Recently there was an interesting article on Central Leader on Freeset. A NZ couple with their four children had set out to India and happened to rent an Apartment in one of the biggest brothels in Kolkatta. This was the beginning which led to the creation of Freeset – an organization that will go on to employ a couple of hundred women to escape the flesh trade in exchange for a work environment that will slowly change their lives.
What interests me more is the conviction shown by the Hiltons. It is amazing! While we (as a family) moved over here to NZ (largely my decision), we were moving away from the growing madness in the name of rapid urbanization in India. Though I love the genuine warmth of the people, I was also perplexed with their callousness to issues that were among the top of my priority list. It is just then I realized that we live in a place were the majority’s priority list is just the flipped version of mine. This reiterated Maslow’s triangle to me. There are lots of people around that do not have their fundamental needs met and there is quite a significant bunch that live on a day-to-day basis and then there is the booming urban class (with its new found consumerism) and then the filthy rich elite. The issue is…there is no common value that would help shape India at crossroads. If corruption is a major issue with the urban class then it is poverty for the rural class and then sub issues across the economic class.
Now that it has been more than six months since moving from India with two check-in luggage. I have fairly made a home over here in an Auckland suburb. We have been so far leading a subdued life – true to any immigrant in their starting months and are beginning to enjoy the new surroundings (sometimes appears surrealistic). To be honest, it takes about six months to a year to get adjusted to the daily life. We are lucky that we moved here on a resident visa. It grants us more freedom (legally) and hopefully prepares us to face the reality!
Once a foundation is set, the next step is to explore business possibilities and see if we can make a life of our choice! There is excellent work-life balance over here. I see a lot of people offering importance to family life and there is a general Do-It-Yourself sort of attitude (or the #8 wire attitude). There are also lot of quirks related to the Kiwi life – especially the ubiquitous land-lines, outrageously expensive mobile-to-mobile calling (people tend to text more than speak) and some driving rules.
On a quick note, it appears like a paradise for British pensioners (considering the exchange rate) and the laid back attitude makes you feel that I should have immigrated during my middle age. As an immigrant, if you land up in a role that offers balance between life and work, i guess, you are lucky and can enjoy the bright side of NZ life. On the other hand, I do notice “small town” or provincial attitude and outmoded opinion on Asians (particularly among recruiters and in interviews). There is a ridiculous question of “Do you have any NZ experience?” in the interviews…In general, NZ (primarily the North Island) has all the nuts and bolts as a result of pro multi-cultural push by NZ immigration. In about twenty years time, the real picture will emerge. This has been tried and tested across several major cities across the world that now bill themselves as multicultural hot-beds.
Not all over here are on highly skilled migrant visa category. There are people that have landed in NZ and have sought asylum status and those that came here out of no choice – on refugee status – and went on to integrate with the mainstream life. So, yes, if you are willing to think outside the box and hold strong conviction that you can bring about a change, then geography is not a barrier.
No related posts.
