....and I'm loving every bit of it.
I've been working non-stop for the last eight years almost. For the past couple of years I've been planning to take 3-6 months off (because anything less would've been too short) but I haven't had the opportunity and I don't have the financial cushion of falling back on a husband. Not yet. And I've been too chicken to give up my job without another in hand in the absence of a financial cushion. But I'm between jobs right now and with some clever planning and a little bit of luck, I've managed to squeeze in a month off. And I so need it given what lies ahead, but more on that later.
So as I said I've been thoroughly enjoying my time off. I wake up by 8.30-9 every day, pour over the gossip supplements of newspapers for hours, have a leisurely breakfast, laze around the house, take a shower, sleep, meet friends for lunch/coffee/dinner, go to book shops, work out, read, watch movies...and I could do this for the rest of my life! I will NOT get bored. It's just so nice to not worry about deadlines and revenues, slog over Excel sheets and presentations, fire fight, or rattle your brains over whether every member of your team is happy and is having their expectations met.
With the new job comes a new country....Australia!!!!! Sydney to be precise. Now the thing that I don't understand is, why do people have an opinion on a place without having been to it? My friends in Sydney and some friends who've visited the city recently have only good things to say about it. And there are some who've never been to Sydney but are going out of their way to tell me what a boring/dead place it is, based on accounts of their cousins/friends/whoever who didn't like the place at all. For all I know, they were most probably extremely homesick people or people who don't mingle with the locals of the place they migrate to, but keep looking for other Indians who they can celebrate Diwali Nights with.
No hard feelings against Indians in other countries or their Diwali Nights, but I feel the whole point of moving to another country is to integrate with the local population and experience things one hasn't experienced before.
To each his own though. I recently came across a person who didn't like Paris inspite of living there for 4 years! Paris, for Chrissake!!!! The reason - language and the lack of Indians. What can I say...it takes all kinds?
What I'm sure of is that if I haven't been to a place I'd keep my opinion to myself. At most, I'd tell the person that I've heard from people I know that it's not a great place to be, but I haven't experienced it myself so I could be wrong. I'd never talk as if I'm a veteran of the city!
Anyway, I may be infrequent at this space for a while given the impending move and the millions of errands that go with it. This post was primarily to share the news with you and to let you know that the party is in Oz :)
19 comments:
Well formally congrats, great to have been part of your 'meeting friends for coffee' during the break :) and like I have often told you, I just know you will love Sydney
I was in Brisbane till last year for my MBA and can safely say Australia is a very happening place to live in for long durations. You will find lots of Indians (read Gujarati) in Sydney, infact max Indians are there only. And you always find opportunities to mix with Desi and videsi too..you just have to be aware of it.
All the best!
Congratulations! And what an exciting life waiting for you :)
Is this the job change season, I am wondering :D
Yeah it takes all kinds actually! and we Indian go ga ga over every bit of phoren-ness when in India, and then stick to Indians when abroad! I shall never understand this duality like the thousand others that mark India.
At the same time I know deep down, I cannot leave this place and go to other country for anything more than a short trip. My life is here!
I am banking on you to write interesting stuff about the new place :)
Yipee... one more place wherein I can pile on to friends and not have to pay for my stay!!! :))
In thoughts, very similar to melee.. I would rather live in my own country than elsewhere.. though would love to visit as a tourist!! But then, never say never.....
@Knife - Thank you! And thanks for being my window to Sydney. You should come over for a visit again :) You & K!
@Amit - Thanks for the reinforcement. Keep reading :)
@Melee/Moonshine - My life's in this country too! I'm just a little frustrated with the work scenario in India, the lack of professionalism etc. But I'm coming back in a few years :)
Absolutely fantastic.
All the very best and hope you rock down under (no pun intended)
There are desis all over the world... more than one can imagine. Sometimes I wonder if there are so many Indians in India and almost the same number outside, what is the actual population of Indians in the world?
@Bricks - LOL. Good question. If you're right that makes it 2.4bn of us, no? :P
And thank you for your wishes. I'm trying very hard to convince myself that Oz isn't as far from home as I'm feeling it is. Calling it 'down under' doesn't help my case though...LOL :)
you're moving to sydney????!!! wow. i so like your point on integrating with the local mindset. I mean what's the point in moving to a new place if you're going to be cribbing about what you're missing back home and not enjoy what the new place has to offer.
we should meet atleast once before you leave :)
oh and by the way, i can do the whole coffee, shopping, lazing bit all my life too and not get bored. sigh :)
I am sure all of us can laze for the rest of our lives without a single complaint :) congrats and wish you luck Scarlett!!
Awesome news Scarlett! Sydney's always sounded like a fun place to be in so congratulations!
I love your attitude on the mingling and new experiences bit. I've seen so much of it here, its given me a whole new perspective on life as a whole! Its definitely a whole new world out there and its waiting to be rediscovered - just by you! :D So go have a blast!
@Mumbai Diva - Yes, I am! Moving to Sydney that is. Unfortunately I can't make a trip to Bombay right now, much as I would've loved to, but you're welcome to visit Sydney! :)
@Anon - Thankyouverymuch :)
hmmm...will let you know if i make a trip to kolkata. have been wanting to for some time...
Congrats!! Enviable, I must say...:-) will return for more..u take care.
ps: oh btw, came here thro' saltwater's blog..glad i did..
LOL ... Don't tell me you don't know when someone be yanking your chain! Wot men Ash!
So - will we see you down on Bondi Beach mingling with the local studs! ;)
@Mommie - Sorry I somehow missed your comment earlier! You and Moonshine are invited to Sydney for a girly vacation :-)
@Phatichar - Thanks! Keep reading :)
@SwB - Sure, I'm working on that beach body :P
i changed the blog....come visit :)
and it's not mumbai diva any more but simply my name.....
lol! youre not my drifter friend :)
I just saw this. First of all, Congrats!
Secondly, please don't let people detract you about Sydney. I happened to stay there for 2 years and it was A-W-E-S-O-M-E
I am not kidding - its my favourite place in the world, and let me bust a few myths for you:
1) It is extremely lively and buzzing. I just cannot understand how anyone could call it boring and dead
2) Aussies are generally very nice and friendly people. They are not rude/snobbish as popular belief has it
3) Its not a racist country. In my 2 years, I never came across a single instance of racism. Most of that is limited to universities, and (if I may say so at the risk of sounding unpatriotic) brought largely by Indian students upon themselves.
Sorry for the long comment, but you are going to absolutely love it. Enjoy!
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