The first day of Karnatak New Year warranted a holiday for several, including all of the cab drivers in the company I normally hire from. I opted for an auto and the cool breeze and lack of morning traffic inspired me to make it a regular decision! It ended up being almost as expensive as a cab, but I think the driver's meter was rigged because today, it cost me half as much.
In the afternoon, the founder of the NGO gave a special talk exclusively for the organization's youthful members. It was a talk about pursuing careers in the development sector, to address any concerns and answer any questions.
I found the questions and concerns raised by my colleagues provided remarkable insight into the way things are in India. There was a unanimous concern about financial security and more so, about parental pressure to pursue a job in a sector with more financial security. They spoke of a lack of understanding from their families and friends, and of the pity they faced, comments like "you must live on your husband's income, then".
There weren't easy solutions to these issues, and the response was generally to know that you do what you do because you love it and you choose it, and at the end of the day, it matters very little what others think of it. Of course, parents are important, but so is your passion.Coming from a family that has never pressed me in one direction or another, I couldn't understand the tremendous pressure my colleagues feel, where they fear they'll be cynical and burnt out by 40.
At the end of the meeting, my wildest dreams came through, and the founder pulled out a large black duffel to distribute great books from her personal library that she thought we might like to lend. I snagged a DVD on the Kabir project, and I'm not too sure what it's about yet so I'll let you know when I get a chance to take a look.
I also picked up a book called India Calling, and only a few chapters in, I am so happy I chose it. It's the personal story of a young man whose parents immigrated to the United States from India when he was young (or perhaps before he was born...I can't recall). Having graduated from college, he decides almost on a whim to return to India to live and work, a reverse migration. So he works as a journalist and travels the country meeting people and reporting on India as it is in its glory and its filth. And I want his life!
In the evening, Joanna and I discovered that due to a somewhat frequent use of skype, we ran out of internet three weeks earlier than anticipated...so I'm at work early (the next day) to capitalize on the free wifi, and we're now going to have to lay low on skype! The amount of internet allotted did not take into account the degree of usage by young people. The trials of being youthful!
In the afternoon, the founder of the NGO gave a special talk exclusively for the organization's youthful members. It was a talk about pursuing careers in the development sector, to address any concerns and answer any questions.
I found the questions and concerns raised by my colleagues provided remarkable insight into the way things are in India. There was a unanimous concern about financial security and more so, about parental pressure to pursue a job in a sector with more financial security. They spoke of a lack of understanding from their families and friends, and of the pity they faced, comments like "you must live on your husband's income, then".
There weren't easy solutions to these issues, and the response was generally to know that you do what you do because you love it and you choose it, and at the end of the day, it matters very little what others think of it. Of course, parents are important, but so is your passion.Coming from a family that has never pressed me in one direction or another, I couldn't understand the tremendous pressure my colleagues feel, where they fear they'll be cynical and burnt out by 40.
At the end of the meeting, my wildest dreams came through, and the founder pulled out a large black duffel to distribute great books from her personal library that she thought we might like to lend. I snagged a DVD on the Kabir project, and I'm not too sure what it's about yet so I'll let you know when I get a chance to take a look.
I also picked up a book called India Calling, and only a few chapters in, I am so happy I chose it. It's the personal story of a young man whose parents immigrated to the United States from India when he was young (or perhaps before he was born...I can't recall). Having graduated from college, he decides almost on a whim to return to India to live and work, a reverse migration. So he works as a journalist and travels the country meeting people and reporting on India as it is in its glory and its filth. And I want his life!
In the evening, Joanna and I discovered that due to a somewhat frequent use of skype, we ran out of internet three weeks earlier than anticipated...so I'm at work early (the next day) to capitalize on the free wifi, and we're now going to have to lay low on skype! The amount of internet allotted did not take into account the degree of usage by young people. The trials of being youthful!
Is India calling you ?
ReplyDeleteclever mummy. it is!
ReplyDelete