Hi,
I just finalized a room in GreenBelt near DC -the last Metro stop - after Univ of Maryland, College Park (with its aeroplanes for students!! and air strip) for $425 per month for 3 months. I ran as soon as the advertiser said that it was avaliable for short period --since people had started asking uncomfortable questions - as to how I would pay for my 12 month rent -since I do not have a job or savings right now for it.
The person who had advertized did not fit in any stereotype I had of Indians in USA.
I had replied only last midnight to his advt in www.craigslist.com --besides to umpteen others --he was the only one to repsond -- Mr Sajith . Was very eager on the phone - so I amigined he was a student subletting - since hiis rtoomates had left suddenly and was in a fix.
I'm glad I had purchased this cell phone --he kept givng me directions all along the way and even came to pick me up --in his brand new sedan. Still - I thought he might have needed it for his job - if he was wroking . On reaching home - he revealed that he owned the place and would be moving in shortly.
I imagined - that he must be married - to have purchased this house -- but no --he said that he would be moving in "A room." No -he was a happy bachelor - though unhappy (like me) that all his old friends were all married and he was left alone. He said woefully that he cannot bring his spouse to USA - even if he married - becos he had got a Green Card - and NOT an H1 visa. I wonder how - No Green Card lottery for Indians -since its beginning - he told me.
He too would be staring his new job - with an Indian software company - coming monday. Ealrier he helped design the F16 planes .
I paid him 2 months rent -out of the 3 months total - he took me to an BOA ATM.
Then he said that he would show me the house where he was staying now . Asa small talk I asked whether he was on rent there - or half jokingly I asked whether he owned that one also!!
He took some time to reply and said that he actually owned four houses -- in USA --at 33 years of age - with all his family still in India (Kerala) - his parenst and siblings etc.
At his house - well furnished I found that he was a devout worshipper of Sai Baba - though unhappy with the rigid caste system which existed there - though breaking up.
I found that I had an edge in explaining how development work and strategies are different from
being just socially aware and doing missionary work - and that India does not need any religious missionaries to improve its social/economic/educational structure -- and thats why my 9 month course which is focused on such issues - is only at Harvard or some other Western institutions and Not in India. India still has to learn to ask the right questions - and can learn it from the western academia - and not wait for some missionaries to implement some "mysterious" strategies for development.
I am enthused - I realise that till people in US begin to know me personaly - I get much better responses from those of Indian origin rather than others.
Did I make a right choice?
Umesh
Yahoo! Messenger NEW - crystal clear PC to PC calling worldwide with voicemail
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