This is a sequel to an article I had written earlier titled, Toward Greener Pastures. Before I left I felt very happy and eagerly awaited my arrival into the land I had dreamed about for many nights and days. And once all the preparations were complete and the tickets were in my hand I could almost taste how it would be like to be there.
This was my first-ever international sojourn (and that too a long one) and I considered myself lucky to move toward better opportunities and standards of living. I counted my relatives and friends who were living in different parts of the world and had their own tales to tell. I certainly felt proud of my achievement though I had little to do with it and God much!
Anyway, after many days of preparations and hearing the advice of our more experienced relatives, not to mention the contacts we were handed that ‘once you arrive there you can get in touch with such and such person and they’ll certainly help you’. Last minute tips were given and everyone was meeting us as if this was going to be the last contact (it was odd in the face of phone and e-mails). I couldn’t believe how many people were told about our departure. There were hugs and kisses and envious eyes looking that maybe someday we too would be lucky enough to bag such an opportunity.
I was filled with excitement but also a strange sense of nervousness enveloped me as to what to expect in a foreign land. Well, all my anxieties were put to rest once I did arrive at my destination. The first sight that set it all apart was the organized manner in which everything was happening. Even though there was a long queue of passengers waiting for their luggage and the standard checking procedures, not even one of them broke the line to get in front and both the genders were treated equally.
I was met with a systematic, organized, clean and highly developed society. These characteristics were reflected in every part of the community and it soon became quite natural for me to behave in accordance to these invisible rules and methods of working. I even saw such people abiding by the law who I would assume as the first ones to break the law in our country. It seems like we pride over breaking the law and indulging in even the petty offences in our homeland because there is no check or a general understanding that we can easily get away with anything. Of course this feeling has persisted for a long time when the slightest of slips were allowed to pass and this led to bigger crimes that were also overlooked (under the name of corruption of our departments of law and order). Well, I am not here to present a justification of our acts. That can be left for some other time.
Still, the overall picture presented was certainly appealing. I was glad to be lucky to get away from the pollution, disorganization of our service and welfare departments as well as the horrendous transport system. These flaws of our society seemed so apparent once I had a better one to compare it with.
So there I was, not worrying about the unexpected electricity breakdowns and the inflation rates soaring once again. Now every item was within ones reach. One could afford all the things one dreamed of, if he one worked hard, was honest and dedicated in ones work. The reward was duly given and no one could cheat you out of it through the use of bribery or source (sifarish). You could really open up and let the genuineness shine through!
Of course everything is not ‘hunky dory’ even when one is living abroad. There is always the label of a second or even a third class citizen that one has to carry around. Don’t expect to be given the same privileges that the natives enjoy and due to that, even a few good opportunities pass you by. If you’re ready to live with a low national identity and its repercussions (after all we are from a region yet to form a good impression in the eyes of the world) then you can live in peace with yourself. But otherwise it’s no place for a patriotic being as yourself to be.
Living in a more developed country surely teaches you many things and you find yourself growing not only morally and professionally but also socially (that’s the main pull factor). So, achieve your purpose of being there and once you decide to return hold no regrets. It’s only in our own country that we can relate to the people and live in the culture and heritage of our forefathers. After all, no matter how many flaws our country has it’s the only one that we can truly call our own and not hide from that fact. And that’s why we keep coming back!
This is a sequel to an article I had written earlier titled, Toward Greener Pastures. Before I left I felt very happy and eagerly awaited my arrival into the land I had dreamed about for many nights and days. And once all the preparations were complete and the tickets were in my hand I could almost taste how it would be like to be there.
