Money grabbing Asians- are we? We Asians (abroad) often called 'money grabbers'. (mainly applies to UK and perhaps EU, US etc) Yes, we work very hard- long hours, over time and even doing additional small jobs. This has become very habitual to most of us, i.e. once started there no end to it. Whether we are young, middle aged or retiring age we simply cannot do away with our 'money grabbing' habits. We don't even care about our health, we think our children will look after us once we are old and sick (they are the reason we work hard anyway). In reality, do our children really look after us?
I asked a lady (in her late 50s) who worked under me, why are you working so hard (long hours) even now when your only son and daughter (both married) earning £40,000 each, and that you have two properties/houses on rent, she said 'I have to save for my grandchildren too' (in UK, on av., two houses are worth £400k Approx.Rs.320,00,000 or Rs.32 millions). Another lady, who is also old, always appears sick and weak, also having two additional houses, with a son 30 and daughter 26 both working. How can their children allow their sick parents to work? Poor lady, always talk high about her son and that he is the reason she work very hard. One day I happen to meet her son at somebody's birthday party. He didn't know that his mother work under me. I said to him, 'you got a nice car' to that he said 'oh! this is nothing, you wait till my mother die, I will buy one Mercedes or one BMW' (This is offcourse, by selling one house). What a lovely son!! I remember, my colleagues telling me about a very wealthy Indian old lady who worked for British Airways Catering for 35 years and when her turn comes up to retire, she pleaded with the management for extension which she got for her good records & hardwork. 18 months later she collapsed and died at work place. Above are the facts (this is happening mainly amongst the Asians including Goans. I work as a supervisor for 10 years many men & women worked under me. I have seen, heard and been there). Some of us don't even know how much wealth we have accumulated over a period of time (but our children know very well), we continue working very hard. Sometimes, we do long hours simply because others do (competition). All we do work, work work or money,money, money. When asked, when was the last time they visited their home land, they say 10/15 years ago (reason: they cant afford it) despite getting 90% concession in air fare to India and GOA. In an another case, two Goans both Husband and wife working. Husband earning £30,000 & wife £18,000. They too have one extra house which is given on rent fetching about £1200 per month. They have one child the only son (14). Last year they were asking me for any cheaper Goa Flight during Xmas Season (SFX Expo) as their son never been to Goa. First I said £599 for 2 weeks they say 'too expensive'. Two weeks later I managed to offer for £399 at a bargain price to this their answer was 'still can't afford it' In the end they never visited Goa nearly 15 years now. Yet, there was another case, where another elder Goan working for London Underground (Baker's Street), who was so trifty (conjus Marwaddi) giving me tips, when I first come into this country, as to how to save money. One of tips was saving money on Gas or electricity bills during the winter. He says, during winter, they switch off all central heating at night and keep a flat rubber bottle* filled with hot water underneath them (in bed) which keep them warm whole night. Would you believe this ?? Sadly, he died few years ago. I knew them as they come from a bhatkars' family from my place (they came UK from Africa). I am writing this hoping, some of the aged workers would at least make some efforts to look again into their ways of life and bring in some changes at least for their health sake and offcouse for their family sake. Remember, money is not every thing. We, as their grown up children, should do something about our parents, they worked hard all their life long. Don't they deserve a break now? or 'slow down' at least ? I know some of our parents are simply stubborn and very difficult to deal with but that should not be an excuse stopping us changing their lives, lets keep trying and they will listen to us one day (we are the reason they live or work any way). They have earned so much for us (we don't even have to pay for the house we are living in). Let us not be selfish as in BMW case above. Thanks for your time, joegoauk *We too had that Rubber water bottle at home Goa my dad brought from Tarvar. But we used to give 'xek' on peoples back like 'gorom udka humdesao-vam or shek' Please cast your votes here.. http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/GOAN-NRI/surveys?id=12235636 http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/GOAN-NRI/ http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/GOAN-NRI/polls Abv was posted 2 years ago (now partly modified) [EMAIL PROTECTED] for Goa & NRI related info... http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/GOAN-NRI/ for Goa & Goa Flights info.. http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/LetsGotoGoa For info on Konkani VCDs etc ___________________________________________________________ Win a BlackBerry device from O2 with Yahoo!. Enter now. http://www.yahoo.co.uk/blackberry
