But if quality people leave India to seek greener pastures, then who will make this country better? Many people are opting to stay here and work, that gives me hope.<br /><br />Ani-aset, I like the way out country works too! It is just that I can not see how though, it completely defies description. May be there is a method to this madness?<br /><br />ZB, a true globa citizen, won't that be wonderful, a world without borders?Aparnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05527786215758008556noreply@blogger.com