u've touched upon a very valid point, dee. Being abroad is always perceived to be a life of riches and luxury. There's more to life than a few dollars. Hope this firsthand experience of yours atleast puts the reality in the right perspective.

Yes, Kishore, it was a rich experience though as my ma puts it - I've gotten too used being 'on the go' all the time thanks to my stay abroad.

Its time that I enjoyed some of the comforts that are available only in India:)

haaN, aap theek kehti haiN dee

but

here is another perspective (nothing personal, mind you)…folks are annoyingly laid back, have a disregard for time, unorganised, take things in stride (way too much), lack of access for even most mundane things (you got to now someone who knows someone who knows someone),

and

as a friend commented. ‘yaar, yes and no lose their meanings – neither means yes or no – both sub for maybes’

am resigned to being a misfit – here, there, everywhere

and out of this awareness is born a satisfied smile

I agree that life is not as glittery as people imagine in India. From all the Indian movies shot in US, people live in huge mansions and drive expensive car. We are not that affluent. But on the other hand, we do live quite comfortably.

About having servents, my wife does complain about it but I actually prefer it the self-helf way. For one reason, I can't deal with people and their personalities in India. I will be much happier to do my own laundry and iron it than go through this:
1. give your clothes for laundry to a guy with a cart at the street corner
2. Ask him if they are done for 5 days
3. Pretent to be very mad adn tell him you need them
4. Go back at the appointed time, wait for half hour, get your clothes back
5. Find out that your white shirt has grown a black spot on it
6. You say screw it and ignore. But your wife, neighbors, mom and servent maid tells you that you are not a man unless you go pick a fight with him
and so on.

I am quite happy doing my own laundry.

Laundry is one of the many reasons I want to stay in my own country, notwithstanding some greener patches abroad.

hhehe.....I agree with temporal and twisted dna wh but cant really comment about the people and personalities part as my blog is read by all and sundry;)

And Shirazi, my dhobi just came with the week's clothes all clean, starched and ironed and I was struck by the wonder of all these little convienences that I took for granted before I travelled abroad.

I've become dhobi ka kutta na ghar ka na ghat ka;)

hi all,

what a true thoughts, i was reading the original blog and comments.
my profession keeps me in touch with NRIs across the globe and feel that u r extremely right that the western life is more towards self service, people are more disciplined but need to do everything themselves [most of them need to do regular rutin works]. living standards are totally differnent in western countries and india but every facility has its cost there, if you miss your little domestic helps like servants, dhobies, cooks etc. then you are not alone, lots of the NRIs feel the very same.

thanks

warm regards
san
http://www.gmcwebsite.com

Very much, the interesting site, is a lot of helpful information, has added in bookmarks, tomorrow I shall return again to read through the newcomer