thanks for delivering an eye opener for the madening young generations' craze for going abroad for further studies and better sounding employment opportunities.
The article gives a clear description about the life of us in USA. Most of the people in India doesn't know about this. I think these kind of articles are really required. Thanks, Kiran Mylavarapu
Couldnt agree more on what you have said and have pratically gone through this well should I say going through, as iam MBA from University of Luton,UK.
You have given a clear picture of how we Indians live in developed countries and the emotional trauma, we go through.
RE:Great work
by sutton on Aug 02, 2005 08:28 AM
Dude !! You must be kidding. You know what, UK is the country having the lowest wages for engineers & MBA's next to India. The real stuff is to get in work with the technology and earn more money. What you want ??? Cleaner air, good roads, Nice home , sports car and a place to visit every summer to carribean, costa rica...which you can never afford on a Indian salary. you can only live in a country you know that is the "WORLD".
However, I am really surprised to read the following in your column.
So one fine day you decide to buy the Polo shirt costing $100, even if your mom thinks you are crazy because you could buy five shirts for the same money back home. Earlier, you moved, geographically. Now, you have arrived, mentally.
Do you really think a person arrives mentally in US when he/she stops buying at Walmart and starts buying Polo shirts? I know different people have different views about the US depending on their upbringing but this is just that typical babu attitude of I am better than you are because I am more like the gora saab than you are.
There is a word in English for people like you -nouveau riche. And please note that every Tom Dick and Harry here has 10 Polo shirts. Polo shirt will not get you in the clubs that matter. But you will not get it till you get ridiculed by someone just like you, for wearing a Ralph Lauren.
A true portrayal. These are my own subconcious observations too which meet this article. However, shouldn't we in the same breath seek more than temporary economic salavation? Like creating an international brand India and not having to leave India for working and earning elsewhere. May be Rashmi has a couple of tips for that too.
dear rashmi.. that writeup was wonderful...U have beautifully articulated the truth abt the indian viewpoint of the dollar.It couldnt have been better explained. kudos to u .
You are correct in most ways. But please pray tell me if someone is working in an entry level job in India(or any job) how many hours of the day is the person stuck to the desk per day. 12-14? Here, we have strict 8 hour work days, any extra time and you get paid over time which is time and half what you get. So, if we work the same number of hours as we would in India we would be rich very soon. And, yes then we can afford the Polo shirts.
Kudos on a well written article Rashmi! again! It was about time someone came out with the clear cut facts behind dollar salaries. The PPP index is just one way to compare. A guy may go west to earn that little extra bit more, but if personal life and family matters even just a little bit to him, given the improving conditions back home, the guy will return.
