Sometimes things take time. They need space to stretch out their shapes...like these write-ups below which have been lying in my drafts for a long long time. The rest of the family is out for a trip today and I get to bring these out...
Like this one about my Sabbatical (Jul'11 - Apr'12), when I was a full time Mom...
Life was so giggle-full and smile-drenched! The perks came in the form of uncountable hugs and kisses from my then 1 year old. The ten things I absolutely loved about the sabbatical:
1. Cozy-lazy-snuggling up in bed whenever/forever
2. No bidding good byes to Riya in the morning for her caretaker's home
3. Blowing bubbles in the afternoon sun, tapping, touching, running after them with Riya
4. Going for a stroll anytime when the nature looks just right
5. Watching a rom-com on a beautiful Oregon summer daylight
6. Making pancakes for breakfast with all the time in the world
7. Watching Elmo, Barney, Clifford and all other PBS Kids with Riya
8. No after dinner offshore calls, no weekend wash outs due to work
9. Tea parties/Noon potlucks/Night stays with girl friends
10. Shopping to my heart's content...life at it's very best!
I have just returned from USA. We are visiting relatives in a remote town in UP, India and are going by car to Gorakhpur.The Tavera makes its way on the terribly broken roads bumping badly every now and then. We are at the mercy of the skills of the driver and time seems to be at no hurry...
There is a big cow sleeping right on the middle of the road. She is oblivious to all the loud rush and dangers around her. It is morning time and all the nuances of life are at progress. Our car passes by a group of village women with long 'ghoonghats' on their face. They have enormous loads of hay stacked on their heads. The view outside is either dusty or foggy or both. I can't tell. Every object visible seems dust-laden...
We drive past a bunch of trees. Few village children are gathered around with sticks in their hands, trying to drop some fruits. There are men doing their morning routines right there on the road side. Few others are bathing. I try to avoid looking and stop thinking...
There is a dead animal lying in the roadside. I cannot make out exactly but it could be the remains of a cow. There are stray dogs feeding around it. After some time we come across a car in wrecked condition parked in the road side. The driver informs that it was in accident few days ago. Why it's still lying there as an antique, is out of my understanding and so is everything else...
And what I thought and felt about X-NRIsm after being in US for 6 years...
It is a transitional state of mind, heart or other parts of body where a person is trying to become an Indian again. This condition might spin out when an Indian residing in a 'developed' country departs and comes back to India for good or bad. Symptoms are: 'frequent irritation', 'frustration' and 'anger' at the population, noise, air, water or other kinds of pollution. Frequently followed by cursing and blaming the Indian politics, media and/or society in general. There is no immediate cure. Impacts vary from person to person. Sharing thoughts (or frustration) with other victims can provide relief in some cases. As of 2012, US administration is trying to restrict H1-B VISAs drastically which is expected to hit at the root cause of the problem and reduce this disease effectively.
And these are top 3 FAQs that X-NRIs have to deal with:
1. So how are you fe-e-l-ling now that you are back? Are you able to ad-d-j-just here?
2. Umm, Why did you come back to India?
3. So, are you planning to go back to US or stay here?
Duh!
