Introspectively

Contrary to the stereotype, I have always worked hands-on in technology and am often disgusted by the attitudes of people towards this eminently skilled career. Twice have I entered the "hallowed" fields of management, and twice have I returned to the field of software development.

People are often shocked whenever I need to disclose my post graduate diploma, which to some appears strange for a software professional. And to me, remains a rather expensive way of having wasted and whiled away two valuable years of my life, instead of having joined the Institutes of Science and Technology, eminent Institutes whose offers I actually turned down.

It breaks my heart now to think that a wiser career choice at the age of 23 could have avoided this identity crisis etched into my psyche for life. If only I could turn back time. If only I could return to being that fool, poring over job adverts, and had chosen differently, I could have avoided being ashamed for life, ashamed of an education these last ten years. Inanely risking my life for the greed of a more glamorous career and then making a fool of myself, rather than dedicating it to a more faithful and appropriate one. What was I thinking? If only..

The sentimental cost of a frivolous decision is very expensive indeed. The practical cost is even more.

Indians beaten up in Germany

Posted on :

http://www.topix.net/world/germany/2007/08/german-mob-attacks-8-indians-at-a-fair

Please don't distort Japanese history to suit your arguments. One of the fundamental strengths throughout Japan's past and present has been its ethnic homogeneity. Japan is one of the most homogeneous countries of all, before the Meiji Restoration or after. Borrowing from Chinese or Indian cultures does not make it multicultural in the ethnogenic sense, as it increasingly the problem with Europe.

Europe's woes are not on account of India. It is, as ex-British PM Tony Blair said in one of his rare moments of brilliance, an ideological issue. Indians like you and me are only caught in the crossfire between Caucasia and Islam. In the great battleground of Europe, the latter obviously seems to be winning, much to the detriment of the security of Indians in Europe like those merchants, who become easy non-violent hate targets.

With regard to these Indians that were beaten up by East Germans, they may not exactly be deserving of all this sympathy. Having seen the way most Indians live for decades together in foreign countries clinging to our beloved "culture", and having no regard or adaptability whatsoever towards local languages, cultures or etiquettes, it is quite possible that these merchants got what they deserved. From what I read, there was a strong local sentiment against these guys.

If you love and respect a foreign culture, you will get love and respect in return. You travel around and do business with a really thick head, taking away from the local society and economy what is rightfully theirs, this is what you might expect, especially in the relatively poorer areas of Europe.

But what I am really surprised is at the kind of moderation in such forums. I can see some obviously vulgar language, disgusting posts and pointless arguments that don't go anywhere, that have been published above, while an earlier note which I had posted, and which was pretty insightful in my opinion, was rejected. Hope this one is accepted.

Renting in the US

As temporary migrant workers, we can only rent homes. Buying or leasing is out of the question.

Rented apartments are a big organized business here.

Its not like the fragmented side-business which rich people in India practice on their own and rent out their apartments. Whole buildings are let out on rent, and there are an official staff to handle all issues. Plus the service is absolutely prompt, because the longer an issue (like a pipe leakage for example) goes on, the more will be their repair costs when they sell the house to somebody else.

We have to pay big money for the rent. To the order of $800 a month, though people can get it for $600 with lesser facilities. We get cable, heating, trash free and there are 2 electronic washers/dryers for every apartment block (which too, are promptly maintained)

The Shahs, Mehtas and Dholakias of India can't come up with these business plans because they never want to do long term business. They want to make a fast buck, building a house and making crores of rupees within a year or two, and then forget all about it, moving on to kicking out some poor native families out of their century old home and earning more money selling it to urban yuppies.

Renting in the US is a service industry, one that requires dedication and the right attitude.
Plus, both renters and rentees are protected by a solid legal framework, a powerful and effective law enforcement department and a comprehensive insurance protection program.
On the whole, renting in the US is an excellent outcome of true, organized capitalisism. Not third class opportunism of desi builders.