In last week’s Chatty Divas, Sulekha Rawat talked about the dignity of labor. Now Chatty Diva Kriti Mukherjee picks up the thread –
The dignity and hurt of labor – what a story Mitr! Lucky for grandma she knocked on the door of the shining gold heart that is yours. Here is something that I would like to share on labor…
EST – Eastern Standard Time – Or I must Eat and Sleep so I am in Time for my meeting.
IST – Indian Standard Time – Or I will Sleep and take my own Time because my Time is only mine – no one else owns it…
Tales of an NRI, from America to India…
All who have read our introduction will already know that I just moved from the US to India. What you still don’t know is that I have become obsessive about comparing the two places against any given situation. Needless to mention that the comparisons are dazzling enough to blind! But I will take this slow and give it to you in bits – you should have time to recuperate before my next blog…
After Bill Gates reiterated “Time is Money”, Americans heaved a sigh of relief – they finally had the real answer to the reason of their running. Till then it was a mad run for something important, they just couldn’t put their finger on what though.
Let me add here that most of my American, or rather ‘Firang’ friends as I called them, (to their utter bewilderment because technically I was the one who was the ‘Firang’ in US) already were extremely familiar with our favorite abbreviation – IST (Indian Stretchable Time).
So even if we were bang on time for our social get-togethers we were still ridiculed for the trait that went with us. The trait of an Indian – even an Indian-American – being fashionably late became the joke that one needed to tell in order to look knowledgeable. So to keep face and elevate the status of Indians in the US, I always put down dates on my calendar by pre-poning the meeting by an hour. Thanks to my superior brain functioning I only reached 5-10 minutes late for an appointment and walked in with my chin high up in the air! Not bad I told myself…
When I moved to India, I plunged headlong into endless weeks of work that come with shaky decisions like “moving for good”. Our newly bought house demanded the attention of a newborn baby. Even though we were promised a hassle-free move by the maintenance office, among the many mishaps was one during which our air conditioning needed mending.
An electrician came home three hours later than the decided ‘mutually convenient’ time. I had painters come to paint the wall after the repair work was completed. The whole team generously waited and was even mildly curious as to why I was appalled at the audacity of this man!
IST – Indian Stretchable Time
After his much celebrated arrival, without as much as a word of apology, he folded his sleeves, got onto a ladder he brought with him and started making expert sounds with his gadgets around the bereaved machinery. After about 15 minutes of the drill he got off the ladder and announced that he needed to get equipment from his car that was required for the rest of the surgery. He left without approval.
The fresh clean walls had been scraped to expose the ugly cemented foundation on which I would hang my so cherished pictures. The ladder still leaned on the spot where he had left it. Would you believe it if I told you he didn’t come back for three days?? He wouldn’t pick up his phone nor reply to my urgent SMSs. The painters waited almost the whole working day for him too. We were like a bunch of shunned lovers.
I still have no explanations to offer dear readers – it’s a mystery even now. On the fourth day I had someone else come in, use his ladder to finish the job and then have him kindly take it away. In three days the air conditioner started leaking again!
Time is one’s own here – no money can buy it and no threats will help. But like everything else you get used to it or get better with your negotiations. It does not work to your benefit all the time.
However, I came to India for a reason and that reason is intact. There is so much here that I missed sorely in the US. I am happy to lose out on time and sacrifice in order to have this anytime – family, dreams, ambition, warmth (both literally and emotionally), compassion, food, flexibility, stability, possibilities and love – endless love of everybody around me.
A marketing consultant by profession, I like to think I am a happy person who can make a difference in people’s lives. Absolutely love to travel and am nuts about my family. I write to hear my thoughts and to see what people have to say about them. I blog at http://kriti-howaboutthis.blogspot.com/
Related Articles:
47 Comments
Thank you Rimly – you know exactly what I feel!
Welcome to India and Indian Stretchable Time. India is India despite all its drawbacks and friends and family make up for the rest in love and understanding. Loved it Kriti.
Welcome to India and Indian Stretchable Time. India is India despite all its drawbacks and friends and family make up for the rest in love and understanding. Loved it Kriti.
@Laav – I am real glad too – thanks a ton for coming by : )
@Stuart – that’s a real good idea! Thanks a ton for coming by
@Mari – it does unless you are in a situation like I was in – overall its a party – thanks a ton for coming by mari!
@Sonia – yes that is so true – I never find myself alone here, no matter what the circumstance – there is always someone there to listen and give you company. Thank you so much for coming by…
@Rima – Thank you – yes yeh hain incredible India : ))
@Nikki – mera bharat hamesha mahan! Thanks for coming by and understanding!
@Charles – and which one is it? I am guessing Norfolk ; )
@Jess – yes my heart is smiling here all the time except when it misses all in the US. All my wonderful friends who I left behind, my plant and my memories – but who’s to say that I won’t be seeing them again. You are a sweetheart!!
@A – yes it is – thanks a ton for coming by
@Swati – I know we will – thank you my best best girlfriend ever
@Tapas -so true! I have had my luck go do-way too. Just that this particular incident went the other way around. Thanks for coming by!!
Kriti-
Loved the post! I deal with Indian stretchable time (IST) whenever I attend
desi events in the US. I like the flexibility and informality of Indian parties,
but at the end of the day I am very much an East Coast/NYC metro area
Indian American native. I love the systematic and structured way of life
in the US including our obsessiveness with punctuality. But that is my personal preference.
I am glad you followed your heart and returned to the land you loved – India.
Yeah, time obsessed country here. Flexible time? No such thing. Personally, I like to be early so I can be stress free.
I’m so happy you are enjoying your life in India despite the contractors lack of diligence. Great idea to call someone else in to finish the work! Enjoy your new home. The idea of slowing down from EST to IST sounds heavenly. 😀
@Jim – hey those names don’t sound Indian to me!!! Never heard them before – thanks a ton for coming by …
@TJ isn’t Aruba the best place ever for a vacation though? I loved it there and of course since I was in vacation the laid back attitude suited my mood but it is a different story when you are ticking with the clock… You must come and visit – give me a holler when you are around so I can take you around.
Great read and good fun. I was grinning ear to ear sitting all by myself in my much air conditioned room 😛
I am glad you find lots to love in India…but the best is our love for whining and for reaching out with a helping hand at the first sign of a cry for help..Hollar as and when and much!
Happy Blogging.
Hey! Enjoyed reading your post…”Oh!Darling Yeh hai India” lol!!! Welcome back 🙂
I relate to all u r going thru kriti!! Well written! Mera bharat mahan! 🙂
Very good funny to read but not to live lol
I never knew that some of the people we had do work for us when we moved to Florida were from India???? lol
names like Obrian and Esposito fooled me lol
Ciao & Nice to meet you ^_^ This was such a fun post to read! The closest thing I had of a culture shock was when I went to Aruba. Things slowed down tremendously when I was there and everyone is laid back. Now I do like to be relaxed, but there is a limit before I start to move around haha.
I’d love to go to India one day! My grandmother’s mother from my mom’s side is Indian ^_^.
Ciaooo Xx
@Alpana – thank you so much!
@ Corinne – thanks a ton for coming by! Yes that is what I have experienced as well – their time is theirs even if you are paying for it. There is a lot to respect there too.
@Nirupam – so right – everything else is insignificant… Thank you!
@Belina – Cheers to that always and thank you for coming by!
@Raj – no never heard of that before! Thanks a ton for the encouragement! Agree with you completely – that’s why the campaign “incredible India” I guess : )
@Larry – thank you for coming by! Not only am I adapting but getting pretty comfortable in it : ). A scary thught that : )
@Raven Myth – thank you so much for coming by and reading this! India has its ups as much as its downs but yes family and friends are it. They beat everything else that bring us down. So glad you enjoyed my story.
@Charlie – LOL that was a really interesting experience indeed! Let me inform you that in many parts of India including Calcutta, where i have lived a considerable part of my life, have the same ritual of taking a nap in the afternoon. Shops close and the streets are deserted! I believe that is also what happens in a major part in Taiwan and China.
I live in Norfolk UK which is fairly similar to the IST a much more slower pace in life, we tend to bimble along at our own pace. London is much more the EST with the hustle and bustle people moving quickly with no time for life! i know which one i prefer 😉
Kriti,
I wish they would send you back to the states.. Home is where the heart is. I have no doubt that your heart is with you and where ever you are you will be happy… I love your writings….
xoxox
Jessica
Well well well Getting around is a good thing
Good luck
A
I dont care about time, or painters or electricians, I’m sooooo glad that you’re finally back. We’ll fight this battle together!! 🙂 🙂
Kriti – An interesting encounter with the electrician. But then it’s a solace to fall in the line of those who believe that everything here is a matter of touch and go; touch the luck-wand, and go either do-way or don’t-way. Well written piece.
I am happy you are back here,where you belong,you will get used it all..and will start loving it.I am so happy to see you write again, its always a pleasure to read what you write.
Hi Kriti – It’s not even easy for those of us who are conscious of time and have lived in India all our lives! Handymen – that’s another story – despite the fact that you are paying them, they’re actually doing you a favor to spare some time from their busy schedule!! Two years ago we renovated our home – we were told we’d have to relocate for a month – 6 months later we had to forcibly re-claim our home!! Darling, yeh hai India and like you said, all the other stuff makes up for it 🙂
“I am happy to lose out on time and sacrifice in order to have this anytime – family, dreams, ambition, warmth (both literally and emotionally), compassion, food, flexibility, stability, possibilities and love – endless love of everybody around me”
Nothing more can be added, I believe.After reading those lines, leaking air-conditioner, painter all are insignificant.
Hi Kriti,
Inspite of being in this beautiful country of ours,since my birth, I still cannot accept the Indian Stretchable Time. But its nice to know that your reason to return to roots is intact n is only making you happier. Cheers to that!
Beginning to enjoy reading stuff on here… did anybody ever say that u write well 🙂 , the writing is on the wall, India is a land of its own contradictions… on one side they talk about transparency and the other side they compound it by being undisciplined…at times I wonder many in India wait for bandhs and hartals so that they can cozy up to NOTHING….just my 2 cents of meaningless rambling ….
So many people live life in the fast lane, running around at dizzy speeds, often like headless chickens. You will adapt to the more laid back, care-free attitude, and look back one day thinking how crazy we can get about ‘time’.
Kriti…this was so funny…I laughed all the way through…love your IST…a menu for a long life…and no Heart Attacks…I felt as if I was right there with you…a beautiful flow to the story…and Yes, it is the loss of the U.S.A…( even though I live in Canada)
And yes, when all is said and done…family and friends mean more than anything…they will always be glad to see you….” No matter what Time it is”…
will follow you on your blog….
Hello Kriti –
In the early 1990s, I traveled the world through 20+ countries in Europe and Asia. In the beginning where I started in Germany, I had a major cultural shock myself. I was standing in a German mini-market, enclosed small shoppe, and I was ordering a sandwich from the deli counter. I believe there were 2 people working in the small store when all of a sudden, they started moving quickly. Hahaha.
“What’s up with this? Is there a fire…nobody is screaming!” The man behind the register closed the blinds and turned the closed sign around on the door. The lady who was taking my order turned around and took off her apron. She said something to me in German (it was so obvious I am American; ball cap, USA basketball shorts), and she walked away. The man kept motioning to me to leave the store.
For goodness sake, it was lunch break. I asked a German friend about this strange marketing tactic. He told me that all the stores in the smaller towns shut down in the middle of the day for 3 hours. They eat and sleep. Hahahahaha. I wanted to gather all the townspeople and do a business marketing SEMINAR immediately, lol. I have a lot more to say on this but I don’t want to bore you any longer, lol. Good post. 🙂
I am already enjoying every moment here – I am not foreign to this country at all – It is me and I am it. I belong here and am very proud of it! There were many things in the US that would make me want to come back to India urgently! The healthcare system being one and plenty of others – you’ll hear of them here in Chatty Divas. Every place in this world has reasons to be proud and ashamed of – India or US are just two examples : )
Thank you USA for giving us our Kriti back and your loss is our gain. A rib-tickling post with a beautiful message at the end, about loving family and friends.Welcome Mitr and let’s enjoy each moment here…