What's Life without Achievement!!!

Life in US is so boring without any achievements. Life in India is so interesting with so many achievements. By the end of the day, everyone in India has at least one or more of the following achievements to feel proud about, to talk about in office, with friends, neighbors etc.


Right from the morning, there is achievement in filling all the available vessels in the house with water (whether needed or not) so we that we can boast that we have enough water and laugh at neighbors who run out of water.

Getting the maid to do our dishes first and then others and if by chance our maid shows up and the neighbor's maid doesn't - that's a great achievement.


If neighbor waited for an hour for their turn at a famous restaurant, then waiting their for two hours for getting our turn is another achievement.


During traffic signal, going every available inch near the signal and blocking the guy in the front, only to have him yield to us before letting him go, such a big achievement.


During traffic signal, continuously beeping and if by chance the light turns green, feeling proud that the light turned green due to our beeping


Sending kids to two more tuition than the neighbor's kids.


Getting train/plane tickets at the last moment paying much more.


Buying the latest Iphone/tablets etc.


Going on foreign tours before the neighbors, friends.


Buying designer sarees, dresses more expensive than neighbor's, friend's


Watching movies on the first day


Sending kids to famous colleges with donation or influence

Kids getting higher rank than the neighbor's kids


Paying higher donation for pre-KG in so called reputed school.


Renovating the house for 6-8 months, the more the merrier.


Lying to neighbor when the neighbor comes to ask for some yogurt, milk, salt etc.


Lying on the phone, not receiving the phone, etc.


Reading neighbor's newspaper before the neighbor wakes up.


Having electricity working in our building but not in neighbor's building.


Getting driving license without even having to take road test.


Squeezing inside bus/train and getting the seat disregarding others.


Paying cops who stops for a traffic infraction and getting away.


Paying whoever for whatever favors not avail to others.


and so forth.

Compare that to Life in US.

Drive in lanes. if the traffic is slow, just follow the traffic.

Can't beep in the cars.

Follow the traffic rules even if the signal is not working.

All kids go to the same school.

Kid's grades are private. No one knows what other's got.

Stores are open 24x7, neighbor doesn't show up for milk, yogurt etc. Actually love when neighbor shows up.

Hardly meet any neighbor for months. Most likely you would meet the neighbor in the plane than on the street.

No one interested in the clothes you wear (even if you wear non-matching by mistake).

No one interested in knowing where you are going for vacation.

No huge lines at restaurants. If not you, others ahead of you in the line will leave for other restaurant.

Just monotonous life. No achievements to brag about. No achievements to talk about.

 

Viji ma, your enthusiasm and positive thinking is always an inspiration. I also do not like chocolates, not even in cake or ice cream. Somehow, i am tired of Malls and don't like to go unless i have to.

Glad to know that you are enjoying your stay there. But yes, even with all the off-shore luxuries, we still miss our good old Indian environment.

 

Hey GG, was on my way back from work and struck in traffic and the thought came across and penned it as soon as I came home, thinking it will go away. Didn't get time to wrap it nicely or even reviewing the grammar. So this was just plain raw.

Whenever I call India to our relatives, friends or colleagues, they always have ample stories to tell about what they did, what others did etc. Over here, we never have any good stories or as i called "achievements" to share. May be the grass is greener always on the other side.