Leaving India and going abroad is a very big step, a life changing experience in the true sense of the words. It is a very common perception, that going abroad will improve our life and the lives of those who depend on us. It is always made to sound too easy to settle and prosper in Western countries as an NRI.
The overseas life is always portrayed to be full of luxury and no hardships. There is no doubt that many countries are considered to be the land of opportunities with lots of promise. The amenities of daily life and conveniences in a developed society combined with buying power of the dollar, offers a lot of lure and attraction.
But, the reality is far different and a newcomer from India is hit with the real truth about life soon after landing. What was taken for granted till yesterday – the language, the education and common social behavior – is all up for recalibration in the new land. The facts is that, the challenges overseas are very real and hurdles succeed are much bigger for a foreigner.
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The slang, the pronunciation, the body language for subtle differences of meanings, combine all that with the Indian accent and you have the language barrier. The language barrier requires many new adjustments and it takes time to improve the communication skills.
The race relations in America are very dynamic and much different from the multi-cultural Indian society. Going through the culture shock phase is one of the most common experiences abroad.
In India, a dollar earns high value and respect because of the currency exchange rate. A few hundred dollars are many thousands of rupees. This is why we sacrifice everything to earn dollars, but forget that few hundred dollars spent in the US does have only the value of a few hundred dollars, while you live in the US.
By Premji
