Posted on: 10-01-05 13:38:09
A simple request to all desis, new or old timers. Please avoid the rat race with the people you know. Sometimes things go out of hand. I know couple of folks in Ottawa who are in the ferocious rat race. It went to an extent of having children. The lady got pregnant when she came to know the other one was pregnant, despite waiting for five years for the first child. And the house. These folks have bought same model from the same builder. No change. Simply because they did not want to look different. To impress others, not for their comfort. Huh!
I have observed that the rat race is more prevalent among IT / Hitech folks than anyone else (no offense, it’s my observation here in Ottawa). These people are so busy in the rat race, they tend to overlook other things in life, such as happiness and comfort. They are deep in debt and both have to work to pay the mortgage and loans. Eating out is a big NO since it costs money. Taking vacation is also a big NO since it also costs money. Going to India once in 3-4 years since it costs money despite double income. I can continue with list.
I wonder what have they achieved by doing so. Not much.
I think the rat race is comes automatically to human beings whether it is India , Canada or US. Everytime we go to India for a visit, People start comparing India to US /Canada and tell us how good India is and what they have achieved in India that we guys are lacking in Canada Like good jobs, house and good cars and have a lot of servants , good social circle etc.
I guess it is just natural and every body wants to show they are successful and a materialistic scale to measure success is the most common.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
We will find a way or we will make one
Quote:
Orginally posted by desi in ottawa
A simple request to all desis, new or old timers. Please avoid the rat race with the people you know. Sometimes things go out of hand. I know couple of folks in Ottawa who are in the ferocious rat race. It went to an extent of having children. The lady got pregnant when she came to know the other one was pregnant, despite waiting for five years for the first child. And the house. These folks have bought same model from the same builder. No change. Simply because they did not want to look different. To impress others, not for their comfort. Huh!
How would you know that getting pregnant ( I sincerely hope not by the same person too
) and getting a similar house was to impress others? In most cases it would be they found that the right time had come so the lady got pregnant. Same goes for the house too - I could not buy a house for more than 2 years even after a long search, but the day I saw my new friend's new house, I decided to buy in the same area and if possible by the same builder and similar house, since it suited my taste. I was able to buy one soon, and today I am much happier since now i have a friend who not only lives nearby (so each time just one of us does the grocery shopping for both the families!) and our children are in same grades and therefore they go to the same school and grade and share so many fun things in life. I think I have taken a wise decision to buy a similar house and nearby too.Quote:
I wonder what have they achieved by doing so. Not much.
Why don't you ask them? Do not assume that they have not got what you think is important. May be for them accumulating money today is more important for the whole family (including the ones back home in India) than spending on outings and vacations. For someone else, spending money on eating out and vacationing would be a silly thing since he would say one should save for the future and children. These are very personal choices and one should not pass a value judgement on these.
Chandresh
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Chandresh
Advice is free – lessons I charge for!!
"Keeping up with the Joneses" is a phenomenon as old as civilisation itself !
And it is found in all cultures - especially the modern, developed Western cultures like North America more so than the traditional India or South Asian cultures.
The general rule is that the more "modern" advanced the culture is, the higher is the KUWTJ feature 
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Mah deah, there is much more money to be made in the destruction of civilization than in building it up."
-- Rhett Butler in "Gone with the Wind"
