While interviewing candidates from the Indian sub-continent, I am always amused when the discussion at some point veers around to the usual “I want to take up a job in the Middle East because of the better lifestyle that I can afford there – but I want the job to be exciting too”.
Don’t we all? The issue is that in life (and in our careers) we normally end up trading off one thing against something else.
In my own case, what I like about working in the Gulf (apart from the money of course) is the quality of life that one can lead here - and all the accompanying advantages such as opportunity to see new places, understand new cultures, and understanding our own country from the outside.
All said and done, life back in India can be a bit stressful – due to a combination of the more complex and super-charged careers in India, the commuting time, and the various other factors such as lack of infrastructure, and very little personal space/time to pursue things that one is really passionate about.
Having said that, life in the Gulf can become a bit boring after some time (especially to certain peripatetic individuals). And the Gulf does tend to “soften” individuals if they hang around for too long – rendering such individuals pretty much mis-fits - and disconnected - when (and if) they eventually return to their home country.
For me the solution has been to alternate regularly between India and the Middle East – with the hope that by doing so I find the balance – and so that I could enjoy the best of both worlds (though at different points of time). I believe this tends to keep me and my family firmly grounded and rooted (pun unintended), and highly adaptable.
As my wife is fond of pointing out, I am yet to sportingly accept the bundle of “good” and “not so good” that life throws at us in any particular place – whether in India or abroad. I am sure eventually I will – that is the only practical way to face life.
Don’t we all? The issue is that in life (and in our careers) we normally end up trading off one thing against something else.
In my own case, what I like about working in the Gulf (apart from the money of course) is the quality of life that one can lead here - and all the accompanying advantages such as opportunity to see new places, understand new cultures, and understanding our own country from the outside.
All said and done, life back in India can be a bit stressful – due to a combination of the more complex and super-charged careers in India, the commuting time, and the various other factors such as lack of infrastructure, and very little personal space/time to pursue things that one is really passionate about.
Having said that, life in the Gulf can become a bit boring after some time (especially to certain peripatetic individuals). And the Gulf does tend to “soften” individuals if they hang around for too long – rendering such individuals pretty much mis-fits - and disconnected - when (and if) they eventually return to their home country.
For me the solution has been to alternate regularly between India and the Middle East – with the hope that by doing so I find the balance – and so that I could enjoy the best of both worlds (though at different points of time). I believe this tends to keep me and my family firmly grounded and rooted (pun unintended), and highly adaptable.
As my wife is fond of pointing out, I am yet to sportingly accept the bundle of “good” and “not so good” that life throws at us in any particular place – whether in India or abroad. I am sure eventually I will – that is the only practical way to face life.
