Each time I visit my family in Hyderabad, I have this incredible urge to move back to India for good. This time is no different. Every waking minute, I keep weighing the pros and cons of moving back versus staying in the US.
Today's tally:
Today's tally:
- It smells like pee as soon as we get off the plane and walk into the airport: -1
- Immigration is a breeze, absolutely no lines: +1
- Get stopped for carrying jewelry in hand carry-on as opposed to wearing it: -1
- Get let go with just a warning: +1
- Airport restrooms with a sign "do not flush bath tissue in toilet, deposit in trash cans" with odors strong enough for one to know where the tissues have been going: -1
- No further stoppages or delays at baggage claim: +1
- Cab driver wants Rs1650 for a trip that costs Rs800: -1
- Official taxi line originally 15 people deep gets a sign "no more vehicles" once the line reduces to 13 people after one hour: -1
- We go back begging to the same cab driver that wanted Rs1650 and give him Rs1300 for the ride: -1
- Father-in-law waiting to greet us in parking lot for 30min at midnight on a cold windy Hyderabad night, in wheel chair: +Priceless
- Raaga's favorite yogurt rice with pomegranate seeds waiting for her at dinner table as soon as we enter our house: +Priceless
Day-1 (or night-1 rather) ends firmly on the side of moving back to India. Looking forward to the tallies from the next ten days!
I returned 4 years back with no regrets and no look back. My tally just for fun....
ReplyDeletePee smell in airport - better than overflows in many metropolitan cities +1
Airport toilets - better than many public toilets in Hyderabad malls and cinemas +1
Wear all the jewelry, it's yours +1
Call a friend like me for pickup and no hassle of riding a cab and no standing in line +3
I am born and brought up here and seen and learnt people living in much worse conditions. I am looking at brighter side of it.
Just my opinion and not to hurt anybody:-)
Hi Durga, thanks for your comment!
ReplyDeleteI lived in Hyderabad for the first 20years of my life, my parents still live in the same single bed single bath home that I grew up in and I certainly know what it is to live in less than ideal conditions.
The question I pose to myself is NOT of choosing life in old Hyderabad versus new Hyderabad. I am not trying to fantasize about the past versus present. I am just trying to understand the pros and cons of the two choices that are in front of me right now: living in the US versus moving back to Hyderabad.
I know I was just pulling your leg. Enjoy your stay please do convey my best wishes to all at home.
ReplyDelete