I've always wanted to visit the US more than any other country, and this wish suddenly came true when I had to come onsite for my client eBay last month. I of course like to enjoy the scenery around me, but whenever I'm in a new place, the experiences that touch me most are those involving people and cultures. We've all read and heard enough and more about America, so I did have an idea of how life would be here. But little did I realize how heavy the Asian population is, in the heart of Silicon valley! I stay right behind eBay's south campus, and I hardly feel I've left Chennai, except for the climate!!
In general, the work atmosphere here is good. I especially like the way even strangers greet each others with a smile. And as I'm part of a new internal team that is just being built up, we actually get to think and work on real problems, rather than typing away boring lines of code that meet the stipulations of some Design document that are handed down a long line of teams, leads and managers!
Being here has also helped me to look at some problems of their own that developed countries are just discovering. Such as how hostile their easy lifestyle is, to sustenance of the environment. When I first reached here, I was shell-shocked to see the amount of tissue, kitchen/toilet paper and plastics people consume and dispose without a second thought. There is so much of energy consumption for simply sustaining life. Now I know why the poorest American, even if he uses public transport and conserves electricity at home, will still consume more than the per capita consumption in India.
I've always believed I was a 'world citizen' first, and yet I'm more patriotic than the average Indian. After graduation, I wanted to continue to work in India itself, though my parents have always been eager I settle in the 'Gulf' like most muslim families in Malabar. All this was because I've always believed my country needed people like me to stay back and work for her. Yet in this last few months, I have been wondering if it is really India that needs me, or the rest of the world, that needs to learn some things from India. And anyways, why does one-sixth of the world's population have to live cramped up in one bit of land, simply because their forefathers were born there ?!
Lets spread out our wings like ever, fellow Indians!
In general, the work atmosphere here is good. I especially like the way even strangers greet each others with a smile. And as I'm part of a new internal team that is just being built up, we actually get to think and work on real problems, rather than typing away boring lines of code that meet the stipulations of some Design document that are handed down a long line of teams, leads and managers!
Being here has also helped me to look at some problems of their own that developed countries are just discovering. Such as how hostile their easy lifestyle is, to sustenance of the environment. When I first reached here, I was shell-shocked to see the amount of tissue, kitchen/toilet paper and plastics people consume and dispose without a second thought. There is so much of energy consumption for simply sustaining life. Now I know why the poorest American, even if he uses public transport and conserves electricity at home, will still consume more than the per capita consumption in India.
I've always believed I was a 'world citizen' first, and yet I'm more patriotic than the average Indian. After graduation, I wanted to continue to work in India itself, though my parents have always been eager I settle in the 'Gulf' like most muslim families in Malabar. All this was because I've always believed my country needed people like me to stay back and work for her. Yet in this last few months, I have been wondering if it is really India that needs me, or the rest of the world, that needs to learn some things from India. And anyways, why does one-sixth of the world's population have to live cramped up in one bit of land, simply because their forefathers were born there ?!
Lets spread out our wings like ever, fellow Indians!
