Comment Re:Why not? (Score 2, Interesting) 216
I am a recent CS graduate hired by TCS (Tata Consultancy Services) and am completing a 3 month on-the-job training program in India. I spent 1 month in Trivandrum and am currently residing in Pune.
As someone who has grown up in the US, I have experienced a drastic reduction in the standard of living to which I am accustomed. Even though my salary is many times higher than the average Indian and even though the buying power of the dollar is significantly better than the rupee (a good meal at a nice restaurant is less than $5), I still have difficulty attaining a decent standard of living in this country.
CONS
Power goes out for hours on end for no reason
Air pollution is unbearable
Internet is fairly slow (128-256kbps MAX) and unreliable
Prompt service is rare (fast food means about 20mins)
Quality electronics equipment is hard to find and very expensive
PROS
English is the most commonly spoke language
Cost of living is very low
Computer books are cheap (1/5 the US MSRP)
Other issues involve significant cultural differences between Indians and Americans. Indians have a take-life-as-it-comes attitude that spills over into every aspect of their life. Urgency, precision, and planning are not familiar concepts to the Indian unstructured lifestyle. This chaotic lifestyle causes frustration to the American who expects the consistency of a structured process.
Something as simple as a FIFO line, whether it be at a grocery store or a red light, is not implemented in India. Indians don't stand in line; they cluster. Also, driving in India is something that has to be experienced to be believed!
These cultural differences are at times perplexing, interesting, and frustrating.
I am enjoying my stay in India, but I am also counting the days until I get back home. The thrid-world lifestyle wears on the pampered American.
As someone who has grown up in the US, I have experienced a drastic reduction in the standard of living to which I am accustomed. Even though my salary is many times higher than the average Indian and even though the buying power of the dollar is significantly better than the rupee (a good meal at a nice restaurant is less than $5), I still have difficulty attaining a decent standard of living in this country.
CONS
Power goes out for hours on end for no reason
Air pollution is unbearable
Internet is fairly slow (128-256kbps MAX) and unreliable
Prompt service is rare (fast food means about 20mins)
Quality electronics equipment is hard to find and very expensive
PROS
English is the most commonly spoke language
Cost of living is very low
Computer books are cheap (1/5 the US MSRP)
Other issues involve significant cultural differences between Indians and Americans. Indians have a take-life-as-it-comes attitude that spills over into every aspect of their life. Urgency, precision, and planning are not familiar concepts to the Indian unstructured lifestyle. This chaotic lifestyle causes frustration to the American who expects the consistency of a structured process.
Something as simple as a FIFO line, whether it be at a grocery store or a red light, is not implemented in India. Indians don't stand in line; they cluster. Also, driving in India is something that has to be experienced to be believed!
These cultural differences are at times perplexing, interesting, and frustrating.
I am enjoying my stay in India, but I am also counting the days until I get back home. The thrid-world lifestyle wears on the pampered American.
