Living in the UK

Over the last few days, one of the lingering thoughts in my mind has been around getting a hang of what attracts Indians to the west. This being my 3rd visit to a western country, I can to a great extent understand the usual reasons for attraction. I myself have always wished to be able to live and work in Australia (amongst other countries!) for a period of time. I am not sure if I want to settle down there though. In India its obviously cool for people to say, "Hey, I work in London!" and the "Wow!" that you get is obviously exciting. Being a country that has a history of western rule, its also a nice proud moment for parents to say, "My son is in New York right now. He's doing really well." Its also something girls in India want -- to marry an Indian boy settled in the west.

I try to look at things differently. Yes, for me its exciting to stay in a different country and I dont mind if its China, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, England, Italy or the US. Maybe even Pakistan! I enjoy travel and I find it exciting to explore cultures and be able to understand people from various parts of the world. To make another place my home, is something I tend to find very difficult. For an Indian, earning in INR, its difficult to immediately match the buying power of the west. So your start in a western country is obviously trouble ridden. You never have enough money, some people have a tendency to be racist and to measure you by the amount of money you earn and you stay miles away from work in suburbs like Wembley and Southhall in London. On the contrary in India, your salary (thats petty by international standards) can buy you a lifestyle, a car, dinners at theme restaurants, the occasional night out at a discotheque/ pub and all that you really want.

For me settling in a foreign country means not having to make a choice between being a somebody in my country and being a nobody in another. I know thats a risk averse way of speaking. But so be it! My wife, my dog, my parents are really what my life revolves around. I'd rather be a first class citizen of the third world than be struggling to keep them comfortable in the first!