Travel - International Indian

impression of Indians changed and I enjoyedgreat respect and a fan following!TII: What is your assessment of the country?BA: I loved both the countries I lived in andadmired the progressmade, especially Dubaiand the UAE. I appreciatedthe law and order and lackof corruption. I loved thecleanliness though at timesit felt too antiseptic. Myelder son studied both inSaudi Arabia (Dammam)and Dubai, a year each inboth countries. He foundthe restrictions in SaudiArabia too stifling for ayoung boy. He, however,enjoyed Dubai with its liberal outlook andthe freedom to move around independently,thanks to efficient public transport.The UAE is a very progressive country and it’sheartening to know that behind its successlies the sweat and toil of many Indians, someof whose families have been here for manygenerations and laid the foundation of modernDubai. I was able to move from teachingEnglish to the field of writing and editing.TII: Since you returned to India how is lifedifferent after living abroad?BA: India is our country and a place where weare accepted ‘unconditionally’. Here I ‘belong’.It took my son and I, months to adjust back tolife in India, so used had we become to luxuriesthat we took for granted. Reality hit us and wehad to come back to earth. The first thing thatwe had to get used to was the heat and dustand chaos on the roads, the noise and generalindiscipline that is an essential part of India.TII: How different was life in the Gulf?BA: We enjoyed being in a Muslim environmentwhere there were masjids everywhere andfacilities for women to read namaz too. I foundthat women are treated with great respect inthe Gulf and enjoy more security. I miss thatvery much. Timings were changed duringRamadan to make it convenient for those whofast, although Eid is not a holiday for everyoneworking in private companies.Bushra Alvi with her husband, Dr. Jalil AhmedTII: In the Gulf you can have Pakistanifriends.BA: My attitude towards Pakistanis changeddrastically. Earlier I tended to view them withsuspicion and mistrustbut gradually I includedthem in my circle of closefriends. I realized that mostIndians and Pakistanis seeeach other not only asfriends but as brothers andsisters, linked through acommon thread of sharedculture and history. I alsoworked in a companywhere my boss and someof my colleagues werePakistanis.My boss made no bones about the fact that hepreferred to do business with Indians, whosebusiness acumen he admired greatlly.TII: How do you rate your overall experienceof living abroad?BA: I feel that it is good to go abroad for a fewyears to gain a wider experience and comeback to make a difference. I would like mychildren to find their own place in the worldand not rest on the glory of their families ordepend on ‘connections’ to get them aheadin life. To a large extent we lived a cocoonedexistence shielded from the harsh realities oflife. The artificiality, the gloss and glamour isokay for a short spell but ultimately India iswhere our roots and our hearts lie.TII: What would you advise people going towork in the Gulf?Many Indians complain about the strict andrestricted life they lead in the Gulf. But they allhave gone there by choice to enjoy a betterlifestyle and earn more than they would everbe able to in India. They should then notgrumble. Each country has its own set of rulesand one should learn to respect those andadjust accordingly.I firmly believe in the adage… ‘When inRome…’Frank Raj is TII’s founder editor & publisher‘‘We enjoyedbeing in aMuslim environmentwheretherewere masjidseverywhereandfacilitiesfor womento readnamaztoo. Ifound thatwomenare treatedwithgreatrespect inthe Gulfand enjoymoresecurity.I missthat verymuch.‘‘The International Indian 47